To the significant unnamed population in my building;
I understand that in your country dogs are wild and dangerous, and that there you should have every reason to be scared. But here, in Canada for the most part, the dogs are NOT dangerous. This means that when the elevator stops on your floor and im in it already with my dogs, you can come in, and when I pass you in the halls or outdoors with my labs on leashes, you really dont have to jump back 10 feet and grab your children up into your arms. This action actually makes my dog bark, because she is now scared of YOU. So when she barks, and your child cries, know that I no longer feel sympathy. You have the choice to live elsewhere. If you are utterly terrified of dogs, why did you move to a dog friendly building. Dog friendly apartment buildings are not easy to find, so please make my life and the lives of other dog owners better and either get over it, or move!
—Fed up on Cowie Hill
This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2010.
Those weird fucking cat people…
Ahhh, the dog owner with an over inflated sense of entitlement.
Wait… Is there any other kind of dog owner?
They may not be able to afford to live anywhere else…Up On The Hill (ie that build that may still be called ‘Top of the Mountian) is pretty cheap, likely they just don’t have a choice in the matter.
You could be a more responsible owner by showing them the dogs are well trained, when you are walking your dog (down a hall or out on the street) and you come into contact with these people…have your dog heel (sit right at your side) and wait for them to passmove on. Eventually they will get used to your dogs and not be so inclined to be terrified.
You assume that it’s just because there are wild dogs in their country of origin, have you ever considered the fact that in several countries they actually use dogs to hunt people down…so they can rape and torture them? I don’t know about you but I would have a pretty god-damned unhealthy fear of dogs if that was what I was used to.
I get a kick out of the “I understand in your country…” bullshit.
I don’t think many people understand how well dogs can decipher body language, and tone of voice.
I do have to agree with the ‘dog friendly’ places being scant and scattered.
There’s only one anywhere near me ( park victoria place) and I always see dogs in and out of that place because that’s likely their only downtown option.
Still, in going with the trend today…
HEY WOMAN WHO DOESN’T LIKE DOGS BUT LIVES IN DOG FRIENDLY BUILDING…
OVARY UP!
I don’t understand why the OP is upset. They aren’t saying anything to him or his dogs…they are just afraid of his dogs and try to avoid them. They obviously don’t know that the dogs are well trained and they probably don’t care. Fear isn’t the most rational emotion. Just try to respect each other’s space and go on with your lives.
I like dogs more than I like most people oh and never wrong you must be a crazy fucking cat lady or dork wad
dogsrule: Wow. You make such a valid argument against the stereotypical dog owner. Aren’t you a little young to be posting on this site anyway little one? Go back to your junior high classes and make sure to wash behind your ears like your mommy tells you.
What’s with the hatin on dog owners?
I have a staffordshire /mastiff mixed dog – one of the friendliest dogs you might met . But – when i brought him to calgary with me – i find people get scared of him . I have to agree somewhat with maybe someone coming from another country being scared of dogs . They are taught dogs are worst then rats . Some of the middle eastern cultures actually have to wash with some special sand or some shit if a dog touches them . Not that I care – but if you don’t like dogs – don’t move into a dog building , pretty simple . And if you happen to come from a country that views dogs as scum – get used to it – we have a dog culture . Miles – I agree fear is an irrational fear . But idf this person has this fear – why the hell did they move into a building that allows dogs . It’s hard not to tell when viewing the place – people coming in and out with dogs . If they didn’t know – the bitch is valid – but if they did know – the bitch it moot .
I have a dog and live in a dog friendly building, not on Cowie Hill. If you’re a responsible dog owner, you’re not going to be mad at someone and expect them to move because they are afraid of your dogs. Thats ridiculous. Having a dog in a building is not a right, it is a privilege, especially in this city. I would be doing everything I could to allow people to be comfortable around my pets so we can keep the few dog friendly buildings they are in this city. Its irresponsible, entitlement feeling, dog owners that ruin it for everyone else.
Well virgomom – your right on the nail on that . I was more talking about the ones that see my dog and scurry across the street and pee themselves and shudder and cry . I’m totally responsible with my dog. How the hell do you be responsible when you have that reaction ?I’m not even embellishing on this reaction . I’ve had people crossing the street and actually look scared as hell . Dogs are allowed on public transit here ( I wish HRM had the same policy) if you pay they’re ticket on . And yet – as I make my dog sit nicely on the floor and as he’s minding his business ( I take the ctrain to avoid 28 dollar parking fees downtown when I take him there ) and people think I just murdered the pope and shit on the seat . That reaction is annoying after awhile . So are people that clear they’re asses to the back the train and make a huge deal about getting off the next stop, huffing and puffing and bitching . So on that point – I don’t have self entitlement – I paid for the dog to get on the train. So in that instance – I feel they should fuck off and kiss my ass and get used to it .
why the fuck would anyone, other than a dope dealer, have a big fucking vicious dog in an apt. building. don’t giver that security shit,that’s why the are deadlocks and security doors for. even if you don’t peddle poison, you should not be allowed to have anything bigger than a minature poodle in any apt. building. methinks thou protest too much, and maybe, just fucking maybe, when your mutt bites someone, and it will.you should have your ass put down, just likje your ugly fucking dog. i bet it is either a rottie,or a fucking pig dog, right.
I agree with you there LS . Me – I have a house . The op has a” Scared and barking at people ” dog, next step is biting , thats what scared dogs do . The point i agree with you on LS is if your in an apartment – no need for a dog bigger then a fuckin poodle .
Ahhh LS…the OP has Labrador Retrievers, not exactly vicious dogs. Unless you consider slobber and some shed fur an attack. They are usually pretty hyper (for the first 3-4 years) but other than that I can’t think of any Lab that I have come into contact with was vicious…just smelly.
Only stinky when wet der haha !!! I did forget the part of the op’s “my labs” in the post . But i do wonder how the hell the op can make and or live with two labs in an apartment !!! Them dogs need a house – a yard and 300 mile walks a day !!! Only saying this because i have a high energy dog that has to have said same 300 mile walks and 4 dog parks a day walks . Dog lovers might not have the choice financially to choose a house to live in , I know that . That would just be hard if you ask me !! PS I LOVE DOGS !!! Stinky or not ( My dogs nickname is “Stinky”) lol
I too love dogs, though I also love cats…go figure.
“how the hell the op can make and or live with two labs in an apartment” that was exactly my first thought on reading the lab part…holy hell their place must look like a bomb went off.
I miss my (the ex wife’s actually) Golden Retriever…she is such a great dog, even if it took 3.5 months to get most of the fur out of my Protege (for the Golden Retriever uninitiated…they shed ALOT). I would love to have a dog again but I am shipping out for Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu sometime in the recent future and a puppy is just completely out of the question.
I can just picture the op’s apartment der haha !!!! Labs and retrievers are awesome dogs !! I am fortunate to have a short hair dog with minimal shedding .But when he starts running and chasing his shadow in the house – i have to wonder again what the OP’s place looks like haha !!! I also have a neighbors cat for the next month while shes out of country – nice cat and even the dog like her !!!!
after i reread the post from the writer, i did realize he/she said labs. but my point about size is still valid. too big a dog, and the thing gets bored, and most owners are too fucking lazy. i’ve had labs before, also rotties, and the same rule applies, if space is too small for you, then active dogs need more. don’t get me wrong here, i love dogs, and cats, i have 2 rescued ones here. a few years back, a buddy was going to give me his 125 pound rotty, a real sweet pussy of a dog, and i loved him, but my 2 b.r. was too small to keep him in. i made sure that i found a decent, non dope dealing home for him, and he is still there. the people who took him adore him and he has over 30 acres in the country, to run his heart out. will he ever stray,no, and he was/is not fixed by the way. he is just a big sook.
Fed up on Cowie,
I dont understand why people scared of dogs would live there. Common sense is not so common eh.
As for peeps talking about OPs dog eventually biting… you obviously are not the most intelligent person as this is a completely outlandish correlation. Barking does not equal biting. Idiot. Obviously not a dog owner, or not a good one anyway.
As for dogs in an apartment, it depends completely on the owners. If the big building on the hill is the one on cowie, then there is woods and a fenced in park there. Def not the worst place to have dogs, im guessing.
People always assume the damn worst.
heh heh… ‘Idiot’ was its own sentence….
You can have any sized dog in an apt, as long as you take it for regular walks, get it lots of exercise and don’t let it become bored. I have an aussie cattle dog. Smaller version of a border collie. I live in apt. She doesnt bark, shes house trained, and as long as I keep her from being bored, shes not destructive. Labs arn’t bad dogs to have in apts because they are not very high maintenance dogs. And don’t labs have soft bite anyway?
Biting plus scared peacemaker – you forgot one . Idiot.Scare my dog ( if i lived in an apartment and used the elevator ) and back him into a corner – your getting bit.
Sorry OP—no sympathy from me on this one.
The building may permit dogs, but I presume that this does not mean the dogs are allowed free run of the place, or that the dog’s wants (or yours) outweigh the needs of the other tenants.
The feelings of the people come first. If people want to walk down the hall and use the elevator without your dog approaching them, sniffing them, jumping up on them, etc., then YOU have to defer to THEM. People don’t need to hear all your excuses “Oh, it’s your ‘attitude’ getting my dog all upset and that’s why he’s barking”—that’s bullshit.
The onus is on YOU to control your dog, to keep him from approaching people you don’t know, and to keep him from barking at people, and to remove him from the scene if he can’t behave properly in, or is stressed by, the situation.
Dogs and cats are great—many owners, however are not so great, and it’s people like the OP here who create difficulties for everyone else who might like to have pets in their building but aren’t allowed.
I agree in principle that an apartment can be too small for mid to large breed dogs, but I think it really depends on the owner. If they have the time to provide ample outdoor exerciseplaytime than it should be perfectly fine for most breeds (except the largest breeds, Great Danes, Mastifs etc).
RubyJane: I agree, though the way the OP describes the situation it doesn’t imply that is what is happening (I know that it is probable that things aren’t going down exactly as described but until someone posts that actually has witnessed it…we cannot expect it to be “guilty until proven innocent”. Except in Kay’s case…she is absolutely a guitar stealing coke junky.)
LifeSucks: I know we have butted heads on occasion, but knowing you are a dedicated animal lover makes me respect you, sorry for any sparring that we may have done in the past.
der, there is no problem tween us, it is a bitch forum, and i would bitch at my own dear momma, if she were still alive. but yes, i worked with the spc in different areas, and they are somewhat of a joke. the same can be said about the cops, but on a different footing. but the point is, if you have an animal, any animal, give the poor beast what is best for them, not you. too many times have i had to see beautiful pets put down, because of assholes, that did not make the right choice in a pet/companion. it sickens me no end.if you want to see a really fucked up video, i suggest everyone download,”planet earth”. it is fucking sickening.the pets part more so than the rest.i just couldn’t believe the shit i saw there. and it does happen, all too fucking often.really want to get me super pissed off at you people, let me know that you have hurt an animal, that is/was a pet. you will wish there was a god, trust me.(sorry for the long winded version.)
there is no grey area when it comes to animal abuse and ffs people they are not fashion accessories or little humans…one of my cats thinks its a dog but thats because he’s a tard
Ok I’m sorry, but do people without dogs/ pets when looking for a place to rent normally ask if the building is pet friendly? I doubt it, you have too many things to ask/ think about that actually apply to you, and if you don’t ask about dogs, the landlord isn’t going to just throw that out there. So the odds are they had no idea they were moving into a dog friendly building.
PAS I don’t think its a regular question asked. I am however helping someone find an apt now and if you look through the apt listings most of them will state pet friendly, no pets or no dog but yes to 1 cat etc. I do think having control of your dog is important. I also think the OP has a point – if you are afraid of dogs don’t move into a dog friendly place and act stupid towards the dog. BTW OP you sound frustrated but you choose too have the dog and now its up to you to train it not to bark/growl or bite. Comfort your dog when they go by and soon your dog won’t even notice them.