Richard's AHA Moment!

One of the most important “aha” moments for me at Camp Reward was finally being convinced that I had an aggressive dog on my hands. If that seems ironic, it is. The obvious question one might reasonably pose is: “Why did you attend this camp if you and your dog had no behavior issues?” My initial response to my wife, who insisted we attend the seminar, was that Pepper and I don’t have any “issues.” Other people and dogs around us have the issues. They go out of their way provoke my dog by behaving in a bizarre manner. For example, they might walk by. They might look at us. They might ask to say “Hi.” Worse still, they might not announce their presence from thirty feet away and force Pepper into an aggressive display. Sometimes, other dogs give my sweet little innocent angel the “hairy eyeball” and upset her. Their owners should really learn to control their dogs and their evil subliminal messages.

Pepper did bite Robert, but he was the one who bent over her. He should know better! She didn’t break the skin. It was really just a “head but.”

Pepper did bite Melanie, but she has blond hair, and probably behaved in a strange manner. Melanie got a “black and blue,” but my baby didn’t break her skin. Melanie shouldn’t run around so much.

Patrick told me he was terrified of Pepper, and she hasn’t even bitten him yet! Boy, what a chicken!

Before I got Pepper, I think I was more rational. In fact I was one of those that lectured and threatened people that owned aggressive dogs. I can recall a time when the fraternity house at the bottom of the hill kept two Rottweilers that were not only aggressive, but not sufficiently restrained. My wife and I and her new puppy were on a walk and had to pass their house. I thought, perhaps I should ride shotgun between the puppy and the bad dogs just “in case.” Sure enough, a dog came roaring off the porch and fixated on the puppy. As he passed me I was able to grab his collar.

However, the next time we encountered this dog, he had no collar. The owner had removed it! Though furious, I was able to deliver this message to the dog’s owner; “Your dogs seem like fine animals, however, many neighbors have expressed their fear of your dogs and causing fear in humans is tantamount to assault. The Boston Police, if called, will not hesitate to fatally shoot your dogs, right here on this sidewalk, if they are viewed as an imminent threat.”

Fast forward to two weeks before camp. My little harmless, blameless darling girl and I were in the back yard enclosed by a six-foot fence. Our next-door neighbor suddenly, (and without warning I might add) dared to come out on her second floor porch, whereupon Pepper charged the fence, looked up and growled. Our neighbor said “whoa” and retreated inside. After calling out yet another apology for my dog’s behavior, I decided to analyze what had just occurred. Our neighbor and my dog were separated by a six-foot fence, by a lateral distance of twenty to thirty feet, and by a vertical distance of fifteen feet, and still my little angel caused a fear response in a human. I thought, hmmm, this may be a problem.

So, if three or four years ago, I determined that simply causing fear in humans was sufficient to deem a dog aggressive, then by that standard, I have to admit, Pepper is aggressive.

My name is Richard. I own an aggressive dog.