My sister stood still. A Great Dane galloped towards her, barking. It was an open playfield. She had nowhere to hide. She stood still and turned her eyes away from the dog. The screaming owner of the dog was a good hundred feet away. The dog sniffed her, dragged itself back a few yards, barked at her, sniped at her legs and repeated the maneuver thrice.
For a ten year old, my sister was well-trained and had her wits about her. She remembered sage words of advice from my father a trained dog -handler. "Never run, when a dog is chasing you'. She stood still, face turned away from the dog.Actually she was so terrified that she had blacked out for a second. The dog piqued, lifted its legs, pissed on her and went its way.
Was it piqued at the lost opportunity of chasing her, or was it marking its territory. The event made a big mark on our family history. The story is passed around from generation to generation and at almost every family get together. My sister now a school teacher is never able to suppress a giggle hearing doggie stories from her little wards.
What is it with dogs that they chase anything and everything that runs? I have had street dogs chase my mobike, and car. I have seen them run at cows, other dogs and humans. Flame my Golden Retriever is crazy about the tennis ball. He is wedded to it. He can be without food and sleep but not the ball. He can find it wherever I hide it inside the house and his only mission in life is to get me to play with him.
Recently in Chennai, tragically and it should never happen to anyone, a boy lost his life chased by a dog. The boy was celebrating his exam results on the terrace of a fourth floor apartment when he saw the German shepherd. He ran as fast as his twelve year old legs could and in panic fell over the wall.
My heart goes out to the family of the boy. Also to the owner of the dog who was arrested for not having the dog on leash. I am sure the dog had no intention of causing the boy any harm. All dogs love a good chase and snipe. I know, I have four dogs at home. My dad has had fourteen injections due to dog bites and I have been chased and bitten by a dog at my friend’s. But then I have seen terror on the faces of my neighbours and unsuspecting visitors when confronted by snarling dogs. What about the boy who was so terrified and panic stricken. What wrong did he do.
It is a pity that man's best friend has become a villain too. Dogs do provide wonderful company to the old and lonely, to the not-so-outgoing young etc. I guess owners need to take better care of their dogs.
Lovely….but sometimes I feel if u have a pet u have to give it a lot of freedom too cos I dont like to see a dog in a kennel!
You are right.. And owners of dogs should also understand that there are people who don”t love dogs, and there are who are scared as hell seeing them.. I myself don”t like dogs, and feel uncomfortable in their presence.. They come and try to touch my feet, hands, and some times even lick my skin… all the time I keep myself shut up and straight and praying to the dog to go away… It is more of uncomfort than fear, since I had imagined a long time back what if the dog attacks me. I had thought that I would fight with him
and even killing him to save my life would be only brave 
After that I dont fear from them for my life, but it feels weird weird to be touched by dogs.. as such I know people love them, but I feel too uncomfortable (more because of hygiene) when people take them in their laps.. Incidents you have mentioned are touching ones… Wish every thing remains under control..
I think the dogs have a psychological fear from other things that move or run, as they would imagine them to be some other big dogs or some species, and they would feel threatened… Recently while reading Malgudi Days, I found an interesting instance. In a story, the author saved himself from a tiger for some time by scaring away the tiger with a chair! Yes, the tiger used to have fears from the chair. May be because it also had 4 legs and the tiger would take it as a more fierce beast… (Rahul)
To me, poster of ”Beare of dogs” posted in front of a house literally means, you are unwelcome to the house. Frankly, I am afarid of dog though I do recognize that dogs have been faithful companion of men. You may be interested in reading a post titled “Gentlemen of the Jury I had posted sometime back, a moving and famous tribute to a dog….PGR
yup me too never run when dogs chase … they really ahve no clue what to do after they have caught up with u … on thing all mallu dogs fear though is when we pick up a stone … just some tricks my gradpa taught me :-))
the domestication of dogs [wolves] is a major milestone in the history of evolution……dogs outscore cats and all 4 legged creatures…remember the dogs of ANIMAL FARM…we had a DASCH and an ALSATIAN once…good combo…
my kids love dogs. husband hates them. a one time dog lover, i have turned coat now… when the kids ask us for a dog, its a definite no no. i come from a home which has been home to the lowly mongrel to vicious rottweilers… my decision is made… no dogs in my house…
btw, i never get updates when u post something new. i just took a walk along all my friends ilands today when i came to post something. seem to have missed quite a few new posts.
that is the voice of rationality- controlling dogs! all dogs do like a chase…. some more than the others. some dogs are mean too- like dobermans- they spare no one- even the owners unless keep them under strict disciplinary regime- a point lacking in most dog owners too! most accidents happen when the dogs are walked out side the premises without leashes. this is where I feel like running over the dog as well as the owner with my car, or hit the owbner with a stick!
Been trying to get a German Shepherd home for a long time now. kids wouldn”t even want to discuss it. Its like ” dad, you can have us OR the dog at home, choice is yours”…..what say?
well all my kindness for stray dogs went out of the window when my nephew got badly mauled by a couple of them…the child is scarred for life and petrified of dogs…whilst dogs do love their chase, all the empathy walks out when your loved ones are victims…
sometimes i am really afraid of dogs, now i am little ok with it…..but i never touch dogs
I had dogs growing up and was very hands-on with them. Labradors they were and soooooooooo loving. But now I stay away from dogs not sure how this happened. Must be the kids.
All my friends in growing up years had dogs as pets at home…often made me ask my mom to get me one too…she always said that ” I ” was enough of a pet and she didnt want to deal with another one..jokes aside the ferocious ones can be quite intmidating especially the way they come and try to smell or lick you and then open their mouth to show those canines…scares me a little…I love poodles though.
The fastest I ever ran in my life was when one mongrel chased me and freaked me out. Been scared of dogs all my life. But I know they make great pets, are very honest and faithful.
i”m terrified of dogs….but i do love to hear stories about doggy pets…
this incident brought bak memories of mine..2 huge alsatian dogs ran behind me and i ran for my life..can say, gods grace saved me…indeed the owners shud take proper care or else its risky…
i had a wonderful read. I too had a similar experience, was chased by a Pomeranian while in schools. Suddenly i remembered readign Swami Vivekandas story and i stopped. The dog and me had a wonderful relation since then.Its true, there can be love and hate relations, but for everything a man is to be blamed. Lovely writeup
hmmm… true dogs can be really scary for the little ones.. i hv been bit by a dog, a cat and what not.. i can imagine what your sister went through.. recently i hv been researching on dogs (planning to get one).. and i notice a high emphasis on the temperament of diff breeds.. it is also advised not to adopt mixed breeds as the behaviour of such could be unpredictable..
buddy, if you think u own your dog, you will never become its friend. hey, i like the story about ur sister, really cool
to `a” man, it is his best friend; to others, it can be different!
indeed, there are as always two sides, mans best friend can also be its ache.lovely post madhu
I”ll be scared to death if a German Shepard or a Doverman chase me on an open ground.
Hmmm…I did post sometime back a wonder speech tribute to dog (Gentlemen of the Jury)…but personally I am damn scared of dogs. Beware of dog sign literally means to me-”You are unwelcome to this house”. All said I really admire your dad’’s affiliation to dogs …..PGR
Your asking “What is it with dogs that they chase anything and everything that runs? ” reminds me of the joke “What makes men chase women they have no intention of marrying?The same urge that makes dogs chase cars they have no intention of driving.” hahaha Read this http://warofillusions.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/the-many-ways-men-are-programmed-to-chase-women-pavlov-style/
and such are the stories about mans best friend… i too has my own share of horrible experiences with dogs.
madhav..the chennai issue was little different.it was not actually a german shepherd.it was really a pathetically ill luck for the boy.purely accidental.no bod has any hand on destiny.
A truly sad case. There have been many in Singapore and worldwide too. Some breeds and even banned and legislation enacted but ultimately, I think, it boils down to the owner. Some breeds are naturally aggresive and is someone wants to keep such breeds, they have to be responsible enough to ensure that others are not harmed. Me lurves dogs and have had many breeds. They can bring such joy especially when treated right.
thanks for the wonderful story.
I am happy to see that she was not harmed.
why do we humans still have to have the company of wild animals? are we not civilised enough to look to our own fellow humans for comfort and companionship?
it is high time the society took a stand against dangerous animals being kept as pets. they are pests and not pets.
dogs and cats just pretend to be our good friends. we should not belleve that and be fooled.
that brings up the question of elephants in captivity. they too deserve to be sent back home to jungles.
the only animals that have some place in our lives are the cattle.
thanks for the wonderful post