Big Paws Only Dog Forums

ok, I'm sure this topic has been covered and it probably has happened to alot of you out there, but I really just have to rant for a second.

I am sick of everyone siding with a small dog when your dog gets in a tiff. I don't mean all out dog fight, but just some growling and snarling. About 95% of the dogs who have bitten my older 90 pound akita mix are jack russels/daschunds/beagles, etc. We go to off leash dog parks all the time and these little dogs see my dog as a threat and just run up to him, growl, and bite him. Sometimes they just run up to him and bite him without any warning as he's sniffing the grass or walking by them 3 feet away. For example, there is a little daschund who goes to the same park and he always chases my dog around and bites his privates! And when my dog is sitting down and sun bathing or being pet, the little daschund will try to mount him or bite his privates again! and as expected,  my dog gets pretty darn angry. He'll growl and the daschund will bite him, then he'll take his paw and smoosh the daschund on the gorund to keep it from biting him while he's making scary noises to scare the daschund away. Of course, I am blamed and people are kicking my dog or grabbing him by the collar and pulling him away while the little dog is taking freebie bites out of my dog. the little dog's owner acts so angry and offended that my big bad wolf tried to eat his private-biting angel. That little devil has even growled at me a bunch of times when I see him going for my dog's privates and I try to run defense.

I think as large dog owners, we know that some people fear our dogs or fear that our dogs may be aggressive.  So we overcompensate by training our dogs, socializing them, training them some more, and socializing them some more. We are sure to let them know what is okay and what is not. As an owner of a "bully breed," I make certain that my dogs have exposure to as many types of people, children, animal, sites, sounds, etc. But some little dog owners think their dogs can do no harm b/c they're so small and it's the big dogs you have to look out for, or that their little jack russel is so cute being so tough and taking a bite out of a huge dog. These little dogs get away with murder! It might be in the smaller dog's nature to snap at larger dogs when they feel threatened, but this is where training comes in. It's in my akita's nature to eat little dogs, but I've trained him and conditioned him that he just ignores them now. I blame the owner, not the dog. My dogs don't react by tearing the dog apart, but they do bark a "get off of me!" or they smack the little dog with their paw with a scary sounding growl just to get it off of them. 

I mean, how would you feel if a smaller person came up to you and smacked you in the back of the head? I'm pretty small, but Ican't just walk up to a tough looking guy who is just walking by on the side walk and smack him in the back of the head or kick him in the shin and expect him to do nothing or blame him when he gets mad. Or if he yells at me to stop, like how my dogs bark at the little dog, and I still keep standing there kicking him over and over again, I can't blame him for trying to get me away from him. I think it's the same thing with little dogs biting larger dogs. You can be under 20 pounds and still be a bully! 

I am a newbie to a lot of things concerning dogs. I'll be the first to admit it. I take my puppy to kindergaten classes and to agility classes. why? Because I'm not an expert and can't possibly train him myself. and when he's older, we're going to conformation handling classes. why? b/c I'm a newbie. I've never shown a dog.

BUT, I'm not a newbie to basic dog care or to my breed.

I have a puppy akita and those aren't extremely rare but they definitely aren't "popular" in seattle. Several trainers I've called before enrolling in classes have never taught an akita. 

I just can't stand everyone who automatically becomes an akita expert or a vet, even though they aren't when I go to parks or take my pup on walks.

I'm 5'3", asian, and look as if I'm 19 years old (but I'm a freakin' attorney!! I'm much OLDER) and everyone wants to tell me how to raise my pup and everyone just assumes I'm feeding him kibble n' bits and not training him even though he almost always has his eyes pinned on me and listening to what I'm saying/doing. They all talk down to me and say, well, you should start obedience classes b/c akitas can be mean" and they go into a tirade about the breed's history, what they were used for, etc. as if I just bought my dog off a bum on the street without thorough research. These people have only "read" of akitas, not actually owned one.  This is my second akita, if you count my half breed I rescued. I've been researching akitas and been wanting one for over 5 years now. My friend in Houston breeds and showed akitas so I asked her tons of questions and had tons of exposure to them (I'm no expert, but I certainly know as much as one can from reading and asking people).

People have even said, "are you sure you will be able to handle him? maybe an akita wasn't a good idea. I know they are pretty, but they take a [insert whatever adjective they think I'm not here] owner." Gee, guys, this is my SECOND akita, my FIFTH asian spitz, and I'm not in highschool!! People have even asked me if it was my parents' pup! Or if we take him to the park, everyone has to give me advice about what shots I should give him. They assume that I havent' taken him to a vet. Several women on different occassions have come up to me and said "what kind of dog is that? an akita! oh, I've heard they are aggressive. You should take him to obedience class! Have you taken him to a vet? It's very important that puppies get their shots and you can't just go once, you have to go several times. Well...good luck with him, you're going to need it!" or "How old is your pup? 12 weeks? Has he received his rabies yet? No?! Why not! You are going to kill your dog! He needs to get his rabies. Oh, your vet said he's too young? well, your vet isn't as good as my vet. you shouldn't go to a discount vet." Well, I was told that rabies isn't given untli they are at least 4 months by...everyone! but, I guess you're the expert lady!

Oh, a vet? I was supposed to take him to a vet? really?!? I took him to a vet within 24 hours of picking him up from the breeder. I've already spent hundreds at the vet (mostly due to Seattle's ridiculous inflation rates!) and I've only had him for 4 weeks. I've chipped him, dewormed him, gave him his shots, done fecal exams, wellness exams, etc. I even spent hours and hours researching and calling vets/pet store owners before I got him to find out which vet would be the best for me and my pup.

If you are an expert on akitas, please, by all means, talk to people with akitas, give them information. this type of info is extremely appreciated. but if you have only heard of akitas, or don't have a clue on akitas, please don't assume that you are an expert and start dispensing advice. Also, not everyone is an idiot or as inexperienced as you think they are. Even if I were 19, there are 19 year olds in the show ring who have won! If you're not an expert, don't act like one! (sorry for the rant, I'm just so fed up!)

Hello everyone:

I currently have two large breed dogs. One is a 12 week old akita and one is a 5 1/2 year old akita/shepherd mix. My older dog is currently receiving Flexicose (after doing a lot of research, I think that this is a great product).

However, my trainer for my pup recommended shark cartilage and vitamin C (2500mg). I was wondering if anyone else has used shark cartilage (and if so, what brand). I did some research online and came across Level 5000 Liquid Health (http://www.allpetsconsidered.com/xq/aspx/pID.92/id.1/catid.7/subid.53/page./qx/productdetails.htm) and was wondering if anyone has used this. I've heard good things about Liquid Health's Glucosamine formula, but only from the pet store that was trying to sell it to me.

Also, is giving my 12 week old pup shark cartilage going to help him at this young age? The vet I go to is great, but she doesn't have much experience with akitas (in fact, there aren't a lot of akitas where I live at all) and I don't know how much experience she has with show dogs (not sure if that makes a difference).

Anyway, just wondering if anyone has any first hand experience with these supps and can recommend a certain brand. In the seas of brands, I'm not sure which ones to trust (as, sadly, vitamins/supplements are becoming a great market for rip off companies looking to make a quick buck).

Thanks in advance!