I’ve been driving a truck and working on people’s houses for 22 years. I’ve met thousands of dogs. I’ve even been bitten a few times (my fault, because I’m a “pet the doggie” kind of guy). I’ve never felt that my life was threatened, or that I was even in danger of being maimed. They shoot Jack Russells, for Pete’s sake. Anything that barks is just an excuse for target practice. I just live my life such that I have little or no contact with them. Your day will hardly ever be better if it involves law enforcement in any capacity.
It’s time police officers had some training in dog handling. I’ve never been bitten by a dog. I make friends with them. I’ve angered dog owners by being friends with their “big mean guard dogs”, not professionally trained dogs but just big mean dogs.
The first time was when I was picking up a carburetor for a friend. I didn’t know the man but found the address. There was a fence and two Rottweilers, they didn’t look friendly. I went down to one knee and talked softly. I let them sniff my hand through the fence. I avoided looking them in the eye. They were soon comfortable, I slowly entered the yard and rubbed their ears, walked up to the screen door with a dog on either side, petting their heads. The man freaked out.
Ain't that the truth? I have long ago decided that I will never call the police unless there's a body on the front lawn, and then I will secure my dogs in a locked room before I telephone.
And lucky for me that I have no nearby neighbors.