There's a WHOLE lot to say about that, including information I've gleaned from a friend who's a former K9 officer/trainer (and she already knew about this case, too).

First and foremost, it really depends on the dog. Some dogs are gonna piss if you just look at them sideways. Others, like my Ridgie, have to be reminded EVERY FUCKING TIME that they are NOT Alpha Bitch, I AM. However, I rarely ever hit. I "bite" with my hands, I scold, I shame, I use my body to have discussions. Simple things like stepping into her space lets her know that *I* own that space, I own ALL space. The problem is teaching her with other people who often not only allow her to walk all over them (literally and figuratively) but often REWARD the very behavior that will become very problematic, especially with a large dog.

I've basically extrapolated some of what I've learned training horses and other dogs with my big girl. She is, by FAR, the toughest fucking dog I have ever worked with. Tougher even than Rotties, than GSDs, than Aussies and Heelers and Border Collies and Shelties and Labradors. This bitch is TOUGH, and I can totally see why she was turned in to Animal Control twice before she was even 6mths old. Fuckin' bitch.

I actually really like Cesar Milan, he's got a way with dogs. He can read their behavior INSTANTLY. Most people I know completely miss the little signals dogs send, raising the tail and head informing you that they're taking the dominant position, or signaling that they're giving in to you (yet people will still punish a submissive dog simply because they don't know how to read their behavior). Dogs are innately tied to human beings in a way no other animal, domesticated or otherwise, are. They can read our signals and behavior because that's essentially what they were selected over millenia to do. I LOVE DOGS. I love lots of animals, though, and I guess that's what's gotten me into so much trouble.

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Ron Paul doesn't deliver babies.
He reads them the Bill of Rights until they crawl their way to freedom!

That dude....ugh people sicken me. He needs to be treated JUST as he treated that dog. THEN get thrown in jail for a while for time to reflect on what he did.

Yep, the dog whisperer is a cool dude. I agree with you guys, a little physicality is what it takes sometimes. Sometimes my boy will swing his head around and give me a bloody lip, and I have to stop and think, "was he trying to hurt me?" and calm myself down. But he knows play time is over after that.

I think larger dogs require it more often, because if you don't get them to stop a behavior immediately it can sometimes be extremely dangerous. Especially around small children.

I knew a guy who worked on a ranch up north. He would have a couple dogs with him at all times driving around in his pick up. Every once in a while, a new dog would hang it's front legs over the side of the bed, and if he saw it, he would pull the wheel hard and the dog would fly out. This is going maybe 15 mph mind you. But that dog would never do that again. If you do something that results in pain, it's a good reason not to do it again, right?

That being said, I want to clarify that the dude kicking that dog should go spend some time with his buddies in the pen.

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Hey Mr. Carter, tell me, where have you been?

The trooper kicking the dog was using no good training technique. He was locked in a battle with Ricoh for the dog's toy, the bit of firehose. I know that some GSDs can be extremely stubborn, but as a small woman who can handle 1200lbs. of horse just fine (ok, not as easily as I used to, but I'm now a gimp) I KNOW that there are ways of winning the battle without resorting to such "techniques".

Also, part of the guy's problem is that the dog was essentially doing what it was trained to do -- remain absolutely persistent despite strong negative reinforcement. While I haven't worked with that particular dog, and only one GSD, I really REALLY prefer positive reinforcement and other behavior modification methods that don't require physical pain be administered. If the dog wasn't giving up the toy, it's also because the dog didn't see the trooper as his superior, he likely saw him as his equal. That's a dangerous thing with such a powerful dog and the trooper should know what the signals are BEFORE it gets to the point where he can't get the fucking toy from the dog without resorting to beating it. I have these sorts of battles with my Ridgie all the God damned time, and putting her on the ground underneath me while I have her neck in a "bite" works wonders for realigning her molecules and such.

The dog truck story is funny, though. It reminds me of when my old dog was younger and I had a truck. She insisted on standing despite being clumsy, and it only took a tap of the brakes to get her to "lie down" again.

__________________
Ron Paul doesn't deliver babies.
He reads them the Bill of Rights until they crawl their way to freedom!

According to the local press in NC, there were 10 canine officers on the state police. The Governor has ordered ALL of them (nine remaining) suspended on administrative duties. Apparently, Trooper Jones was doing the general routine of the department. However, he must have taken further than was the norm. So the Governors take is this, the whole system is broke.

you know what, those dogs have came after me. Fuck them and those officers. Whichever one, the beater, the snitch, the leader, I dont care.

I shouldn't of even watched this I am so pumped up right now. I've met some jackass cops in my life but this one is in the top 10. Would but the part that pisses me off even worse is what does the other guy do try to stop him pulls out his cell phone and records the shit. I mean of course we now have evidence he is a jackass but I mean I would have most likely asked the guy WTF his thought he was doing.

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Honestly, I believe in the freedom of speech; thus, if I so choose to slander myself on the internet it is my choice.

This just goes to show that this one guy I knew was always right. He ALWAYS used to say to me, "Police often have a mindset that is exactly like a criminal, they're just one step on the other side of the line. Some of them cross that line and ARE criminals."

I firmly believe that power corrupts incorruptibly. I also believe that certain professions attract certain people and certain types of people. Y'all with me here? I know good cops, bad cops and former cops, a lot of firefighters and similar public servants, and there is a HUGE difference in personalities between police and fire/paramedic. HUGE.

__________________
Ron Paul doesn't deliver babies.
He reads them the Bill of Rights until they crawl their way to freedom!

if he went to jail he would get jumped lol

Hang that dog up there, and I'll kick him again.