In a Baz Lurhman movie, there is a line by the heroine, which was.... "A life lived in fear is a life half lived." Of course, she was trying to tell the hunky dancer to follow his heart, and his dreams, even if he went against conventional dancing.
But the line can be taken in many other ways to. "A life lived in fear...." Watching the TV screens yesterday with the violent clashes in Sydney (and in other countries), made me very fearful. I was absolutely petrified that such violence and aggression has hit our shores, and what does this mean for our community. The quiet and meek can easily be belted down by such aggressive and violent outbursts. We all try to co-exist happily in our society, and then it explodes into lunacy by a few. And then it will go back to quiet again, when those who were violent justify their actions. And those who watched in fear, will live their life in fear.
There is no justification for violence other than self defence.
I will be fearful of these violent people, and the speed that they can be provoked to anger. A life lived in fear....
Our pets feel the same way. They are often fearful of the world around them. Many pets are scared of the vets.... and act violently in some cases. We call them "fear biters". A small movement can provoke them into biting. Is this acceptable? No. Is it understandable? Yes. Is it preventable? Yes - the more visits they have (not less), then the more likely they see the vets as a happy place to go to - a haven of liver jerky treats, and pats.
Many pets are scared of, or threatened by, other dogs - and they will lunge at them, snapping. Sometimes, their snapping jaws will hit their target, and another pet will be injured. This week I have seen several "dog bite wounds", and all of them have been from same-dog households.
Yet, these dogs will go through periods of happy co-existance until the next stoush. They will eat, run and play together. They will be best mates, and sleep curled up together on the same rug. And then, a trigger point - something that one wants that the other has, or some other trigger, and then its all biting, snapping jaws. A life lived in fear.... for the owners (if they care), for the vet (definitely, as another fight is inevitable), and for the dogs.... for they too know that another fight is inevitable if they continue to co-exist in the same house.
With known fear biters, their owners will often avoid vet visits... these pets will rarely get to the vets, as the owners get too stressed by the fact their pet is petrified, and may need muzzling, or sedating. With inter-dog aggression situations, the only way to not have that happen, is to make the household an only dog household. Simple.
Those dogs who are fearful of other dogs during walks etc, then the advice is to avoid those situations as you don't want the dog getting lots of practice on aggression.
And that is what happens with aggression. The more it gets practiced, the more it becomes part of the normal psyche of oneself. That is a given fact. The more you do something, the better at it you get. And the better you get at justifying your aggressive behaviour in the first place.
But the line can be taken in many other ways to. "A life lived in fear...." Watching the TV screens yesterday with the violent clashes in Sydney (and in other countries), made me very fearful. I was absolutely petrified that such violence and aggression has hit our shores, and what does this mean for our community. The quiet and meek can easily be belted down by such aggressive and violent outbursts. We all try to co-exist happily in our society, and then it explodes into lunacy by a few. And then it will go back to quiet again, when those who were violent justify their actions. And those who watched in fear, will live their life in fear.
There is no justification for violence other than self defence.
I will be fearful of these violent people, and the speed that they can be provoked to anger. A life lived in fear....
Our pets feel the same way. They are often fearful of the world around them. Many pets are scared of the vets.... and act violently in some cases. We call them "fear biters". A small movement can provoke them into biting. Is this acceptable? No. Is it understandable? Yes. Is it preventable? Yes - the more visits they have (not less), then the more likely they see the vets as a happy place to go to - a haven of liver jerky treats, and pats.
Many pets are scared of, or threatened by, other dogs - and they will lunge at them, snapping. Sometimes, their snapping jaws will hit their target, and another pet will be injured. This week I have seen several "dog bite wounds", and all of them have been from same-dog households.
Yet, these dogs will go through periods of happy co-existance until the next stoush. They will eat, run and play together. They will be best mates, and sleep curled up together on the same rug. And then, a trigger point - something that one wants that the other has, or some other trigger, and then its all biting, snapping jaws. A life lived in fear.... for the owners (if they care), for the vet (definitely, as another fight is inevitable), and for the dogs.... for they too know that another fight is inevitable if they continue to co-exist in the same house.
With known fear biters, their owners will often avoid vet visits... these pets will rarely get to the vets, as the owners get too stressed by the fact their pet is petrified, and may need muzzling, or sedating. With inter-dog aggression situations, the only way to not have that happen, is to make the household an only dog household. Simple.
Those dogs who are fearful of other dogs during walks etc, then the advice is to avoid those situations as you don't want the dog getting lots of practice on aggression.
And that is what happens with aggression. The more it gets practiced, the more it becomes part of the normal psyche of oneself. That is a given fact. The more you do something, the better at it you get. And the better you get at justifying your aggressive behaviour in the first place.
