Looking for Dogs

The National Poetry Month Challenge #6 Write a poem about dogs was a little difficult for me. I was all set to do a fun poem about a favorite dog but I was abruptly reminded of the not so positive aspects of the less than domesticated or socialized canine…

There are two sides to every coin
What’s good and bad conjoin
The cattle dog nips at the heel
Good for cows but makes kids squeal
A Rottweiler can pull a cannon’s weight
But on the leash is an undesirable trait
Border collies have a quick mind
That leaves a slow owner far behind
A working breed is hard pressed as a pet
With no mission from the owner set
A shredded cushion or ravaged rug
Boredom’s symptom from Poodle to Pug
Left alone for hours on end
Dogs into bad behavior descend
Incessant barking or the prolonged howl
Poor socialization and at all persons growl
Digging holes or jumping the fence
Running amok at the owner’s expense
Who is to blame for canine villains?
What the cost – thousands or millions?
For every good trait in dogs we praise
There are equal bad ones we can appraise
Consider wisely when selecting a dog
Avoid an Animal Control dialogue!

I’ve seen many good dogs. The good ones far outweigh the rotten ones. But the bad dogs are the ones that make a lasting impression. Working in the Veterinary field I’ve been on the receiving end of some nasty behavior. Many dogs do not enjoy the veterinary setting and they are quick to let you know. Others are on their best behavior. The dogs that earn a place on the “naughty list” are the ones that do not tell you where you stand in their opinion or they deceive you. Case in point, a cocker spaniel would wag his little stump of a tail and act excited to see you. As soon as you were within striking distance the dog would lunge and try to take a chunk of flesh from your body. Some others had a hair trigger. They would be fine one minute and as soon as some stimulus (unknown/unseen) was sensed by the dog they would go into a rage and attack whatever or whoever was handy. Sadly this behavior is so very dangerous and these dogs can never be trusted. Some dogs are just plain untrained. It is usually a tiny dog. The owners think that a 5 pound dog doesn’t need to be trained to sit or stay. They are not taught manners and will jump up and scratch and claw at people, growl and bite at ankles or hands. The owners laugh it off – until the dog injures someone. Even then they announce “How bad can it be? She is only 5 (10, 15) pounds. She was just playing a little rough. You scared her…”