Biting is funny???

[britishbandit]

NO, I DON'T THINK SO! I actually got quite peeved off about this. I was watching "America's Funniest Home Videos" earlier today, and they actually had a series of clips of animals (mainly dogs) biting people! I really don't see this as being funny at all. I've watched the show on and off for years, and usually see cute and funny things dogs and other animals do. I've actually found it quite amusing. This just killed the show for me, I can't believe they'd even air that. I sat watching this series of "funny" clips thinking, "do people really find this funny?". I just think it's pretty sick, and turned the show off early today. This wasn't even the weekly $10,000 show, it was the $100,000 show. I've never heard of a dog bite "winning" you money before. AARRGGHHH!

[britishbandit]

Oh, and don't you have to win a weekly show to have your clip entered in the final? That would mean like 20 people won $10000 cause their pet or an animal bit them! What is the world coming to?

[Carrie]

How weird. Was the dog biting in play? Or was it a ornery bite? Strange to think that people might start encouraging their dogs to act like that after seeing the show. (if they're really stupid)

[Nulla_Nulla]

That is totally weird... :S

[britishbandit]

Originally Posted by Carrie

How weird. Was the dog biting in play? Or was it a ornery bite? Strange to think that people might start encouraging their dogs to act like that after seeing the show. (if they're really stupid)

No, these weren't play bites. There was one dog that looked like a Pomeranian, the owner was holding it and leaned close to give it a kiss and it growled, and made about 3 repeated snaps at her nose/face, she threw the dog to the ground off of a couch. There were a few others similar to this one. Another was a lab or retriever, that just got up from a lay down and bit a guy right in the crotch. This wouldn't have upset me if it was all in play and little accidental nips. And I agree, this could encourage "stupid people" to actually try to get their dogs to act like this to try and win some money. I honestly couldn't believe my eyes.

[GoldenPup]

Originally Posted by britishbandit

Another was a lab or retriever, that just got up from a lay down and bit a guy right in the crotch.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one bothered by that! I have noticed that...and its scary and sad!
THough, there is one like the above...that it seems the man taught the dog to do that, though the golden/lab dog probably wasn't biting...but targeting? The dog didn't appear to be saying "I'll bite" in any way shape or form..The man acted like he was in pain...and I highly doubt he was really in pain. It seemed like bad acting to me? But that makes it all the worse...people are attempting that in order to have a chance to be on there!
Is it suprising that so many people get by dogs?...I don't know.
GoldenPup

[BellFounder]

thats stupid that people are ignorant enough to think thats funny. Dogs chasing their tail and falling over - walking into glass doors, now thats funny. Biting is not funny It's upsetting that people can make money from this, doesnt set a very good example.

[rottnpagan]

My husband has forbid me from watching it because I can't stay quiet with my 'Way to teach aggression!' remarks.

Just like this video , in which we encourage resource guarding. Granted it's funny because it's going after its own foot, but what if that foot becomes a kid's hand? Not so funny anymore, is it?

[Carrie]

Dogs chasing their tail and falling over - walking into glass doors, now thats funny.

I don't even think that's funny. My poor little clutzy Lyric walked so hard into the corner of a door, that I thought he really hurt himself. Of course, I ran and "Ohhhhh, you pooooooor baby." I think anything that makes fun of a dog's misadventures or rotten behavior taught by stupid people is not nice. It's not the dog's fault.

Now tricks where the dog has happily learned somthing is another thing or something inadvertant which doesn't hurt the dog mentally or physically can be funny. For instance...I love how my little Chi tosses her kibble up and away and then goes and does a few spins and bends her body and hops in a series of side steps to the kibble and does it all over again. She flat out entertains herself and me with this little self taught trick. It makes a pretty funny little side show. She does it with little pieces of snow or ice outside...just has a ball. LOL.

[britishbandit]

Originally Posted by GoldenPup

THough, there is one like the above...that it seems the man taught the dog to do that, though the golden/lab dog probably wasn't biting...but targeting?

Granted, this one did not look as aggressive as the snarling snappers in the other clips. If it was trained, the guy in the clip truly is a moron, or just enjoys pain. The dog came full force and even the impact without teeth would have been painful. The dog lunged from about 15 feet away. I have seen on occasion little "nips" similar. This one "took the cake".

Just like this video , in which we encourage resource guarding. Granted it's funny because it's going after its own foot, but what if that foot becomes a kid's hand? Not so funny anymore, is it?

Definately not funny, and that is a serious problem. I'd definatley not be giving the dogs treats and contacting a behaviourist. If a dog can't trust his own limbs, you're right, a kids hand would stand NO chance.

You can count me "out" as well, I am done with these shows. I guess I only used to watch it for the actually funny animal clips and the funny kid stuff. The best was 2 babies sitting side by side with one having the hiccups, the other laughing every time...cute, completely innocent & funny. I never did "get" why some of these clips ended up top 3 before, usually none of the money winners clips are ACTUALLY funny. Seeing one "good" clip over 10 that aren't just isn't worth it. In no way do I want to promote a show that hands out money (of all things) for rewarding pets and owners with dangerous behaviour.

[chocolatecoffee]

I hate shows like that. For some reason, they seem to think that someone hurting themselves (humans and animals) is funny, I can't stand to watch them. I used to watch them if nothing else was on, but now I'd rather be staring at a blank TV screen.

It's just like The Planet's Funniest Animals. For some reason, I think that that show loves small, aggressive dogs. It's almost as if they think that since they're small and can't do as much damage, it's not a big deal. If any of my dogs was showing behaviour like that, I wouldn't be sitting there laughing and filming it!

Just like this video , in which we encourage resource guarding. Granted it's funny because it's going after its own foot, but what if that foot becomes a kid's hand? Not so funny anymore, is it?

I completely agree! That dog seriously has problems and should be checked out, it almost seems like it's in pain. I don't find it funny at all, and don't understand how people can sit there just laughing at it.

[britishbandit]

Originally Posted by chocolatecoffee

I used to watch them if nothing else was on, but now I'd rather be staring at a blank TV screen.

I agree, that was the only reason I ever watched it, if nothing else really appealed to me. Think I'll too take the blank screen over the show. I used to like the animal clips because it made my dogs get up and stare at the screen, cocking their head sideways and sometimes whining at it...LOL. But I wouldn't want them watching violence either!!

[Raised By Wolves]

Everytime I watch America's Funnies Animals on Animal Planet, most of what I see are "cute" behavior problems.

[rottnpagan]

Originally Posted by Raised By Wolves

Everytime I watch America's Funnies Animals on Animal Planet, most of what I see are "cute" behavior problems.

Do you find the host to be as annoying as I do? He grates on my nerves. *shudder*

[Raised By Wolves]

Originally Posted by rottnpagan

Do you find the host to be as annoying as I do? He grates on my nerves. *shudder*

Ooops! I meant Planet's Funniest Animals... the writing and the host are both irritating. Animailcall makes me grit my teeth everytime I hear it!