Posted on 08/25/2012 12:03:35 PM PDT by KeyLargo
Tongues Are Wagging After Snub of Pentagon's Top Dog Leads to Marine Corps Promotion
Some Say Chesty's Conduct With Defense Secretary's Golden Retriever Was Unbecoming; Pats From the Commandant
WASHINGTON—The Marines won't say it out loud, but everyone knows that Cpl. Chesty got promoted to sergeant this summer not for being a good Marine, but for his in-your-muzzle confrontation with the top dog in the Pentagon.
Just two weeks before his promotion, the Marine Corps mascot, an English bulldog formally known as Chesty XIII, had a run-in with Bravo, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's golden retriever. Chesty, usually known for happily mugging for photos with kids, revealed his inner grunt when he spotted the larger dog at the conclusion of a pomp-filled military parade held in honor of the Pentagon chief. Chesty growled, barked and ignored his choke-chain of command as he went nose-to-nose with Bravo.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and his dog Bravo with Chesty in May.
As Chesty's growl erupted into an angry bark, an officer urgently whispered in the ear of his handler, Sgt. Chris Harris: "Keep the leash tight."
That kind of breach of decorum at the headquarters barracks, where the top generals and their wives reside, could have been career-ending for most Marines.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
It’s apparent, however, that the Bulldog does not get serious training as any REAL working MIL battle dog would.
Never mind the Golden (not that I’m surprised at that).
Not to mention being a kook who has publicly stated his belief in UFO’s and alien abductions......
No sympathy whatever for Panetta. Goldens are intelligent, sensitive people-pleasers and excel in obedience. (if you want an agility dog, get a border collie. If you want a retriever, get a lab. If you want an obedience dog, get a golden.)
If Panetta were willing to put in minimal work, that dog would stick to him like velcro.
Hi pops88, Thanks for the picture of a ‘real’ dog. Best dog we ever were owned by was a German Shepherd. She was much smarter than we were. That good girl did her best to educate us while keeping us safe.
TL
Love these Doggie Pings
I'm a Lab person, but I have seen some great field Goldens. Of course they have different bloodlines from the big-headed show Goldens, but Panetta's looks something like a field dog (a/k/a "those little red dogs" or "swamp collies").
HRCH UH Half Moon Lock 'n' Load OTCH MH UDX (500 Point Club). Best field Golden I am personally acquainted with. By the way, he beat Coonhound Paralysis and made a full recovery.
Good grief! Put your dog in something a little less metrosexual, k?
Like, say, this:
Understated, yet manly (my Labs wear plain saddle leather collars with brass nameplate.) The Psycho and the Baby wear prong collars, but the Choc is letter-perfect in obedience and goes in a plain leather collar.
Agreed! Down to the girl and good! “You need a real dog!”
Well stated.
The lead also shows what kind of person you are. Those little nylon flats never control anything - so obviously, you are not about any discipline.
Likewise those damned extend-i-leashes. I hate those things. “This says, ‘I have absolutely no control over my dog.’”
If your dog takes off (and they always do, because as you say that leash is an indicator of "no control") and the cord gets wrapped around your finger, it will take the finger OFF.
I just cut to the chase and use an E-collar. "Reach out and touch someone." They work great. I just use the audible tone and that's enough to remind the girls that they need to sit now.
(no I'm not. We worked for three solid years to get the Psycho through her Seasoned tests, and that was the first of three straight passes for her HR title).
“Golden is a good dog for kids, but they are not just that.”
I’m well aware. I had an in-law that bred them. I wasn’t dissing the dog. I was dissing Panetta. Nothing says “strong sense of national security” than a “loves everyone” Golden. /sarc
If Bravo were an alert, head-high field Golden, with his shoulder glued to Panetta's left knee, prancing a little as he heeled and watching for birds (or whatever) to fly out, now that might actually be a pretty neat dog for a SoD to have.
(That's a TopBrass dog. No better field Goldens.)
But it's obvious that Panetta doesn't have the discipline, ability, or knowledge to produce that dog. Which doesn't speak well for him.
“Maybe it’s ‘nothing says strong sense of national security like a loves-everyone, nose-in-everything, leash-pulling, UNTRAINED Golden!”
Indeed. I have virtually no respect for people that have no control of their dogs. (Note to self- Step away from the keyboard and don’t rant about dog clothes, strollers, purses or retractable leashes....)
I was ragged mercilessly for the Psycho's bright green, monogrammed, polypro Orvis turtleneck dog sweater.
But (1) She has no body fat to speak of, and the water was freezing in the dog bowls that morning; (2) I got it at the Orvis warehouse sale out of the return bin for $5. With the Psycho's call name already embroidered on it.
I live in Vegas. I was talking about Chihuahua’s in pink ruffled skirts that I’ve seen too many times. Sometimes clothes are appropriate. My shepherd has booties for when he has to walk on black top in the summer.
Where can you get good dog boots? I tried some from REI but they didn't fit very well.
Golden Retirevers are conservative through and through by nature. Bravo may have just been confused. Who wouldn’t be, if they had to live with Panetta?
I got my Shepherd “Muttluks All Weather Boots” after doing a lot of Internet research. They were well made, heavy duty and not too hard to put on after the first time. My dog didn’t have a problem with wearing them, but he may have just appreciated not having his feet burned on the blacktop.
And about those rat dogs, I saw two women in Walmart one day I soooo wanted to go off on that had their rats dressed up and in their purses. Made me want a license to kill.
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