Opinion on Prospective Import from our local experts. - Page 3

'..short lived sire and so on.'
Prager, are you dense or don't you comprehend English? The sire broke his penis during breeding and had to be euthanized. Yeah, it stands to reason some one who makes their livelihood selling dogs would advise a dog owner to go ahead and get another pup, regardless of their ownership ability. That kind of advice is why the pounds are overflowing with unwanted dogs.

You make it appearant to the world, through your posts, that you epitimize 'moralizing'. But, hey, got to grab every opportunity to sell them dogs. Right?

Mithuna, it is good to read that you and your girl will be starting formal training next week. She's a pretty girl, you are obviously crazy about her, and I have no doubts that she has the potential to be a good dog for your purposes. I would be lying if I didn't admit to fearing for her well-being after the incident on the beach, just because the city is a busy place and as a former NJ resident who spent a lot of time in NYC as well, it's also full of VERY litigious people who are just looking for an opportunity to sue someone if there's any chance of getting some money out of it. Even something as minor as a scratch from her toenails would be enough to set some people to pull out their personal injury attorney's contact info.  I wish you and her great success in the training, and hope you'll brag on her  here as she progresses through the work.

Hexe

The incident  on the beach was an unfortunate occurence that I never expected.. At the time of the indicent she was some  distance ( probably 30-40 feet )  from me and she  exploring the shore; she was never  personally threatened by the person. The person was walking towards me ( swinging a guitar case ), ahd when they got within 20 feet of me, she just darted past me and went straight to them grabbing the person's coated arm. I ran towards them both and I shouted to the person " don't move ", I pulled her off and I apologized that she was only a puppy.

Tonite ( 830 pm ),  we were in the dark Foret  Park and we accidentally bumped into two NYPD horses on patrol. She was on a 25 feet leash ,and as usual she ran to the front and put on a mini " fire works " show, but luckily the horses did not bolt.I am fully  aware of the lawsuits risks, but on a personal level Im not so sure if her instinctive willingness to run to the front of things ( and engage ) ( on the beach she had all the chance to run away, and on the 25 ft leash she could have retreated to the end of it ) is such a bad or undesirable thing. In fact one of the schutzund trainers from Brooklyn had mentioned that she had a pretty high threshold for avoidance for her age. With training I would see if this willingness of hers comes with clear headedness as wel .

And yes we are crazy about her; she has always lived  in the house, sleeps on our bed ( she ripped her own a few months ago ), and goes nearly everywhere with us in the car ( except work and  the temple). And every few days my wife gives her some chummy  "new " pet name.

 A young puppy that is charging and engaging every single thing it comes into contact with is not doing it out of testicular, or in this case, ovarian fortitude, its simply a sharp dog with weak nerves who views everything as a threat that must be engaged before it hurts her, end of.

Had that stranger on the beach pulled a gun and shot that dog, I would have for sure had any dog attacked me, you may have thought different about it. Had one or both officers shot a dog tonight that was charging their horses, you may have had a change of mind about how willing she is to attack everything. Had she been trampled by a 1200 pound horse tonight, you may have thought different about putting this dog on a harness and a 25 foot lead. What about if one of those horse did spook and bolt and as a result one of the officers or an innocent person got hurt or killed, what would you think then?

It is my belief that the reason you are posting here is not to seek advice, many people much more experienced then you have offered it, yet, you offered excuse after excuse for your animal's behavior based on what you want to see, not what is actually staring at you. You sir are looking for validations to your beliefs, not offers for help. This is my first and last post on this thread as I like to spend my time more constructively.

Mithuna, if I thought you were expecting her to confront the neutral stranger--and that IS what the guy was, guitar-case or not--and had let her off her lead anyway, I wouldn't waste another firing of a synapse addressing you, because I try not to engage absolute jerks once they've been identified. I know you were taken off-guard, and that's precisely the reason I described your girl as being "naturally civil"--and no, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it CAN be in the hands of an owner who doesn't know what to do with that trait.

Having pulled a number of dogs out of the NYC Center for Animal Care & Control when I lived back East, I can tell you unequivocably that they don't give a civil dog that comes in as a stray a second longer than the mandatory 72 hr hold, so if a resue group hasn't stepped up by the time the hold ends, the dog is usually put down the minute it ends; and a civil owner-surrender may get 24 hrs, unless they are overcrowded [which they usually are] before being euthanized.  It is for precisely this reason I have concerns for this girl, so you really need to step up your game to ensure that she has no opportunity to engage with or even stand-off someone who is NOT actively threatening you again. Had she taken a dive at the NYPD horses, or any other horse that was being casually ridden through the park, you could have found her being limited to a four-foot leash and full-snout muzzle anytime you had her outside of your apartment; had sh actually bitten one of the horses, you could have found yourself with a destruction order being handed down for her.  When you have her out for exercise, it's on YOU to be more aware of your surroundings and what's in them than SHE is, so you see the potential hazards for her BEFORE she sees them.  That's the only way you will be ready to react and retain control over the situation, and keep her safe. Please do this for her.

 

not a bad thing that she instinctively runs up and barks/engages random people minding their business? man you are going to have your eyes opened when you try to do bitework with this dog. 

 I hate to pile on here because I am convinced the OP really loves this dog and is somewhat like the parent who sees no wrong in his bullying child's bad behavior. I don't see this dog's being able to accomplish even the most basic of titles, the Canine Good Citizen, and she will never be able to pass the GSDCA's temperament test if she continues to rule the family status quo. I'm not an IPO person but have trained a few of my dogs in bitework and I don't see this dog being able to do that either. If this enabling her bad behavior continues and the advise given here to get her to a qualified trainer ASAP is not heeded, this dog will never be anything but a dangerous pet and a liability. I once lived with a similar GSD and it was not a fun thing; I spent 8 years keeping him from biting people.

Sorry to be blunt, Mithuna, I believe you are a good person and sincere about wanting your dog to be the best she can, but you are enabling an accident about to happen. Been there, I can see it coming.  If you won't do more, at least acquaint yourself with the "Nothing in Life is Free" way of dealing with a problem dog. Get rid of the harness  and put her in a dominant dog collar or a fursaver where  you have some control over her. A harness is not proper walking gear for a GSD. Allowing her to sleep in your bed is not wise either.  She needs to not be allowed to be on the furniture either. She must understand that she is not your equal; you are the leader of the pack, not her. GSD's are take advantage dogs and if you don't soon take over, it is going to be a very  unhappy ending for both of you.

I wish you the best with her.