Do you think... - Page 2

Two moons, " stranger proof?" " socialize"? please explain what you mean. Are you saying your dogs are inviting to strangers who come to your house? I posted this after Don spoke about the top dog getting stolen out of her own livingroom.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guaranteed it could happen to a lot of them.

Watson

Anything can be stolen.  If someone can steal art from a gallery, a dog can be taken out of a backyard.  Hell, if i wanted I could steal a tiger from a zoo with some tranquilizers, tools and a cart.

Good point Don...and immyjay.       But it doesnt have to be easy.

watsogsd I socialize my dogs alot,  take them everywere.  They know that in my presence the people I get near are exceptable.   They know not to eat my meter reader or mail man.  They love the UP's man, something about that damned brown truck.   But at around age two I hire strangers to come to my house and show the dogs what a bad guy is.

Its not hard to find people I dont socialize with who would never visit me otherwise to act as the bad guys.  I use some of the methods described in William Koehler's books and some of my own.  I also poison proof my dogs  to some degree.

Nothings 100% fool proof .

TWO MOONS,could you please enlighten me a bit as to some of the methods you use,especially for food (poison).You can do it privatly also if you choose to.Thanks ,this is something that i've been struggling with myself cause on one hand we are trying to socialise our dogs but then does that cause these kinds of problems as far as poison,dog theft etc.Thats why i personally like a bit of sharpness in a dog.

I think a lot of people would probably be surprised how easily someone could come onto your property and knowing just a little about dogs, could possibly take your dog with no problem.

I do believe Savage would be easy to take.  Apache however, I'm not so sure on.  She is very intimidating but, who is to say when it really happens?

Domenic, 

You use strangers always.  The dog can never know your involved.  It takes some setting up.

I would rather you went to a library and checked out William Keohler's books.    I dont swear by his books but they do offer some different methods than you may not be used to hearing.   The book's are hard to read but you can glean thru them.

You may not agree with all his methods.  Look for The Koehler Method of Guard Dog Training, he has several books.

He passed away I cant remember how long ago.

My old male likes letting people in the yard when i'm not at home. The only problem (for them) is that he doesn't let them out until i'm back! He just sat infront of the gate and showed them his nice big teeth!

I have a 1 year old and a 3 1/2 month GSD along with 2 Border Terriers.  The terriers know if there's a mole in the yard at 2 am.  They alert to anything crossing into their territory.  When they are in invasion mode Drake can be pretty serious, he's the one dog back-up crew.  He is very well socialized and friendly with anyone I meet but don't invade his home or territory.  I think this can be said of any typical GSD, very protective of their charges.  Once the pup is grown I don't think I'd have to worry about him either.  Anyone could tranquilize a dog and take it but my dogs are never out if I'm not at home and when I build my outdoor runs they will be locked to the outside.

I used to deliver for a moving company and one day I ended up at these peoples back door trying to make contact.  I heard this awful growl just as I noticed puppies in the corner.  I was surrounded on three sides by walls, the outer wall was a barrier wall six feet high and about two feet short of the ceiling.  The growl was coming from this enormous St. Bernard standing behind me in the opening and she was NOT HAPPY AT ALL.   This guy finally came to the door and I crawled down off this wall and he told me he was curious what the dog would do.    I was almost a meal and he was curious....