German Shepherd kills mother - Page 2

I'll betcha that's not the whole story... the dog is the scapegoat? Or she fell, hit her head, had a seizure and the dog bit her - but I'll bet he didn't kill her with intent. molly

Excellent post Hodie, Way to many mis-conceptions regarding dogs that are abused or overly aggressive. Some years ago a man wanted me to help him with his Norwegian Elkhound. The dog had run up his wife, attacking her. It was obvious that this was not the first time based on the severity of the attack. This dog was a dominant sharp dog that had been allowed to bully his way around the house and mom and dad simply would not or could not deal with him. Now after several years of him getting more aggressive, and more controlling it came to this. This man did not like my advice to put the animal down. He could not make this decision ( which was not suprising ) I left him with the question " who do you like the most, the dog or your wife" I have no idea what he did, nor did I want to know. I wish I had a dime for every time someone has said this or that dog was Abused, because of his shyness. Shyness is usually genetics or lack of proper socializing at a young age. Abused dogs do not make aggressive attack dogs, on the contrary, if any thing, lack in the confidence to even defend themselves and will only bite as a last resort if then. I only mention this because their is so much misunderstanding around these areas and I know I am preaching to the choir, but I am amazed at how many believe wrong info because that is what they have "always thought". It is also amazing to me how many believe that aggressive, violent youth are so because of Abuse. I know I will take hits on that one, but if nothing else it may open the door for more acute observations and examinations of the facts, not just what I "always thought"

This looks like a dog with some civil aggression who resists correction. In the right hands he might have been very different. I suspect that he knew very well that he was physically superior to his owners and tolerated them as long as they did not push his buttons. This has been covered in other threads by trainers more accomplished than I am. The consensus has been to nip such behavior in the bud by stimulating it and then correcting it strongly. I believe D.H. went into some detail. I am inclined to view most incidents such as this as a mismatch between dog and handler rather than bad dog. Many dogs do what their instincts, temperament, and experience lead them to do. It is incumbent upon us as owners and handlers to keep them out of situations in which their response to stimuli may lead to trouble. Best Wishes, Jonah

Wonder if it was even a GSD - maybe some kind of mix? The article says the dog weighed 120 lbs. The article also said it had attacked the woman before, and she was elderly. This is a horrid case of people ignoring the warning signs.

Nine times out of ten or more a mixed breed with GSD appearing ears is labelled by authorities as a GSD. Because GSD blood is strong some of the GSD features such as head ears, etc. can appear for many generations of mixed breeding. When a dog is identified as a GSD mix it is usually then reported as a GSD when it is nothing of the sort. No well bred GSD is 120 pounds, unless it has malamute or shiloh shepherd blood! Authorities love to promote hysteria in the mases against GSD as a means of justifying their animal control budgets and need to interfere in everyone's lives so they can extract more tax monies.

Yes, Preston you are correct about the mislabeling of mixes being common, but in this case, that does not appear to be the situation. The dog shown in the article most assuredly was a GSD. I routinely see GSDs who are NOT Shilohs or mixes that are much larger than the breed standard. Even more telling is how many people call me wanting to buy a GSD who is huge. I have several GSDs being boarded here now who are purebred and who are well over the standard for height and weight. They are from American bloodlines, but I have seen their pedigrees and they are not mixes. This was, as LaPorte said, a case where people ignored the warning signs. And, as both I and Molly said, perhaps an autopsy will provide more information about the cause of death. None the less, olskookgsd has it right. As far as authorities promoting hysteria against the GSD as a means of justifying their animal control budgets, where do you live? In my country, which contains a major city, the eastern part of the county has essentially NO animal control because there is NO money for enforcement. In our area, it is common for dirt balls to bring their pit bulls out to the east part of the county and leave them chained out without food, water or shelter in 100degree temperatures and blizzards in the winter. Even in this case, there is no hysteria promoted by the authorities. We do not have enough animal control officers in most counties in this state. Our state kennel licensing inspectors are understaffed and overburdened and every tom, dick and harry opens kennels where they animals are not properly cared for. Personally, I would love to see more monies spent out here. Very tragic situation.

I read Molly's post and immediately thought of how one of my guys might have responded if I was in distress. When I broke my tibia and patellar (leg and knee), the recoup time was quite painful, and to bend the knee was an ordeal trying to break up the scar tissue. Every day I spent a couple of hours virtually screaming in this endeavor. Of course, the dogs were upset---I tried my best to alleviate their fears, but one reacted or should I say over-reacted. He was in a frenzy to keep me from hurting myself--My cries would incite him to lick and haphazzardly bite me at the same time. I had to keep reassuring him that I was alright because he was hurting me in an effort to help.(BTW--This wasn't biting me because he saw me as a weak individual when crying---someone might wonder after the interpretations in the 'fun poll' thread.) Just yesterday, he plopped down next to me and his backbone smacked my shin. I loudly yelled 'ouch'. In an effort to make ammends, he was overly rough--jumping on me and again biting my hand and arm haphazzardly as I tried to rub my leg. I had to bite my lip and shut up because in his attempt to say sorry, he was killing me. Probably no one will ever really know what happened to this poor lady. Without having all the facts, and knowing the people involved, it's impossible to make any conclusions. A woman is dead, and it is very sad.

Hodie, you make a good point. I live in the midwest where we have too many taxes and govt tries to operate as a profit making business by passing more and more regulations for everything just to collect more taxes and build power. I too abhor puppy mills where dogs are abuised and idiots who raise dogs to fight (these folks aren't really human and probably have insect or snake brains--a lower state of non-development than normal humans and bottom feeders no less). I feel that the key to good animal control laws is the concept appropriateness and common sense. Punish those who are really in need of major correction and do it quickly and in full force. But do not hassle the pet owner and dog fancier who does a good job caring for his dogs and keeps them under control and not running loose. Unfortunately govt in some areas could care less about stopping puppy mills and animal abuse, they just want to acquire power and overtax the community and they use the false cloak of "protecting the animals" when they could care less about them personally. The AKC has a long history of harming innocent dog owners who have bought dogs from breeders whose paperwork is out of order. Current genetic testing can quickly resolve these problems but the AKC would rather just not register the dogs. Some things never change in govt bureaucracies and "old boy clubs" dominated by bluebloods!

When is a spade called a spade? and the true fact that the dog in question is a POS killer, who needs to be culled. Just because one loves the breed, they shouldnt make excuses for a dog who is a danger to any human around. The abused dogs and Pitbulls used for fighting are as a rule, not the problem. The Pits that kill women and children are shit bred dogs who some ignorant, irresponsible poor excuse for an owner unleashes on the innocent. The posters on the Pitbull boards are all making excuses for this POS child killing cur, and no thought of the poor child. The rationalizing, excuses, if he were in different hands, proper training etc. Not only should this cur be culled in massive fashion, its owner should receive the same fate. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4469753.html

Very well put Hodie. Working at a rescue centre I was always amazed by the many dogs who had been kept totally isolated from humans or abused & yet craved & actively sought human affection. So it's not always abuse, although it can make dogs aggressive, as said by others, I also think it depends on the dogs basic inherited temperament as to whether abuse will make it a danger or a pathetic wreck. My Mum bred a litter years ago & kept 2 pups, when adult one began to turn on all the other dogs & one day he turned on my mum & put her in hospital with 22 bite wounds. She had raised him from birth. He was PTS. We later discovered his GG grandsire had turned on his handler & caused serious damage. GSD's are a big, powerful breed, who react to situations very quickly. People should consider their own personal physical abilites & strength when they live with a dog of questionable temperament. We should always put our own safety before our sentimentality towards dogs. This is a tragic story but lets not forget all the wonderful GSD's who search & find missing persons, who may be elderly or in a bad way, and those who lead the blind.