input, pls - Page 3

It sounds like you already have the answer and do not want anyone else to tell you how they feel. I agree with DR. The dog can not tell a real threat and that makes him quit dangerous. I also agree that responsible dog ownership says to keep doors locked and keep your dog from hurting anyone at all times. The dog should have barked first or even growled before doing a full attack on the woman. Sounds like this dog is very weak nerved and should be spayed now befor it can produce more like it. just my thoughts!

I thought we trained out dogs everytime the sleeve moves the dog bites it???? sounds like the dog did what comes natural......and if hes not been introduced to Schutzhund, then maybe ur friend needs to get busy and get the dog in training, or sell the dog to you....the dog only did what it should have done......the woman was a fool not to have dropped the boxes and slamed the door and waited for the owner to come to the door...Glad I have a locked gate , of course fools do jump over fences.......

The locked front door issue is one that I fight with my family about all the time. Our adult children want to just walk into the house when they visit, without knocking. Although the dogs I have now have met them, if I had a new dog, or someone new came with THEM and he walked in first, they could get bitten. But unless I make sure the door is locked, they don't ever listen and walk right.

walk right in. It's pretty hard to cover all the bases. I think I got into a discussion with desertranger about that very thing once, in another thread?

I am only suggesting that she be careful and that if she wants a dog like this she will have to be fully responsible for it, regardless if she is present or not. I came on strong to make my point. This may be a great dog, I was concerned that it hackles were raised though. A selling point for a Sch trained dog is that they reckonize a threat. I have heard people say that hundreds of times, so no a Sch dog should have not done that.. I don't think this dog ever had Sch training?

AKVeronica You make agood point in that you are in control of your dog and realize the necessity of kids/friends not just walking into your house. It's great to have a dog you can trust to defend but the owner has to be careful and responsible.

Ok, that's a fair question. I admit I wasn't clear on the biting when she tried to enter. Let me back up. From what the visitor said, she was in the process of entering. Opened the door while yelling to my friend. As she was doing this he wrapped his leg around the door and pulled it open more quickly and bit her as she was stepping in.  I can only assume that she would have backed out but was too far past the doorway. As long as she stood still he just watched her. If she tried to proceed further into the house than the entryway (what I should have said instead of tried to enter the house, as she was inside the house the entire time) he would bite once and step back.

Once again this is not my dog so I dont have a pony in this race. I'm trying to make it very clear that I am attempting to understand why it is a bad thing for a dog to bite and hold a strange intruder.  I have a W. German showline. Not a working line.  She would bark her head off and then lick all over someone, I'm assuming. But, just to be safe I will keep my own doors open in the future.

As I stated before, I agree that it would have been a good idea for her to have the door locked.  Absolutely.  That is not what I don't understand.  

If you read my former posts on the board you will see I want to understand the "why" of things.  Why is this different than  Sch  as far as holding the person to one spot? Why wouldn't a dog see an intruder as a threat?  I am not challenging what any one is saying. Really. I'm trying to figure it out. 

I would see this as being weak nerved if he indiscrimately mauled her non stop.  But he, apparhently (sp?) was very calm about it and was intent on keeping her from proceeding deeper into the house.  If the conscensus is that it was not a threat, please some one tell me why it's not. I know I would see it as a threat if I was watching tv upstairs and come down to find a stranger in my house.

I am not this dog's owner. I really wanted to be but didn't get him. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't.  It's not a matter of not hearing the answer I want as it's really not my dog!!  I'm friends with all the involved parties and the reason I even brought it up was to understand.  Remember, I bought my dog from Fleischerheim? Only other dog I have is a Havanese.

I'm only too happy to warn her.  I don't want to see anyone hurt either.  But, if she asks why it shouldn't have been seen as a threat, I want to know what to say. I've already suggested she make up a "be aware of the dog" sign with a picture of a shepherd to put on the front and back doors.

And yes, the visitor is a great, bighearted person who could have been a real jerk about the whole thing.

Crud, make that I'll keep my own doors locked in the future. Tried to edit for clarity and botched it in the post.

lol I am not sure why the friend would keep trying to proceed into your house after being bitten? You would think she would be trying to get out? That does make a difference. Maybe she panicked? Most dogs do not "key' on a woman as fast as they would a male. A natural instinct of dogs as they realize men to be be more of a threat than a woman. Sorry if I came across as a jerk but everyone was telling you the positive about the dog and I believe you need to see the negative also. Again, this might be a great dog but needs to be watched. Fleischerheim has really nice dogs. Hope I helped alittle anyway..

Let me ask a question. Any chance the dog was asleep close to the door when the friend opened the door and yelled? If so this could expalin the behavior.