input, pls - Page 4

You weren't being a jerk.  I think the problem is you have more of a understanding of what should constitute a threat from a dog's point of view than I do.  What, to you, is easy to have an impression of, is leaving me totally baffled.

I think she (friend #2 the visitor) may very well have panicked as it is very small entryway. Maybe she was just trying to get out of the small space.  When I talked to each of them on the day of they were both shaken up so I didn't press for all the details. I was just glad the bites were minor and it was not worse than it was.

Friend #1, the owner was more shaken than the other.  I'm sure you were shaken to see the dog you spoke of attacking the 14 year old. You and my friend were both probably having horrors of what could have happened. I figured this is why you were coming across strong.

So, help me. Did he over react because 1. when she entered she wasn't threatening him directly? or 2. because he didn't try to warn more instead of going directly into a bite or 3. because he was right at the door instead of maybe holding his ground further away?

Would Sch training make this better or would it make it more entrenched?

Yeah, I'm in love with my showline.  She's a sweetie.  I do see her becoming more of a "dog" and less of a puppy (she's 19 mos) lately. I've read they aren't really mature until around three? Is that true? We had a friend over last night she had never met. She said hello and let him pet her but she kept her eyes on him the whole evening. Not staring, just watching. I didn't know she could concentrate that long! I hope she never loses her goofball side at home though.  When there's a neighborhood baseball game in the back yard, the kids make her the catcher so they don't have to chase the ball! And no one can swim in the pool unless she's in there too or she cries. She kills me.

 

As far a sleeping, I don't know if anyone could say.  There are curtains on the door so friend at the door wouldn't see in and friend upstairs wouldn't have seen because of the turn at the top of her stairs.  I think it happened late morning. Maybe he was dozing . But, I think at the door friend said he didn't bark at all before she entered even though she knocked several times. So, maybe not.

I talk to both several times a week, so I'll ask next time I talk to them.

It would have been good to see how the dog reacted but without actually seeing the incident it is hard to say. Question is did the dog bite out of fear, did he bite from being awakened and startled or did he bite as a defense of his territory. The male I had that would bite would never bark either. Most Sch dogs are equipment trained and many without being at the trainng field and seeing a sleeve won't even bite. For most dogs you have to use agitation to get them past the taboo of biting a human. How long had the dog actually lived in your home? IMO he over-reacted to the situation as I think I understand it. If he was laying down in the small hallway and dozing that would explain why he did not bark, maybe he was startled and took a bite. Has he had bite work?

Females mature sooner and are decently mature at two. Many males don't mature until around 3. All I have at this time is a working line 7 yr. old female, I owned her dam who died a few years ago. She is aloof to everyone but me, excellent girl with high prey and food drive. She's hard and excellent nerves. She's a black sable with red. I had a showline female that I had bought for my daughter but once she entered Jr. High quit training her. So I trained her up and sold her, my wife was mad as she was her favorite. But at the time I did not want another female... Let us know what your friends tell you.

The way it sounds... I would think the dog acted on instinct. That door is the opening to the "Den" Unannounced presence is not accepted and unknown presence is certainly not tolerated. She may or may not be ready for this dog, But I would say an ounce of prevention (locking the door) would be worth a pound of cure (hospital bills) In my opinion this dog did nothing wrong, Handler error... not locking the door Visitor error... not knowing what lies behind the door. NO Dog Error, In my OP Best of luck hope things work out.

I still say the dog has been exposed to sch. The dog was doing a bark and hold. I one time purchased a pup from a Police Officer, all sch dogs. He practiced at his home, this pup watched and never took the field. His favorite excerise was the bark and hold. This little shit (at about 4 to 5 months old) was boared one day, I could see him looking for something to do, so I just sat their waiting to see what he may find. My daughter came down the hall, he turned around and looked at me as to say, watch this. He put her into a corner and practiced on her the bark and hold, once she was still he look back at me, see what I can do. Now for all of you na sayers, I bought another one from a different sch breeder, his favorite was the long bite. I started to work him on a long recall in my backyard, He was on a sit, I called him, I could see it in his eyes, the excitment and knew I was going to take it on the arm with no sleave. At this point, If I am going to buy pups from sch breeders, I better learn the sport for self defense. I do not care what age, if they love the game they are not going to forget it.

It is not a wise statement to say NO Dog error when she was very clear that she does not yet know all the details and will be seeing her friend and get the actual details. I am telling her to be careful until she gets the full story how what actually occurred. It is irr-responsible to tell a person with limited dog experience that this was all ecceptable. It may be but then it may not be. Besides hurting someone she could have legal problems plus have to put the dog down....

I should add the pup that did the bark and hold on my daughter did not have a bite, just a lot of bark. I agree with Desert Rangers, we do not know what she wants from this dog, pet/with/without protection. But to be honest,if I was upstairs working all of my dogs in the past (I have one now that would look for the nearest exit) would not have allowed a stranger to come in the house,(pet or trained or breed) would not have mattered.

I think knowledge is a very important factor here. Learning from your mistakes helps you to not make that mistake again. This lady now knows that it is very important to keep her doors locked and to watch her dog when strangers are entering her house. She is blessed that the dog bit someone who is so understanding. Yellowrose I agree with you 110%, owning a GSD is totally different than owning any other kind of dog. My GSD has such a great temperment but the older she gets the more she keeps her eye on me. I have never owned a dog that is so in tuned with what I am doing and who is around me. She will put herself in between me and anyone else. She is my girl. Great feed back on here, this is a great thread.

DR, I clearly said, In my Opinion !! And your right we don't know the whole story which is why I started with "The way it sounds" I'm sorry if I stomped on any toes.