input, pls - Page 5

OK, guys, I've got all the dirt on the whole thing. Spoke to my breeder friend, my friend that owns the dog, and my friend who got bit.  I didn't realize I had so many friends!

Per the breeder-the dog has not trained in Sch.  The dogs he puts through Sch training work at a neighboring breeder's house where there is a Sch field. This dog my friend owns has not been there. Sorry Doggie1. Sounds like you really want him to have been exposed to Sch but he hasn't.  He's going to meet with my friend this week . Also, he has lines to Tom van't Leefdaalhof, don't know if that is relevant or not as I've never heard of him. I have no clue about working line breeding and only enough to be dangerous with show line.

My friend who got bit only restated that all of the arm/hand bites were mild and the one on her knee wasn't bad, just tough because of breaking open when she bends the knee.  Doesn't know if he was sleeping or not.  And couldn't really say much more.

My friend who owns the dog (and PUH-LEASE guys quit saying he's my dog :), ok? Really, really not my dog) says he was probably being territorial as he doesn't seem at all like a fearful dog.  She also doesn't know if he was sleeping but says when she's upstairs and he's not playing with the other dogs he usually lays at the foot of the stairs.  This is the entryway.  She is a horse trainer and tolerates no garbage from her horses or dogs but I told her of the opions here and she said she'll consult with the breeder. As was stated by someone on this thread it's a different formula when dealing with german shepherds. I'm assuming even more so with a working line.

So, I guess that's as far as we can get fact wise. But, I know I'm being irritating with the question but I still need clarity on why the visitor wasn't a threat. Maybe she just wasn't a bite worthy threat? Is that what you mean? Maybe if some one can give me the scenario as it would have happened with an appropriate response. That might help. I know I'm being a pain in the a$$ here but I really want to understand. Thanks.

Dawg

Here is my questioning and reasoning that makes me raise concern about if the visitor was a threat or not. In my life expereince when a female (such as my wife) opens a front door and yells out "knock knock" or whatever her words it's in a very friendly non-threatening female happy voice. It suprises me that a sound GSD with good nerves and temperement would feel threatened and as you said, had it's hackles raised and bit her...

Without being rude, you had a stranger (to the dog) walk into your home, to the dogs way of thinking, they did not belong there. Period. This also not being your dog and not her home, would have made her on edge. Be gald the dog had no formal training, the bite may have been much worse. Now if that person was there to do you harm, you would be feeding her steak. This girl is no chicken, she opened the door to confront what she perceived as a threat. The Bites she gave (as you said) were not all that strong, so she was unsure of herself in biting a human, yet she still took care of the problem. SHE IS MY HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your an idiot doggie offering advise like that to an newbie. You need to go gt youself a pitbull. All that macho talk is going to get someone hurt. Won't be long before the dog is put down for biting someone. Hero? Dog can't even tell a real threat? Not hardly.. Get in the real world my friend...

Thanks for all the input.  I guess in the end we won't know all the facts. But I've come away with a couple of things from this thread. First to be more liability conscious.  And even though I can't picture my own girl doing this, better safe than sorry.  So, I'm putting up signs and locking the door as much as I can with kids in and out of the house.  And, second, I'm really putting some thought into what my philosophy of balancing protection and peace of mind in a dog will be.  Up to now I really haven't developed a personal "outlook" on the topic. So far, I'm sure I want the same ultimate response as her dog exhibited but with a more graduated approach.  A dog that goes through the growl, bark and bite if necessary. Still trying to gel how I define "necessary".

But thanks to all for the input. It will all be incorporated into the final theory, in one way or another.

And, as for me, when I visit her I'M KNOCKING!