German Shepherd saves teenager from possible abduction

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by Bhall on 11 March 2010 - 21:03

Just wanted to share this email I got from one of my customers. I can't tell you how proud I am.

Hey Guys,

Hope you all are doing well there. I just wanted to let you know, again, how much we love our puppy, Willa.
She just had her first birthday, and we're amazed to compare photos now with that first puppy shot in her tiny
orange "collar." But, the real thing I wanted to tell you is how amazingly protective she is of her family.

Willa has never shown signs of trepidation when it comes to being alert or aggressive with what she perceives
as threats. She does not understand dogs in sweaters, is very sensitive to the "energy" of people and is the
MOST alert, protective dog I've ever known.
Yesterday, however, was over the top. Madison and Willa had been out for a walk in the neighborhood about
2pm, and Madi noticed an unfamiliar car with an adult male following behind her. She walked with Willa
straight home, and the car passed by, then turned to come back and park across the street. By that time,
Madison was in the side yard playing ball with Willa (who was still on a long training line). The unidentified
male got out of his car and started to approach Madison -- it must have looked to him that Madi and Willa
were home alone with the front door open. Willa sized him up as soon as he closed the car door, assumed the
definitive stance and gave him a low growl of warning, and Madi asked the stranger if he needed anything. He
stopped his approach when Willa took a defensive posture and bared her teeth. Madi said it was clear she was
giving him the warning to back off. The guy tried to talk to the dog using baby talk --- thankfully that nonsense
is useless on a German shepherd like Willa! Failing that, he stopped trying to elicite a wagging tail, ignored
Willa, and started to try to initiate conversation with Madison about whether she lived here, what she was
doing home alone in the middle of the day, etc. Willa kept her gaze on him, her growls louder and more intense,
and Madi said it was as if Willa knew what he was up to! By that time, Madison was really creeped out by the
guy and felt she was in danger. The stranger told Madi he just wanted to ask her something, started to
approach ...And, Willa flipped out! I mean completely off the scale flipped out, charging, full scale and Madi
told him "You better back up. Right now." He did. By that time Matthew heard Willa and flung open the
window from his upstairs room to see what on earth was going on. The stranger, seeing both Willa and
Madison's brother appear), went straight back to his car and fled. Willa was on high alert for the rest of the
afternoon and night -- checking windows and doors at any sound.

I can't tell you all how thankful I am -- how thankful we are. Even Matt said to me, in his 18 year old eloquent
way, "Mom, Willa really saved Madison today. She flipped out on that guy. That guy was up to no good, but
Willa was ready to fight off the stranger." Matt was loving on Willa, telling her what a good job she did. We
all, individually, thanked her in our own ways. You know that's why we named her Willa? I was looking for a
German name and came across Willa -- meaning loving, devoted protector. WE ALL feel like Willa absolutely
helped avert some potential life threat to Madison. We love her beyond words and look forward to a lifetime of
loving and living with her loving, devoted protection.

Robin