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by Adreya on 10 October 2010 - 16:10
At first everything is fine, and Chase is intently but quietly watching them so I begin taking photos. BUT as soon as Chase hears me approaching he begins aggressively barking, and when I call to the horses in my sweet voice I use with my animals, Chase's intensity ratchets up and his barks take on a different tone. His saliva is now flying, and he's in a kind of seated crouch with his eyes riveted on the gelding. You can see all this is the photo sequence, but what you can't see is what happens next because I drop the camera and start yelling "CHASE DROP IT" in my biggest voice.
To my great horror, Chase launched himself into the air and grabbed the gelding by the lower jaw! Fortunately, the gelding is quick and Chase is pretty obedient so there was minor damage, but I was shaken up. All this took place in seconds and caught me completely by surprise. I admit I'm not as experienced as others with training GSDs, but I've had a lot of dogs and horses and none of the dogs have ever launched themselves right into a horse's face. Sure they've nipped at heels, crocodile snapped from a safe distance, and chased if they run, but NEVER full on staring into their eyes attack like that.
Needless to say, I am looking for professional advice tomorrow. And the gelding is fine, BTW. A $300 emergency vet visit, a shot of pen, and a cup of sweet feed made him all better.
One last thing, I certainly hadn't expected Chase to be able to jump above the fence and reach far enough to actually bite the horse.
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by Keith Grossman on 10 October 2010 - 16:10
by Adreya on 10 October 2010 - 17:10
by Sangreinu on 10 October 2010 - 17:10
Just trying to work out the doggy logic..... Horses + Owner far away = fine
Horses + Owner approaching = Aggression/protection mode?
Good luck with finding a speedy answer and an easy solution with your trainer.
by Adreya on 10 October 2010 - 17:10
by Nitro on 10 October 2010 - 18:10
by Keith Grossman on 10 October 2010 - 19:10
Hopefully you have learned from this that you can never be complacent based on what your dog has done before. Lots of bad things happen by dogs whose owners swear had never shown any sort of agression before. My pup is 9 months old and also very well behaved but when I have him out, my attention is on him and I am constantly vigilant about even the most subtle change in the focus of his attention or his body language. Things can and do happen very quickly. Yesterday was a perfect example...we were in a fairly dense crowd of people when someone stepped on Axel's foot...hard. He did what any dog would do...spun around with teeth bared to protect himself. Had I not had him on a short leash or had not been paying attention, I'm fairly certain the incident would have ended badly.
by radarsmom on 10 October 2010 - 19:10
by Beardog on 10 October 2010 - 20:10
Can you imagine looking at a Kodiak Grizzly that close to you no matter how docile the bear could be. My guess is that the dog feels about the same and needs to first let the horse know that he will defend himself. Horses generally being docile creatures will just wait for him to get really tough and come in close enough to be stomped, bitten, or kicked.
by malshep on 10 October 2010 - 21:10
In my opinion the dog was doing his job in his mind that the horse were not stopping when he barked. He was showing him what he could do. The bite on the jaw was so far from the heart that the horse will be just fine. If the dog hit the barbwire , and a stomp to the head would have been worse. The way I introduced the dogs to my horses in while they are in the stalls. Dog on leash ( prong on ) letting the dog smell the horses only, this is done for several weeks. Then just sitting outside the pasture (no barking allowed) and prong on, this is done for several weeks. While the horses are out dog helps with chores while still on leash and tied to me. Now we have gone several months just doing this. All in control and with the understanding there is no jumping or barking at the horses. Now this is a big one I tie the dog to a post that is near the pasture, on a down stay, of coarse the dog has to have a good down and understand what the down means, dog is again on the prong, I take the horses out of the pasture to the barn, one by one. Again no jumping, or barking allowed, if they break to chase the horse, they learn very fast and correct themselves when they hit the end. So by now you have built a routine and the dog is clear in mind after 6 months of work how they are to conduct themselves around horses, Walk quietly thru the barn first thing, get tied to a post outside the pasture while the horses are let out, do the chores, , then while someone is riding the dog is tied to a post on a down, the rest of the routine will follow. Eventually the dog will be allowed to be on a long line tied to me, controlled with a sit or a down. I know this sounds like a long time, but I have to have steady dogs around my chickens and horses. This is what your trainer will help you with the control at all times.
Always,
Cee
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