Opinion on this muzzle - Page 2

yep i always carry muzzles in my car for my dogs just to be safe. it is always nice to have them on you and i am very happy that you are a responcable pet owner. you dont have to worry about too much flack from the people on here as they all understand shepherds and have lived with them for many years.

Well, thank you so much for the encouraging comments! I wasn't directing it toward you,  alboe2009, it was a thoughtless reaction on my part to having to explain why he needs a muzzle. I was upset with myself over a situation, definitely not you for asking. 

I underestimated his protectiveness... trying to find the right words here...

A man came up my driveway, and without seeing him, I let my 4 yr old GSD out of the back of my car. We had just gotten home from the park and so he was in a great mood. Saw a few of his GSD friends, swam, played... he had a great day. So, with the guy being less than 6 feet behind me, I couldn't grab my dog, who was leashed, before it was too late. By the time I turned around, Ben had bitten the man in the stomach and was standing there staring at him. I yelled for Ben (my dog) to retreat, and he did.... and my husband was able to take him into the backyard away from the man.  I've been trying to write that paragraph for about 20 minutes... it just makes me sick to my stomach to relive it. 

The one thing that sticks in my head is that when I looked over the fence when he was in the backyard, he was running around with a big ball in his mouth like nothing happened. Anyway, the man didn't need stitches, he did get an antibiotic. I called our vet immediately and explained what happened and what I should do next. He was quaranteened for 10 days (today is his last day), and 3 vet visits - as is standard for this type of thing. The animal control officer also has a German Bred GSD and was so encouraging and positive... it was a huge relief. The guy isn't going to sue us (as of right now), and the vet visits have been easy and they like Ben. 

So now we're doing some weekly refresher behavior training classes with him - and me, and he's really enjoying it and learning some new things. He really is such a wonderful dog. He's so loving & he's very social! He goes to doggy daycare twice a week and he's the best dog. We were walking the other day, just a short walk since he's not supposed to be out, and low and behold the guy he bit comes walking by! So, I immediately started doing focus work with Ben and he couldn't have cared less that the guy walked by us. He likes his new wire muzzle and it's easy to stick treats through the wire. Today he's going to get a nice long walk for the first time all week, and mommy doesn't need Xanax anymore! 

Anyway, it was just stupid stupid stupid stupid of me to be so careless and it will never happen again. 

Thanks for listening :)

       I really could have cried reading your post...

       I had something similar happen and talking about it made me want to vomit...

       I think you will feel better sharing your experience.....

       Sounds like you are moving forward and taking the needed precautions to enjoy your GSD....


          Deanna...: )

Just curious, but maybe you are different when the dog is muzzled and not the dog. Ever think of that?

Chaz, I've absolutely no doubt that you're right, and Melissa IS different when Ben is muzzled--that's totally normal, since the muzzle removes any need for her to be anxious on Ben's behalf, and therefore she's not telegraphing anything but relaxed confidence to him.  But in the situation Melissa described, she wasn't telegraphing anything to Ben regarding the man coming up the driveway, since she wasn't aware the man was there--she was relaxed, yet Ben still took action to prevent the man from advancing any further.  So the protectiveness isn't something that's being telegraphed to the dog by Melissa--it's clearly just Ben's natural protective instincts. 

Melissa, I'm sorry you and Ben found yourselves in this situation; thank heavens the ACO isn't an asshat, and hopefully the man who was bitten won't sue (it would be reasonable for him to request you cover his medical expenses, though if I were him I'd consider myself at fault for coming up unannounced onto someone else's property and wouldn't even bother with that).

I do think it's interesting to note that Ben made but a single bite to the intruder (which the guy was, from the dog's perception), doing nothing more than what was necessary to stop the man's progress, and then simply stood his ground in front of the man to block his way...no rebiting, no hectic thrashing while holding the bite; the dog did what he clearly views as his job.  Had the guy not approached you unannounced and from behind, it's quite likely the bite would never have taken place.  These days, who in their right mind 'ambushes' a woman like that?  There are places in the US where doing that could have resulted in a gunshot wound, not just a dog bite.

All is good, Melissa, and I tend to agree with Hexe. Any man in todays time should know better....... common sense. Good luck in the future.

i had a similar situation that could have ended bad if i hadent had my dog with me. i was outside trying to fit a big box in my car my female shepherd was at a sit behind me and she had bin being perfictly fine in the store happy with everyone petting her and even rolled over for some kids just being her usual lovey self well im not paying attention but i started to get a odd feeling like someone was watching me but it was mid day and there where alot of people around and i was in a busy parking lot so i just figured someone was looking at my dog. all the suddon she does about 5 defencive barks and stands up from her sit well ofcoarse i drop what im doing and turn around she never barks with out a purpous i instantly grab her leash and when i turned there was a i would assume homeless man who was very gruff and intimidateing probably 6 feet from me still walking forward with her growling. i ask the man if i can help him with something trying to get him to back off he gets to about 3 feet infront of me and stops at this point my girly is madder than hell but still relaxed as i have my hand on her back. finealy the guy walks off but i know if he would have touched me she would have bit him no questions asked if i hadent grabed her collar she probably would have bit him for continueing to approach i cannot count the times that i have thanked and praised my self for decideing to get her. she is my guardian angel just as your boy is i know it may make you feel sick that he bit someone then was fine with him self playing afterword but you have to remember he felt he was doing right protecting you and was proud of himself he dosent have our knowladge of right and wrong he just felt a thret so he took care of it. i have seen some dogs attack people and i mean attack where the people need reconstructive surgery your boy did not attack him but defend you. the man who was bit understands this and probably feels stupid for walking up behind you. i do commend you on useing a muzzle as society does not understand things. nor do alot of people understand you dont have to train a shepherd to protect you its a natural instinct the training people put into a shepherd for attack work is controling the work with the out and such. but your boy instantly listened to you and outed in my book he did good and i fully commend you agen on bucking up and takeing responcability and trying to better the situation. you have a wonderful boy who loves you dearly. good luck with him and remember always trust your dogs judgement they are almost always right.