Defence Dog
- Thread starter r0llin
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We were camping pre-mikey and Maverick (newfie) was running around playing in the lake. A fancy lady pulled up in her big motorhome and started shrieking because maverick came running over to play. Now, maverick is the biggest pussycat. He's afraid of everything and once people see that they're usually fine. But this lady was still freaking out. We went to talk to her and she said, I still think this is funny, "What if he sits on him or something?" LOL Can you imagine? Maverick running around in a crouch trying to sit on the dog. LOL
But yeah, people are afraid of both of our dogs. They have no reason with Maverick. Mikey is a big dog agressive. I'm waiting til I get him fixed (hopefully next week <cross your fingers>) to see how much of it was that. I think it's a large part because he's fine with all of the landlady's dogs except the little unneutered mini-collie. Hopefully, that's all it is. Otherwise we will have a lot of work. <sigh>
But yeah, people are afraid of both of our dogs. They have no reason with Maverick. Mikey is a big dog agressive. I'm waiting til I get him fixed (hopefully next week <cross your fingers>) to see how much of it was that. I think it's a large part because he's fine with all of the landlady's dogs except the little unneutered mini-collie. Hopefully, that's all it is. Otherwise we will have a lot of work. <sigh>
People are fraidy cats some times about dogs and especially dogs with a reputation. If I'm on one of our off leash walks out in the wilderness where I live and I happen to see someone else walking, (rare) my Chihuahuas, although very friendly will go running ahead, yapping. Then when they get to the person, they stop barking and just stand there wagging, begging for attention. They love people. And my Lab too, just swaying her tail back and forth.
Then there will be Lyric, my Doberman trotting along, minding his own business, not interested in the people, not aggressive, not anything. He's over sniffing a bush or something and they say things like, "he looks like he'd like to eat me for lunch," That drives me nuts. He's so well socialized that he couldn't care less one way or the other about friendly strangers that are out for a walk. It's as normal to him as the daylight. LOL. He could be 40 feet away from them and the other dogs are all gathered around and they still say that.
Most people though that I come across are not very breed discriminating and most people here LOVE dogs. It's just where I live, I think. That's what helped socialize them all so well. There's a local pub and you might see more dogs in there than people sometimes. I use to take them in when they were puppies to get mauled with attention and sips of whip cream off of someone's coffee/Bailey's drink. They got spoiled rotten.
Then there will be Lyric, my Doberman trotting along, minding his own business, not interested in the people, not aggressive, not anything. He's over sniffing a bush or something and they say things like, "he looks like he'd like to eat me for lunch," That drives me nuts. He's so well socialized that he couldn't care less one way or the other about friendly strangers that are out for a walk. It's as normal to him as the daylight. LOL. He could be 40 feet away from them and the other dogs are all gathered around and they still say that.
Most people though that I come across are not very breed discriminating and most people here LOVE dogs. It's just where I live, I think. That's what helped socialize them all so well. There's a local pub and you might see more dogs in there than people sometimes. I use to take them in when they were puppies to get mauled with attention and sips of whip cream off of someone's coffee/Bailey's drink. They got spoiled rotten.
I've been taking mine places since they were little (??) pups; it's imperative with Filas, and they are completely different creatures when they're off the farm. Even Kharma is sociable, although she's somewhat particular about who she invites to touch her. Shiva has virtually no discretion at all where attention is concerned! 
And of course everyone wants to see the big doggies with the sad faces . . .
Bimmer likes to go with me, but the wolf in him is just not so comfortable in strange places, and since Buffy was poisoned he doesn't trust anyone he doesn't know, and even then won't allow anyone to get close enough to touch him unless Charley or I are with him. He will rarely even take food from my Mom now, and he grew up right next door to her, in and out of my parents' home every day. If she gives him something, he will take it and hold it gingerly in his teeth and bring it to me. After I take it and look at it (he wants me to sniff it) and give it back to him with the assurance that it's okay he will eat it, but not before. Seeing that behaviour makes people look at him a little differently - suddenly he's not just a smallish German Shepherd, easily dismissed; he's become something that's a bit different and is patently very, very intelligent - and the idea that he doesn't regard them in the same way as most dogs do seems to be unsettling. I often get asked, "what's he thinking about me?" Any idea how hard it is not to laugh when I hear that?
And of course everyone wants to see the big doggies with the sad faces . . .Bimmer likes to go with me, but the wolf in him is just not so comfortable in strange places, and since Buffy was poisoned he doesn't trust anyone he doesn't know, and even then won't allow anyone to get close enough to touch him unless Charley or I are with him. He will rarely even take food from my Mom now, and he grew up right next door to her, in and out of my parents' home every day. If she gives him something, he will take it and hold it gingerly in his teeth and bring it to me. After I take it and look at it (he wants me to sniff it) and give it back to him with the assurance that it's okay he will eat it, but not before. Seeing that behaviour makes people look at him a little differently - suddenly he's not just a smallish German Shepherd, easily dismissed; he's become something that's a bit different and is patently very, very intelligent - and the idea that he doesn't regard them in the same way as most dogs do seems to be unsettling. I often get asked, "what's he thinking about me?" Any idea how hard it is not to laugh when I hear that?
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Lol, last summer we still had living with us our daughter and her Rott. Big scarey looking baby, wouldnt hurt a flea. Loved everyone. We had the inside door open when these door to door salesmen came and of course the dog goes running to the door first to tell them hello and ask them in to visit. They turned around and walked away, never to return to our house......I didnt want to buy their product anyway!
Doberluv, he was always careful and I taught him to let me see what he picked up from the time he was a pup, but he's been like this ever since someone poisoned Buffy. Buffy was literally the love of his life I think. She's been gone for almost two years now and if we talk about her around him he still reacts very strongly. First his eyes open wide and his ears stand up and he cocks his head in anticipation; then he remembers and he sighs and whines and lays or sits down with his head on my leg moaning softly.
Bimmer is very different from the two girls. They are both Fila Brasileiro and he is a GSD/wolf cross mix, light on the wolf.
Bimmer is very different from the two girls. They are both Fila Brasileiro and he is a GSD/wolf cross mix, light on the wolf.
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Hi Samantha...German shepherd dogs are some the most highly selectivly bred dogs there are.mainly because of the SV in German and thier strict requirments.some dogs were ''originally bred ''for a purpose some dogs are to this this day still ''highly selectivly bred''.i would never reccomend an akita they lack the courage and clarity needed for a good protection dogs,they are in no way selectivly bred to protect.i also think the GSD is the most recognized protection dog in the free world.but they require training and to have a good protection dog you need a confident, couragous dog..
I've always loved the German Shepherd - have had one since I was twelve - and really lament the loss of the true working/herding dogs. Too many have emphasized the defensive uses of the Shepherd for police and guard work to the real detriment of the breed, helping to get the breed stuck on the banned lists of many homeowners insurance companies and making it a target of fear and dread.