Need help from experienced GSD owners - Page 4

"I own a dog that I would not leave around children"
"A good GSD can tell a threat from a non threat" Bull Crap A good dog with good training can."
"Beware of the dog that can read all things as they are. Only Rin Tin Tin can do this. Well and Lassie."

Paul, sorry you ended up a dog that you think is dangerous around kids and that doesn't have good judgment. But the bullcrap is thinking all GSDs are like your dog. First GSD I ever owned had incredible judgment. When a guy was threatening to attack a woman the dog didn't even know, the dog started lunging, growling, and barking trying to get out of the car and go after the guy. He saw the problem before I did so he wasn't getting any cues from me. Guy ran off in a hurry when I started to open the door. But that same dog ran away from a toddler who suddenly started smacking him. The dog wasn't scared of the boy, he just wanted to fix the problem without hurting the kid. Didn't even bark or growl at the kid. The kid's dad immediately snatched the kid up and hauled him inside. That GSD came from a backyard breeder who bred nice family dogs. I've looked for GSDs like him ever since. They can come from backyard breeders, showline breeders, and working line breeders. They don't come from breeders that tell you it's normal for GSDs to attack kids that are just walking down the street.

I can see rare situations where a dog that will attack kids is needed, like a cop who has to deal with child gangbangers who would kill cops in a heartbeat. But for lurkers who are reading this thread and wondering WTF is wrong with GSDs that they're supposed to attack kids, keep in mind that most folks don't want GSDs like that. A well bred GSD is incredibly tolerant of children and this is the kind of GSD most people want.

Obviously dogs should never be left unattended with kids because some kids do rotten and stupid things to dogs. But dogs should be bred to be kid friendly.

"So you are giving up the dog, just because she barked at someone when she was off-leash and unsecured ?"

No aakay, she's doing the smart and responsible thing by trying to find the dog a place where she can't harm kids. You won't be the one that gets sued or has your ass land in jail if that dog does maul or kill a child.

Vero, like someone already mentioned, this is not the first time your dog was aggressive toward kids. Here's your April post:

"This week, I was outside with her and some kids came in the yard to see my kids.  She started to bark.  I corrected her.  She started to growl.  I corrected her more severely.  the kids came neerer, she continued to growl and she ignored my corrections.  I made the kids pet her and give her toy, she was ok but it made me nervous."

As far as the most recent incident goes, if your dog was barking happily and running out for a friendly hello with that little girl, you wouldn't be worried. I hope that kid doesn't wind up scared sh**less of dogs for the rest of her life. You are doing the smart and responsible thing by finding a home for the dog where she can't hurt kids. This is especially important since now it's a matter of public record that you know the dog is dangerous to kids. If the dog harms someone, the courts will come down on you like a ton of bricks because you knew damn well this was likely to happen. Also your statement that you are "more than sure she is sound" would be used to clobber you. The lady whose Rotties killed that little boy knew damn well that her dogs were dangerous and she also claimed her dogs were sound. She got 12 years in jail. Won't do any good to delete your posts either, because a permanent record of them will remain.

Thanks for doing the right thing.

Here we go again...  

I'm sorry she did this but I would NOT give the dog up for this incidence. I do not agree with Jon Rob to find the dog a home. This is a training issue and some times crap like this happens. Actually I agree more with Keith. Breeding a dog to be kid friendly is crazy and that's a socialization issue. I'm sure most of us can agree that over the years dogs do things that we have probably said under our breath "Oh sh*t. I can count many with rescue dogs. My son has left the side gate open and dogs were running down the street. I had a Neo that got out and he was not very friendly. Someone actually tried to pet him....THANK GOD the dog just growled at him and headed off down the road with my golden who loved everyone. Sh*t happens. But it gave me a heads up and I made sure it didnt happen again. That is all you can do.

"Proper introduction" tells me that you didnt socialize the dog extensively when she was little and now unfortunately you can see the error of your ways. God gave you a heads up and now its back to training to make sure it doesnt happen again.

Find a fenced in area and play ball with her till her tongue is to the ground. A tired dog is a happy dog imo and this will give her an out for all her energy. Do this when no one else is out if you have concerns. Remember she can pick up your vibes on the other end of the leash so try and be calm yourself. This is a heads up .... thats all. Find a good trainer to redirect her behavior to something more positive.

Barb

Baugh: "Breeding a dog to be kid friendly is crazy."

No crazier than breeding a dog with ball drive, or tracking ability, or a calm temperament, or an off switch. Socialization and training count a lot, but so do genes. My GSD who refused to hurt the toddler who smacked him was not socialized with children. I got him as an adult and I knew his background was no kids. It just wasn't in him to hurt a child. That's damn good genetics.

I would never buy a dog from a breeder who thought that breeding a dog to be kid friendly is crazy, and I would tell my clients to steer clear of a breeder like that.

You folks who are telling Vora to keep her dog--will you commit to paying her legal bills if a disaster happens? Talk sure is cheap and she's the one at risk here.

So, what if you get a 13 year old kid who is breaking into your houses? is the dog suppos to sit nicely because it is a kid? yes my dog will bark at people specialy if they look at my house or my car what ever he is in. or if they walk twards it and he is a good boy for it. i dont want a dog who will only protect my home vs adults because some of you may not know but kids these days are more dangerous than adults. teenagers are absolutely terrable.

JonRob,,.

The Dog had the perfect opportunity to bite/maul the child she DID NOT,,,This situation should serve as a warning ; not "give up your dog",,,

You are very correct in saying that this dog is a liability. All GSD are liabilities as they are animals.. Freak things can happen and people can get hurt. It is the owners responsibility to protect their dog , the public , and themselves from these types of scenarios..

Keeping a dog leashed in a neighborhood setting is 101 especially for a dog that has shown suspect behavior in the past and has not been proofed/proved over and over by an experienced handler...And even then nothing is 100%..

I think the OP has to take responsibility for her dog and seek experienced training help and probably come to accept that the temperament she wanted in her GSD might NOT be the one she got in this particular dog..A GSD who does not behave like Lassie or Rin Tin Tin can certainly still be a good family companion, but it takes adjusting your life style and expectation to keep the dog and the world around it safe..

Good Luck VeroHera..:)

Siantha,,I like your post,,I was thinking the same thing actaully ...

Ruger  

It's understandable where the breed is today, the inmates are runnin the asylum!

Gustav!

From the Monks of New Skete book:

The prospective owner had just asked the monk what the purpose of a good breeding program was when his toddler went over to the big male GSD and pulled its tail. The dog turned around and licked the kid's face.

The monk turned to the father and said, "THAT is the purpose of a good breeding program!"