Lady kicked my dog :(

Stephb1986_2

I'm around dogs a lot, a lot of my customers have them the majority of the dogs are friendly, I go to a farm they have 2 GSD, 1 Rottie and 2 St Bernards. I can stroke and be friendly with the st bernards but the other dogs I know to steer clear of especially the rottie he has an evil look in his eye that you know that he would have your arm off given the chance but thats what he's there for to protect.

I went to a customers a few years ago they had a big bull mastiff I asked if it was friendly before I stroked it and the owner said yes so why then did the dog proceed to bite me twice on the hand?? I could tell before I went near the dog that there was something about it I didn't like but thought nah they have young kids they wouldn't let a bad dog near them if it was that way inclined.

What I'm trying to say is some dogs have a look about them that you know it isn't a nice dog. Why wouldn't you steer clear of them if you had some sort of fear of them??

My Sil2b now has a bull mastiff she's had him around 3 years now and had him since he was a pup, he is the biggest softest dog I have seen he's a big dog don't get me wrong but he would never hurt anyone by god he's scared of my Fil2b's westie and cats!!! But when people see him because he's so large they cross over the road. He once escaped onto the green infront of their house there was two police officers walking up at the same time they turned around and ran! The only thing he would do is lick them to death!

Just because you may of had a bad experience with a certain breed of dog doesn't mean that all dogs out of that breed are the same.

Mr_Thrifty

Stephb1986 wrote: »

What I'm trying to say is some dogs have a look about them that you know it isn't a nice dog. Why wouldn't you steer clear of them if you had some sort of fear of them??

Believe me, I try to! But sometimes irresponsible owners seemingly let their snarling canines do whatever they want, which includes charging up to people who really don't want that sort of attention.

gettingready

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

Let's not forget that German Shepherds are terrifying creatures to many people. Right up there with Pit Bulls and Rotweillers. The owners should be mindful of that, and not assume that everybody feels comfortable in such proximity to what is effectively an unpredictable killing machine.

Oh dear.....

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

After those tragic accidents you sometimes hear about in the news, have you ever noticed how the owners of the relevant dangerous dog invariably describe the dangerous dog as the "family pet"?

Oh dear....

Mr_Thrifty

gettingready wrote: »

Oh dear.....



Oh dear....

Oh dear indeed.

krlyr

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

Let's not forget that German Shepherds are terrifying creatures to many people. Right up there with Pit Bulls and Rotweillers. The owners should be mindful of that, and not assume that everybody feels comfortable in such proximity to what is effectively an unpredictable killing machine.

After those tragic accidents you sometimes hear about in the news, have you ever noticed how the owners of the relevant dangerous dog invariably describe the dangerous dog as the "family pet"?

To some, a Bichon or a Pomeranian are equally terrifying creatures but does that give them the right to kick a dog doing nothing?
OP hasn't wandered across a park with her GSD aiming for this innocent dog owner, just to ler her dog sniff this lady's. They've passed by in a narrow space and it is near inevitable that they would sniff at each other - it's what dogs do. I have a reactive dog so I always enter narrow areas cautiously, and if I saw another dog approaching, I would either spin around and go back the way I came, squeeze myself onto the edge if there was room to let the other person pass, or politely ask the person to wait at the end for us to get by. This woman presumably did none of the above so how could OP do anything other than assume she would be fine to pass by a GSD? I have bumped into people with genuine fears of GSDs and have been more than happy to change route or move out of the way on their request and I'm sure OP would have too. There was no excuse to kick the dog for a mere sniff.

I would imagine that the dogs are often described as family pets because they are family pets. Keyword being pets, as in live animals, without a 100% predictable nature. Just like the cute and cuddly Lab here that was probably a family pet - http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/bury_st_edmunds_nine_year_old_dog_bite_victim_reveals_his_injury_1_1414668

Ditto with this Golden Retriever - http://www.newsleader.com/article/20120616/NEWS01/206160316/Judge-Waynesboro-mayor-s-dog-dangerous

And big dogs aren't the only family pets that can bite - http://acton.patch.com/articles/board-orders-24-7-muzzle-for-dog-who-bit-four-acton-residents-in-three-years

Again, if GSDs are unpredictable killing machines, why would the police use them? They are bred to have stable temperaments. To look fierce, yes, they use them to intimidate criminals, but this is even more reason to have a breed that has the stability to intimidate but not maul people. Poor breeding & socialisation as a puppy, poor training and irresponsible dog owners are usually the cause of dog attacks, and any dog is capable of being unpredictable, but as a whole the GSD is bred for its good temperament and ability to listen to and follow commands.

heartbreak_star

Krlyr, you are awesome.

MrThrifty, you're almost trolling this thread! Leave us dog people to sort out this senseless act of violence on the OP's dog please? Sorry you've blatantly had a bad experience with a GSD but maybe get some therapy and stop talking a big pile of misinformed poop.

HBS x

Stephb1986_2

I think some people need to calm down at my partners house we have two dogs a border collie/whippet and also a small westie. We order dominos pizza on a weekly basis as our treat. Some of the delivery drivers are fine with the dogs as they bark when they hear the door theres two specific ones that knock on the door and run to the end of the driveway because of the dogs, they don't bite and aren't huge dogs they are very friendly. They really need to calm down.

rubberbiscuit

It is wrong to kick a dog meaning to do it harm but trying to push it away with your foot?? I have shoved dogs with my foot before when Im out walking mine. If I have a lead in each hand then I really dont have any other available appendages to use do I? (seeing as how Im a lady...and not a circus freak!!LOL:D).
I would advise the OP to be abit more careful when passing people in narrow places though. It should be easy to prevent your dog sniffing another if it is well trained. Just make sure you put yourself between the other dog and yours, then if you hold the lead right near the collar (easy to do with a big dog) there should be no chance it could reach the other dog no matter how small the space.
Some dogs react badly to others on lead (mine do), others might be old, disabled or injured which makes them fearful and sometimes the owners themselves have had bad experiences and are verging on phobic to certain types/sizes of dog.

I always make sure mine never get to sniffing distance with other dogs whilst on lead even if I have to squash them into side of the path and wait til the other owner has walked past.;)

Wellyboots6

Oooh I didn't mean to cause an argument!

Just to clear up a few points;

It was a narrow path and I stopped as I am used to people wanting to get out the way of my pooch, whereas this lady just kept walking towards me. I would assume if she wasn't happy to pass then she would have stopped too so one of us could back up?

Short of actually holding on to his head I could not prevent him sniffing the dog due to the narrowness of the path. If I had held on to his head then he likely would have got grumpy and either grumbled or snapped at me. He is a rescue dog and I am very aware that trying to restrain him in a stressful situation makes him grumpy. I would not do this without a muzzle handy!

He was wagging his tail and did not growl or bark at all so was showing no threat (even after being kicked!)

She kicked him in the side to get him away from her dog, and kicked him again as he was turning away which suggests it wasn't necessarily to get him to move away, as he was already turned away.

He also won't eat kidneys (tried a little bit of raw feeding, didn't go down well!)

I am so proud of my boy for not reacting badly to the situation. A few months ago I would have turned and ran with him the minute I saw the lady approaching as he was not at all dog friendly. We have done some very intensive training and he is now a different dog. I had full control of him on his lead however as despite his training you can never be too careful.

He was at the vets last night and they had a good feel round, as he has been very quiet since it happened. They couldn't feel anything but if he doesn't perk up by the end of the week he has to go back.

Stephb1986_2

Awww give him cuddles for me

Steph xx