Life with a dog agressive dog...

elliesmemory1

The safest, easiest and most sensible thing to do for the time being is to get a well fittng basket style muzzle and start getting Zara used to it.

You can argue all day long on the rights and wrongs of the law, moan about other peoples dogs being out of control etc etc.

However the fact is shes your dog, shes your reponsibility, and in the eyes of the law if she harms another dog on or off lead, wheather that dog runs up to you or not its you who will be in trouble. Like it or not thats the law.
So just get a muzzle! If you get the right one baskerville are good and you get her used to it properly she wont mind it and it will let you relax, which in turn will help her chill out.
You have already been to the vets and are having checks and tests done which is great and may help you get some answers to her change in behaviour.
I would also be carefull about the amount of exercise you give her untill you know whats wrong. I remember being concerned about how much she was doing after the op.

I can tell you care about her a great deal, but and I hope you dont mind me saying this, but you are always asking advise about things on here and seem to rarely take that advise! you seem to be keen to dismiss most peoples suggestions and experience. You seem quite a worrier and this will rub off on your dog. Gsds are very sensitive to peoples body language and moods so try to chill out a bit!
Im not beig nasty but its just how it seems to me. Good luck with her and hope you get it sorted.

gettingready

You can argue all day long on the rights and wrongs of the law

Where did I do that?

I do not argue/never did about rights and wrongs of the law - I am merely pointing how stupid is it to set the "law" without stating the details. That is all.

Her post op exercise was being monitored by FR and I have followed all their recommendations. No idea why she is limping/dragging her leg 15 weeks post surger or if it is connected to the surgery at all or a completely separate issue.

Not following advice - if I ask for say infor about coconut oil and people keep on writting baout sesame oli or rose petals then of course I am not going to follow as their replies to my question are irrelevant. I have asked for one thing and they keep on going about anothere (just example.. sighhh).

Same happening here noew - million pages ago I said i am going to get a muzzle for Zara but I am still being attacked here .. about the muzzle. Jesusssssssssssss, some people simply do not bother to read, just need to post regardless.

Muzzle WILL affect Zara as her greatest joy in life is playing ball - this she can not do with a muzzle on.

Muzzle will not relax ME as she will still bark/try to longe to dogs she does not like. Muzzle is not going to stop that.

She can NOT get to any dog when I have her on a lead anyway.

Zara is NOTagressive towards people. Ever.

Zara is on a lead whenever there is a remote chance of coming across any dog.

elliesmemory1

Oh dear! you prove my point Im afraid. Never mind have it your way. hope things turn out ok for Zara.

gettingready

And before anyone has another go at me for having a go at posters - I am not.

I am not well myself and very, VERY stressed out not just with what is happening to Zara. So some posts here having a dog for the sake of it - are not helpful at all.

gettingready

Hardupandfedup wrote: »

Oh dear! you prove my point Im afraid.

And which POINT exactly is that?

rosyw

gettingready wrote: »

Where did I do that?


Muzzle WILL affect Zara as her greatest joy in life is playing ball - this she can not do with a muzzle on.

Muzzle will not relax ME as she will still bark/try to longe to dogs she does not like. Muzzle is not going to stop that.

She can NOT get to any dog when I have her on a lead anyway.

Zara is NOTagressive towards people. Ever.

Zara is on a lead whenever there is a remote chance of coming across any dog.

Firstly, I wasn't having a go for the sake of it.

If Zara likes to play ball, then play ball in your garden - presuming you have one.
If she is wearing a muzzle, yes, she can still bark and lunge at other dogs, but at least you know that if one does come close she cannot harm it!
She CAN get to other dogs whilst on a lead IF their owners allow them to get too close - there's nothing you can do about it, I know it's not something YOU can control, but it COULD happen! if other dogs are determined to get to yours they will, where I used to live I walked my Rottie along a very quiet and little used bridleway, but the owner of 2 very boisterous Lab pups never managed to grab them in time to stop them jumping all over him! thankfully he didn't seem to mind his ears, tail or any other part being chewed. He was ALWAYS on a lead and under control.

No, the law doesn't define what being "in control" is, but it does define being out of control.
Your dog is dangerously out of control if it:
injures a person, or
behaves in a way that makes a person worried it might injure them - even if it's the dog owner's own home or garden.

I know you have said you will get a muzzle, but if it were me I'd already have done so - for my own peace of mind. Once you know there is a chance that your dog MAY attack another, it is your responsibility to do something about it, otherwise you are, in the eyes of the law, negligent.
Zara clearly means a lot to you, as my dog does to me, and IF she attacked another dog and the owner was bitten trying to separate them, you COULD end up losing her, that would be dreadful.

gettingready

no we do not have own garden
no I have no money to buy the muzzle now
yes I can control her on lead alone as she is NOT in a position to bite a dog even if it runs up to her

No, the law doesn't define what being "in control" is, but it does define being out of control.


Your dog is dangerously out of control if it:
injures a person, or
behaves in a way that makes a person worried it might injure them - even if it's the dog owner's own home or garden.

My dog is NOT agressive towards people - EVER.

The "might" in the "law" is plain stupid, just stupid.


and this

even if it's the dog owner's own home or garden

completely takes the mickey....

so your dog bites someone that broke into your house in the middle of the night and they will sue you... great law, really absolutely great



ANY dog MAY injure someone. ANY dog.

Dog on a lead has a very little chance to do that.

Perhaps I am not wording myself well here but.. really fed up now.

Nothing towards anyone in particular, just fed up with trying to explain and seeing the same not connected replies...

rosyw

Please don't get me wrong, I am NOT having a go at you, I am trying to help!

The "might" in the law is not stupid, what it means, in plain terms, is that if a dog is behaving aggressively, this could make someone think they may get bitten. Are you not wary of snappy snarly dogs? do you never think one might bite you? Similarly, if someone's dog rushed up to Zara whilst she was on the lead and muzzled, if she was growling, snarling etc., and the other owner could not call their dog off, THAT dog could be considered out of control - it works both ways.

What I am trying to get across is that in order to protect yourself and Zara, you should get that muzzle asap, make it top priority. I would hate to think of you, or anyone else, losing their dog through the lack of one.

krlyr

Unfortunately there are several laws like that. Burglar breaks in, you seriously hurt him to protect your family, you're the one who could get in trouble for it!

But if it helps, I was just browsing through some photos and came across the folder of our day at the beach. 2 reactive dogs, muzzled for the majority of the trip (me and my friend took it in turns to have a bit of time letting them muzzle-free and watching out for incoming dogs for the other's behalf). Muzzles don't mean unhappy, bored dogs - see!

They can snuffle through puddles (and leaves, too)


Dig holes


Interact with other dogs


Play chase games



Go for a paddle


I don't think they look too bothered by their muzzles!

nicolula87

krlyr....I realise this is unrelated, but what breed is the short haired sandy coloured dog in your photos?

I have a crossbreed dog and generally no one has really figured out what kind of dogs he has in him, suggestions have been irish wolfhound, lurcher, german shepherd amongst a few others. But he looks quite similar to that dog in the photos!