GSD Owners - I Pity You!

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UnaB

UnaB

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Today I had the opportunity to witness first hand the type of stupidity that gives your wonderful breed a bad reputation :( It was truely horrific.

I live on a lovely, quiet estate which is very dog friendly, people are always out walking their dogs :) When i was coming home from work i'd stopped at a crossing to let some people cross and on one side there is a lady with her two young daughters walking their small white (possibly poodle) dog. The dog was on a lead, perfectly under control and minding its own business. Out of nowhere a very large GSD runs across from the other side of the road, knocks one of the kids flying and grabs the little white dog by its backend, picks it up and starts shaking it with the woman clinging on to the end of the lead like a "tug of war"!! :eek: I have never seen, or heard, anything like it, the poor little dog was terrified and screaming, the woman was desperately trying to get the GSD off her dog whilst also trying to keep her hysterical children from trying to help their dog and risk an injury. A few people ran over to help with no luck.

Where were the GSDs owners you may ask... Well, after what seemed like forever but was probably only about 30 seconds, a CHILD comes running across the road screaming "im sorry! im sorry!", with help from the other people they manage to get the GSD off the white dog and the kid (who looks maybe 10 or 11) turns and sprints back across the road crying and shouting "sorry". The owner of the white dog was furious and people were shouting at the little girl to come back as, quite rightly, someone needed to speak to her parents about the incident. But she ran off and disappeared with a few people running after her. The little dog was rushed off to the vet which, thankfully, was just a few mins away as we have one on the estate. All this time the dog was screaming. I dont know what the outcome was, but I hope he is ok.

I honestly cannot believe anybody would leave a very small child in sole charge of a large, powerful dog like a GSD. I mean, how stupid and irresponsible can anyone be?!?! It is the dog that will suffer for its owners irresponsibility and their laziness with not training it. I know the owner of the white pup was saying something about going to the police and asking for the dog to be PTS. I can understand her thoughts after such a horrific incident (words cant really describe it very well, to see it was very upsetting!!) but I hope that it doesnt come to that.

Its so sad that breeds like this (amongst others!) get a bad rep because of their owners. If only there could be some kind of test before you're allowed to buy a dog...!!!
 
Hmmm, typed out a few replies to this, but the obvious one is that it should not have happened and hope the little dog is OK. It wasn't the child's fault, it was the parents.
I was allowed to walk our old bitch at about that age and in truth was way too young.

At the same time, it could have been any number of breeds that carried out such an attack but I do appreciate the sentiment, it's things like this that make people fear and even hate the breed.

I am not sure I need pity though.
 
CaveCanem said:
Hmmm, typed out a few replies to this, but the obvious one is that it should not have happened and hope the little dog is OK. It wasn't the child's fault, it was the parents.
I was allowed to walk our old bitch at about that age and in truth was way too young.

At the same time, it could have been any number of breeds that carried out such an attack but I do appreciate the sentiment, it's things like this that make people fear and even hate the breed.

I am not sure I need pity though.
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I did make a point of saying that its not just GSDs ;)

I didnt mean to offend. Just cant imagine owning a "trophy" breed like this that unfortunately gets a lot of bad press. I can imagine if this attack ends up in the papers it will be "GSD savages poodle", not "Irresponsible owner lets GSD run loose"... The dog always gets blamed, not the owners and thats why breeds end up with such a bad rep :(
 
So sad! We had a loveliest little cairn terrier baby, about 1 yrs old called Ted on our client list at the vets, he was one a of my favourites, he got picked up by GSD and had horrific internal injuries, I got savaged trying to get him into the consult room, as did the Vet, the poor dog was literally ripped to shreds (in fact it still haunts me and was a good 15 yrs ago now :-(

We patched Ted up, he was intensive care for a week and made a seemingly full recovery, apart from mentally, he was a changed dog :-( he later developed peritonitis and adhesions and had to be destroyed.

The reason I tell this story is not because I dislike GSD, in fact I think they are truly gorgeous animals, its the fact this particular GSD belonged to the jewellers across the road and he had attacked loads of dogs and caused injury, what really got to me was we had told him and told him to muzzle the dog when out walking as he would literally savage other dogs :-(

It's rarely is ever the dogs faults, its always the humans!
 
I can't imagine not owning a GSD :) as a GSD owner, the good certainly outweighs the bad, in my experience.

If you care to read our favourite :p newspaper today, there are stories about a Lab and a Collie savaging kids in two separate attacks.
Numerically large breeds will always be responsible for the most attacks on people and other dogs.

Yes, it is upsetting when people cross the street to avoid you or shout abuse or try to wind the dog up (happened to me when I was younger and was walking along with my dog, that would never make the papers :p) but it's their problem, all we (responsible owners :p) can do is keep our dogs under control and hope ours are better ambassadors for the breed.
 
CaveCanem said:
I can't imagine not owning a GSD :) as a GSD owner, the good certainly outweighs the bad, in my experience.

If you care to read our favourite :p newspaper today, there are stories about a Lab and a Collie savaging kids in two separate attacks.
Numerically large breeds will always be responsible for the most attacks on people and other dogs.

Yes, it is upsetting when people cross the street to avoid you or shout abuse or try to wind the dog up (happened to me when I was younger and was walking along with my dog, that would never make the papers :p) but it's their problem, all we (responsible owners :p) can do is keep our dogs under control and hope ours are better ambassadors for the breed.
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When my brother was young he was very savagely attacked... By a golden retriever!! :eek: Theres good and bad in all breeds - its the owners who are to blame, thats my point.

But, what I was trying to say (clearly i didnt succeed), is that a breed like a GSD (or staffy, mastiff etc) needs an owner with a bit of sense because they already have a reputation of being "trophy" dogs and the press take any opportunity to write sensational headlines about "vicious" gsds (or staffies, mastiffs etc). Like this situtation, the parents must have known the child was not strong enough to control the dog so it would be common sense to not have let her walk the dog alone....
 
My stepfather's GSD out of the blue turned on his Jack Russell....they'd lived together for years....both females. The Jack Russell died overnight and the GSD was PTS the next morning. I would never have one....it's in their blood.
 
Cazza525 said:
My stepfather's GSD out of the blue turned on his Jack Russell....they'd lived together for years....both females. The Jack Russell died overnight and the GSD was PTS the next morning. I would never have one....it's in their blood.
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Oh what utter rubbish:rolleyes:
 
Nope it's true. My parents were heartbroken. They'd been together for years, although he had the Jack Russell first. My Mother heard the commotion outside and ran out to see the GSD attacking the jack russell....she tried to seperate them but the GSD was determined. Eventually she released her. Jack Russell whisked off to vets....died overnight from her injuries. My stepfather took the GSD the next morning as he said he would never trust her around the grandchildren or other dogs. Can't blame hem.....very upsetting.
 
I once met a very nasty lab, but that doesn't make all labs vicious. I'm sorry you had one bad experience, but to say ALL GSDs are bad based on the actions of this one dog is just silly.
 
What is in their blood? Cells? Plasma?

We can go round and round in circles all night, which is kind of what I was afraid of when I read the title, it will turn into a bloody Daily Mail reader's comments session...I know a dog who did this, therefore X....I know a dog who never did that, therefore Y.....I would never have this sort of dog because of A.....I will always have that sort of dog because of B.....

I don't like Rough Collies because one bit me in the neck once (not seriously) and I'd never have one, not because of that, but because they do nothing for me. Big whoop.

PS Cazza, she didn't disbelieve the attack, she was ridiculing your comment 'it's in their blood'.
 
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One, however unfortunate, incident involving one GSD does not mean that the entire breed are like that :rolleyes:
 
Spudlet said:
I once met a very nasty lab, but that doesn't make all labs vicious. I'm sorry you had one bad experience, but to say ALL GSDs are bad based on the actions of this one dog is just silly.
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Agree.

If we all went with that assumption then every single breed (and crossbreed) in the world could be considered vicious!

It is NEVER the dog to blame. They are not malicious or cruel, they dont think like that.
 
Spudlet said:
I once met a very nasty lab, but that doesn't make all labs vicious. I'm sorry you had one bad experience, but to say ALL GSDs are bad based on the actions of this one dog is just silly.
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Oh I totally agree, but I would never trust one. I personally have an excuse for a dog....a Cavalier King charles.....not capable of killing anything and definately not ever used for security or protection as GSD's are. I think that's what I'm trying to say really....there are dogs such as dobermans, rotties, GSD's that I'm sure are very soft if brought up correctly, but there is a reason why they can be trained to harm......unlike my cavalier!
 
A Cavalier King charles may not be capable of killing (could likely kill rats, rabbits etc) but that doesn't mean they can't bite/ do serious damage.
 
I know a lot of security and protection dogs which are GSDs :) they almost all live in the home with other dogs and children.
In fact my favourite protection dog currently lives with two others, one a three month old puppy, and loves cuddling up on the sofa with me to watch telly.
Just because a dog has drive and a work ethic and can do a job, does not mean it is a natural born killer.
A properly trained protection/security dog is probably the last dog that would bite an innocent civilian/family member - because they are under CONTROL.
 
Cazza525 said:
My stepfather's GSD out of the blue turned on his Jack Russell....they'd lived together for years....both females. The Jack Russell died overnight and the GSD was PTS the next morning. I would never have one....it's in their blood.
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:confused: In their blood? what is? they cannot help being owned by knobs.
They need guidance like any other dog, they are very intelligent and highly trainable dogs and by far one of the better larger breeds to own in regard to trainability.
I walked ours when I was a kid, they where all well trained and well socialised, my mam did obedience with them.
We had 22 and nothing died/was killed in our house.
 
Don't be so sure of that. You may find this link of interest, although it is a couple of years old now.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...ausage-dogs-are-the-most-aggressive-dogs.html

They may be small, but new research found that one in five dachshunds have bitten or tried to bite strangers, and a similar number have attacked other dogs; one in 12 have snapped at their owners.

They topped a list of 33 breeds which were rated for their aggression, after academics analysed the behaviour of thousands of dogs.

Chihuahuas, an even smaller breed, were the second most hostile, regularly snapping or attempting to bite strangers, family and other dogs. Another small favourite, the Jack Russell, was third.
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Chihuahuas are hardly your stereotypical attack dog, now are they...
 
I could say that all handbag type dogs are fear aggressive/snappy.

Of course not all of them are and saying so would be stereotyping. Though I've met several who can't be trusted not to get snappy with kids/dogs (even if the kid/dog is on the other side of the room showing no interest in the handbag type dog) :o
 
CAYLA said:
:confused: In their blood? what is? they cannot help being owned by knobs.
They need guidance like any other dog, they are very intelligent and highly trainable dogs and by far one of the better larger breeds to own in regard to trainability.
I walked ours when I was a kid, they where all well trained and well socialised, my mam did obedience with them.
We had 22 and nothing died/was killed in our house.
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I think that was uncalled for really....perhaps a derogatory comment aimed towards your parents would help ;(. My parents dogs were well looked after, socialised with children and generally pets, my parents own a farm and the dogs were walked daily checking sheep and the such. Never a moments bother with any of the livestock. A total out of the blue attack....as the OP's was.
 
Spudlet - I'm hardly surprised that small dogs are becoming snappy especially those who are treated more like toys than dogs :o
 
Mental.:rolleyes: The nastiest dogs I've come across have been a lab and a springer, never had a problem with a GSD. The one next door loves my lot. She's very well trained and soppy, frankly.

Extremely unfortunate thread title: one dog is bad and you pity GSD owners?
 
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Honestly, if I'd heard the amount of times I've heard 'they're treacherous' 'they'll turn on you eventually'...if they were really so sleekit and unloyal and would bite you as soon as your back is turned, then they would never have been utilised as police dogs (most of which live at home with their handler's families), army dogs, search and rescue dogs, guide dogs (the first ever guide dog was a GSD and I met a lovely one last month), assistance dogs...

I guess all of us who have owned them for decades and never had any major problems with them must just be lucky :)
 
cinammontoast said:
Mental.:rolleyes: The nastiest dogs I've come across have been a lab and a springer, never had a problem with a GSD. The one next door loves my lot. She's very well trained and soppy, frankly.

Extremely unfortunate thread title: one dog is bad and you pity GSD owners?
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:rolleyes:

I think you have misunderstood, or just not read, my original post :)

I didnt say I pity the owners BECAUSE of the GSD attacking the other dog, but because I have finally witnessed first hand what owners of these dogs must have to put up with daily (from other peoples comments/actions towards them (i would assume)) -the reputation of this lovely breed ruined by an irresponsible owner.

From my first post:


Today I had the opportunity to witness first hand the type of stupidity that gives your wonderful breed a bad reputation...



Its so sad that breeds like this (amongst others!) get a bad rep because of their owners. If only there could be some kind of test before you're allowed to buy a dog...!!!
Click to expand...


Wish i'd never posted this thread now, its been taken completely out of the context it was intended in and it was NEVER meant for people to take the opportunity to slag breeds off. The whole point of the thread was that this horrific incident could have been completely avoided if a suitable person had had full control of the GSD... It was entirely the adult owners to blame for this entire incident. That seems to have got lost somewhere :rolleyes:
 
I am always pleased when I see that Dobermanns are slipping in the popularity stakes because it means they are less likely to be owned by numpties. There is less liklihood of the people next door breeding their bitch to the bloke up the road whos got a dog. Hopefully its just devotees of the breed who research blood lines and health test and breed for temperment who are now breeding. Ive had 4 Dobermanns in my lifetime all rescues all with issues who if not carefully trained could have been one of those dogs who attacked the poodle. I cant remember which breed but the breed which bites people more often was a small dog it certainly wasnt a GSD.

The nastiest dog I ever met was a Springer 2 of my friends have this breed and they are lovely dogs.
 
UnaB said:
:rolleyes:

I think you have misunderstood, or just not read, my original post :)

I didnt say I pity the owners BECAUSE of the GSD attacking the other dog, but because I have finally witnessed first hand what owners of these dogs must have to put up with daily (from other peoples comments/actions towards them (i would assume)) -the reputation of this lovely breed ruined by an irresponsible owner.

From my first post:





Wish i'd never posted this thread now, its been taken completely out of the context it was intended in and it was NEVER meant for people to take the opportunity to slag breeds off. The whole point of the thread was that this horrific incident could have been completely avoided if a suitable person had had full control of the GSD... It was entirely the adult owners to blame for this entire incident. That seems to have got lost somewhere :rolleyes:
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Totally agree with you. This dog should have been on a lead and under control. I hope the little dog is OK :(
 
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