tarope

Yes I have Tarope, it's a joke along with the reasoning for unwarranted reactivity, learned that Schutzhund training. Your DA Shepherd's wouldn't make it onto a Schutzhund field and would be disqualfied at the gate as my reactive dog was, so given Schutzhund is the global breed suitability test, how does being DA or HA make up the correct or desired trait in that case? I already have the answer, buy a GSD from a breeder who uses the traits for the work they were intended to do and understands what traits make up a correct example of the breed. Reactive dogs are protecting themselves with fear aggression and weak nerves, they are not protecting you Tarope ;) Let me understand this, your bashing the GSD club of SA so it's a fair bet you didn't buy you GSD's from that club then why are you here on DOL as DOL is about promoting not bashing pure breed clubs.

I have a dog aggressive dog, if she ever attacked a dog, i would blame me - not her. My options: have her PTS or keep her and keep her and others safe. I am aware of her problems and it is my choice to keep her, so it is my job to keep her safe from other dogs. I know what she can and can not handle and will never put her in the position where she feels threatened by another dog. I dont believe the problems that are being talked about have anything to do with the dog, it is the OWNER. All of us who own dogs should know what they can and can not cope with and all of us should do everything we can to keep them safe. If i could not handle my girl I would have had her PTS, no questions asked. As should anyone who can not handle the problems that their dogs have. My boy can get a bit freaked out in crowds, if i am dumb enough to let him into that situation than how is that his fault? Sadly I can not see things changing anytime soon, people are becoming more and more scared of bull breeds and it breaks my heart and I really dont know what the answer is to fix it. Why would you even think of putting your girl to sleep just because she's DA, the problem is many people including vets seem to think that DA dogs are dangerous. GSD's are DA,but that doesn't stop them being wonderful loyal family pets. I know what mine are like so I keep them on a short lead, but it's the moron owners in this world who are the real problem. I was sitting at the vets a few years ago with my GSD boy when this fool walks in and lets their dog run strait over to my boy who nearly ate this dog and the vet told me to go outside. Another time at the same vets I was sitting with my Rottie who is not DA, when another moron comes in and you guessed it let their dog jump on my Rottie who growled and snapped at this dog and this stupid woman called my girl dangerous. I have never seen DA as a problem,but I have seen many irresponsible owners so please don't blame your dogs. :D Poorly bred GSD's can be DA, but good GSD's aren't DA in the slightest. Who the morons are IMHO in regard to DA GSD's are the people who breed them, a testament that they shouldn't be breeding GSD until they know what they are doing? I agree. GSDs with the correct temperament (and adequately socialised and trained) will not be dog aggressive and will not 'nearly eat' another dog that approaches it while it is on lead with its owner in a public place. A dog like that should be kept away from places where other dogs are likely to approach them, unless they are muzzled or prevented from being able to bite. No wonder we have breed prejudice against this breed when some owners are so accepting of their dog's OTT aggression and blame anybody but themselves when their dog is upset by a situation they have placed it in. In any breed you can get DA examples, but the type and threshold of DA is determined largely by genetics, and some breeds contain many more examples of DA dogs than others. Breeding DA dogs and selling them as pets is irresponsible. It is good to see owners like Teebs understand their dog and go to considerable personal effort to ensure it stays out of trouble. One of my GSD's is both DA & HA and enquiring with the breeder why my dog is like this, the reason I was given for the aggressive behaviour was the belief that GSD's are a guardian breed, it's how a good GSD is supposed to be and his aggressive displays are caused by mismanagement on my part and incorrect raising, much the same reasoning Tarope has told us again from an experienced GSDL member and breeder? These people are supposed to be the GSD experts with experience in the breed who accept DA & HA dogs as a well bred example with good traits that need to be managed with choker chains and compulsive training with open displays of aggression being the owners fault?. I had a highly experienced working dog trainer and breeder assess my dog's behaviour who told me that my dog was no good and had a major temperament fault and in his opinion caused by breeding dogs that should never had been bred and critiqued my dog as a very poor example of the breed to be desexed and "never" bred. My second GSD is a working line Shepherd bred for temperament and performance in working roles from a line of extremely hard dogs and the dog is calm and confident, not the slightest bit DA or HA and on my part, there was no more management measures put into place raising this dog than raising a friendly Golden Retriever in terms of necessity to stem aggressive traits simply because a good GSD shouldn't have any active display of aggression unless threatened or provoked. It's an absolute misconception that working breeds like the GSD that can be trained in protection roles should be actively aggressive or be accepted that aggression is part of the breed. Active aggression in the breed is a faulty temperament and weak nerve, regardless of what the GSDL excuses aggression as, it's up to the owners of GSD's like this to collar the breeders and ask them what the hell they are breeding? There are too many GSD's bred with poor temperaments and too many excuses and cover up's for aggressive behaviour passing the buck back onto the owners for mismanagement of dogs who are genetically flawed from birth. Have you ever been to obedience training run by the GSD Club of SA? If it's no, then maybe you should. ;) I have the answer for you, if you don't like the way the GSD is then don't own it. :D

I have a dog aggressive dog, if she ever attacked a dog, i would blame me - not her. My options: have her PTS or keep her and keep her and others safe. I am aware of her problems and it is my choice to keep her, so it is my job to keep her safe from other dogs. I know what she can and can not handle and will never put her in the position where she feels threatened by another dog. I dont believe the problems that are being talked about have anything to do with the dog, it is the OWNER. All of us who own dogs should know what they can and can not cope with and all of us should do everything we can to keep them safe. If i could not handle my girl I would have had her PTS, no questions asked. As should anyone who can not handle the problems that their dogs have. My boy can get a bit freaked out in crowds, if i am dumb enough to let him into that situation than how is that his fault? Sadly I can not see things changing anytime soon, people are becoming more and more scared of bull breeds and it breaks my heart and I really dont know what the answer is to fix it. Why would you even think of putting your girl to sleep just because she's DA, the problem is many people including vets seem to think that DA dogs are dangerous. GSD's are DA,but that doesn't stop them being wonderful loyal family pets. I know what mine are like so I keep them on a short lead, but it's the moron owners in this world who are the real problem. I was sitting at the vets a few years ago with my GSD boy when this fool walks in and lets their dog run strait over to my boy who nearly ate this dog and the vet told me to go outside. Another time at the same vets I was sitting with my Rottie who is not DA, when another moron comes in and you guessed it let their dog jump on my Rottie who growled and snapped at this dog and this stupid woman called my girl dangerous. I have never seen DA as a problem,but I have seen many irresponsible owners so please don't blame your dogs. :D Poorly bred GSD's can be DA, but good GSD's aren't DA in the slightest. Who the morons are IMHO in regard to DA GSD's are the people who breed them, a testament that they shouldn't be breeding GSD until they know what they are doing? I agree. GSDs with the correct temperament (and adequately socialised and trained) will not be dog aggressive and will not 'nearly eat' another dog that approaches it while it is on lead with its owner in a public place. A dog like that should be kept away from places where other dogs are likely to approach them, unless they are muzzled or prevented from being able to bite. No wonder we have breed prejudice against this breed when some owners are so accepting of their dog's OTT aggression and blame anybody but themselves when their dog is upset by a situation they have placed it in. In any breed you can get DA examples, but the type and threshold of DA is determined largely by genetics, and some breeds contain many more examples of DA dogs than others. Breeding DA dogs and selling them as pets is irresponsible. It is good to see owners like Teebs understand their dog and go to considerable personal effort to ensure it stays out of trouble. My boy was defending himself and protecting me from what he saw as a threat, it's that simple. This wonderful breed is protective of the family they love, but some people will never understand this.

I have a dog aggressive dog, if she ever attacked a dog, i would blame me - not her. My options: have her PTS or keep her and keep her and others safe. I am aware of her problems and it is my choice to keep her, so it is my job to keep her safe from other dogs. I know what she can and can not handle and will never put her in the position where she feels threatened by another dog. I dont believe the problems that are being talked about have anything to do with the dog, it is the OWNER. All of us who own dogs should know what they can and can not cope with and all of us should do everything we can to keep them safe. If i could not handle my girl I would have had her PTS, no questions asked. As should anyone who can not handle the problems that their dogs have. My boy can get a bit freaked out in crowds, if i am dumb enough to let him into that situation than how is that his fault? Sadly I can not see things changing anytime soon, people are becoming more and more scared of bull breeds and it breaks my heart and I really dont know what the answer is to fix it. Why would you even think of putting your girl to sleep just because she's DA, the problem is many people including vets seem to think that DA dogs are dangerous. GSD's are DA,but that doesn't stop them being wonderful loyal family pets. I know what mine are like so I keep them on a short lead, but it's the moron owners in this world who are the real problem. I was sitting at the vets a few years ago with my GSD boy when this fool walks in and lets their dog run strait over to my boy who nearly ate this dog and the vet told me to go outside. Another time at the same vets I was sitting with my Rottie who is not DA, when another moron comes in and you guessed it let their dog jump on my Rottie who growled and snapped at this dog and this stupid woman called my girl dangerous. I have never seen DA as a problem,but I have seen many irresponsible owners so please don't blame your dogs. :D

I do feel sorry for Bull Terrier owners.

Headline should have read "Alarming number of Irresponsible owners". Moron walking two dogs near shopping centre with no leads which is illegal, bet the dogs weren't registered or microchipped either. Channel 9 claimed one dog was a Bull Terrier, which proves they can't tell one breed from another. Had it been a SWF, wouldn't get a mention.

Just when you think you've heard it all.

These are only generalisations. Some GSDs are friendly with everything (and the reverse). Also I don't believe the breed is stubborn, I've found them to be highly trainable and very willing to please even as 9 week old puppies. They would not be used in the forces if they were stubborn and difficult to train. I have owned and trained GSDs to very high levels for many years and I've always been amazed just how quicly the breed picks up on training. "Two types - calm and hyperactive" - another generalisation. Behaviour depends on many things - breeding, upbringing, training and the owner. There are good and bad of all breeds. If a Chihuahua were GSD size they may have as bad a reputation (or worse) than GSDs or other large breeds. Our perceptions only reflect our own personal experiences. Generalizations my bum, these are Facts. Facts I have seen with my own eyes and been told by people in the club that have bred and owned this wonderful breed for over 40 years. It's clear that you have never been to GSD training and seen stubborn GSD's, well I have both dogs and bitches One dog was the best in the class he did every thing very well, sit, drop, stay, and walked very well on the lead. Then at about 14 mths he turned into a real bastard, wouldn't do anything except try to fight other dogs. The owner was in shock and asked what she had done wrong,the Instructor said your dog is starting to mature and will be like this till he's two to three years old. My own dog at about the same age would stand in the yard and refuse to come in, when I went near him he would fall over and just lay there. I had to get a lead to bring him in,he did get better but still can be stubborn when he wants to be. My girl was a stubborn monster from 10 wks,she was the worst one at obedience and I had a hell of a time just walking her. Then at about 14 to 15 mths I noticed a big change and by 18 mths was much better, but can still be stubborn when she wants to be and still hyperactive at 8.5 yrs. The Instructor once told us when asked about stubborn GSD's said some are stubborn, some are very stubborn and some are real bastards. People should be made aware of the true facts of any breed before they buy,so as not to realize later that this breed is not for them.

Maybe the steward was just a volunteer and speaking of All breeds Clubs, my GSD girl started obedience at 4 mths with the GSDL. when she was 12mths old I joined the local all breeds club which had training on a different night so I could attend both as I wanted to socialize her with other breeds as she was only used to other GSD's. On the first night everyone stood in a line and the instructor came along and checked that people's check chains were around the right way. When the lady instructor came to me, my girl jumped up on her to say hello. Well this lady jumped back and screamed ahhhhh I said why did you do that, she won't hurt you she's still a pup and all she said was "I didn't know, I didn't know". :D Later that night this same lady was telling everyone, if you allow your dog on the lounge or bed one day that dog will attack you. The other thing I noticed at all breeds,was a person with a dog that was very DA and PA everyone called the dog a GSD but was cleary a cross. People see these crosses and blame the poor GSD.

But there are bad owners in many common breeds, yet not all common breeds have been mentioned in this thread... Yes that's true, but not all common breeds get the Media attention like some others do and the Media don't blame the owner do they.

And I am not afraid to state my feelings about a breed. I was a Dog Obedience Instructor for many years, which gave me the opportunity to observe various breeds and how they inter-acted with other dogs. What are YOUR qualifications, Tarope? As an All Breeds Instructor you would see cross bred and backyard so called GSD's with very bad Temperaments purchased by people who haven't got a clue how to handle them. I have seen an All Breeds Instructor who was very scared of my GSD and she was only a pup(12 mths) at that time. I'm not having a go at you,but anyone can be an All Breed Instructor with no experience at all. To be an Instructor with the GSDL you must have the experience and pass all the exams too. You asked what are my Qualifications, well I was a member of the GSDL for a few years and both my GSD's who are papered did Obedience training for several years. At GSD training you are shown how to handle and raise you GSD correctly and if you have a problem you only have to ask. I was a member of two branches of the GSDL and have seen many GSD's both dog and bitch and I would not call any of them cowardly, fear biting was a big problem years ago so I'm told this is not the case now thanks to the GSDL. With GSD's dogs don't like other dogs and bitches don't like other bitches and some don't like either and you are told this on the very first night of training so you keep your dog or bitch on a short lead at all times. They are also stubborn and have a mind of their own at times, shed 365 days per year. There are two types of GSD's, the calm and the hyperactive, I have one of each but not by choice and a desexed dog and bitch are the best combo with this breed. So as you can see I do have a little experience this wonderful breed. Am a member of the Rottie Club and have done Obedience with them too, aren't you sorry you asked. There are many owners of GSD's and Rotties who do the right thing and raise them correctly, that also means making them part of the family but unfortunately it's the bad owners who create breed prejudice.

Quote, poodlemum I've always found GSDs to be nasty cowardly dogs who will slink away from another dog when alone but are happy to attack when in a pack. I think that GSDs' have been very badly bred in recent years to conform to the ridiculous standard - the ones I have seen at shows look positively deformed with that horrible sloping back Quote, Inevitablue It's ok, some people fail to be pragmatic, or it could be the chip on the shoulder getting him/ her down. I could be cheeky and say this could be an example of a personality type that wants to own 'impressive' dogs Get your head out of the clouds. As DOL is about promoting pure breed dogs, I don't think your Ill Informed comment about a breed you have never owned is doing that poodlemum. As for your above comment Inevitablue, maybe I should be doing the reporting. ;) I'm not afraid of any breed and will always defend my chosen breeds from people who make negative stupid statements about breeds they have never owned, like it or not.

Having been owned by a Dobe myself for 10 yrs, I know exactly how you feel. I wish I had a dollar for every time some moron told me Dobes turn on you and they are vicious. My girl was brown and at the vets people would pat her and I would say - do you know your patting a Dobermann and every time people would pull their hands away in fear. Breed Prejudice is every where even on DOL.

So true, the R$PCA is only interested in Money not the welfare of animals.

Sorry I couldn't help myself, it's my fav.

Owners of breeds that fail to acknowledge the heritage of their beloved breed, fail to acknowledge the percentage breakdown of personalities attracted to their breed of choice are more likely to make biased comments. Some people do themselves no favours with head in the sand attitudes of what their breed is capable of without correct training, and using their own insular experience with their own dogs to say that people are unjustified to be wary of breeds which they HAVE had exposure too, even if it is just at the dog park. What did I say about Moronic statements made by people who have never owned these Breeds, you have just proved my point. ;) In a perfect world every Breed would be under control when out with the owner,but it's not a prefect world is it.

My Prejudice is against people who make moronic statements about Breeds they know nothing about and have never owned. My Prejudice is against people who stereotype Breeds because of the actions of an Individual,people like this are the reason we have BSL. My prejudice is against Irresponsible owners who give every Breed a bad reputation. Some of the comments on this thread about GSD's and Rotties are so stupid they're not worth a reply. I see we have a new style Forum, it's a shame we have people who are still Breed Ignorant.

In the West we don't have much to complain about do we. :D Maybe Iran might be next on the Revolution list. :D

It's a strange world and there are a lot of strange people in it, but to dislike a dog because of It's colour is just crazy. :D :D

Yes that is true, but it doesn't work because I've tried it. :D

Where to begin, Clifford the Pitbull :D (We must never forget what the R$PCA did to him). BSL A law unto themselves Money Hungry Standover tactics Lack of knowledge of dogs or dog breeds Moronic Temp tests as shown on that stupid R$PCA show Hugh Wirthless Just to name a few, SHAME SHAME SHAME R$PCA :D

Sorry but no, it doesn't. :D

We all know Pollies lie, just like the R$PCA.

It's a miracle alright.