Nic oh lah

Haha - little person, love the political correctness. But seriously - of course there is a chance a dog is going to attack my dog. Whether I take her for a walk, take her to training at our dog club, take her to a trial, take her to an off leash park, there is always a chance someone elses dog is going to attack my dog. But I am careful that my dog is not PROVOKING other dogs, and getting slight hackles due to excitement but being clearly non-aggressive is not her provoking other dogs. And Dog's are smarter than people when it comes to dog behaviour - it's unexperienced owners I have to reassure that Sophie is not behaving aggressively, dog's dont have a problem with her behaviour. Just when you're saying i dont see that this has anything to do with my dogs behaviour as i've already stated I dont allow her to run up to other dogs unannounced without asking the other owner first if it's ok. I don't know why you're convinced my dog is a walking target vs any other dog out there when she is very well balanced with other dogs. Unless you've met my dog and witnessed her behave aggressively I dont think you have the right to insinuate that i'm irresponsibly letting her provoke other dogs or putting my dog in danger. I wish a DOLer whos met Sophie would visit this thread and back me up on this so I just don't sound like a proud mum who is oblivious to her bad habits! Again - sorry OP if this is off-topic.

Yes but how do you know another dog won't attack her and potentially hurt her? Because she is not behaving dominant or aggressive. She "fluffs up" a bit - she doesnt turn into a stiff focused scared dog with a ridge sky high. How do you know a piano is not going to drop on your head as you walk past a three legged midget? You just know.

Here is a picture of Sophie with a bed full of toys. We found all these toys on her bed one evening when we got home from work. The Black Kong is Hers. The 2 balls and 1 tug toy are not Little snot managed to poach them from neighbours dogs! lured them into a false sense of security so they dropped their toys near the wire fence between the yards and then BAM stole poor unsuspecting puppys toys. Pretty dumb dogs in my opinion to let her get 3 all in one day but hey. I gave them back. There's a 7ft timber fence there now, so the only surprise toys we find are balls thrown over by neighbours kids, and i've explained that if they go over the fence they're never seen again as sophie will pull them to bits.

*whispers* i'm telling you, leonberger.........

Leonberger. The ones i've met have been the epitomy of "Gentle Giant". Lovely temperments, though mischeivous puppies! And being a large breed are going to be more than happy with 40-60mins a day i would think.

Yep - anytime a new dog comes into the dog park Sophie runs over for a butt-sniff wanting to play with her Hackles sky-high and people are going "is she going to attack?" Sigh. I just keep saying out loud so people can hear me "Sophie put your hackles down so everyone else knows you just want to play". People think the big scary GSD is going to eat their shit-malti-poo I'd not be happy with an unsolicited offlead greeting by a large dog displaying that level of arousal.. triggers to do anything are lowered in that state. Is Sophie fairly dominant? What do you think her reaction will be to being told to shove off by another dog? The reason I ask is I've been in precisely that situation with a GSD bitch.. when growled at by one of my dogs she attacked. My advice is not to let her run up to other dogs uninvited. Control the meet and greets very carefully. She's not going to attack. I would stake my life on it. She was the same with other dogs at the DOL meet - as far as I can tell everyone was confidant that she's very gentle. Sophie is totally non-dominant. She sniffs their butt, then goes to their face, puppy bows in front and licks the underside of their chin. And when told to shove off she backs off asap and keeps her distance. And when i call her, she comes. Huga's woofer Harry was her main target - she was facsinated by him and trotted around after him quite happily and every so often when she went to sniff his butt he told her to get lost. No harm done - she did indeed get lost. And I dont let her run up to other dogs uninvited. When new people enter the park (just like at the DOL meet) I call her to me and hold her collar until i've asked the owner if they're happy for them to play. I'm not shoving my agressive mental dog on unsuspecting bystanders. She tends to go still, stand with pricked ears and really focus on anything that's causing her to react with dominance - eg, intruder in our yard that she guarded me against the other day. She's fine. ETA - i acknowledge this isnt true of all dogs - that's why i explain to people that she's just excited by the new doggie and thats why her hackles her up and assure them that if she was agro, i would know it. I dont think its a behaviour to dismiss in dogs, but i know mine really well which is why i can make that call. But i completely understand why people back off until they have spoken to me - thats why i hold her collar until the other person is calm and happy for me to let her go.

Yep - anytime a new dog comes into the dog park Sophie runs over for a butt-sniff wanting to play with her Hackles sky-high and people are going "is she going to attack?" Sigh. I just keep saying out loud so people can hear me "Sophie put your hackles down so everyone else knows you just want to play". People think the big scary GSD is going to eat their shit-malti-poo

:D Nasty dogs those giant killer whippets Viscious beasts. Saw the neighbour checking his mail this morning when I was going to work - he said "sorry about my mate the other night". I said "yeah well Sophie I can control but the GREYHOUND is unpredictable" - lol, to which he responded "Props to youze eh for being able to handle, like, viscious dogs... and stuff". Sigh. I then smiled and got in my car to drive off with a wave - didn't see fit to point out that the unpredictble thing about Vader is that I dont know whether he's going to curl up and sleep any second - haha. Is it unusal for Greyhounds to be watch / guard dogs? They are imposing to people that don't know the breed - but Vader is such a sook I was really shocked when he went in to look after me. I'm so touched - what a thank you to me for fostering him than to protect me as his pack leader.

Agreed - Beladoza you're a wonderful person giving this puppy a chance at a healthy future. Hope you and Lucky are doing well.

Yep - Sophie is amazing. And Vader as far as a foster goes blows my mind ;) For him to come from a background of racing kennels where he received no affection (as evidenced by the fact that he was terrified the first time i tried to pat him or cuddle him) to having such a bond with a person that he would guard me is fantastic. It's all Sophies doing really. I am 100% serious in my belief that he has adapted so quickly to being a pet and family dog because of her example - I still pinch myself that someone just GAVE Sophie to me, this beautiful dog with an amazing Pedigree and the most phenomenal nature.

Hmmmmmmm - i only have NAUGHTY photos, lol. Sophie vs The Doona's - 2 queen size ones to be exact! Wouldn't do to only kill 1 of them would it ???

I haven't taught them! They're just amazing dogs. I'm so proud. We've had Sophie 3 months and she's just instinctively protective of me. And Vader we've had the grand total of I think 12 days! He's a foster greyhound - i'm so so proud of them both.

So last night I looked out my bedroom window to see a Yobbo mate of my neighbour perched atop of the roof of their garden shed and my fence preparing to jump into my yard. They'd been drinking ALOT and playing backyard cricket and lost some tennis balls into my yard. I ran out there as the dogs were barking off their heads and screamed at him to stop where he is and to go to my front door and knock and i'll help him then (from behind the security screen!) Moron yells that he just wants to grab their balls and jumps into the yard! Oh my goodness. Dog's rushed him barking and growling - Sophie jumped on him full force and sent him flying - backwards into a pile of dog crap - lol. I called her and her and Vader stood infront of me staring down moron who is getting himself off and yelling about dog crap. I told him to stand still and he took a step towards me saying "i'll just grab the balls and get out of here" and Sophie and (hugely to my surprise) Vader bared teeth, growled and barked. I've not ever seen Vader behave like this, nor with Sophie - she surprised the Energex meter reader one time but she really turned on her full vicious to this guy" although stood perfectly still - hackles up. I rested my hand on the dogs backs, told the guy to STAND STILL FOR GOODNESS SAKE - walked over to the precious tennis balls and threw them over the fence back to their yard (all the while the dogs didnt take their eyes off him and kept up the teeth baring and growling and barking) and told him to get out and stay out unless he wants to be in shreds. He got out of that yard LIGHTNING FAST, dogs were back to happy boofheads, and i was internally laughing my ass off as he said "oh my F.....ing god NEVER go near that yard, shes got an Alsatian and a really big whippet and they're like professional guard dogs". ;) I'm so proud. They kept their distance on my say so and protected me. On the street or something if sophie put on that display i would be a bit concerned unless i really felt like i was in danger, but a drunk HUGE guy jumped into the yard and took a step towards me with arms outstretched - so i'm really happy that she protected me. Same with Vader - he was probably just following sophies lead but still, i felt like i had 2 bodyguards! My hubby is going to be starting with QLD police in June and doing shift work all round the clock so i'm very happy to know that Sophie will protect me like she did and that my dero neighbours who can jump into my yard when i'm alone at 3 in the morning are afraid of my dogs. And who new a Greyhound would be a good guard dog!!! He wasn't anywhere near as anxious as Sophie but he was definately guarding. Must add that later that night we had some freinds come round to play board games and stuff that neither dog had met and both dogs were happy and freindly because i was relaxed. I'm expecting a flaming for condoning my dogs vicious display but if it was you alone in your house at night i'm pretty sure you'd be glad too.

Hehe - I am slowly becoming this, and can't wait to not have to deal with the idiots. Volunteering at a shelter I have it from people all the time and am forever nagging people to desex their dogs whilst i'm bathing them. I have nothing against crossbreeds when rescued but other than that, leave the breeding to the registered ethical professinals.

What kind of dog are we talking about? Eg - breed, size..... For instance my GSD does very well on Uncle Albers but can't stand Eukanuba or most dry kibbles. She gets a mix of Uncles Albers Kibble and homemade (raw i guess) eg, chicken / beef mince, cooked pasta and vege's, aswell as chicken necks and wings. It's so dependant on the dog though. Rule of thumb - feed the best you can afford. If Sophie would eat Eukanuba or Royal Canin i'd give her that, but she loves Uncle Albers and she is in a beautiful condition on it, so it works for us. I won't ever feed her a kibble from a supermarket - there's nothing sold there that I would put in my dogs mouth other than vege's, pasta and human grade meats.

When i'm at work she's snoozing in her hammock bed in the backyard or digging massive holes in which she buries my washing When i'm at home the laptop doesn't come out with her inside unless i want it in peices!

Yep - this is my two exactly, the ever efficient watch dog Sophie, and the fur-slug Vader, haha.

Oh........ must.......... resist........................................ SIGH 2 medium and 1 large please Sophie hasnt been super excited by squeakies in the past but if it's loud and prolonged and sounds like something dying in a horrible way then i'm sure that's something she'd be interested in. If not they'll be great gifts!

Peanut Butter. Sophie goes mad for it and it keeps her busy for ages. I use a butter knife to spread it around the inside of the fat end and then pop in a few chunks of cheese (not much as it's not good for them to eat much) and some liver treats and then seal that end up with peanut butter. Makes one happy puppy!

Err- miine is different to yours! I only have the standard houndbag not pedigree but I've got the plastic clasp on one side of the bag and a metal D ring on the other side for the snap lock! Mine's not the pedigree so I cant be sure but that just doesnt look right!

1. Black Kong and a big jar of Black and Gold Peanut Butter! Gives me a couple of hours of peace and quiet! 2. Furminator - 'nuff said 3. Houndbag - sooooooooo good for parks, walkies etc. Need a bigger treat bag though for training. If I could nominate a 4th it would be the combo of my tieout stake and homemade benching chain - lifesavers.

Wow - really? I can't keep my mouth shut when moron's give me "advice" about my "skinny" dog - I should just walk away, but I tend to stand there and lecture them on the agony their fat dogs will be in in a few years if they stay that fat. Oh and when they run their mouths telling me "crossbreeds are healthier" and that it's sad that my GSD"s hips will go as if i'm cruel for having a purebred! Gah.

A water-pistol can actually aggravate a dog further... If it was my dog I would probably just stop giving it bones altogether Mine are all trained from a very young age to drop/hand over anything they have without any aggression (I start by holding the bone as they eat it and offering a treat in exhange), but with an adult dog- especially one you are afraid of, it is IMO a huge risk and without assistance from an experienced person, I would not risk it. I agree. I don't think telling someone to use that method without knowing anything about how the dog may react is a dangerous. Hence the "if it was me" - it wasn't a suggestion of what to do, it was what I would do if MY dog were doing this. At no stage did I indicate I was giving advice about how to deal with a dog I don't know. Sorry to break it to you but i'm not a moron, but feel free to go nuts with the flaming if you're the boss of the internet

Sophie has no food aggression. You have to be able to take away a bone / food / toy incase the instance arose that a dog was having a nice time about to chomp down on a canetoad or something. What this dog is doing is not acceptable behaviour. Instinctual or not I wouldnt stand for it. If it was me i'd work on removing the bone using a "mine" command and a water-pistol in the face to correct growling.