Why Don't People Care Enough?

[Ker]

I was coming home from dropping kids at school and as I turned into my street (my street is very wide, with a huge grass verge in the middle), a young (under 12 months) german shepherd came running across the road. Myself and another car almost hit it. I stopped and got out the car. I called it and it ran to the middle of the road. I had been shopping, so got the salami out of the grocery bag to try and entice it. No dice. I went back to my car and sat and watched it for a minute. It wandered about and went into the yard of a house. A horrible man came out and yelled at it so the poor dog bolted across the road again, once again being narrowly missed by a car. I got out of the car again and tried to approach it, salami in hand. I got close enough to see it was a girl before it took off. She went into the yard of a house and straight up to the door. I watched her for a while, but no one was coming to the door. I looked at the windows, no curtains. I thought about what to do while I watched her and finally called the council. She sounded completely uninterested until I said "It's a big dog." She asked what kind and I said "German shepherd". She said "Oh! Well, I'll get the dog catcher straight out there. Do you know if it's friendly?". I said "I don't know the dog, but it didn't try to rip my arm off if that's what you're asking. It's scared, because it keeps darting across the road and being narrowly missed by cars".

After I got off the phone, I did a u turn and went to the house. The dog was in the front yard and once again, I tried to call her. No dice. I could see through the windows - NO furniture in the house Nothing out the front. Poor pup was going up to the door and looking at it.

Why do people do this? The dog had no collar, and I'm willing to bet, was not chipped or desexed (this area, I doubt the owners would have). I just hope the council guys get there before she gets hit by a car!

[poodlefan]

If an unknown German Shepherd turned up in the yard of my house, I'd probably yell at it too.

I'd make no assumptions about this dog other than it is lost. There's every chance it did not live in that street.

[sas]

ummm ok???

[Moselle]

If an unknown German Shepherd turned up in the yard of my house, I'd probably yell at it too.

I'd make no assumptions about this dog other than it is lost. There's every chance it did not live in that street.

Are you afraid of big dogs? or is it the breed?

[poodlefan]

If an unknown German Shepherd turned up in the yard of my house, I'd probably yell at it too.

I'd make no assumptions about this dog other than it is lost. There's every chance it did not live in that street.

Are you afraid of big dogs? or is it the breed?

I'm not afraid of either. However GSDs and small poodles don't tend to mix all that well. Every serious incident I've had with my dogs has involved one. Most poodle and GSD folk know of the issue.

[Moselle]

That is the bane of my life....I absolutely hate seeing dogs roaming around esp in busy roads; I'm grateful this doesn't happen all that often nowadays. Hope this isnt a case of the dog being abandoned.

[Moselle]

If an unknown German Shepherd turned up in the yard of my house, I'd probably yell at it too.

I'd make no assumptions about this dog other than it is lost. There's every chance it did not live in that street.

Are you afraid of big dogs? or is it the breed?

I'm not afraid of either. However GSDs and small poodles don't tend to mix all that well. Every serious incident I've had with my dogs has involved one. Most poodle and GSD folk know of the issue.

Are you saying that german shepherds and poodles have a disdain for one another? I have owned a german shepherd before for 16 years, never quite came across that story .

[poodlefan]

Are you saying that german shepherds and poodles have a disdain for one another? I have owned a german shepherd before for 16 years, never quite came across that story .

How many poodles did it meet offlead?

I'm saying that as herding breed with pricked ears, normal coat type and a low set tail, GSDs tend to interpret very upright body language, wool coat and raised tails quite differently. The result 4 times now has involved aggression towards my dogs. I think a predatory response may also be involved. My dogs have not responded aggressively. I think they'd just like to be left alone.

But hey, don't take my word for it - go to talk to the Sibe people about what GSDs think of their dogs. They don't appear to care much for Spitz body language either.

The fact that GSD folk seem to prefer taking their dogs to GSD only training around here doesn't help. The breed would benefit from extensive socialisation with lots of other breeds IMO.

Edited October 18, 2010 by poodlefan

[indigirl]

I seem to be a magnet for lost dogs! They seem to always find my house. I dislike them coming into my yard as they set my dogs off. However I always try to catch them and see if there are contact details on thier collar. If not I will take them to the pound rather than risk having them hit by a car. I too would yell at a strange dog in my yard near my own dogs. I have no way of knowing whether the dog has any kind of disease etc and i certainly dont want it near my dogs. Rather than yell nastily and scare it away however, I tend to call out to it and try to get it to come to me. I will then chain it in my front yard whilst i call the number on its tags etc.

I am guessing this GS is lost and confused. Hopefully it can be reunited with its owner asap.

[Moselle]

Are you saying that german shepherds and poodles have a disdain for one another? I have owned a german shepherd before for 16 years, never quite came across that story .

How many poodles did it meet offlead?

I'm saying that as herding breed with pricked ears, normal coat type and a low set tail, GSDs tend to interpret very upright body language, wool coat and raised tails quite differently. The result 4 times now has involved aggression towards my dogs. My dogs have not responded aggressively. I think they'd just like to be left alone.

But hey, don't take my word for it - go to talk to the Sibe people about what GSDs think of their dogs. They don't appear to care much for Spitz body language either.

The fact that GSD folk seem to prefer taking their dogs to GSD only training around here doesn't help. The breed would benefit from extensive socialisation with lots of other breeds IMO.

To be honest, when I was taking my german shepherd for a walk it was usually the nearby park which was usually deserted so I can't say if he would have had an attitude towards other poodles but at that time I also happen to own a miniature poodle and they got along famously, there was never an issue but then again they were members of the same family.

[poodlefan]

To be honest, when I was taking my german shepherd for a walk it was usually the nearby park which was usually deserted so I can't say if he would have had an attitude towards other poodles but at that time I also happen to own a miniature poodle and they got along famously, there was never an issue but then again they were members of the same family.

Your GSD clearly spoke "poodle".