jacqui835 Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Each day when I get home from work, I take poochy for a 1 hour give or take bike ride along the bike track, where he runs along next to me off lead. I think we both get a lot out of it (I can still fit into my size 8 pants despite working next to a cupcake store and he doesn't destroy the house!) Unfortunately, with the end of the daylight savings and winter getting ever closer, the sun is basically gone by 6:30pm and we now have to do our exercise in the dark. I've had a crazily unlucky day today; the trams broke down this morning so I had to walk to work in the worst possible shoes, the soap dispenser exploded so I had to go home and get changed - missing several important meetings, a guy reversed into me whilst I was driving home in the company car and the list goes on. Well our bike ride proved to be no exception. We'd only been riding for about 10 mins when I noticed that there were 2 men standing next to the bike track some way ahead of me. They were looking right at me, and they both moved onto the bike track in front of me, deliberately blocking me from passing. I panicked and had no idea what to do, felt a massive spike of adrenaline and I'm not sure if it was that, or that my dog just sensed something about these men, but he suddenly ran in front of me and started heading for them. He slowed to a trot as he got closer and was growling a deep low half growl/bark the whole time, so that with each bounce of the trot he made quite a scary noise. Both men jumped back and made gasping type noises and I just rode past them as fast as I could. When they were behind me, I called my dog and he ran after me. We have the track mostly to ourselves at nights, with the exception of the occasional jogger or commuter riding home and my dog rarely even acknowledges these people. If they stop to comment on him, he puts his ears back, wags his tail and goes in for a pat so it's not like he's just aggressive towards everyone. When he was younger, people used to tell me I was ruining a perfectly good guard dog/doberman by socialising him so much and encouraging him to accept pats from strangers etc, and excusing terrible behaviour from their own dogs saying they were just really protective unlike mine. I wish they could have seen him tonight... So to anyone who owns a guarding type breed of dog, and has/is being told what I was (ie don't let them get too used to other people because they won't be protective anymore), you can rest assured that's complete horse sh*t. You will just have the dog that can tell the difference between strangers and an actual threat, rather than the one that can barely be walked down the street because it's so scared/aggressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akay Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 What a good dog. If those men were acting suspiciously you should note down what you can remember about their appearance and what they were wearing. You can mention it to the police just in case they are stalking women on the bike track, or at least just keep the info handy in case you hear of something happening. When the bikeway rapist/s was on the loose in Brisbane I had a man acting strangely around me so I gave the police a description and his rego number just in case. You did have a really bad day, it's good the dog was looking out for you. What type of dog is poochy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsrawesome Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 well done to your dog if he wasnt there god knows what would have happened. Dogs are clearly awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fynesse Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Good on your boy!!!!!!! I was out jogging with my GSD one day along the fire trail that ran behind our property. He was THE friendliest dog on earth, however this day we came across a guy driving along in a 4wd. I rarely, if ever came across people out there, usually just motor bike riders, so seeing someone in a car was weird. The guy actually stopped beside and and started asking for directions (huh?, you're on a fire trail buddy, no roads...) I don't know that this guy had actually seen my dog, but Kip slowly walked up from behind his car and came and stood beside me. He didnt need to 'say' anything, just stood there with his hackles raised and 'smiling'. This guy took off like a rocket! First and only time I have ever seen this dog even look slightly threatening, but it made me feel VERY safe!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sooky Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 (edited) Wow what a day you've had with a very scary ending your dog sounds amazing hope you've given him a big reward tonight Fynesse - great story its funny how they just seem to know. Edited April 5, 2011 by doggylovers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poochmad Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Wow, how scary. Most likely your dog picked up on your fear. Dogs are amazing creatures; thank goodness you had him with you tonight. I would call the police though, as they might have done the same thing to someone else. What breed of dog do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacqui835 Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share Posted April 5, 2011 What a good dog. If those men were acting suspiciously you should note down what you can remember about their appearance and what they were wearing. You can mention it to the police just in case they are stalking women on the bike track, or at least just keep the info handy in case you hear of something happening. When the bikeway rapist/s was on the loose in Brisbane I had a man acting strangely around me so I gave the police a description and his rego number just in case. You did have a really bad day, it's good the dog was looking out for you. What type of dog is poochy? Yeah I actually kept riding flat out until I reached the next main road which was maybe 5-10mins away, and then I called my partner. He suggested I call the police as well, and also drove over to where I thought they'd been but there was no-one there. I was trying to remember what they had looked like, but all I can remember is that one had a white shirt, and one had a turban type hat thing on his head. My dog got a ridge on his back too. Kip sounds like an awesome dog, I love GSD's... He's getting plenty of love tonight, he's currently curled up on the couch next to me having some hugs. 'Poochy' is a doberman, here are 2 of my fav pics of him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Well that has to nearly take the record for the crapest day from hell! What a good boy you have I have always thought along the same lines as you. How can a dog know whoi is good when they have never met people, the more people thay have met the more they are likely to realise when someone is not good or something is not quite right. If they are never socilaised and they base their aggression on fear it is like a loaded gun and it will fire at randome, could be a baddy could be a young child or an old person miding their own business. If they see lots of normal they will never fire at random on normal people. Well that's my theory anyway, seemed to work for my Dobes. Please be careful and yes definately report it to the police with as much info as you can remember Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosmum Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Well done,both of you! Glad you are O.K ,its scarey realising how vulnerable we are. Lovely pics too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Willow Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 What a good boy!!! Even those couple of small details you can remember could be of assistance to police, especially if they make up part of a bigger picture, other people may have already reported them, and your info could be part of the puzzle piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandybrush Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 awww great job for your doggie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Wow, what an awesome dog. They always know the difference between a harmless situation and one that requires some spunk on their behalf. Alot of people don't give them enough credit. I bet you feel alot safer though knowing he's got your back. I walk my GSD just before sunrise every day & even though it's dark, I feel safe with my big boy by my side Stay safe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leelaa17 Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 So glad you are safe! What a scary situation! And he is a beautiful boy!! Never underestimate a dogs ability to 'know' people. (and other dogs for that matter). I took my GSD to the dog park one day and he is the friendlist, calm gsd you'll ever meet... he goes up to all dogs and says hi etc... yet this day we went there was a staffy and a staffy x terrier there and for some reason he wouldnt go near them... he just stood beside me.. and i said 'go on' and he looked at me and trotted off but stayed away from them... long story short... he got attacked by both of the dogs... I will NEVER... not trust his instincts ever again... and as I said - he is a very placid and lovely dog... but when he hears noises outside that hes funny about he will come and sit in front of me for about 10 minutes just to make sure I am ok. I do believe dogs know the difference between good people and bad people... they can sense their energy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskedaway Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 You're in SA, aren't you Jacqui? Which bike track was this? I always feel safe walking with Akira in the dark - my neighbour reckons no one would ever attack me because I look like I can't control her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandybrush Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetty Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 I would of freaked out two having two strange men giving off dodgy vibes like that! I bet your very glad you had your dog there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 That is very scary!! What a good dog. It does make me think though- what kind of maniacs would take the risk of messing with a woman walking a dobermann?! Maybe I'm not so safe walking with my goldie afterall! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leelaa17 Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 You're in SA, aren't you Jacqui? Which bike track was this?I always feel safe walking with Akira in the dark - my neighbour reckons no one would ever attack me because I look like I can't control her. LOL!!! It does make me think though- what kind of maniacs would take the risk of messing with a woman walking a dobermann?! Maybe I'm not so safe walking with my goldie afterall! Of course you'd eb safe - because even if the guys THOUGHT your goldie wouldnt do anything... they'd be pleasantly surprised when the goldie goes for their jugulars if they try to touch u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 (edited) It does make me think though- what kind of maniacs would take the risk of messing with a woman walking a dobermann?! Maybe I'm not so safe walking with my goldie afterall! Of course you'd eb safe - because even if the guys THOUGHT your goldie wouldnt do anything... they'd be pleasantly surprised when the goldie goes for their jugulars if they try to touch u Thats so not likely! My dog is not wholly reliable on being able to pick out the bad guys and besides is an absolute tart for pats. She went through a phase of being quite protective of me (I have since worked hard to train her out of it), but chose the least threatening people to target with her big scary bark. Those poor fat, old people trying to quietly walk to work through the park. The one time we came across a couple of young hoods early in the morning... she just smiled and wagged her tail at them! (Luckily they weren't interested in me- they had just stolen a woman's bag ;) ). I've always just hoped that in a tricky situation, her size would be enough to deter someone and make them pick an easier target. I'm not ruling out that she may try to protect me if someone did try and grab me, but I'm not counting on it. Edited April 6, 2011 by dee lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskedaway Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 You're in SA, aren't you Jacqui? Which bike track was this?I always feel safe walking with Akira in the dark - my neighbour reckons no one would ever attack me because I look like I can't control her. LOL!!! I think he saw us walking one morning when Akira tried to take after a cat and I was desperately trying to stop her from killing it and dragging me through the dirt in the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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