Comments for German Shepherds GSD Rescues German Shepherd Dogs Wisconsin

Comment on Understanding Dog Bite Behavior or Don’t Blame the Dog When it Bites by Deb

Deb — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:58:09 +0000

Hi Kelly,

Thank you for sharing your heartbreaking story. I totally understand this tearing you up. It’s emotional torture to go through something like this. I think you’re absolutely right to have him checked medically. Sudden behavior changes can very well be health related as can what you’re feeding him and any number of what we humans would never think would affect a dog’s behavior.

For example, when Riley was diagnosed with hip displaysia we realized that he’s been in severe pain all his life! That’s 5 years of pain built up! I’d be grouchy, too!

In the case of the stranger entering your home, wow that’s a tough one. Telling him no can mean to him he’s not supposed to protect his home and family from intruders and that it’s ok for them to be in your home. On the other hand, you can’t have him biting people that are welcome in your home.

I do hope you can talk Mom out of putting him down. There are many workarounds to this kind of behavior, keep people safe and ways to help him get better. One example is that because Riley has so much built up stress from his lifelong pain *and* me not exercising him enough (bad bad FurMom!) he’s stressed out. We’re working on keeping him more stress free. I’ve gone back to crating the furkids when we’re not home rather than giving him freedom because that just tells him “Oh, they’re not home, my job to guard the house.” When it’s time for the mailman to come ’round he gets crated and the door closed so that he feels safe and isn’t in guard dog mode. I’m taking that job away from him so he can learn to relax more. It’s my job to protect them, not the other way around only he doesn’t know this … YET.

Both FurKids are getting more walks and exercise. Dogs in general *do* need mental stimulation, but it’s even *more* important for dogs of the active, working class which Duke is. Even us humans have television to occupy our minds, books to read — things to dooooo that help keep us mentally well and happy. What do dogs have if we don’t give them mind work? We get bored, we get cabin fever and we get grouchy when we don’t get what we need to keep us mentally and physically healthy. Dogs don’t have an outlet unless we provide it for them. The longer a dog doesn’t get what they need, the more the bad stuff builds up inside and eventually it has to come out. Like when people “stuff” their feelings — one day those feelings explode.

I’m not accusing the kennel staff of lying but if you weren’t there and didn’t specifically see what happened — you’re taking their interpretation for what transpired. Their interpretation could be very different from what *really* happened. Again, they aren’t lying but they see things how they see them, which may not correlate to what happened in Duke’s mind. Remember, dogs interpret things very differently than humans. Riley is *very* sensitive to direct eye contact — he takes it as a confrontation or a threat and immediately morphs into protection mode.

I wish you sooooo much luck! Please do come back and let us know what happens?

Comment on Understanding Dog Bite Behavior or Don’t Blame the Dog When it Bites by Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:55:42 +0000

Hello
Thank you for this article. I especially found the medical section interesting. My mother and father have a 7 year old Belgian Shepard that was a rescue from the inner city. He has been a family member for 6 1/2 years. My parents are the only two that live in their home but they have guests there often. Our family has been going through a lot of stress lately and we have had some loss. Duke was sent to the kennel for one night while we had a funeral. Duke goes to the kennel any time my parents travel and is very familiar with the place he goes. Duke attempted to bite two kennel staff and did bite another. She had a small mark from what I have heard. This is very out of character for Duke. There was also an issue about two weeks ago. A stranger came to the door and let himself in. He came to the wrong home. Duke did try to bite his hand. We all thought that was a good thing since this man was not a guest. He did not get any praise and my mother firmly told him no. My mom is now thinking that he needs to be put down due to the combination of the above situations. She is open to getting more information but does not know where to turn. He hung out with us on Christmas and was fine with the family and guests. It is so out of character of him. He really is very gentle. I will say a bit high strung and always has been. He is a barker and jumper. Duke and my mother have both been in training to work on the jumping and barking. He is a very stong. She is going to take him to the vet to see if this could be due to a medical issue. I have also read about diet changes. Could this “change” a dog? Are there other options? He really is a great dog but aggressiveness is something we have never dealt with in pets (we are long term pet owners and love them like family). This is really tearing us up along with all the other stress in the family at this time. Any suggesstions or references would be appreciated.

Comment on Does YOUR Puppy Have JAWS SYNDROME? by Deb

Deb — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:56:41 +0000

Getting a second dog can work out great but it can also go the other way. I feel extremely lucky that ours do so well together. They’re 10 months apart, Riley was just over a year when Nissa came to live with us at 3 months of age. Not everyone is as lucky as we are. I’ve heard of people that have to play the crate dance, only one dog out at a time because if they’re out together they fight. You could wind up anywhere in between as well. There’s just really no telling for sure.

It does sound like you have your hands full with Dexter right now. If you add another pup you’re doubling your work. Only you can decide if you’re up for that. We wanted to adopt a third one about 3 weeks ago and Riley was not accepting of her which could have put her in danger so we passed. With time I might have been able to make it work, but it comes down to just how much can I and do I want to have to handle.

Nissa has always been ok with other dogs. However, bringing another dog (especially another female) into HER home could have changed all that in a hurry. I’ve been warned many times that if two male dogs fight — they fight and it’s over. On the other hand, two females will fight to the death of one of them. I can imagine the one left standing would not be in very good shape under those circumstances. It’s a very scary thought.

They can also get along fine at first and one little thing that happens can change all of that and you’re then living a doggie nightmare. But then again there are many very harmonious multiple dog households so you could live happily ever after, too.

I would say do some down and dirty soul searching and do a lot of research before making any decision.

Comment on Does YOUR Puppy Have JAWS SYNDROME? by Dan Gullett

Dan Gullett — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:34:52 +0000

Thank you Deb we will go to work today to training Dex and not letting him play rougher with me than Grandkids. I have already seen the one person dog. I am home all day and it is just him and I. He potty trained fast because I smoke and everytime I went out to smoke I took him with me, I would always walk him to the yard and he always got a at a boy and a head rub when he did his stuff outside, and if he had an accident I would pick him up and take him out to the last spot he used. So he was house broke in weeks if not days. We have an acre fenced in, and I notice you have two dogs. Do you think a second dog will give him someone to run with and keep him a bit calmer while inside? I did try to get his brother the next day but he was gone. I would love to have a full blood shep.

Comment on Batman’s Robin to the (Dog) Rescue by Deb

Deb — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:47:55 +0000

Hi Lynne,

Thanks for dropping by and letting us know how you feel about the Gentle Giants Rescue!

Comment on Batman’s Robin to the (Dog) Rescue by Lynne Silveira

Lynne Silveira — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:19:27 +0000

I saw you and wife on Today show. God Bless the two of you. I started crying I was so happy to see so many happy, thriving dogs. I used to take in many gentle giants myself when I had my own home on five acres in Clovis, Ca. People would hear about me and bring their dogs. I would always get attached and would just keep them all. I went thru domestic violence divorce and lost my home a few years ago and it is my animals that I live for now. I hope to be in a house again one day of my own and be able to adopt from you people. Thank God there are people like you.

Comment on Save My Pet Stickers by Dave

Dave — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:14:56 +0000

As a fire fighter I can tell you I, as well as most of my fellow fire fighters, when finding a pet will try to get them out. Most times we don’t see the stickers because they are hidden in the smoke or we are just too focused on what we are about to do. But I have resuced several dogs and one piranha. One dog we were told about and we did a search for him and found him. I was on my hands and knees and opened a door and all I saw was a big wet nose and tongue on my face mask. Cats are a different story, you most often never find a cat. But they have an uncany ability to survive. I have seen houses gutted and when overhauling the cat runs out. Oh and sorry to say the piranha didnt make it…….

Comment on K9 COP Safety by Deb

Deb — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:49:48 +0000

Hi Beth —

You’re absolutely right and I totally agree. It should be a requirement if your department has a K9 that you *must* provide and *use* a bullet proof vest on the dogs at all times the dog is working.

I’ve seen the episode where they show the Officer sweeping up their K9 cemetery and every time I see this show I get angry all over again. Unless they died from an illness or old age, every dog in that cemetery would probably have lived to continue to work until retirement.

They constantly preach officer safety and in the same breath talk about how the dogs go in first and how dangerous it is blah blah blah. If they could hear me, they wouldn’t like the comments I’m tossing at the show from my kitchen. In my opinion, they talk out both sides of their mouths and it’s “What’s good for the goose and to hell with the gander.”

Comment on K9 COP Safety by Beth

Beth — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:40:37 +0000

Where are the bullet proof vests for your dogs!!!!!!!! I am shocked. The TV show states how you stress safety but the dogs go in with NO protection. Shame on this department. You even have the St Paul K9 Foundation which raises money. WHY NOT for bullet proof vests??

Comment on Venturing into RAW Feeding by Deb

Deb — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:14:03 +0000

Hi Martha,

I’m so glad you liked the article and feel that it will help your hubby understand. I hope so, too! We’re still tweaking after about two months on raw. I almost think it’s going to be an ongoing thing. Good luck to you and thanks again for visiting with us!