Is It Just Me?
Sorry about this long post about a dog in my neighborhood. I have a question about dogs in general, rather pet owners of certain dogs. I have a very nice neighbor who takes very good care of her cat and dog and she is a very considerate, responsible pet owner, but her dog is intimidating, to me mainly. I love all animals and I was initially unconcerned about him and approached him but backed off when he barked aggressively. He is a gorgeous, HUGE German Shephard. She happens to be legally blind but he was not trained as her guide dog. She trained him herself, but I think, from her descriptions, she got him from a backyard breeder. He responds very well to her commands, but when she invited me to be introduced to him formally and told me he liked to have his chest rubbed he mouthed me with his teeth when I reached to pat him. He didn't actually bite me, but feeling his big teeth on my skinny forearm made me feel very unsafe and she being legally blind didn't really see exactly what occurred. He also attacked a tiny dog in the neighborhood the one time he accidentally got away from her. Not sure if he was protecting his owner who slipped and fell, dropping the leash, but he did grab the little dog who was on a leash, but the owner wasn't able to pick her up in time.
Again, he didn't really break the skin, but he picked the little one up and shook him like a rag doll when the owner slipped on ice and he happened to get off leash for a minute. He stopped immediately at her command, but had she had a seizure, which is one of the reasons she has him, I am not sure if he would stay at her side, or attack anyone that tried to help her. It is amazing to me that many of my neighbors and the maintanence staff love him and they play with and pat him regularly. He is really beautiful and good to his owner who keeps him away from all the other smaller dogs, but she said it was because he is overexcited and just wants to play but it is overwhelming for little dogs. For the record I believe he weighs more than I so Sully and the other dogs have no hope if he ever goes after one of them in earnest.
the owner, and even some neighbors, have suggested he acts more aggressively toward me because he can sense fear. I have heard they theory before, but all dogs no doubt can sense fear, I know my dog does, but it does not lead to aggression. It feels like blaming the victim, not that I am actually a victim, but I am curious about why this dog is aggressive toward me alone. I know the little dog he attacked but did not hurt, aside from the fear of course, was in his territory. I wonder if he is acting more aggressively toward me because I use a walking cane and he is not a trained guide dog who would be taught how to act around people with white canes as well as walkers and regular canes. A certified guide dog would never be aggressive but this dog was command trained by his owner but apparently not socialized. It is not an urgent issue since she is careful and responsible, but I hate to see this smart, beautiful dog get worse and the owner has been approachable with minor suggestions if I am very careful and tactful. It would be nice to visit her without her having to lock him in the bathroom because, supossidly, of MY fear. I am not afraid of dogs at all in general, but I do fear unsocialized ones. I suspect one or more of you would have some insight as usual. Thanks!
Again, he didn't really break the skin, but he picked the little one up and shook him like a rag doll when the owner slipped on ice and he happened to get off leash for a minute. He stopped immediately at her command, but had she had a seizure, which is one of the reasons she has him, I am not sure if he would stay at her side, or attack anyone that tried to help her. It is amazing to me that many of my neighbors and the maintanence staff love him and they play with and pat him regularly. He is really beautiful and good to his owner who keeps him away from all the other smaller dogs, but she said it was because he is overexcited and just wants to play but it is overwhelming for little dogs. For the record I believe he weighs more than I so Sully and the other dogs have no hope if he ever goes after one of them in earnest.
the owner, and even some neighbors, have suggested he acts more aggressively toward me because he can sense fear. I have heard they theory before, but all dogs no doubt can sense fear, I know my dog does, but it does not lead to aggression. It feels like blaming the victim, not that I am actually a victim, but I am curious about why this dog is aggressive toward me alone. I know the little dog he attacked but did not hurt, aside from the fear of course, was in his territory. I wonder if he is acting more aggressively toward me because I use a walking cane and he is not a trained guide dog who would be taught how to act around people with white canes as well as walkers and regular canes. A certified guide dog would never be aggressive but this dog was command trained by his owner but apparently not socialized. It is not an urgent issue since she is careful and responsible, but I hate to see this smart, beautiful dog get worse and the owner has been approachable with minor suggestions if I am very careful and tactful. It would be nice to visit her without her having to lock him in the bathroom because, supossidly, of MY fear. I am not afraid of dogs at all in general, but I do fear unsocialized ones. I suspect one or more of you would have some insight as usual. Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on
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I don't think the neighbor needs any suggestions. Occasionally animals react negatively to a certain person or situation when this is not their usual pattern and it is not always possible for us to fully understand why. I would simply keep my distance from the dog without overthinking it. Normally you would never go up and pet a Service Dog, they need to stay focused on the job they are doing and anything else is a distraction. If the lady is legally blind and has trained to dog to assist her, she has enough good sense to face her challenges with the dog. You say she is a considerate and responsible pet owner. I would leave well enough alone. If you are out with Sully, stay well clear of them. If you are by yourself, you can greet her or interact with her ( not the dog) at a reasonable distance, and she can help you determine what that distance may be.
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Permalink Reply by Holly on
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I agree totally, but this is not a real service dog. A true service dog, and certainly a guide dog is more well trained. I never interrupt a service animal and only approached hers because she asked me to. There are many misconceptions about guide dogs and service animals, but I am truly an expert in the ADA and 504 regulations so this is solely an animal behavior question.
She is also embarrassed by her dog's behavior, but since true service animals and guide dogs are very expensive and hard to get funding for, she got one and trained him on her own. She did a great job, but socialization is one area that seems to have been missed. I have noticed she brings him much closer now to Sully and I and I know he is far to big for her to control physically. I am not too concerned because he is well controlled by her commands, in German by the way, but she could slip again and/ or have a seizure so I am happy to work with her, if she asks me again about it, to help the dog become safer around others. There was a chihuahua here that hated everyone. It tried to attack and bite Sully once when it somehow managed to get away from its owner. One neighbor told the owner the dog needed to be socialized and the man began to work with the rest of us and his little dog now interacts well regularly with people and dogs. I know the owner of the German Shephard would like to join us, but I am not comfortable, nor are the other owners with that step just yet. Just wondered why he may have targeted me in particular, but he always targeted the other dogs, including the attack I mentioned. Thanks for the input though Anna. You are right about service dogs and guide dogs. They should be ignored while working. This one is more of a pet that happens to help with her seizures and such,that she wants me to interact with at times. She is a pet lover so she probably didn't want to wait to, try to get funding for a trained service animal. She is also a good pet owner. It is just the few issues that cause trouble and could get her pet reported (some less dog neighbors have intimated as mild threats that the dog is not a true guide dog and may dangerous Which I hope they do not mention to the owner. He really is great with some people. I think he may be more aggressive toward me as he associates me with Sully, but that is just a guess.
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