[GSDGAL]

Ok so I took two of my four dogs to the beach today. the GSD and the BCXAussie Kelpie anyway, it's an off leash beach and both the dogs are obedience trained, the bc does agility and the gsd has just started shutzhund last week...anyhoo. They are fully trained to recall, stop and drop wherever they are and heel off leash. I was walking along and they were playing in the surf and this guy with two labs come up, the black one has his hackles up and is running towards me, teeth bared, I sort of didn't know what to do, although i knew looking in the eye and running was bad. The guy was running after his dog and was yelling "JASPER" but to no avail. the dog was about 10 feet from me, when my GSD jumped in front of me and started barking at with her hackles up at the lab, it surprised me, because she is NOT dog aggressive. Callie had her head down her teeth bared and her tail up, the lab sensed her seriousness and backed off, and callie stopped immediately, and sat in place, very alert. I then put both her and nelson (whom remained completely oblivious) back on their leads. The guy finally reached me and told me that I should have my dogs on their leads, because they were obviously vicious. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT, if my dog hadn't bean there his dog would have attacked me and he's accusing my dogs of being vicious. I told him that he should have his red zone dog destroyed and kept walking. once we were far enough away i let the dogs go again, and they started playiong with a few cross breds that belonged to a lady. about 15 minutes goes by and I see weird fat man and evil lab returning, so i leash my dogs and sit with the lady on the sand. He walks past and sees me with the lady and tells her to watch my shepherd as it's aggressive and not to be trusted. and kept walking, I told her the story and she said his dog had tried to attack her once, but a few young boys scared it off. I'm so upset because it's the only dog beach in the county and I'm afraid if i go back evil lab and fat man will be there again. what should i do?

 

[marsha=whitie]

Tell whoever is in charge of the beach about the guy, and ask the woman if she'd tell her story, too. People are just... stupid.

 

[peppy264]

Keep Callie with you, she sorted the matter out pretty well.

 

[LuLuBelle]

What about calling by-law on him? I'd be reporting him and his dog. That is one example of why i hate dogs when they are unleashed. There is a reason why it's a law to be leashed.

 

[Xeph]

But the area GSDGAL was in was legal to be off leash

 

[skelaki]

I'd report him to both the police and animal control giving a good description of the man and the dog, the date, time and precisely what your GSD did including the fact that she immediately stopped the aggressive posturing when the lab broke off the pending attack on you. If you got the othe woman's name or can get it, and also her address if possible, give that information to the police and animal control also. It's people like that man who have ruined dog parks and are ruining dog beaches and such.

 

[Cracker]

I too would report him and his dog.
IF you correctly anticipated the threat this dog made to you, apparently unprovoked (remember, we don't always know what starts a dog off), this dog is a dangerous dog.
I wouldn't have said he should have the dog destroyed though, these dogs are very commonly able to be rehabilitated but should NOT be in public places unleashed. Remember HE is the ahole, not the dog.
Your dog interrupted the behaviour and the other dog backed off. This says a a lot about both dogs, including that the other dog is probably saveable.
He's an idiot...idiot people often have idiot dogs.

Sounds like your GSD is a natural.

Next time a dog rushes you like that (so you don't "depend" on your dog saving you") do the "be a tree" like they teach the kids, hands in, head turned and be still BEFORE the dog gets to you. The chances are very good that the dog will stop very close to you, don't react and wait for the owner to get there. I know, sounds simple, it's not, especially if you are terrified...but it's the movement that is likely to trigger a dog to bite or chase..so the odds are MUCH better if you are still and QUIET than if you try to fight him off or run.

 

[Elana55]

FWIW this is the EXACT behavior the GSD is known for from herding and how they got started in Guide Dog work. In that case, the GSD stood sideways in front of a man who could not see and prevented him unexpectadly going down a set of stairs!

You should not be upset... your dog did EXACTLY what he awas BRED to do... He got between a danger threat and his "flock" (you and your other dog). He was not being dog aggressive. He was warning. When a GSD decides to be aggressive there will be NO DOUBT in your mind.

Cracker's advice is dead on.. and while you are thinking of all this, remember to give your dog something extra he loves. He is a keeper is that one!

 

[Gingergal]

I'd report him to both the police and animal control giving a good description of the man and the dog, the date, time and precisely what your GSD did including the fact that she immediately stopped the aggressive posturing when the lab broke off the pending attack on you. If you got the othe woman's name or can get it, and also her address if possible, give that information to the police and animal control also. It's people like that man who have ruined dog parks and are ruining dog beaches and such.

completely agree. Just to protect yourself.

The man is in complete denial, saw an opportunity to blame someone else instead of himself for not controlling his dog and took it - utter coward he is!

I wouldn't have made the comment of his dog being put down. But would have said 'well my dog saved you from a law suit, as your dog was about to attack me'. And would have loved to see what he said then!

But don't let that idiot spoil your fun with your dogs. If you come across him again you have protected yourself by reporting him (as above) and if his dog attacks again do what the other poster said, but also be calm and assertive, just don't be nervous.