This is a long post. Bear with me--I want to be sure I do the right thing, because we can't afford another family tragedy like our family experienced four months ago when we lost our 2 year old GSD, Soldier. Soldier bit a 12 year old kid (while on leash), with no warning (and I was always attuned to body language). Soldier had never shown aggression or fear toward people before. He was DA and had bitten a dog previously--they counted that against him so he didn't get a second chance, they made us euthanize him. I cannot let this happen to Decker.
We brought Decker home two months ago. He's now 9 months old. DNA says he's a lab/cane corso/bullmastiff/Tibetan mastiff mix. To most people, he looks like a gigantic lab--he has a lab head and loves water, but I could see a guardian temperament in him right away. When we first brought him home, I would occasionally see him behave cautiously around certain suspicious strangers. Sometimes he would react fearfully, tucking his tail and hurrying toward me. I just continue on with confidence to show him all is well. I take him to Petsmart, public places, and he's happy and relaxed. He's sweet and friendly toward people who solicit his attention, but he doesn't seek attention from strangers.
Yesterday, I took the dogs on a hike with a friend and our kids at a nature park. When we got to the river, there was a dude sitting down on a rock minding his business. For a half hour, Decker just played with the kids in the water and ignored the guy, although the dude was strange enough for my 7 year old to ask me if he was homeless. Then dude picked up a stick. Decker stopped playing and just watched him. Other mom and I were watching him too, by now. Then we relaxed a bit for a few minutes, then dude stood up with this big stick, while talking to himself, and Decker's hair went up and he started barking. I said "Decker, wait" and walked over and snapped the leash onto his flat collar. Then he bounced up and down at the end of the leash, barking while the guy walked by with the stick, muttering to himself. Decker weighs over 90 pounds--if he wanted to drag me, he could, but he didn't. And I didn't hush him, because dude was making other mom and me a little nervous and I was pleased that Decker was a deterrent. Then last night I was walking home from a friend’s house after dark, and one of her neighbors (whom we've never met) was in his driveway talking on the phone. Decker's hair went up and he started barking. I told him, "it's fine," and just started walking away, but I had to pop his collar a few times and pull him, saying, "let's go." He's definitely jumpier at night. Then today, on our morning dog walk on a path through a wooded area, a clean cut man in his late 30's approached from behind us, walking fast and tall, wearing earbuds. Exercising, I presume. Decker was behind me, but scurried to catch up, looking behind him fearfully. I leashed him and commanded him to sit, along with my Brittany dog, telling him "it's fine" in a no nonsense tone. We let the man pass. We followed about 15 feet behind, and once out of the wooded area near some houses where the guy was turning off, I called ahead and asked the guy if he would mind giving Decker a treat. He said "sure" and we approached with Decker on leash. I gave the man the treat, but he was a big man, and he bent over to offer the treat. Decker said hell no, and backed up rapidly. I cautioned the guy not to lean over, but Decker wouldn't take the treat from him, so I asked him to drop it, and then Decker ate it. I thanked him and we went on our way, with Decker not as anxious.
I should also mention that Decker and I go to dog obedience classes every week with a trainer I've known for years. I will discuss this with her at class tomorrow.
Sharon
Decker, 9 month old "mastador"
Josie, 7 year old Brittany dog
In my heart:
Soldier, GSD
Sassy, Golden Retriever
Ranger, Golden Retriever
We brought Decker home two months ago. He's now 9 months old. DNA says he's a lab/cane corso/bullmastiff/Tibetan mastiff mix. To most people, he looks like a gigantic lab--he has a lab head and loves water, but I could see a guardian temperament in him right away. When we first brought him home, I would occasionally see him behave cautiously around certain suspicious strangers. Sometimes he would react fearfully, tucking his tail and hurrying toward me. I just continue on with confidence to show him all is well. I take him to Petsmart, public places, and he's happy and relaxed. He's sweet and friendly toward people who solicit his attention, but he doesn't seek attention from strangers.
Yesterday, I took the dogs on a hike with a friend and our kids at a nature park. When we got to the river, there was a dude sitting down on a rock minding his business. For a half hour, Decker just played with the kids in the water and ignored the guy, although the dude was strange enough for my 7 year old to ask me if he was homeless. Then dude picked up a stick. Decker stopped playing and just watched him. Other mom and I were watching him too, by now. Then we relaxed a bit for a few minutes, then dude stood up with this big stick, while talking to himself, and Decker's hair went up and he started barking. I said "Decker, wait" and walked over and snapped the leash onto his flat collar. Then he bounced up and down at the end of the leash, barking while the guy walked by with the stick, muttering to himself. Decker weighs over 90 pounds--if he wanted to drag me, he could, but he didn't. And I didn't hush him, because dude was making other mom and me a little nervous and I was pleased that Decker was a deterrent. Then last night I was walking home from a friend’s house after dark, and one of her neighbors (whom we've never met) was in his driveway talking on the phone. Decker's hair went up and he started barking. I told him, "it's fine," and just started walking away, but I had to pop his collar a few times and pull him, saying, "let's go." He's definitely jumpier at night. Then today, on our morning dog walk on a path through a wooded area, a clean cut man in his late 30's approached from behind us, walking fast and tall, wearing earbuds. Exercising, I presume. Decker was behind me, but scurried to catch up, looking behind him fearfully. I leashed him and commanded him to sit, along with my Brittany dog, telling him "it's fine" in a no nonsense tone. We let the man pass. We followed about 15 feet behind, and once out of the wooded area near some houses where the guy was turning off, I called ahead and asked the guy if he would mind giving Decker a treat. He said "sure" and we approached with Decker on leash. I gave the man the treat, but he was a big man, and he bent over to offer the treat. Decker said hell no, and backed up rapidly. I cautioned the guy not to lean over, but Decker wouldn't take the treat from him, so I asked him to drop it, and then Decker ate it. I thanked him and we went on our way, with Decker not as anxious.
I should also mention that Decker and I go to dog obedience classes every week with a trainer I've known for years. I will discuss this with her at class tomorrow.
Sharon
Decker, 9 month old "mastador"
Josie, 7 year old Brittany dog
In my heart:
Soldier, GSD
Sassy, Golden Retriever
Ranger, Golden Retriever