Hi Becca, I live next to a protected nature area and walk my two GSDs there. About a year ago a family on the other side of this infrequently used area of chaparral and oak forest obtained a Mal X that is in MHO a fear agressive dog. We used to walk by their fence line daily and I gradually taught my boys to ignore his charging the fence and barking/snarling at us. Then there were occasions when he would get under his fence and charge us as though he was goin to eat us alive. I soon learned that he would retreat in full flight if I took a step toward him. My dogs didn't like these "attacks" and would go into a full defense mode and I knew we would have real battle if he came too close. During all of this I had several discussions with the owner about his training and his total lack of recall. I even loaned her an old E-collar to take with her to a trainer to help teach him some basic manners. What a total waste of time. Recently she has been taking him on walks, off lead, through the side of the woods nearest out house. Well, I'm out there poking along when the stupid piece of s*** comes flying at us, hackles up, teeth bared, bouncing nearer and nearer barking his head off when I fell over a tree root and lost the leash on my dog that I have always thought would faint dead away in a real live combant situation. I was wrong! He took off after that dog full tilt and at that moment the owner showed up and took off after them with me bringing up the rear. This is the good part; my dog had her dog cornered on her front porch doing a perfect bark and hold. She had go around through the back of her house and rescue her "watch dog" by opening the door from behind him. At that point my hero, Baron, came quietly came home with me and he has never been the same since. He is a much stronger, more assured dog and the wooman and her dog no longer come near us.

Darn, I do make corrections on my spelling but my corrections aren't made. How come? I really do know how to spell going and woman.

I kinda like it as "wooman". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I think I'll start with a sturdy 4' staff/walking stick, and go tell the owners how worried I was about their son and puppy. The boy is a cute kid, but he may learn the hard way that not all dogs should be approched with open arms.

I have one of the leerburg padded harness vests for my pup, arrived yesterday, says "IN TRAINING" on either side and "Working Dog DO NOT PET" on top.... people don't even ask to pet him when I take him out anymore, it rocks, no more trying to explain why I don't want people touching my dog, they just assume he's aggressive or something n keep their hands to themselves.