I'm new to working dogs so pardon my ignorance/optimism but in my opinion, that type of behavior is unacceptable. The first thing I notice is that the handler was clearly not doing his job. I'll give you that. But the man that got bit did not pose a real threat and the dog bit him in the face... unacceptable.

I had to tell a stranger the other day that one of my dogs (my GSD) does not like strangers and he should not try to pet him. That was the first time I've ever done that. However, I had all three of my dogs on the leash. If I only had my GSD with me, I would have made it clear to the dog that the stranger was ok, properly restrained my dog, watched my dog and the stranger closely, and allowed the stranger to approach.

I understand why an owner might not want to allow strangers to approach or touch his dog. No problem... but if the master allows it, what on earth makes it ok for the dog to take it upon himself to act aggressive towards a stranger?

My dogs don't have to like strangers. Heck... I don't want them to like strangers. But they do need to be able to act civilly when I tell them to. Would this be asking too much if I were dealing with a typical, working line, protection trained GSD? I guess what I'm asking is if it is possible to protection train a dog, and be able to trust him around people other than myself and my family.

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I tell them - "DON'T LEAN OVER THE DOG"!

LOL...I get an evil sort of pleasure in "educating" the more vertically challenged portion of humanity (I'm 6"1'.) When I come across someone who obviously doesn't understand what I'm trying to explain, I walk right up into their personal space, glare down and usually say something like, "Feels pretty uncomfortable, right? How do you think the dog likes it?"

I'm 5'8" and I would sock you in the face if you did that to me.

You might want to rethink your approach. Tough guy.

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I'm 5'8" and I would sock you in the face if you did that to me.

You might want to rethink your approach. Tough guy.

Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks... “Tough guy”.

I do the exact same thing Corey does to make my point to my kids all the time when they get in our dogs face… And I have shown them all this video. They were actually watching the Extreme Video Show when this video aired on TV so they have seen it already… but if someone doesn’t respect there own face enough to listen to a dog owner caution them… then you can make the point a little clearer like Corey does or the dog can make it crystal clear.

I personally have never had a stranger disregard my warning and I probably wouldn’t handle it exactly like Corey does… but I don’t fault his approach either. To each his own.

First off, Corey is a she...
Second, she was offering a different viewpoint on how she deals with the situation described.

I personally wouldn't take too kindly to someone pulling that "I'm tall and you're not" crap with me as I'm one of those "vertically challenged" individuals that walks the earth. And I'm fairly certain I wouldn't go into "avoidance" if someone taller tried that with me... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Having said that, I also wouldn't try and hug a strange dog... especially one who I know has been trained in any form of protection. It's just bad planning.

In my opinion, the handler is entirely at fault here, not the dog, or the news guy. My GSD would have warned that guy well before he got that close, but even if she didn't, I would have done the correct thing and monitored the situation better. When there are people around that aren't familiar with how to act around working dogs I make it very clear to them to keep their distance from her and let her come to them. (which she will do)

Grant

I don't know if you guys have seen the real video but this handler was bragging about what a lovable tolerant dog he has and how he takes the dog to schools and the kids love all over him.

I wouldn't want a dog like that at my kid’s school. Especially with a handler as clueless as this one. The signs were all there.

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I'm 5'8" and I would sock you in the face if you did that to me.

Let's be realistic here... he's a male, you're a female. He's 5 inches taller than you. Ignoring those pieces of reality, assuming he's a pansy and you're one tough lady, he's already warned you that his dog does not respond kindly to anything that might seem aggressive. You sure "socking" him in the face is a good idea?

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I personally wouldn't take too kindly to someone pulling that "I'm tall and you're not" crap with me...

Fair enough. But taking a swing at a larger person with a protection trained animal by his side is "just bad planning". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

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In my opinion, the handler is entirely at fault here, not the dog, or the news guy.

How is that possible? The dog bit somebody who posed no actual threat to him or the handler. How is that acceptable behavior? I agree that the handler bears most of the blame here because he was the one who was most capable of controling the situation. But just because the handler's and idiot does not mean it's ok for the dog to act like an idiot does it? I think the handler was more at fault than the dog, but in my opinion, a working dog, above everything else, should have a clear head. Apparently the audio from this clip has been removed/edited, so who knows what was said or what noise the dog made... but shouldn't a dog growl/bark at a stranger before biting him in the face?

Still no responses to my question up at the top of this page? I'm new at this stuff but that's one of my biggest concerns about getting into protection training.

Where's the love? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ryan - Maybe Im confused, but I think Matthew made the comment you quoted. So that would be a male socking a female. Though I dont think he was aware Corey was a female at the time that he said it. If Corey is indeed a female, as Grant says.

Hey Corey, I am 6'4". After you get into "MY" personal space, I would want a spanking <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Don't worry, I am a cheap date. No food no drink just the spanking! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Um, clarification time. This is going south at a high rate of speed.

1st of all....yes I AM female. And at no point in my life have I ever played basketball. I felt the inevitable question coming so I thought I'd answer it quick.

2nd of all....I do not intimidate unwitting people at random, for crying out loud. I said what I said to prove a point about people who don't GET IT when I try to explain, passively at first, about my dog and strangers who want to meet her. No strange dog should be approached and towered over, and border collies are very particular about their personal space. It's happened before, and not just with children. People see a nice fluffy border collie behaving submissively with its owner and come to the VERY mistaken conclusion that she is a pushover.

So, if after all that, it is my hope that you still wouldn't feel like socking me. I would feel terrible that I had apparently not got my point across but rest assured, just 'cuz I'm a girl doesn't mean I don't sock back. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I was not my intention to offend anyone! Seeing as how I can't go back and delete my first post, can I at least offer you a beer and forget I posted the silly thing?

Jeff, Jeff, Jeff............you make me grin big-time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />