I just wanted to rant for a moment about unleashed dogs. I just nearly had a tragedy at my house due to my neighbors stupidity, and some carelessness on my wifes part. Normally, most of my GSD's play and work that my wife does is in our fully fenced back yard. This evening however she used his long line as a tie out so he could be with her when she did some gardening in our unfenced front yard. After a few moments, she had to get something out of the garage, she estimates that she was out of the dogs sight for two to three moments. Well my neighbor has a six month old teacup sized mixed breed that they have a bad habit of just letting out the front door. My wife says that she did look to make sure that he wasn't out, because she knows that they tend to just let him out. Apparently they let him out at just the wrong moment because this poor little dog of theirs came running onto my lawn, where my guy thought he was prey or a nice toy or something. Mack, my GSD, grabbed him by the neck and shook. Luckily my wife came back into sight and gave Mack the command to release and then his recall, which he did just fine. My wife was freaked out, she was crying hysterically, worried that the little dog was hurt and going to die.

It has been a little while now and my neighbors dog seems okay. We suggested they take it to the vet to have it checked out, but my neighbor said she wasn't going to. She actually said to my wife that it was her daughters dog and she doesn't even like it anyway!

Thank you all for letting me vent. I know that we are not blameless, my wife did leave Mack for a few minutes, but we make a real effort. It would be nice if other people did as well. Thanks.

Tom

These things happen in a blink of an eye. We just have to do our best. Sorry to hear about it, good for you that your dog responded to commands in that situation!

It DOES happen quick.

 Quote: Tom Keywork

It has been a little while now and my neighbors dog seems okay. We suggested they take it to the vet to have it checked out, but my neighbor said she wasn't going to. She actually said to my wife that it was her daughters dog and she doesn't even like it anyway!

Wow, that's pretty cold! (the neighbor's response, that is...)

I don't ever want to find out what Jethro would do if he ever actually caught one of the fluffy white dogs in the neighbourhood. I'll keep working the Leave It and Drop commands with renewed vigor. And Come under high distraction. We have a long way to go.