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German Shepherd Puppy
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19-07-2010 9:04pm#1
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Hi AineB,
First off congrats on the new puppy! GSD's are fantastic dogs
Unfortunatly though your probably not going to like what I have to say.... Legally, and I mean the exact interpretation of the law, your poor fella has to be muzzled and kept on a leash at all times in public, regardless of his age. It's ridiculous and to be honest, no one would hassle you with such a young pup: I'm only saying it so you're fully aware of the law. Some people say they only need to be muzzled when they're over 6 months but that's not written anywhere.
Again, I think it's a ridiculous but it's also one that's not enforced too much. In my opinion, you'll have no trouble with your puppy so enjoy the park while you can. When he gets bigger (say 6 months plus) I'd get a muzzle and always have it on your person when your out walking or get a dogmatic/halti headcollar for him. I'd also be very careful when letting him off leash because it only takes one git to report you. It's such a catch 22
you want to train and socialise your dog but you can't let him off leash or go around unmuzzled.
Either way I'm afraid no matter how well socialised and gentle he is, the stupid law states he'll always have to be muzzled when out in public so get used to it. It's your decision how you approach that (i.e ignore it, follow it to the letter or else just be very careful annd considerate) In my case it means having to look for secluded places to let them off leash up the mountains and around town they're always walked with a head collar on them. Touch wood I've never had any hassle.
Best of luck
now....any pics of your little lad? 0 -
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Ah he's gorgeous AineB, I love the first pic of him!Its never the dogs falut if it turns out bad always the owners, GSD are so intellegant and loyal. If I was to train him to be a vicious dog fair enough I wouldnt bring him out but he's only a puppy who will be trained properly hence I want to get him used to other dogs and people. How can you bring him to a puppy park with a lead and a muzzel if no other dogs are? UUUHH gets me very angry!!
Thats exactly what we've been telling people on here that automatically assume restricted breeds are dangerous. Like I said, while your lad is still a puppy, bring him out and about as much as you can and let him run free in the park with other pups so that you can socialise him because once he gets bigger, it can get a lot tougher. Of course this all depends on where you live and the types of people you encounter. All it takes is one auld one to report you and the warden could turn up. :mad: like I said, in my case I never let my dogs off leash in populated areas because it's not worth the risk of being reported so they get brought up the mountains to the middle of nowhere to run around for hours at the weekends
At the end of the day, it's all about the owners and the only reason we have bad dogs is because we have bad owners.
The most infuriating part of the law, to me, is the fact that it condemns breeds regardless of their training & temprement. I come across vicious little dogs every day out walking but they're free to do as they please. People ignore the nippy little JRT or westie roaming around outside but they'd report you in a heartbeat if you had your offleash RB trotting calmly alongside you.
I also think it's fair to say that the scumbags, who own and mistreat their RB dogs, are the problem. But they are the ones that disregard the law in the first place and get away with murder.
The likes of you and me (and the other RB owners here on boards) are the ones that suffer because no amount of training and socialising will ever change the perception that a lot of (ignorant) people have of these breeds because of the media and the small amount of irresponsible owners. We're the ones that spend countless hours training and socialising our dogs so they are well balanced and great ambassadors for their breeds but we're also the ones that get tarred with the same brush as the scangers.:(
It can be tough and frustrating owning a restricted breed but it's so rewarding. I wouldn't ever give up my Akitas for another un-restricted breed! 0 -
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Head up the mountains!! I have a RB and I bring him up the wicklow mountains to let him have a good run! You will always find a place that is not used by people! I dont go near the marked trails or the popular spots just head off up the forest a bit and then let him go!! Have never bumped into people walking (the odd scrambler bike but they not supposed to be there either so we just pretend we dont see each other!).
Good for him to have a good run! Make sure recall is good though we have seen the odd deer that he has had a little look at but wont chase if I tell him to leave it!
The mountains are definitely your best bet and it's a great day out for you tooAineB wrote:I was just looking at your photo's there stunning dogs, you must have your hands full with 4 of them!
Thanks a million AineB
:) and you'd be surprised actually how empty my hands are but I suppose that's just because we spent so long training them all. Otherwise it's be anarchy :D:D I'd have more if I could but had to draw the line somewhere! 0 -
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That they are AineBalso adser53 I saw a lovely akita such quality dogs! they're really amazing dogs!
As for letting him off leash, at 13 weeks he won't stray far from your side. just keep him away from the road and such and keep an eye out for him getting independent and refusing to come back. then its time to leash him until he's trained not to stray every dog is different but IMO that happens around the 6 month mark 0 -
Yeah he's very curious at the moment and the last thing I want is for him o run off!
I was walking in the park today Rocco by my side and a lady ran past and randomly shouted "Stay back, Im afraid"
what do you say to that???
Dog leashed beside me, he wasnt even looking at her!!:P people are funny sometimes!!
you might be a good one for some advice, having 4 dogs and whatnot!
He barked at every dog he saw today- never done that before? would be that he just wants to play with them?0 -
Yeah he's very curious at the moment and the last thing I want is for him o run off!
I was walking in the park today Rocco by my side and a lady ran past and randomly shouted "Stay back, Im afraid" what do you say to that???
Dog leashed beside me, he wasnt even looking at her!!:P people are funny sometimes!!
you might be a good one for some advice, having 4 dogs and whatnot!
He barked at every dog he saw today- never done that before? would be that he just wants to play with them?
I hate to say it but get used to those silly comments, they don't go away. My 1 year old Rottie was reported recently for being off leash and she's a fully trained, completely social, friendly dog who's only joy in life was chasing her tennis ball but she can't even do that anymore.:(
If you are working on your pup's recall and you don't have a secure area to do it in you could always invest in a training leash, its basically just an extra long leash which allows your pup to wander but you still have control over him. When practicing his recall try to bring him out hungry and bring some really tasty treats like ham or sliced up hot dogs and of course don't forget to praise him greatly everytime he gets it right 0 -
OP, when i had mine I'd generally bring him out late at night for his off the leash walks. There were a few fields around that would be empty at night so he could go running around like a lunatic smelling and investigating. One of the most annoying things was I bumped into a d4 type woman with a golden lab one day on killiney hill, my guy was on the leash but no muzzled (never was) but he was like a big teddy bear and wanted to play.
I had one of those extendable leashes and the 2 dogs were sniffing away so i called my dog up and up he came, and i heard the woman say "oh i should know a dog like that would have a name like that".. tyson my dog
Anyway we arrived back at the car park at the same time and there she was slapping the $hit out of the dog for some reason, so i told her if she keeps doing that he's going to bite her
Unfortunatley you are restricted in the places you can go but best of luck, GSD's are the best!0 -
helimachoptor wrote: »OP, when i had mine I'd generally bring him out late at night for his off the leash walks. There were a few fields around that would be empty at night so he could go running around like a lunatic smelling and investigating. One of the most annoying things was I bumped into a d4 type woman with a golden lab one day on killiney hill, my guy was on the leash but no muzzled (never was) but he was like a big teddy bear and wanted to play.
I had one of those extendable leashes and the 2 dogs were sniffing away so i called my dog up and up he came, and i heard the woman say "oh i should know a dog like that would have a name like that".. tyson my dog
Anyway we arrived back at the car park at the same time and there she was slapping the $hit out of the dog for some reason, so i told her if she keeps doing that he's going to bite her
Unfortunatley you are restricted in the places you can go but best of luck, GSD's are the best!
I'd have taken her reg and reported her for abuse, the wagon.
Are there any private dog parks (i.e., private property where public laws presumably don't apply) where one can bring a restricted breed?0 -
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Heres some pics of the little man:
Attachment not found.Rocco 10 weeks.jpg
Rocco 11 weeks.jpg
IMG_0088.jpg
Oh my Goodness, this is making me BROODY puppy style!!! He is gorgeous. I have an almost 4 year old GSD girl.
As someone already said unfortunately you will have to get used to the comments. Is Rocco a bi-colour? Mine is so she is mostly black with tan legs. I've had people cross the street, pick up their children and or small dogs, literally gasp with fright, make tutting sounds like I should apologise for having her and you can't win with these people if you don't wear a muzzle you get all of the above and if you do have them muzzled you get it anyway because people look at her and think oh my God that must be a vicious dog with the muzzle.. Not 'oh look there's a responsible law abiding dog owner'.
Feck the begrudgers you have a STUNNER of a dog 0 -
@Aine, your dog is lovely but he looks so stoned in those pics!
German Shepherds are great, highly intelligent, loving dogs, no matter what the reputation. And I had to pull one off my little sister when she was young so I would actually have a reason to dislike them.0 -
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@Aine, your dog is lovely but he looks so stoned in those pics!
German Shepherds are great, highly intelligent, loving dogs, no matter what the reputation. And I had to pull one off my little sister when she was young so I would actually have a reason to dislike them.
Haha he does look abit stoned!Sittingpretty wrote: »Oh my Goodness, this is making me BROODY puppy style!!! He is gorgeous. I have an almost 4 year old GSD girl.
As someone already said unfortunately you will have to get used to the comments. Is Rocco a bi-colour? Mine is so she is mostly black with tan legs. I've had people cross the street, pick up their children and or small dogs, literally gasp with fright, make tutting sounds like I should apologise for having her and you can't win with these people if you don't wear a muzzle you get all of the above and if you do have them muzzled you get it anyway because people look at her and think oh my God that must be a vicious dog with the muzzle.. Not 'oh look there's a responsible law abiding dog owner'.
Feck the begrudgers you have a STUNNER of a dog
Thanks for the lovely comment!
He's black and tan - although his back seems to be changing color, its turing silver so he'll probably take after his mother. Your going to have to adopt a new baby!!
Its just ridiculous that he cant be brought into a park - he's 3 months and wants to play, he's only learning how to bark for feck sake. Anyway no point in moaning about it I suppose!Unfortunately not. There are rumours that the DSPCA are to build one but nothing conclusive as yet.
That would be fantastic - can you imagine what people would say!!I hate to say it but get used to those silly comments, they don't go away. My 1 year old Rottie was reported recently for being off leash and she's a fully trained, completely social, friendly dog who's only joy in life was chasing her tennis ball but she can't even do that anymore.:(
If you are working on your pup's recall and you don't have a secure area to do it in you could always invest in a training leash, its basically just an extra long leash which allows your pup to wander but you still have control over him. When practicing his recall try to bring him out hungry and bring some really tasty treats like ham or sliced up hot dogs and of course don't forget to praise him greatly everytime he gets it right
Thats a good idea I must get one of those leads - it will be very worth while in the long run. I have a girl coming over to the house next week to help train him so ill get a few pointers from her!helimachoptor wrote: »OP, when i had mine I'd generally bring him out late at night for his off the leash walks. There were a few fields around that would be empty at night so he could go running around like a lunatic smelling and investigating. One of the most annoying things was I bumped into a d4 type woman with a golden lab one day on killiney hill, my guy was on the leash but no muzzled (never was) but he was like a big teddy bear and wanted to play.
I had one of those extendable leashes and the 2 dogs were sniffing away so i called my dog up and up he came, and i heard the woman say "oh i should know a dog like that would have a name like that".. tyson my dog
Anyway we arrived back at the car park at the same time and there she was slapping the $hit out of the dog for some reason, so i told her if she keeps doing that he's going to bite her
Unfortunatley you are restricted in the places you can go but best of luck, GSD's are the best!
Why exactly are GSD's restricted anyway? There number 1 guide dogs in some countires, highly intelligent, ability to learn fast, used in the police force - sniffer dogs ect. They can look and act vicious if thats the road you want to go down but other than that Im out of reasons?0 -
Ha I wouldn't say that! I just try give the best advice I can from what my lot have taught me but I learn something new from them almost every day and always looking for advice myselfYou might be a good one for some advice, having 4 dogs and whatnot!
He barked at every dog he saw today- never done that before? would be that he just wants to play with them?
As for him barking he's just playing and finding his voice so don't worry about it
Thats the question all us RB owners ask ourselves every day! It's just ridiculous. I put up on another thread that Australia was the first country to put restrictions on particular breeds. Around the 1920s they brought in restrictions on GSDs because they were worried GSDs would mate with wild dingos to create the ultimate sheep predators! Lunacy IMO!Why exactly are GSD's restricted anyway? There number 1 guide dogs in some countires, highly intelligent, ability to learn fast, used in the police force - sniffer dogs ect. They can look and act vicious if thats the road you want to go down but other than that Im out of reasons?0 -
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He's gorgeous cjf!
But your dead right about peoples reactions. I can clear footpaths with ease when I'm out walking 1 of my akitas, never mind when I've the 2 of them with me! Strangely enough it doesn't happen so much to my girlfriend when she's walking them 
You do learn to just ignore it. I kinda feel sorry for these people as they'll never know the joy of having a big soppy dog in their lives. But I love the looks on their faces when other people come over to rub the dogs and they get licked to death! Especially when kids do it (all the kids on my road know the dogs and love them) it's like they're expecting someone to be mauled but they're shocked by the affection given by the dogs!
Ah sure look at them, how could you not love these...
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Why exactly are GSD's restricted anyway? There number 1 guide dogs in some countires, highly intelligent, ability to learn fast, used in the police force - sniffer dogs ect. They can look and act vicious if thats the road you want to go down but other than that Im out of reasons?
People fear them due to their size and reputation and probably in part in relation to their use as K9 dogs with military/police forces around the world. You'll never see a beagle used as an attack dog
Just from my own experience my grandparents had a number of GSD's so i grew up with a good few of them, cuddled up to them had water fights muck fights chased them and was chased. One in particular had a party trick of jumping over the side wall (10 foot high) and chasing after kids on the green paw swiping their legs and licking them non stop. Never ever once did he bite anyone (but of course having a GSD hunt you down like a gazelle is a bit worrying!). She replaced them with 3 Daschunds(sp) who were like Piranhas did nothing but bite everyone!
I had a lab x then my GSD and now live with a choc lab, my GSD was by far the best behaved out of the lot, much more intelligent, better under orders, calmer but also had that strong silent groove to him.
A couple of stories i tell everyone about my GSD, when i lived at home he got into the neighbours garden through a hole in the fence (stroke victim in her 90s and 60 year old daughter). neighbour knocks in and says dog has gotten into the garden and he was sitting there with the mother and she was rubbing his head and this was when he was a boisterous puppy he was intelligent enough to know not to be jumping on her.
A while later the mother had died, the neighbours house had been broken into and she was very worried about staying there, the Gardai knocked into check our security precautions and once they seen the dog said we'd be fine. I spoke with the nighbour and said if we took down part of the fence the dog would be free to wander into both gardens and would deter anyone. numerous times i'd look in and she'd be sitting there petting him she often had her sisters grandchildren over and they all played with him.
My next dog will be a GSD without doubt!0 -
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I let my GSD off the lead but only when the park is completely deserted. She is a big dog and needs a good run and loves nothing more than chasing a ball around, so we walk her first thing in the morning and / or last thing at night. She has perfect recall just incase someone comes along so she can be put back on the lead straight away. I absolutely refuse point blank to muzzel her. However, I do carry a halti just in case.
People are so strange, theres one lady in the park who was all over Kula when she was a puppy and now runs a mile when ever she see's her now thats she is all grown up...bizzare! This is just a day in the life of owning a restricted breed, just rise above the ignorance, its their loss that they will never experience the love and devotion GSD's are full of!:D 0
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