Cedar defended herself/my property today

shaner · 11-26-2011, 05:10 PM

Cedar is 15 months old and female. She's got weak nerves, is very sensitive and is very submissive, always has been. She's been told off by other dogs a few times in her life (nothing serious, just a dog not approving of what she's doing) and she immediately backs down and comes slouching over to me looking for protection. She's very, very friendly though, loves meeting new dogs, new people, etc. She's a sweetheart.

Anyway, where I live a lot of dogs roam around the street on their own. It's just how it is here. My dog stays on my property though, I don't let her roam like other people do.

Right next door to me is a male black lab. Cedar and him play all the time. 5 doors down from me is a female black lab that roams free. It also plays with the male black lab. The female black lab and Cedar do not like each other for some reason. Every time they see each other they bark and growl and put their hackles up. I think it starts with this other dog, because Cedar loves all other dogs, including other females.

So today that other dog came over. Cedar was already in the neighbours yard playing with the male lab. The other female apparently took exception to this and charged at Cedar, growling and baring its teeth. Cedar tucker her tail and run, and the lab gave chase. I was watching it unfold, but couldn't do much but yell as I was 100 feet away. As soon as Cedar got back to my yard, she turned and stood her ground, showed her teeth and made herself look really big. The other dog kept charging so she lunged at it. Anyway, a bit of a dog fight ensued, nothing much. Mostly just a lot of noise, neither dog got bit. But Cedar clearly intimidated the lab as it ran away with its tail between its legs and ears back, and Cedar came up to me with her tail wagging and howling, it was almost like she was saying "hey poppa, did you see how good I did." She wasn't the aggressor, but she clearly put the lab in its place.

Now I don't condone dog fights and I don't want it to happen again, but because of how submissive she is, I was very glad to see she defended herself and her property when push came to shove. That's good to know as there are a lot of dogs that roam free and there's a lot of coyotes. I have a lot of land, so although she doesn't leave my yard without me present, she is outside at times without me being outside as well. So I was pretty happy to see that she has it in her to fight back if need be, because I really wasn't sure if she did or not.

Jax08 · 11-26-2011, 08:49 PM

Just a warning...as they learn to fight, they gain confidence and learn that fighting will drive off the other dog. I would never leave her unattended where other dogs can come in contact with her because eventually, she will leave the yard to engage another dog.

PaddyD · 11-26-2011, 08:56 PM

But she DID leave your yard without you present. Allowing dogs to roam is a recipe for trouble. Even if your dog is on your property, other dogs can roam onto your property and cause havoc. When I was a child 5 dogs attacked my dog on her property and she sent them all packing but it cost her in blood. That was 60 years ago. These are different times and there is no reason to let your dog leave your property without you attached.

DanielleOttoMom · 11-26-2011, 09:18 PM

Ok. This is not a real good thing. Sounds like it's a female thing. It is your job to protect Cedar. You know that female runs loose. You should be happy things didn't get worse and no major damage was done. I recommend always leashing her if you go out side. I'm sorry I just don't see this as a cute protecting story. More of an outta control situation. Please be careful..... You now know this female lab can hurt or even kill your dog. I mean this nicely.

selzer · 11-26-2011, 09:30 PM

For shepherds, 15 months old is still a puppy. A puppy should not be in the position to go next door to play with her friend, nor should she feel the necessity to protect herself at home. Papa should come and drive off the other dog, and keep her safe.

If she feels she must protect herself when you are present, then when you are walking her and an unknown person walks up behind, or a child goes by on a bicycle, or a teenager on a skateboard, or an old lady with an ankle biter, and your dog is convinced she must protect herself, because you are not doing so, well, it will be another sad thread where people have to argue whether a behaviorist or a trainer or a trip to the vet is in order.

Please do not let your dog get into situations where she must protect herself.

BlackPuppy · 11-26-2011, 09:38 PM

I don't see anything wrong with her wanting that other female away from her home. She retreated, the other dog pursued and she told her what for. And I'll bet that female doesn't come around again.

shaner · 11-27-2011, 10:19 AM

I gotta say, I'm a little surprised at the responses. My dog doesn't and didn't leave my yard without me present. I was outside with her and told her to go play with the neighbours dog, the male black lab. I was standing in my front yard.

I don't leash my dog because we have an invisible electric fence. When her collar is on, it's as good as a leash as she doesn't cross the boundary. The invisible fence is a big reason why we bought the house, so is the yard size.

As for me driving away the other dog, I don't know how I could have done that from 100 feet away. By the time I got anywhere near the dogs, it was long over.

The fact is that people let their dogs roam out here. I don't agree with it, but it's the mentality. A lot of people also consider their dogs tools rather than the pets. It's a rural Canada thing I guess.

This isn't supposed to be a cute story, nor am I trying to glorify a dog fight, but sorry, I want to know that if it ever came down to it, Cedar will protect herself and my property, and that's what she did, and I'm happy that she did it. I can't be around her 24/7 watching over her, that's unrealistic. I hope she doesn't have to protect herself ever again, but I'm just glad to know she has it in her if absolutely necessary.

And I'm not concerned one bit about her becoming aggressive. She is not an aggressive dog in the least, she's an absolute sweetheart who loves other dogs. She would even like this other female lab but it hates her. I know my dog very well and she will never look for a fight.

Jax08 · 11-27-2011, 10:43 AM

But she didn't protect your property. She fought back out of fear. Electronic fences only work if 1) nothing else comes into your yard and 2) your dog doesn't shoot through the electric in high prey drive.

As far as your dog never looking for a fight...I thought the same of mine until she was attacked a few times by a foster. Now she will initiate a fight in an attempt to drive off other dogs. It's a matter of "i'll get you before you get me"

Kittilicious · 11-27-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

and Cedar came up to me with her tail wagging and howling, it was almost like she was saying "hey poppa, did you see how good I did."

Well, this made me smile! I can totally see that being adorable! LOL

shaner · 11-27-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jax08

But she didn't protect your property. She fought back out of fear. Electronic fences only work if 1) nothing else comes into your yard and 2) your dog doesn't shoot through the electric in high prey drive.

As far as your dog never looking for a fight...I thought the same of mine until she was attacked a few times by a foster. Now she will initiate a fight in an attempt to drive off other dogs. It's a matter of "i'll get you before you get me"

Yeah, she likely wasn't protecting the property, but she was protecting herself, and with how submissive she is, I really didn't believe she would even defend herself if she had to. She's so sensitive and submissive, I just wasn't even sure she had it in her.

You're right about the fence too, it doesn't keep animals out. Unfortunately that's just the way it is. I live out in the country with a lot of land, having a true fence isn't even an option. Besides, she likes and plays with all the neighbourhood dogs that roam free, except this one. The coyotes already stay away from my property, probably because they've seen her in the yard or maybe they can smell her. All the neighbours see coyotes in their yards all the time, but I never do in mine. Cedar is always inside after dark anyway, unless I'm outside with her, or she just needs to pee quickly, then comes right back in.

11-26-2011, 05:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
shaner Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 390	Cedar defended herself/my property today Cedar is 15 months old and female. She's got weak nerves, is very sensitive and is very submissive, always has been. She's been told off by other dogs a few times in her life (nothing serious, just a dog not approving of what she's doing) and she immediately backs down and comes slouching over to me looking for protection. She's very, very friendly though, loves meeting new dogs, new people, etc. She's a sweetheart. Anyway, where I live a lot of dogs roam around the street on their own. It's just how it is here. My dog stays on my property though, I don't let her roam like other people do. Right next door to me is a male black lab. Cedar and him play all the time. 5 doors down from me is a female black lab that roams free. It also plays with the male black lab. The female black lab and Cedar do not like each other for some reason. Every time they see each other they bark and growl and put their hackles up. I think it starts with this other dog, because Cedar loves all other dogs, including other females. So today that other dog came over. Cedar was already in the neighbours yard playing with the male lab. The other female apparently took exception to this and charged at Cedar, growling and baring its teeth. Cedar tucker her tail and run, and the lab gave chase. I was watching it unfold, but couldn't do much but yell as I was 100 feet away. As soon as Cedar got back to my yard, she turned and stood her ground, showed her teeth and made herself look really big. The other dog kept charging so she lunged at it. Anyway, a bit of a dog fight ensued, nothing much. Mostly just a lot of noise, neither dog got bit. But Cedar clearly intimidated the lab as it ran away with its tail between its legs and ears back, and Cedar came up to me with her tail wagging and howling, it was almost like she was saying "hey poppa, did you see how good I did." She wasn't the aggressor, but she clearly put the lab in its place. Now I don't condone dog fights and I don't want it to happen again, but because of how submissive she is, I was very glad to see she defended herself and her property when push came to shove. That's good to know as there are a lot of dogs that roam free and there's a lot of coyotes. I have a lot of land, so although she doesn't leave my yard without me present, she is outside at times without me being outside as well. So I was pretty happy to see that she has it in her to fight back if need be, because I really wasn't sure if she did or not. Last edited by shaner; 11-26-2011 at 05:12 PM.

11-26-2011, 09:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
DanielleOttoMom Elite Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,952	Ok. This is not a real good thing. Sounds like it's a female thing. It is your job to protect Cedar. You know that female runs loose. You should be happy things didn't get worse and no major damage was done. I recommend always leashing her if you go out side. I'm sorry I just don't see this as a cute protecting story. More of an outta control situation. Please be careful..... You now know this female lab can hurt or even kill your dog. I mean this nicely. __________________ Otto Blk GSD 02/23/10 Circe Blk Sable GSD 06/22/08 My fur babies!! Last edited by DanielleOttoMom; 11-26-2011 at 09:21 PM.

11-26-2011, 09:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 17,499	For shepherds, 15 months old is still a puppy. A puppy should not be in the position to go next door to play with her friend, nor should she feel the necessity to protect herself at home. Papa should come and drive off the other dog, and keep her safe. If she feels she must protect herself when you are present, then when you are walking her and an unknown person walks up behind, or a child goes by on a bicycle, or a teenager on a skateboard, or an old lady with an ankle biter, and your dog is convinced she must protect herself, because you are not doing so, well, it will be another sad thread where people have to argue whether a behaviorist or a trainer or a trip to the vet is in order. Please do not let your dog get into situations where she must protect herself. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

11-26-2011, 08:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,321	Just a warning...as they learn to fight, they gain confidence and learn that fighting will drive off the other dog. I would never leave her unattended where other dogs can come in contact with her because eventually, she will leave the yard to engage another dog.

11-26-2011, 08:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	But she DID leave your yard without you present. Allowing dogs to roam is a recipe for trouble. Even if your dog is on your property, other dogs can roam onto your property and cause havoc. When I was a child 5 dogs attacked my dog on her property and she sent them all packing but it cost her in blood. That was 60 years ago. These are different times and there is no reason to let your dog leave your property without you attached.

11-26-2011, 09:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
BlackPuppy Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,420	I don't see anything wrong with her wanting that other female away from her home. She retreated, the other dog pursued and she told her what for. And I'll bet that female doesn't come around again.

11-27-2011, 10:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
shaner Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 390	I gotta say, I'm a little surprised at the responses. My dog doesn't and didn't leave my yard without me present. I was outside with her and told her to go play with the neighbours dog, the male black lab. I was standing in my front yard. I don't leash my dog because we have an invisible electric fence. When her collar is on, it's as good as a leash as she doesn't cross the boundary. The invisible fence is a big reason why we bought the house, so is the yard size. As for me driving away the other dog, I don't know how I could have done that from 100 feet away. By the time I got anywhere near the dogs, it was long over. The fact is that people let their dogs roam out here. I don't agree with it, but it's the mentality. A lot of people also consider their dogs tools rather than the pets. It's a rural Canada thing I guess. This isn't supposed to be a cute story, nor am I trying to glorify a dog fight, but sorry, I want to know that if it ever came down to it, Cedar will protect herself and my property, and that's what she did, and I'm happy that she did it. I can't be around her 24/7 watching over her, that's unrealistic. I hope she doesn't have to protect herself ever again, but I'm just glad to know she has it in her if absolutely necessary. And I'm not concerned one bit about her becoming aggressive. She is not an aggressive dog in the least, she's an absolute sweetheart who loves other dogs. She would even like this other female lab but it hates her. I know my dog very well and she will never look for a fight.

11-27-2011, 10:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,321	But she didn't protect your property. She fought back out of fear. Electronic fences only work if 1) nothing else comes into your yard and 2) your dog doesn't shoot through the electric in high prey drive. As far as your dog never looking for a fight...I thought the same of mine until she was attacked a few times by a foster. Now she will initiate a fight in an attempt to drive off other dogs. It's a matter of "i'll get you before you get me"

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement