Big Paws Only Dog Forums

>He is a marshmallow to his 'pack' but outsiders wouldnt know...he is aloof to strangers.

Sounds like a shepherd personality...

Jasper is first a comedian- he wants to make you laugh! He'll intentionally fumble the ball after he picks it up, bounce it,  bat it with his legs like he can't get a hold of it. Very playful nature.
When he, in fact, has the precision to be deadly to the armadillos who have the misfortune to lumber onto our property. (they insist on digging under my fence!)

He is also a couch potato if that is what we are doing...
he politely lies around napping on his bed and waiting for action. He has full run of house- never has touched my Italian leather couch---even though his Kong gets lost under it.
I do have the Kong Time "daycare in a box" that release 4 kongs during the day that are filled with snacks.
He loves snacking...if the parrot and we are eating celery or carrots, then he enjoys taking a stalk to his bed to munch on too.

Once in his working mode, though, he is a performer.....
"watch this!" as he zooms across the field ---happy to jump on the agility course and run on cue.

At 2 yrs old, he is a little defiant....sti ll...
we have some issues about running out the front gate to sniff the garbage can across the street.
We had him trained to wait while we drove the cars through, but if we walk up to it and open it....he thinks it is time for a walk....

Jasper is pretty friendly to new people who are not men who smell like cigarettes (hmmm- could this have anything to do with the carpenters who worked on the house?)
---if  strangers let him sniff them first and don't grab at him, he is pretty accepting...
he'll sit for them on cue...or shake-- he is gentle with children- but if a male approaches in an abrupt or threatening manner, he is on alert and will announce this intrusion.

He is a big 70 pound cuddler, giving me kisses and letting me hug him all over.
He has GSD personality... which suits me fine. He loves stimulation and the excitement of a job to do, but when the job is done, he is happy to chill and hang with the pack.
It is so important that he gets daily exercise and a job to do....he get bored as he is so smart.

Maybe a constitutional amendment for common sense?

#1: Parents: Teach your children NOT to approach any dog without prior permission from the adult owner.
               
#2: Children:Never approach a dog without asking to; just because a dog is in public does not give you the right to touch it.

#3: Dog owners: Protect your dog by a.) having it with you or b. ) containing it safely in private away from public access   
-------------------------------------------------
Even if this dog was in a fenced area - still unsupervised- the "public" could poison, torment or otherwise harm your dog.

It is the responsible pet owner's job to keep the dog away from the public, as well as keep the public away from the dog. I think this is about supervision of our dogs, too.
Most dogs would rather be with the owner, lying at their feet, wouldn't they than tied down?
IMHO

Does anyone else have to deal with this stupid issue?  What is the logic behind it?
I will respectfully give you my opinion as to why the "stupid issue" is "personal responsibility".
Respecting the laws of your community is your personal responsibility to the public.

Just because I am in the public, I do not want children running up to me or my dog.
I do not stare at others in public that may be different and have handicaps, either.
I was taught to respect a person's privacy in public spaces.
Just like my civic freedom is to be free from secondhand smoke in public places, it is my freedom to be free from strangers approaching me and my dog.
Children should be taught never to approach a strange dog in public.
When I am sitting in the outdoor cafe with my dog and family, I don't want everyone to interrupt my meal with, "Oh, what a big dog!" I don't go by their table and say,"My, what a big child!"
My dog is trained to lie beside me next to the table while I eat. Why would I want your child to disturb us?
Not all dog enthusiasts or owners want to be on public display, but would like to maintain the right to private space in the public.
-I do not invite other dogs to go nose- to- nose to my dog, either.
-I don't go to dog parks either.
But I, like you, am a large dog owner. My dog is part of *my* life, not necessarily part of any dog or person that I meet on the street. I work my dog and train my dog and take great joy and pleasure in including him in the state parks, restaurants, beaches and rivers where I live.
He is usually the best behaved dog in the campgrounds and in public places. He lies quietly while other peoples dogs are barking at everyone walking by....
How long will the restaurants allow dogs outside that are jumping on every patron who walks by, getting tangled up on the chairs and tables?

NO DOGS ALLOWED is becoming more frequent in all communities because of people who don't get it. Like smokers who insist that their SMOKE outside is not harming anyone.....
now we have laws, since education didn't work.
Interesting in England, where there is an accepted etiquette for dogs in public, they are allowed in many places. But in America, we are making laws banning dogs an an uprecedented rate.

For instance, the point of having your dog on a leash is to have it in control, not to let it still run up to another dog even though it is "on leash." I can't tell you how may times this happens in public places. Not everyone in America  picks up their dog poop in rest areas, parks and sidewalks. It is common etiquette in England.

In our fine democracy, for which young men and women are dying for, your freedom ends where mine begins. In other words, just because you see the world in one view doesn't mean that is how everyone sees it.
There would be fewer laws if more people took personal responsibility to respect the rights of others on the roads and in public places.
Simple Civics 101.
The relationship you build with your dog is what is important. Some of us think that relationship is more important than creating a circus in the public arena.
Looking for someplace to take your dog? Try PetSmart...tak e your dog where it is wanted.
Please do not force your yourself in public places where there is a clear policy, as it gives dog owners a poor image.
Every dog owner portrays an image in public. If we want to prevent more bans of dogs in public, a good idea is to act as an ambassador of good will and respect the rights of others.

And all Jasper gets is ice cubes.....
Love this idea...think I will start with something simple like plain yogurt with PB and mashed 'nanas....even try to use ice cube tray.
Yeah, will try this weekend- freeze a simple smoothie in ice cube trays for him when we are out on the hot field waiting for our turn in class...
Fortunately last class is Sunday, cuz it is getting too hot to have fun outside if you have a double fur coat on .......
thanks for the idea.

Hi!
You can see I have a sable, too.
Jasper's sire and dam-Sieger/ Siegren from 1989 (imported to Dallas) are also DDR/E. German lines...
and white shepherd.

We are in agility, now. He is well-suited for it as he loves to perform.
I'm new, too.
Good to find an active board----