Trust, obedience and bite proofing your German Shepherd.

Vetran's Day Parade    Photo by unknown donor

Humans and canines have hard-wired reactions to certain things. For instance, anyone would be distracted by a 100 pound shepherd displaying sharp, pointed teeth and advancing toward them. Add to it the various physical displays of raised fur, wrinkled facial muscles, and a rumbling growl and the naked ape in all of us would be looking for the nearest tree. In many cases from this point in the scenario natural species-directed action kicks in.  Thought becomes less of a possibility for the human, panic takes over and the human elects to run.  Therein lies the human side of the problem.

 When the human starts to run, they immediately switch from threat to prey in the mind of the shepherd and the chase is on.  Therein lies the shepherd side of the problem. 

The longer this scenario is allowed to progress the less likely the possibility of halting the action or calming the shepherd. Depending on the size of the human, and size of the shepherd, the outcome can be deadly. This is the classic prey and predator situation.  We humans tend to forget until it is too late that our furry friends are direct descendants of a very successful predator, the grey wolf.  An effort is required on the part of both species to overcome species directives. 

In many areas of the world if a bite does occur, the canine will be euthanized without question. So, from the moment that teeth meet flesh, the fate of the shepherd is sealed. During the attack the fate of the human lies within the jaws of the shepherd.

This scenario is a harsh reality in the world of the domestic canine. There is no way to sugar-coat the answer to the predator/prey situation. Also, there is no easy or quick way to avoid all situations where a bite could occur.

So, what can a German Shepherd owner do to protect their dog and avoid scenarios like the one described above? The only answer is through calm, patient training and accepting nothing less than absolute obedience. To help understand the need for absolute obedience here are some thoughts for you to ponder:

• From the start of your relationship with your German Shepherd YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE. You are responsible for the training, and well being of your shepherd. This includes owning, maintaining and understanding how to use the proper equipment needed to control your shepherd in all situations that you can imagine and being prepared to react in an appropriate manner when those situations occur that you didn’t imagine.
• The best way to avoid a bite situation is to not let yourself and your shepherd get into the situation in the first place. Be situationally aware.
• Obedience training is very important. Learn as much as you can about as many different approaches to obedience training as possible. Practice obedience with your shepherd daily. Make it a game. Make it flow like a dance. Approach the training with a light heart and with joy. This way you will establish the absolute trust and absolute control needed when things going on around you and your shepherd are not so light hearted.
• If you lose physical control of your shepherd he or she must recognize that your voice command is just as binding as being under the control of the leash.
• Whatever training technique you choose to use it has to be successful. Be prepared to mix and match if needed. You must be confident in the results and confident that you have the control.
• Understand that a bite is a bite in the eyes of the law. Trying to explain the situation after the fact and trying to save your shepherd from the consequences will be an uphill battle.
• As distasteful as some may think a muzzle is, if you do not have the confidence and ability to control your shepherd then use the muzzle. If you do use a muzzle, then understand that you bear the responsibility of protecting your shepherd from other dogs or animals.
• No matter how well trained in off-lead obedience your shepherd is, please obey the leash laws.
• The German Shepherd is a working breed that has been subjected to high-profile public scrutiny since the 1920s and thanks to Hollywood and the media has been directly associated with some of the most frightening images of controlled and uncontrolled dog attacks. In order to defuse these images you and your shepherd should put your best foot and paw forward. Show the world what a well trained and behaved team you are.

The fact is that through education and training both humans and canines can overcome their natural tendencies and coexist peacefully. Billions succeed every day. Unfortunately, millions of canines of all breeds are euthanized every year. Thousands are German Shepherds. Many of these cases involved biting incidents or aggressive behavior and could have been avoided by using common sense, logic and knowledge gained through training and experience. Taking the time early in the relationship with your shepherd to establish trust, control and a loving partnership will prove to be the best defense against the heartache of dealing with a dog bite situation.

Recommended reading:

Abrantes, Roger. Dog Language (Wakan Tanka, 2001)

Donaldson, Jean. FIGHT! Dog-Dog Aggression (Kinship Communications, 2004)

Fogle, Bruce. The Dog’s Mind: Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior (Howell Book House, 1990)

Fox, Michael. Understanding Your Dog (St. Martin’s Press, 1972)

Mech, L. David. Alpha status, dominance, and division of labor in wolf packs (Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1999)

Serpell, James, ed. The Domestic Dog (Cambridge University Press, 1995)