Trust the Dog!

[68W]

Even little dogs...my wife and I were sleeping one night a few years ago when I woke up at about 3am to her chihuahua growling and barking at us, which was unusual. I told her to shut up a few times but she persisted, which was also. I finally got up all pissed to let her out, as soon as I opened our bedroom door I was smacked with an overwhelming odor of natural gas. Turned out the gas regulator on our stove had busted, filling the hole house with gas. Turned into a pretty crappy night hanging out with the fire department, gas company and an outrageously overpriced emergency appliance guy. Still...I don't even want to imagine what would have happened if that stupid little chihuahua hadn't woken me up. We still don't get along very well, but since that day there's at least been a mutual respect between us.

So yeah...trust the dog!

That is a great story. I commend your little animal. I've seen first hand what happens to a home that fills with gas and it isn't pretty.

***Can anyone tell me simply how to put multiple quotes into one reply?

[williejc]

I grew up hunting deer, coons, possums, and squirrels with hounds. I learned to interpret the barking. Over the years, when one of my pets barked at something, I could quickly figure out what was going on. When working corrections in the early 80's, I observed two different manhunts using dogs chasing convicts. It was a big game to the hounds who were actually friendly dogs. It was the catch dog that was bad mean and really serious about his business. He was not turned loose in every case. Today, the catch dog(bull mix)no longer has a job.

Yes, sir. Trust your puppy.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Best I can do is try and learn from the moment and pass along the mistake. Losing my mind over $100 cash isn't worth it.

If I recall you've only had your GSD for a couple of weeks now, right? I remember when we newly acquired ours it sounds a lot like what you are describing. His territorial barking was very heightened the first month or 2. It seemed like he felt he needed the whole neighborhood to know that there was a new sheriff in town, or at least that there was a new yard boss at our house. He calmed down to a more discerning level of security within 3-4 months.

Knowing this we really should remember to trust the dog!

Yes, sir we have had her going on our third week now. She is still adjusting to her new life but by all accounts I have read she is ahead of the game. We both feel a lot better having her around and knowing that she'll give us a heads up in the event of danger close.

[FloridaWoodsman]

Install an alarm and remember to use it. Long term, it's cheaper than dog food.

[PA PATRIOT]

Just a little side note with letting your dog out to investigate that bump in the night, I have seen several dogs Stab, Shot, Beaten and even Tased where the dog had to be put down because the pooch found a armed BG on the property. Now I know everyone here loves their dog and its almost like losing a family member when they pass so gear up and escort your mobile burglar alarm while they are clearing the area.

They also sell body armor for dog's that can be attached in only a few seconds which can help protect the vital areas of the family pet if he/she decides to engage the bad guy.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Just a little side note with letting your dog out to investigate that bump in the night, I have seen several dogs Stab, Shot, Beaten and even Tased where the dog had to be put down because the pooch found a armed BG on the property. Now I know everyone here loves their dog and its almost like losing a family member when they pass so gear up and escort your mobile burglar alarm while they are clearing the area.

They also sell body armor for dog's that can be attached in only a few seconds which can help protect the vital areas of the family pet if he/she decides to engage the bad guy.

This. My dog is there to alert us and be a potential deterrent, she can assist if they get past me before the wife engages them.

[68W]

Just a little side note with letting your dog out to investigate that bump in the night, I have seen several dogs Stab, Shot, Beaten and even Tased where the dog had to be put down because the pooch found a armed BG on the property. Now I know everyone here loves their dog and its almost like losing a family member when they pass so gear up and escort your mobile burglar alarm while they are clearing the area.

They also sell body armor for dog's that can be attached in only a few seconds which can help protect the vital areas of the family pet if he/she decides to engage the bad guy.

This. My dog is there to alert us and be a potential deterrent, she can assist if they get past me before the wife engages them.

I feel the same way. My dog is a BA in his own right but is not Schutzhund/LE/MIL trained so it's too much to ask/expect. He has shown his skills when aggressive dogs have threatened us but people threats are my job to neutralize, if I'm not around I just hope he can rise to the occasion and rip a face off of a would be rapist or kidnapper, but its not something to count on. The plan is to clear things together...that would require me waking up when he alerts though...damn it it still irks me that happened.

UPDATE:
We definitely have a dirt bag that just checks door handles on the street. My neighbor, a good ole boy that loves his guns and ammo too, had his pickup opened and robbed too. He can't remember exactly which night it happened when we compared notes though. Probably not the same night. At any rate, the bastard got a couple thousand rounds of ammo, rangefinder, and gps unit from my neighbor! He had gone shooting that day and took his guns in the house but then his old knees told him to not go up and down the steps any more so he left the ammo in the truck--forgot to lock his as well apparently. He's a crafty old guy though, he bought some sort of motion detection system that sounds off in his bedroom if the doors are opened. He took everything out of the truck and is hoping they come back for more. I don't know how far he'll go to apprehend them, I just told him to be careful. Made me chuckle talking to him and his plan.

[militant_monkey]

I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback. He is loyal and protective as any large breed dog. Unfortunately, his months are numbered now because of cancer but his senses are so acute and he is so fearless it is amazing. Today he went to battle with a giant blue crab. Urban legend has it that if you run over their big claw it can puncture a tire. Well, it was snapping its claw and he knocked it upside down and got it his jaw and proceeded to shake it so hard that some of its legs flew off. Remember too that most dogs can carry half their body weight. I have a Kelty pack for him when we lived in N.W. Ga. and he would carry his own food, water, 22 lr and tent stakes.

[williejc]

68w, suggest to your neighbor to put a big mouse trap in his truck glove box and under each side of his seat. This way he can have some fun at the creep's expense. I no longer lock my vehicles at home and don't keep valuables in them. Reason is to avoid broken window glass. I do have a big puppy sleeping near them at night.

MM, I'm sorry about your pup. Years ago in a similar situation, I erred by delaying euthanasia for my dog and should have ended her suffering sooner. For my wife and me, losing a pet has been traumatic. There's a long list of people that would not enter my life boat if kicking out my dogs--past or present--was required. These folks would have been or would be S.O.L. Tough.

[militant_monkey]

68w, suggest to your neighbor to put a big mouse trap in his truck glove box and under each side of his seat. This way he can have some fun at the creep's expense. I no longer lock my vehicles at home and don't keep valuables in them. Reason is to avoid broken window glass. I do have a big puppy sleeping near them at night.

MM, I'm sorry about your pup. Years ago in a similar situation, I erred by delaying euthanasia for my dog and should have ended her suffering sooner. For my wife and me, losing a pet has been traumatic. There's a long list of people that would not enter my life boat if kicking out my dogs--past or present--was required. These folks would have been or would be S.O.L. Tough.

Thanks Williejc! He has gone three years since he was originally diagnosed to to the oncologist and vets' surprise. He has a bounding passion to survive. He show no signs of weakness but I know he does not want to show it. Dog's are so much intelligent than people give them credit. The next 4 months will be tough. I believe it is the calm before the storm. I do appreciate your words!