Chip, You totally misinterpreted what I was trying to say. You are always saying what a bad dog he was but how you trained him and how the average person should not own a GSD. I was under the impression that he was only stable with you, and that he could easily go off. I know you put a lot of time into him. (My meaning of uneven temperment, trained but you never know 100 percent).
LOL, well your right! 100 percent is difficult to obtain? And as Jeff Gellman for one has said, you can only 100 percent, when the Dog is Gone. And now I can say Rocky met that standard.
The GSD folk's were "always," throwing "Temperament," and "BYP" into the faces of JQP! And yes "ultimately," Temperament determines, the ultimate outcome of a dog. But if a Dog has a solid temperament or Nerve. How far he can go depends on the owner.
So when I was well, "rampaging on GSDForum." I did not go after JQP ... I went after the "Pro's!" LE K9's ... supposedly the best of the best? Yeah, not so much? That LE K9, that gnawed the leg of his son ... was not a "BYP," dog? I am pretty sure that "Department,' paid "thousands of dollars for that dog? And the K9 officer "messed up," and his kid was maimed and a freaking neighbor had to save him from the officers dog! And that is supposedly "The Best of the Best?"
So yeah ... I am not "Automatically Impressed," with LE K9's dog's. "Some Dog's," can't tell a threat from a "non," threat apprently? So I stay well the he$$ clear of them! And I am glad I don't live near one.
And High Dollar Dog's ... also end up in shelters. One does not the how and why of a given dog is in a shelter? If the dog goes after the wife the kid's, neighbor's or the owner? Screw this he is out of here! and no paper trail.
And some owners don't care what they paided for a "Dog?" All they know is, he is "Crazy," and they want him gone! And if he has not actually attacked anyone but might? Well I'll get him off my hands and "Good Luck," to the new owner.
That is what is happening today. With "Rocky," I ponder for month's what I had done wrong? And why my "Rocky?" Seemed to be so "hostile to strangers?" And I would ask online from time to and no one had an answer? And thne finally "MAWL," replied and said I had done nothing wrong! She was a LE K9 trainer and was "quite surprised that I was not? But she worked with them and had Five! Well technically, four Wl GSD's and one West Germany Show Line Dog, inside stuff.
But she said "German Shepard's are bred to bite!" I did nothing wrong. I had brought "Rocky," up the same as I had my American Band Dawg and Stru. But at about 15 month's or so something changed? And GSD 101 "I know now" apprently ... that is not unusual! "My Dog Changed?"
It was Christmas time and lot's of folks coming over. And Stru and Gunther were in hog heaven! But Rocky, never left my side? Well this seemed odd? But whatever ... I got out of my chair and sat by him on the floor? And that was when I noticed that he greeted each guest ... with a cold hard stare? OK... this is odd?
But whatever and then when the "Door Opened," again ... I felt a low rumble in his chest and heard a low growl? As folk's came in. And a "Cold Chill, ran up my spine?" And at that point I knew ... my life with dog's had just changed?
But is was subtle, so that no one else noticed it? But he was fine by me and no one else noticed? So I stayed with him and told anyone that asked, "Hands off?" As Stru was busy keeping everyone busy ... not a problem. But I knew I had a problem?
Now the rest is history and yep "100," percent... he never attacked anyone, in his life. And I could take him anywhere with me in public! And yep he was a "Bubble Dog," for a time (wore a muzzle) in public. But after awhile ... I dropped that. And yeah most likely ... I was "overly protective of him?"
He was well know around Dayton, and much to my dismay did tend to attract attention? And I had to answer "No he is not "Black a Wolf," questions a lot.
If I stopped to talk to someone? He would step five feet back and lay down and wait. I did not "train," that behavior per se, it's just what he did.
He "Trusted Me," and knew I would not put him in a bad situation? I only messed up once at midnight on a walk. And he warned me that was something was not right? And he got nipped by a Military Working Dog GSD, that was behind ... what looked like a secure fence, to me? He "said," something is not right here? But I over ruled him ... and I was wrong, and he got nipped, my bad.
But yeah he was a lot of work and 100 percent "public safe," is hard to achieve? But in his 10 years with me ... "We did it!"
And most likely I was "overly protective of him?" But I am not a "Pro," as such I did not have a "Team of Volunteers, or Trained Dog's to "Proof My Work?" The first person that "volunteer himself," to "proof my work?" Insisted on meeting him? I did saw him first of course and did the best I could to ditch him?
But he pretty much was instant on "Meeting my dog?" And crossed the street "again" to meet us? We looked somehow "different I guess? And he wanted to know, what was going on? So it was ... "Same Old, Same for Rocky," I stop and talk he wait's behind while me I talk and then we move on.
The "Muzzle," was off by now. So the guy asked me what I was doing and why? No one had ever asked before so I explained ... "Did not like people and I am working on "Rehab, with him." But this guy asked me "Well has it worked?" And can I meet him? Well I was stunned as "No one had ever asked me specific questions before?" But I looked back at "Rocky," and he looked fine .... "Same Old, Same Old here."
So I stepped aside and said OK? And LOL, Rocky was good with "him petting him!" So he greeted him and said "Nice Dog, you have there and moved on.
Now short of that "stranger, volunteering himself?" I don't know that I would ever have let anyone pet him? But what I did seemed to have worked? And if anyone saw "Us and about?" All they saw was a "Big Black (Wolf Looking) like Dog ... we got that question a lot!
But nope he was not an "unstable out of control GSD." He trusted me, he knew I had his back and "Proved," he had mine. But he was not a "Boxer," and I could never forget how he scared the crap out of me that Christmas, with what he thought of strangers."
If you passed us on the street, we would step aside if space was tight? You would think nothing of him ... just another dog. But unlike "Some," I never forgot. He was not a "burden, but he was a responsibility!" I kept him and the public safe for 10 years. And he did get to meet, "many strangers" forced contact at times? And I was freaking out (when we got in a crowd) but had to fake "Cool," for him.
He was a great Dog but a lot of work. And he would have been just to much for many? And ... despite "GSD's" being among the Top Two, of the most popular dogs in America for "Decades!" Cuz you know everyone wants a "Police Dog."
Even the "Best Among them can have .. "People Issues." But as they say "Be careful what you wish for."
But yes GSD's are/can be great dog's! And Rocky proved, I was more of a "Dog Behaviorist," then a "Dog Trainer?" They are two different disciplines apprently? My current girl Bella (Pit/Boxer) has on occasion proved to be a "total embarrassment to me?"
Sigh ... aside from "People Safe," I make no claims about what she can or will do at any given moment? She has embarrassed the HE$$ out of me on more than one occasion? And surprised me with , Strict Discipline on Occasions?" But hey she likes people so there is that.