...that's it....i am gonna spend my easter monday on this forum...i made my mind up now....too late...stop replying if you want me to stop 'wasting' your time :)
Many thanks to TerryB and Darthillcat for their comments.
ONE GOLDEN RULE i never break: i never leave my dogs unattended.....and on their own if not in the safety of our home (with 6ft brick walled garden....just in case).....and i would never leave a rottweiler nor gsd on their own unsupervised unless securely locked in the van and only if i am going to the loo (although i have a portable one) or showers or doing the washing up....BESIDES..what's the point of going on hols if you leave the dogs in the van????
i have seen people leaving their pooches hours on end in vans/motorhomes...they should make it illegal....and with breeds like mine TOTALLY dangerous....one is asking for trouble if doing so on a campsite (i.e. if not at home...OUR HOME), and is totally disrespectuful of other people's needs and rights.
Terry i agree, chhildren can be a 'little problem', the way i always got round it is by scanning the horizon 360 degrees at all times (one of the 'duties' that someone who wants these breeds HAS TO ADHERE TO AT ALL TIMES.....it kills social life...but hey.....loyalty unconditional love and love to death have their price i guess ;)) and when children are approaching ...they can be so fast at times the toddlers...i run my dogs into the van...faster....i never let them off the lead unless we are deep into a forest (when on camping sites i mean, it's out of respect, basic manners and total safety) where i have total vision.
Parents sometimes forget that it's good practice to teach children NOT to approach any dog unless the owner is with the dog...in between the child and the dog preferably....at the end of the day they are animals (the dogs i mean...although some kids could be described like this too ;)) and mine come heavily equipped.....so the responsibility is on me......most of the times in order to defuse or pre-empty problems....if someone tries to break into my van.....whilst i am in the loo...for example....well a part from having to smash the windows and go through the safety dog window guards.....they get what they deserve.....i respect private property, i expect the same in return.......i mean they have heavily genetically imprinted guarding and protecting instincts after all...hence the utmost care for safety on my part...a part from liability of course ;)).
David i couldn't agree more with your reply, terriers (jack russells especially) are a breed that i wouldn't handle unless forced to....very very different dogs when it comes to obedience/safety training.....and very true that they can outshadow any large breed when it comes to territoriality....and attach if need be.....
most people forget that rottweilers are molosses..../mastiff types ..therefore are like diesel compared to petrol engine, they are low anxiety (as opposed to gsd /border collies and similar being high anxiety dogs) so it takes a lot for them to get going.....but they do in the end....with a lot of kgs and mass impact behind them...but i agree..they tend to be (if not mistreated) 'slow' and placid and soppy dogs.....to be introduced carefully of course.....they can get startled easily......and react to it ....
you guys (and gaals) seem to know a lot about dogs, great start, can't wait to meet you all soon :)
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