I think my neighbor's dog wants to eat Princess!
 

Earlier this summer we ran into a woman and her white Gsd in the hall & she struggled to maintain control while he realllly growled at Princess. After they passed someone said the dog tried to get their dog before (maltese mix-ish:confused:).

I really haven't seen them since til earlier this week. We were on our 3rd floor about to descend the steps & I could hear them enter the first. We were going to get mail but he barked & usually Princess sticks up for her territory but whatever he "said" she cowered & tried to army crawl out of there. As I tried to pick her up I could hear this dog dragging his owner up the stairs. We hurried & I shut the fire door to provide a barrier. Later that night they came up the stairs by my door & I heard him bark so I went to the peep hole & he basically flung himself at my door, again dragging the woman.

I called the office today & told them & she knew who I was talking about. I think they live on this other wing as there's a dog that barks if we walk by & again Princess is not mad she's super scared.

It happened again this evening, him barking, her stomping, etc. to get some traction. I don't even know why they're using that stairwell when there's TWO much closer.

The office said they have to go through steps, etc. so it could take a while for something to be done. How could I possibly protect Princess even if she's in my arms if we cross paths? This dog could easily stand 5 ft. & I'm 5'3"! Would mace or something work? I thought about just posting a sign saying "if you can't control your dog you need to muzzle it" but that's not going to teach the dog anything & doesn't mean it wont scare the crap out of us lunging.

Oh, the joys of an apartment complex.:rolleyes:

Doesn't Victoria S. have a book "It's Me Or The Dog" I would get a copy of a good book about training and give it to the lady the next time you see her. Or get a box of really big treats and carry some with you and the next time you see them, make friends with the GSD by offering him a treat (of course check with his mommy first). Other than that, I have no idea. Good luck!

I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. I am sorry too, but I can't sugar coat my advice, Bluntly : You need to protect yourself and your Yorkie. I would at the very least carry hair spray , air fresher or mace, something to spray in it's face. Also a broom handle walking stick is usefull when walking small dogs. My walking stick held off a scary Rottie, until his owner could get a grip on his collar. I never hit him, just bounced it on the pavement and shouted NO, Bad Dog, NO sit !

I know that this may sound cruel,but a training collar would keep the big dog from lunging at anyone. Maybe you could purchase one for her and hang it on her door.
Tacky I know but the woman needs to get a grip on her dog,obviously the dog is the Alpha in that home.

Well this dog reallllly needs to be put in check, or better yet move out. I was just coming back from the laundry room & had my back turned walking back to my apt. when I heard that terrifying bark. I turned around and the woman was once again struggling to keep her dog from coming at me! I'm shaking so bad, I even started crying. This time once she was leaving the hall I yelled a few choice words of advice to her. It was just so scary because I wouldn't have dared to run into my apt. if he came after me-Princess would no doubt run out trying to defend me. I called the office & left a message & am emailing the corporate office tomorrow. I'm also calling animal control when I get out of work. If it scared me that bad, how would my dd feel in the a.m. leaving for school when no ones home for her to run to? And the way Princess cowers at his barks-I've never, ever seen a dog go so low to the ground they are basically crawling like a newborn pup, this dog is very, very scary. Who wants to take responsibility should the worst happen? I strongly suggest this apt. complex steps up soon. Sorry to go on and on, that just really scared me.:(:mad:

Something needs to be done. I can't imagine living with that fear.

That makes me so scared that it will attack you as well as Princes

I would go one step farther than you already have. Call the non emergency police number or go into your local station and file a report. You need to get something on paper just in case something REALLY bad happens. And there is no excuse for the owner. Sad it will be the dog that gets the blame. I have had several LARGE GSDs, trained them correctly, and never had one bit of a problem. I am having 1000000% more trouble training up Angel and she is only 10lbs. Also, depending on your city, you can file a small claims case for $ as she is preventing you from the normal enjoyment of your home. Sounds kinna crazy but at this point you need to do ANYTHING to make her see this is a serious problem.
Good luck and STAY SAFE!!!!!!!!!!

That is so scary. I'm glad you are being proactive here! :thumbup: I think the above tip is good too. And, I think buying a muzzle leash and giving it to her is not a bad idea. Maybe she'd use it?? You can always write a nice note saying you would hate for anything bad to happen to any person or pet and just wanted to help her out. I don't know...sounds like she has an out of control dog. Scares me.

Just talked to the leasing agent & animal control. The agent said she's had several complaints about this dog. I guess one of our maint. men lives here & he's been lunged at. They told her to get a muzzle or shock collar (I am not normally a fan, btw) and she said she has the collar, I don't know if she's using it or not. If she was that dog didn't care.

The complex has given her two options: get rid of the dog or exit your lease and move, period. They didn't say how long she has to decide but it can't be soon enough. At least they're stepping up. When I called AC they said there is no complaint to make until skin is broken, so call back when that happens!!!!!!!!!! I guess if that happens I'll be contacting a lawyer since they don't want to see the very real threat this dog is.

I do try to feel compassion for the dog that's probably helpless but it's hard when it makes me fear for my life & the lives I am responsible for.

It sounds like in this pack of two (big dog/owner) that the dog is the Alpha. To bad she isnt taking the time to train it up right. Shepards can be such good dogs,but like all dogs they have to have attention and training. So sad
Hope you stay safe until either dog or she and the dog move. Be extra careful!

Oh man, I'm sorry you have to deal with that. I have a couple of dogs in my neighborhood that scare the crap out of me since I have the yorkie and my other dog who is only 19 pounds. I had to whip one of them up into my arms with the leash when a large dog came running. I carry a water gun now.

I don't know if it will make a difference or not but if it doesn't, next thing is my BB gun. It's low powered so it won't kill them but if any dog tries mauling my dog...well...it's on like Donkey Kong!

My guess is this is going to be a long battle with your neighbor. It's not that easy to evict someone and their options from the landlord seem to have been ignored. If they were serious about abiding by the rules set forth they would have the dog muzzled and a shock collar in place.

My guess is this is going to be a long battle with your neighbor. It's not that easy to evict someone and their options from the landlord seem to have been ignored. If they were serious about abiding by the rules set forth they would have the dog muzzled and a shock collar in place.

I think it will be easier for them to get her to move since she has all these complaints against her already. They are sticklers to their lease (which they should be) and I'm sure all of this has equaled some violations. I told the leasing agent I'm purely on the defensive now, that I have a family to protect. The way I look at it is she's been warned by them, by me and by who knows else. It's a sad day for me to have to think about how I could "disarm" a dog if needed but I don't know what other options I have. I just hope and pray they'll be moving soon. I'm sure if just the dog goes she'll really lose the sense she's already lacking and obviously be very pissed off.

I look at the pet ads on CL every time I'm on & today I came across this:

FREE WHITE GERMAN SHEPHERD TO A GOOD HOME WITH A FENCED YARD
I have a large (80lbs), loving white German shepherd who is 1 1/2 years old. He has been an amazing friend and family member to me and unfortunately after moving into an apartment he has become a handful and lunged at my neighbor and now I am being forced to give him up. Writing this ad brings tears to my eyes because I don't want to lose him, but it's either that or be homeless. He is a family member to me so PLEASE serious inquires only and also please have a house with a yard (preferably fenced) that he is able to run around and be a happy dog with out having to be restrained anymore. He has never been around young children so I don't know how he will be if you have children but he gets along extremely well with other dogs, loves playing tug of war and is happy with a tennis ball and pig ear. If you have another dog he will fit right in. He is fully house trained and knows many commands (sit, down, shake, bring it etc...). Because I have never done this before I ask that if you are interested in adopting him that you will allow me to meet you and make sure he is going to a loving home and will be in a place that he will not have to move or lose an owner again. I DO NOT WANT MY DOG TO END UP BEING ALONE OR UNLOVED AND GIVEN AWAY AGAIN SO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU AGREE TO TAKE HIM IT WILL BE PERMANENT! I live in Kalamazoo but I am willing to drive to any location if you are the right fit for him. His name is George and can be a goofball but it loyal and will follow you everywhere and does alot of things to make you smile. Please email me with any questions you may have and included a phone number so that I may call you back and you can even set up a time to meet him.

For one, it is sad to see someone have to give up their pet. It does concern me that this dog may go to a home with another dog or a child. This has not been a one time incident and has happened to several different types of people & dogs, the ad is sooo misleading that it's only happened to one neighbor. I pray something good comes of this.

There is a spray called "muzzle" and you can buy it online. Just google something like "dog deterent". I would carry it with me every time I left the apartment. It is like mace but for dogs and it is legal to use. After spraying the dog you should spray the owner!
Cherie

I dont feel sorry for the owner,but she does sound like this dog mean alot to her. She could move instead of giving her dog away. She does have choises. She could of chosen to seek out a behavior trainer.

Well I think find out the company who insures the apartment complex and put them on notice. They will for sure make sure this gets taken care of. Money talks!!

I'm sorry you are dealing with this. :(

He is a very beautiful dog. A lot of dogs are leash reactive and aren't truly aggressive, but when it's coming from a big dog, it often looks worse of course. Not saying it's right -- but I've read alot about people on here and Yorkies who bark like crazy at the window and lunge on the leash at other dogs, but they are not truly dog aggressive, there is a difference.

Have you ever seen this dog in a setting off leash with people or other dogs? It may very well be friendly with dogs and people. I dogsit a Rottweiler who has a leash reactive problem sometimes, he gets overexcited and barks when he sees another dog approaching on leash, but he's very dog friendly and goes to the dog park every week and gets along with Jackson. But he can look very intimidating to a person of course. It's something that just needs to be worked on with some training (which I help the owners with, and he's improved a lot).

I hope the situation gets worked out. It sounds like she doesn't care enough about the dog to get it the proper training and is taking the easy way out by rehoming, which is sad. :( He'd probably be a fantastic dog in the right hands.

I've never seen him off leash as there's no place here for it. Princess is one of those dogs that barks like a big bad a$$ on the leash but will submit otherwise. But it hasn't just been a problem with her or other dogs, he's went after me, the maint. man and even lunged at my door at least twice when Princess wasn't near it. I do feel sorry for him and the girl, but if it was me and I was warned I'd at least muzzle my dog in the meantime of trying to correct the issue. Now he may end up with someone unsuspecting & it could turn out a lot worse in the end.:(

I would be worried for my safety and my pup's as well. You don't know the circumstance that brought her to you apt complex, but it's possible she was forced to downsize.Has she been there long? That poor dog may have been used to a yard and lots of exercise. Maybe there was a divorce or someone got a new job. I bet the big dog does not get nearly enough exercise. A dog like that is not an apt. dog. I do think that lack or exercise/stimulation etc can cause a dog to act out. Not sure if I'm right. I hope I'm right, because then the right home might mean he can live with other dogs. I hate that I have neighbors who think they don't need to walk their dog just because their yard is fenced (1/4 acre lots- ssorted size dogs). My girl doesn't NEED the exercise, she can get enough in the house, but I know she likes the mental stimulation she gets on her walk.

I would never adopt a large dog if I had a small one. Accident waiting to happen. We have some "nice" large dogs around me, labs etc, but one misplaced playful pounce and my baby would be smashed. She sure likes to tease them though. She runs up barks at them and takes off behind me to the end of her retractable leash.

Anyway, I was just saying SHE might not be in a position financially to move, so giving up the dog is all she can do. SOunds like she is not equipped to handle him anyway. Meanwhile, keep up your guard and your distance and hopefully it works out.

Aside from the tried and true old big black unbrella which has deterred every GSD, pitbull or Lab I have come against, I would invest in a stun gun for such close quarter problems. Just the click of it in the air - that forceful electronic sound is fully charged with sufficient deterrant to take the fangs out of most dogs' attitudes. In talking with people who rescue dozens of pits (some of them actual ex-fighting pitbulls) every few months, they say you rarely have to use the device - even on pits in a dogfight in the rescue yard. I think the one guy said he only had one fighting male that didn't respond to it and he was a true ex-dogfighting pitfull schooled to fight on in spite of pain and fear, probably not a reaction you would ever get from your neighbor's pet GSD.

They say just the sound of it is very intimidating to even the fiercest dog. Now this is not the police taser thing that has those electrodes and wires and such but the electronic zapper that has a very strong electronic current. And if the dog still keeps coming at your Princess, you may actually have to use it on him.

Just wondering if you've seen the dog since? I really hope that she's honest with whoever does adopt him, or he'll end up in a shelter for sure:( He just needs some training and consistency. Also not a good breed for apartment living unless the owner is super-dedicated to making sure that the dog gets many long walks and playtime at a dog park.

I agree with the post about finding out who insures the building and getting into their ear. This is a continuing and multiple complaint problem, and if they don't do something about it, and someone gets hurt, a lawsuit is sure to follow. And the poor dog would probably be destroyed.

Glad you and Princess are okay, but sorry you have to be scared on your own "turf". Hope it gets settled soon.