Good girl, Kobe?
My husband went walking Kobe and Katie together as usual last night, and stopped to talk to a neighbor who was standing in his yard. Both our girls are on short leashes when they are anywhere but our back fenced in yard. The neighbor does not have a fence, and I have seen his 2 goldens tied up out there before. Never met them. Well, the son of the neighbor opened the door to their house and let the dogs out with him and that point and both goldens bolted out immediately for Katie. The neighbor wasn't directly with my husband, they had been conversing in passing at some fair distance so as soon as he realized what was happening he started running for his dogs (who were unrestrained). Kobe was sitting, facing the other way. Katie was standing next to hubby nicely. The dogs went straight for Katie and quite viciously. The neighbor is a big guy, and was making his way. Mind this all happened very fast, so it's not like there was a ton of time to react as it was. Telling it just takes a lot longer! The millisecond Katie cried in pain/fear and tried to cower from these dogs' attack, Kobe flipped around with a snarl, lunged forward and grabbed the first dog, literally (amazing considering she is smaller than those dogs) tossing it halfway across the street. We always knew she had more strength than bulk but that was impressive. The neighbor stopped in his tracks at this point, said 'holy s---" and looked unsure what to do before restraining the 2nd dog. The first dog just stood there where it had 'landed.' On one hand, I'm very pleased that Kobe defended Katie when she heard her cry, but I'm not really sure that was the best way to respond in the situation? For a dog, yes. For the fact that the neighbor had been on his way to restrain his own dogs, and that my husband should not have (right?) attempted to restrain strange dogs on his own while holding 2 dogs as it was, maybe it was. idk. The neighbor kid shouldn't have just let those dogs out without some kind of restraint. I mean, come on. But what happened happened - I am just not sure if we should somehow be training Kobe to be indifferent and let the humans take care of the situation? That doesn't sound right, and I feel she acted appropriately - it's not like she drew blood or tried to relentlessly bite the dog's face off or something. The neighbor did not complain about Kobe's actions and apologized for his own dogs, but I've just never been in a situation where that has happened! Wish I had a clue why they went straight for Katie. She wasn't doing anything. |
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| How would you have liked her to handle the situation? |
| I really don't know! Personally I feel like she did what she felt was appropriate (and I am kind of proud of her) since the neighbor wasn't acting (ie grabbing his dogs) at that moment and hubby didn't have 2 extra arms.
I just worry that I'm not thinking 'outside the box' and missing something that should have ideally happened, y'know? Besides the dogs being restrained in the first place  |
That sounded like a perfectly appropriate response to me! I certainly wouldn't want to train a dog not to defend her pack/self in an extreme situation. Poor Katie! You said she yelped in pain, was she ok?  |
| From what you said, the alternative was two unuly, possibly menacing dogs were attacking her scared pack mate. As the alpha (apparently in her mind) she felt she had to step in. If your husband had stepped between the dogs it might have diffused the situation - or gotten him bit (although Goldens are not really thought to be aggressive to people). |
| good point, kerry. yeah, i'm not too familiar with goldens, and i think in hubby's mind he saw the neighbor running to act (just not as fast as dogs, unfortunately) and didn't want to wind up attacked himself so was waiting that moment for neighbor guy to get his dogs. maybe hubby should have done more.
Katie is ok, I think the dogs mostly got mouthfuls of hair and Kobe acted very quickly once Katie cried. I think it was mostly fear/surprise that caused her to yelp. They might have caught her but we didn't see any open wounds on her skin. Kobe is a lightening quick, strong little black sausage, I'll give her that. As soon as the first dog was off Katie the neighbor had reached the 'scene' so it's not like they were gnawing on her for 5 mins though it feels like it the way I'm explaining it! |
| more likely the damage is not physical and I would look for opportunities to give her some more confidence around other dogs - maybe not unruly goldens yet... |
| I think your dog acted instinctively and that it was the right thing to do, perhaps those dogs wont do it again. Bless.
Years ago our old really soft oes cross (polly)was off lead walking down an alley with me and my yorkie (on a lead) really nice chap used to stop and pet Polly, she loved him. This once I stumbled and fell forward, the chap rushed over to help me up. Polly shot back towards us barking and growling! I managed to grab her collar as I was getting up, the chap was very understanding but I was so embarrassed. She was just defending me and Misty. |
Good girl Kobe!  It was the right thing to do for her, she defended Katie!!! I would have done the same! |
| I am sorry this happend.
All I can add is that I have had problems with Goldens as well. I know this sounds odd - but when we used to walk in the park - any Goldens we met up with leashed or not, were a problem - Winston never seemed to care - but the Goldens always wanted to go after him. I haven't had this issue with any other type of dog. I mitigate the situation now by staying clear of them - |
| the problem is many golden owners don't see their dogs overexuberance as an issue. |
kerry wrote: the problem is many golden owners don't see their dogs overexuberance as an issue.
I think you are on to something. The problem is that the golden's overexuberance makes me really nervous. It does not appear friendly at all. |
| I think it was great that Kobe defended Katie. I'm pretty confident that with my two Wendel would defend Asterisk in the same situation. They don't always get along, but if she were scared or being bullied, he would be there to help her out.
I would be happy about their trusting dynamic. They have only been packmates for a short time and already Kobe has taken Katie into her protective care. |
| Kobe took one decisive action, didn't maul the Golden, just put him in his place, and completely defused the situation. I don't see a problem with what happened. In fact, I'm impressed with her restraint.
Had she continued to go after the Golden after his initial 'correction' with the intent to fight or injure then maybe I'd be concerned but, as it is, I'd have given him an extra cookie for protecting his pack mate with no blood drawn. |
| yeah we are definitely steering clear of goldens for a while for katie's own sanity and for the fact that kobe is smart enough to hold a grudge. it's too bad she didn't do anything wrong. we had a golden when i was a kid but i've never been overly familiar with the breed.
yeah, we definitely gave her an extra cookie, and both got extra hugs (well, kobe's not really the hugging type) it was only when i started to think about posting here that i wondered 'was that really the best response?' i think i knew it was a good one, but i'm no expert. there is always room for me to miss things and i am very aware of that! kobe is a very intuitive girl and as a shar-pei, i guess she's a breed that was bred to fight other dogs. if she didn't have such an awesome disposition and sensitivity to the situation it could have gone very wrong. i knew she was strong but the strength she used to throw that bigger dog was quite impressive! she's just a stocky 50lbs. |
| Hopefully the owner of the Goldens will take more care with his dogs and not allow this to happen again. Just because they are so 'sweet and loving' does not mean they are not dogs, and when they attack as a pack they can be just as lethal as any other breed. The next time the dog they charge at might not be so forgiving. This situation was a recipe for disaster.
I'll bet Kobe threw a scare into them, though  Way to go, Kobe! |
| Kobe was perfect. For his breed he might have continued the attack, but instead diffused the situation perfectly. If the uprights had failed to take control, Kobe would have continued.
Remember with the bully type breeds, the upright must be in charge or the dog will take over. That black sausage of yours is very well muscled and your husband quickly saw. Extra cookies for Kobe. Obviously the goldies' owner and son were at fault. Their dogs are untrained and aggressive. |
| Having raised Goldens and Sheepies for over thirty years, I don't agree with much of what has been said. In fact, I think Goldens tend to be a lot like Sheepies in their personalities.
However, a dog of any breed that isn't well-trained or well-socialized isn't fun to be around. |
Mom of 3 wrote: Having raised Goldens and Sheepies for over thirty years, I don't agree with much of what has been said. In fact, I think Goldens tend to be a lot like Sheepies in their personalities.
However, a dog of any breed that isn't well-trained or well-socialized isn't fun to be around. You are correct - a dog that isn't well trained or well socialized isn't good to be around. I re-read my post and I don't like how I worded it. I am sorry for saying negative things about goldens  |
kerry wrote: the problem is many golden owners don't see their dogs overexuberance as an issue.
Here, Here.... When Quin had his pre novice graduation night I was so proud of him as he did EXCELLENT! We were lined up, got our certificates and a lady came over to talk to me and her golden whipped underneath Quin... Of course he reacted loudly and everybody looked at us like he was awful! I wanted to cry (actually I did later) He went on to get over it and so did I! I didn't blame him for a second! Glad your babies are ok! |
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