Re: guard dog

[Guest guest]

We have a german shephard. there are a lot of breeds, including german

shephards, that if raised from puppies with children will protect their own

family (or pack as the dog sees it) from intruders. We've also had a golden

retriever and I've heard that they will let the intruders in and carry their

flashlights! My husband loves german shephards---they are very sweet and

frienldy to all our friends and family who come here. But anyone who drives by

the house or hears her bark (even though we're on a quiet dead-end street) would

not dare come near my kids! So all the neighbors know she's friendly and loves

all the kids--but strangers would be terrified of her just because of her colors

and look. There are many breeds who would be very protective of their own family

if raised from puppies--dont do shelter dogs or rescue dogs since you dont know

what kind of history. talk to some local breeders or look online about what kind

of dog would be good for your lifestyle.

>

> Is there any type of dog that anyone would recommend for a gaurd dog that will

not eat up my autistic daughter?

> CAthy

>

>

[Guest guest]

Most times you do want to start with a puppy, but depending upon the child's

special need there are times where either that's not safe for the puppy

depending upon the child's disability, or it just ends up you go on a class trip

and adopt a big ol' dog that ends up being one of the greatest parts of your

life -in either situation you need to proceed with caution and awareness- but

it's the best thing.

We have 2 dogs that were both rescued - both were grown when adopted -in fact

our large dog Simba was years away from being a puppy when we saved him...not

sure exactly how many years as we heard 1 and 4 according to his teeth...and

which vet looked at his teeth!!! (no idea exactly what breeds he is either;

working thought is Chow, Husky, Lab, Retriever...he's big, orange -maybe part

Clifford)

After Tanner's class trip to the Humane Society while it was a rocky start due

to chewing everything in site after we adopted Simba -we lived happily ever

after due to something called Bitter Apple

From the archives to give a few examples of things Simba chewed up:

" Tanner was for example chosen for the Holiday program to be one of the only

four drummer boys out of all the first graders...and..he had to lead the others

in a small parade on stage to a little choreographed march! (and did amazing!)

I'll post a picture as soon

as we get the new wire in for the camera (Simba chewed that the same day he

chewed the CHERAB phone line. "

" which is kind of how we ended up with pet fish, gerbils, and our

new dog Simba/also known as " Class Trip " who no longer chews up telephone wires,

electrical wires, stuffed animals, rugs, shoes and fish food containers filled

with fish food, because I sprayed everything in our house with Bitter Apple -and

it worked! "

As you say Maureen -Simba has a deep fierce bark that scares anyone that hears

it -and he snarls with that. People that even know us won't dare come in to our

house with him there unless they know him very well -he won't let anyone in..no

doubt based on a few incidents with people that come in the house to do repairs

that he would for sure attack and probably seriously hurt anyone that tried to

hurt anyone in our family. But he's smart -we just have to tell him " It's OK

Simba " and he calms down and lays down and becomes the lazy dog again. He has

never bitten anyone -but has threatened to if we were not there to stop him.

He's a big old teddy bear with us and our annoyingly adorable but wanting all

the attention little dog Sandy who constantly chews on Simba's ears and jumps

all over him! (Sandy has abandonment issues due to spending the first 7 months

of her life in a cage -and she's actually extremely bonded to Simba and stresses

out if he's not around for her to chew, lay,sleep on or steal bones from)

I couldn't even begin to tell you all the reasons dogs or pets in general are

great for children -I'd say especially special needs...but the following archive

is about a former neighbor's dog and my son Tanner. My other dog Sandy is a

little dog more like the Gypsy dog in this story -but have to tell you -Tanner

LOVES both his dogs- and they love him back! Dogs are just amazing and seem to

have a sense:

Here's an archive from 2002:

Therapy dogs can spot apraxia?!

I have an interesting story. I just came in from a party and the owner of this

little dog named Gypsy almost cried telling me this story -she was so emotional

about it. Gypsy is a professional " therapy " dog -not that I knew that before

tonight. She told me that Gypsy instinctively " knows " if there is a person that

has any type of problem and needs her. Typically Gypsy will run away if a person

goes to pet her. She will not let people get near enough to pet her. This same

dog however - with those in wheelchairs, or those who have a special need in

some way -she will sit down and scooch up to them if they come near her -and do

her " tricks " . There were a bunch of little kids playing on the street -including

her 2, and my 2 (Dakota and Tanner) -and others as well. Just like I didn't know

that her dog was a therapy dog -she didn't know my two boys -or that Tanner has

apraxia. She said she saw all the kids running around and then all of a sudden

Gypsy sat down near Tanner and pushed up to him. She said " I didn't think

anything was wrong with Tanner -he looked just like all the other kids - and I

clasped my hand over my mouth when Gypsy did that because that's what she does

in the hospitals when she's doing therapy " She went over and talked to Tanner

and told her who Gypsy is and what her job is. At first Tanner gave her just

simple one to three word answers -which then you can't hear any of the apraxia.

Then, because Gypsy was there - all of a sudden Tanner started " talking and

talking and talking " nonstop and asking all these questions about Gypsy. It was

at this time that she realized that even though Tanner sounded " normal " in short

sentences -that he did have a speech issue in long sentences -and she realized

that Gypsy knew it even though she would have never known if Gypsy didn't lead

her there. She told me that she couldn't believe out of all the children running

around that Gypsy went up to Tanner and just knew he needed her somehow. She

told me she went into the house and cried. She again said to me -I had no idea.

Well I guess Tanner can pass the people test -but he can't pass the therapy dog

test yet! Wow -how did this doggie know?!! All I know is Gypsy is a cutie! This

is Gypsy's website http://www.small-dog-clothes.com Has anyone else ever been

around a therapy dog with their child?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are so many articles and reasons for a pet. I wouldn't know where to

start...but I suggest the Humane Society as there are so many that will be

euthanized if they don't find a home

Win win for all if you find one that works out for your family!!

PS -Sandy our little dog is NOT a guard dog but she too will bark. (if you have

burglars that are afraid of squeak toys)

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[Guest guest]

I agree the German Shepherd is great with kids and a great guard dog too. Kate

> >

> > Is there any type of dog that anyone would recommend for a gaurd dog that

will not eat up my autistic daughter?

> > CAthy

> >

> >

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