Who Needs a Gun

Yep, dogs are great. Treat them half decent and most of them will give their lives to protect you and your family. I have always found it amazing how a large dog can so drastically change the attitude of a thug.
Here is a photo of my guard dog, General Jackson. He usually doesn't carry.

Tess is gorgeous. Thank you, Chris.

When we can afford to get part of the yard fenced (at least a quarter acre) we're getting another GS.

Nothing says love like a 130 pounds of slinking caterpiller stealthily climbing on top of you and breathing in your face sometime during the night!

It's overdue, and Tess reminded me of that.

My ex G/F had a rottie in Mt . She was the best dog I have ever seen . I used to leave the keys in the truck in the parking lot with her setting on the seat .
She loved to play the game =YOUR DEAD MEAT! where she held out her paw and when you touched her paw she went into KiLL mode I swear this dog would loose it and actually bite you but as soon as you said stop she sat on the floor wagging her stump tail holding her paw out. One day she put her head on my lap when I was reading a book and I tossed the couch blanket over her and roughed her up she went Bonkers But I had my hand in her mouth and she never even tried to so much as bite.
when someone came to the house she was all over the fence Like she would kill someone But Little kids could put there arms around her and she would walk so slow so they would not fall down.
USMC Im sad to hear you are sick -Prayers sent !

USMC 1975, Tessa is beautiful.

As for your troubles, find a good acupuncturist who is good with Chinese herbal medicine. It isn't a substitute for western treatment, but my wife has had great success with helping to support people through chemo and such.

If you need help locating a good acupuncturist e-mail her at [email protected]. she can tell you what to look for when searching for a local acupuncturist.

Best of luck, Marine.

I love to hear about good dogs with good owners. Tess is a beautiful pup.

Your story about trooper almost made me tear up. As much as I love my dogs I know they will never live long enough. Seeing them go is indescribably hard. I guess knowing you gave them the best life you could is the only consolation.

Awesome story. For sure this is the story of the day. Great post

Amazing how 80# of snarling fury can diffuse a situation. I've been in a similar situation where some a$$h0le thought that giving me a hard time on the road was a good idea until he saw Terra, the one on the left. She's my baby. I tell people that she's a Germeranian because she thinks she's part pomeranian, an 80# lap dog. She's never had any formal guard training, but her instincts about people and situations are incredible. She just seems to know when she has to go from nice playful girl to all business German Shepherd.

Cody is the other one, but we call him Snots. He's a boxer/pit and is part 2 of our security team. When he's not with Terra, he just barks at everyone who's not family. When he's with her, he follows her lead.

Give Tessa an extra biscuit and an extra belly rub from me. She done good! I'm glad she's a good friend to you during your battle. I've never been thru anything as tough as what you're going thru, but I know that dogs are good therapy for most of life's hurdles. I hope you and Tessa beat your hurdles together.

Gotta' love those GSD's Our son is now almost 3 and the doggie sticks right with him all the time. She has gotten my wife and I out of a couple troubling situations on visits to DC and Philly. It's amazing some people will cross the street to not have to walk by her. Anyway, give Tess a nice chewy and big pat on the head, she deserves it.

aw Im loving the dog pics. My boxer has just had to be put down at 11 for complacations with a brain tumor. He was soft as anything but I walked him without a lead and he would defend with whatever force he felt was required.

Didnt like masks though halloween house eggers vs 50kg boxer ah fun times.

This thread reminded me that I'd really like to have a dog, and I started looking up German Shepherds on the web. The family had a few when I was growing up, and I love them. My family had a few acres with a couple dozen chickens, and my grandfather would let them out to wander the large lawn, but if they started into the woods, he'd sic Gypsy on them, who would circle around behind them and chase them back onto the lawn.

But, I found this on the AKC website:

Disqualifications (from competition, I suppose)
Cropped or hanging ears.
Dogs with noses not predominantly black.
Undershot jaw.
Docked tail.
White dogs.
Any dog that attempts to bite the judge.


I know GS are generally really sweet dogs, but they don't have that for Akitas, which are (I believe) considered the 'most dangerous dog'. What the heck?

German Shepherds are GREAT dogs. However, in recent years I've heard its either difficult, expensive or both to get a good one here in the U.S. due to over breeding. I have no personal experience because I buy bird dogs exclusively. I did sit next to a FEMA agent on a airplane that brought her dog on. They're allowed to do this when they travel. She told me they use Belgian Shepherds instead of German Shepherds because they can get good ones for less money. Not saying this is true, just reiterating what she said. They use them as cadaver dogs during emergencies iek Katrina.

Yes, the Belgian Malinois (MAL-in-wah) are being used more and more by police and rescue workers because of their intelligence, agility and stamina. My understanding is that they still command a pretty high price for police-quality dogs.

My Shepherd was actually adopted from the SPCA. I don't have papers for her nor do I know a thing about her lineage. Doesn't matter to me. She's a great dog and is a part of the family and would give her life in a second to defend any of us. And I would go just about as far for her.

you're a lucky man to have such a beautiful, faithful dog.

....but speaking of KING......the only dog who ever bit me had that name. still have the scar, but king is dead by now, i'm not. I WIN!!! bwah-ha-ha-ha!!!

Here's my two vicious, dangerous beasts. The neighbors tremble in terror!

Both are rescues: One from abandonment, the other from the barbecue! Some of the locals love long-tailed cabrito!!

give that dog a biscuit! GOOD DOG! and, congraduulations to you for training your dog well.

German Shepherds have the ability to look noble and intelligent no matter what they're doing.

One little known fact about the breed: Not one of them ever voted for an anti-gun politician.

I've had two GSDs in my life, both were white. I just love them. I lost my first one while running early in the morning with her. She got hit by a car and I had to put her down. The second one died of old age about 5 years ago. Loosing her was so painful that I've not bought another GSD.

I had a WGSD for 11 years, best dog I ever had. Once while I was out riding with him, I had chain trouble on my bicycle at a local middle school. I flipped the bike over and started working on the problem when 8 or so MS13 wanna-be's started walking towards us. Where we were, there was no way through the fence, so I know they were on their way over to see what they could get into.

I know they saw Chance from the get go, but they probably figured he was on a leash and I wouldn't let him hurt them. He was off leash more than not. He saw them and started trotting out to meet them. They got within all of 40 feet from me, as he went out halfway between me and I didn't say a word to control him. They stopped. He stopped. He stared at them, chest out, full of confidence. They glanced at each other furtively, and turned 90 degrees and continued toward the school exit. He turned around and trotted back. Just one of the several times he's changed people's minds about acting crazy. So proud of my boy!

Great pics, stories. Man's best friend indeed: a playful, reliable companion who never complains and, evidently, just may diffuse a situation before it gets out of hand. Talk about a win-win (for everyone, including the road-rager).