Posted on 10/12/2011 1:17:53 PM PDT by Gennie
Investigators are awaiting autopsy results to determine what caused the death of Hex the champion German Shepherd.
Meanwhile, his family is continuing to raise money in hopes of finding his killer or killers.
Al and Marcia Govednik found the body of their prized German Shepherd the morning of Saturday, October 8, 2011, nearly two weeks after they believe Hex was stolen from their front yard.
"They just beat him and his collar was missing and they dropped him right there," said Marcia Govednik as she pointed to the ditch.
(Excerpt) Read more at wqad.com ...
While most German Shepherds are naturally aloof, there are more than a few that are fairly friendly, including my own. I imagine a tracking dog would need to be this way, unless he’s supposed to eat those he’s meant to track lol.
I thought someday I’d get over the early death my my beloved.
Now I don’t think so. Good luck getting a new friend.
Just because someone breeds or shows an animal, doesn’t make them any less psychotic, just like there are fanatics in any type of hobby or business. I’ve met or know about a few individuals that I certainly wouldn’t put it past...
I have a 3 year old German Shepherd dog. He is as German as German can get... both parents are champions in Germany. He is self assured, powerful and protective of those he loves and he considers our property his responsibility.
His only goal in life is to please me... 24/7. I got him when he was 9 weeks old and he has been with me every day... every day.
However, he loves people and is friendly to strangers and I suspect that a stranger could convince him to willingly go with them, especially with an offer to play ball, unless the stranger showed aggression. Fortunately, he has never outside of my control or sight.
I wish you good luck on getting your GSD.
I raised Dobermanns for 30 years.
My present dog is a 3 year old GSD that we bought when he was 9 weeks old.... This is my first GSD. I will never have another breed. Other than the shedding, he is a perfect dog.
Hard to imagine a stranger getting into a close combat situation with this animal without a major ruckus. ???? If the dog was trained in food refusal he would not go quietly ????
Did a little google search, this guy is apparently well known in tracking circles. This is a horrible story. I have no idea why anyone would do such a thing. Sure sounds like someone is very angry. Sure hope they catch them, but I don’t know that they will.
http://www.siouxvalleykennelclub.com/trackingseminar.html
OH yes, Very intelligent AND Loyal.
I HEART GSD.
That's the part I find hard to imagine - mine barks at strangers if they come close unless it is someone he knows well. But he isn't a show/performance dog so doesn't know as many people as a show dog would.
I notice whenever you see K9 dogs and their handlers (real life cops) those dogs are not quiet. Unless the dog did bark before getting in the van and the owner inside didn't hear it. The value of using real fences.
Most training uses treats (can be as simple as kibble) as rewards so these guys do not refuse food.
Ah ....
Now I am missing my shepherd again. After 12 years, we lost her 2 years ago. Now we have a miniature version of her in our Corgi.
This is a low-volume list so dont worry!
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“All of the German Shepard’s(sic) that I have ever known do not take kindly to strangers.”
You don’t know my stupid German Shepherd.
I know the pain you suffered. Until March I had a wonderful friend who was half Chocolate Lab and half Weimaraner. In the last six moths of his life he wasted away to a walking skeleton, to the point where he looked a lot like pictures of recently released concentration camp inmates you see in books about the Holocaust. I spent about $3,000 on inconclusive tests to see what was wrong while he continuously wasted away until there was only one decision I could make. The autopsy established it was severely advanced cancer and I was absolutely right to do what I had done.
I’ve added a wondeful Great Dane puppy who’s now eight months old. There’s still a hole in my heart for my lost friend and I’m beginning to choke up as I write this. You have my total condolences and absolute sympathy.
I have 2 German shepherds, they are siblings from the same litter. I got them when they were 8 weeks old and we are one happy family. They are going to be 4 yrs old in November. They are friendly to strangers to a point, don’t really know how they would react to a stranger if I weren’t around. There is one problem with them, they are so bonded to me they won’t do anything unless I am with them. They will go out in the yard as long as they can see me but if I walk out of sight they are at the door looking for me.
Junior weighs 105 and his sister Libby weighs 70 but she rules the roost. They are my pride and joy.
Back in the 80’s when I lived in FL, my G-ma gave us her German Shepherd because she couldn’t handle him. We later gave him to a cop my dad knew in Dade City.
Poor Shane was killed execution style. I don’t remember if the scum bags were caught.
That was probably my first knowledge that people could hurt innocent animals to get revenge.
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