Some schnauzers, if not trained, can most definitely be a danger to people. Actually, when trained, they can be used as police dogs (and are used by the Europeans in such work).
Both photos shown here are Schnauzers:
Posted on 04/15/2009 6:28:08 AM PDT by meandog
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The wandering 65-pound Pit Bull mix might have seemed menacing to some passerby, but one woman will always remember him as her "guardian angel."
The dog, which authorities think is lost and not a stray, successfully thwarted a robbery attack on a mother and her 2-year-old son, who were held at knifepoint Monday afternoon.
The Florida woman, who has been identified by authorities simply as "Angela," was leaving a playground with her toddler son in Port Charlotte when a man approached her in the parking lot with a knife and told her not to make any noise or sudden movements.
Angela didn't have to do either to protect herself and her child -- a dog mysteriously ran to the scene and charged the man, who quickly fled.
"I don't think the dog physically attacked the man, but he went at him and was showing signs of aggression, just baring his teeth and growling and barking. It was clear he was trying to defend this woman," Animal Control Lt. Brian Jones told Pet Pulse.
"I don't know what this man's intentions were, but it is very possible this dog saved her life."
The exceptional part of the story, Jones said, is that the dog had never met or even seen the people it quickly jumped to defend.
"You hear about family dogs protecting their owners, but this dog had nothing to do with this woman or her kid," Jones said. "He was like her guardian angel."
After the alleged thief ran away, Angela quickly placed her son, Jordan, in the car and tried to drive off. Before she could, though, the dog jumped into her backseat, waiting with her for the police and animal control officers to arrive at the scene.
The dog was transported to a local shelter and if his owners don't step forward within five days, Jones said, Angela and her family plan to adopt the savior she named "Angel."
Animal control officers and shelter workers believe Angel is lost, and not a stray, because of his good health, sturdy weight and mild temperament.
"It's funny, that someone's irresponsibility could have saved someone's life," Jones said of Angel's possible owners.
For Angela, it doesn't matter where the dog came from, just that he was there when she needed him most.
"I don't know what his [the thief's] intentions were -- I don't know why he did it, but I'm glad that -- we call him Angel -- I'm glad that Angel showed up because I don't know what would have happened," Angela told NBC2 News.
For a small town with a population of 46,452, animal control officers were kept busy Monday afternoon. Jones says they department also responded to a report about a boa constrictor in a church parking lot.
The snake found its way into a car engine and was able to be removed without being harmed. It took three people to move the massive, seemingly random placed snake.
"It's funny, because we aren't a big place," he said of the Gulf Coast town. "And we can go for four or five months without the media contacting us about a story. It's been a busy week."
Officers from the responding county sheriff's office canvased the area and were unable to locate the suspect described as being in his 20s, tall and dark haired.
Tell us what you think about "Stray Dog Saves Woman, Child Held at Knifepoint" below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.
Pet Pulse reporter Amy Lieberman and NBC-2.com contributed to this article.
Boxers are great (mastiff background) dogs! They do have a propensity for flatulence after meals--as your family probably can attest--and drool a lot. Their fighting style (both in subduing fleeing criminals or tilts against other pooches) also means a lot of paws involved with the business ends of the muzzle too.
more importantly...he’s holding hands with the yellow Teletubbie!!!
Well, firearms are blamed by media and liberals for the 70 percent of crime in this country. I blame the criminal using them; and if that is what you're doing with irresponsible owners when dog attacks occur then I have no problem with your post.
"Right Breed for You?Pretty much sums it up.
One of the breed’s most notable characteristics is its desire for human affection, especially from children. They are patient and spirited with children, but also protective, making them a popular choice for families. The Boxer requires little grooming, but needs daily exercise.
Character and Temperament
These are of paramount importance in the Boxer. Instinctively a hearing guard dog, his bearing is alert, dignified, and self-assured. In the show ring his behavior should exhibit constrained animation. With family and friends, his temperament is fundamentally playful, yet patient and stoical with children. Deliberate and wary with strangers, he will exhibit curiosity, but, most importantly, fearless courage if threatened. However, he responds promptly to friendly overtures honestly rendered. His intelligence, loyal affection, and tractability to discipline make him a highly desirable companion. Any evidence of shyness, or lack of dignity or alertness, should be severely penalized."
Good reply. I had a Pitbull as a kid and he was great. The only person he ever bit was the paperboy who had hit him with a board. The paperboy was lucky Rex got him before my Dad.
“A very rare exception.”
Fatal dog attacks by any breed/type are very rare exceptions
when put into the context of the total population.
I don’t mean to argue with your or the AKC assessment of Boxers,
just to caution that even good dogs can do bad things
when the control that humans are responsible for is lax.
The example also has something to say about the danger of pack behavior.
bttt
I’ve never met a chow that liked me. No idea why, but that breed has it in for me. They scare me - my condolences.
Smart woman.
That’s *exactly* what you should tell police when your dog attacks someone.
“Oh my, that stray dog just went at that knife-weilding mugger.”
Never saw it before in my life.
*target of countless lawsuits
The dog is probably part of a family with a youngster about the same age and size of this lady’s child. The dog’s ‘apck instinct’ was tweaked and he/she intervened to protect the members of its perceived pack.
That's exactly how I feel. And because I live in rural America where these thuggish PBT owners are generally cooking meth, I pretty much have a shoot on sight attitude.
That said, Angel is one good looking dog and his owners must have done a good job with him based on his observed behavior so far. I hope they are able to reconnect. It wouldn't surprise to discover he was stolen dog that escaped and is far from home.
Some schnauzers, if not trained, can most definitely be a danger to people. Actually, when trained, they can be used as police dogs (and are used by the Europeans in such work).
Both photos shown here are Schnauzers:
Why not?
That's exactly how a dog perceives humans...it thinks they are part of a pack structure. The trick in training and socializing is to get them to regard ALL non-threatening humans as part of his pack, with him at the lowest end of the pack ladder. A dog will readily accept his station but, by nature, also will test the pack authority to move up the social ladder. When not corrected it assumes it is dominant. If it regards all non-threatening humans as part of his pack with him on the lower end of the social structure, he is a happy well-adjusted dog. (BTW, I would excuse any dog, regardless of breed, to be defensive against threats against property and life).
I have seen too many owners say their (pit, rott, chow) is such an adorable dog and would never harm anyone. I had a best friend that said that about his rott to my wife and me when we came over one time. Three months later it was a different story after the rott attcked him.
Everytime my ex and I went to her parents house we were concerned about his chow running loose in the house with grandchildren running about. We didn't live there but my ex's sister had moved back in. One day at dinner the chow suddenly attacked the grand-dad. A lot of these dogs are vicious and unstable due to breeding and every owner should be aware and take precautions.
Even the pitbullsontheweb.com dedicated to the love of pitbulls has on its main page:
THE GOLDEN RULE OF PIT BULL OWNERSHIP- NEVER TRUST YOUR PIT BULL NOT TO FIGHT!!!!! This breed is descended from pit dogs one way or another, and, given the right circumstances, most Pit Bulls will fight and against any other breed, they will win (you really don't want to see that!).
Scared yet? You should be. Remember, as the owner of a Pit Bull everything you or your dog do will affect all members of the breed and their families. Pit Bull owners have to be extra vigilant 24/7, period.
I've never met a chow that liked anyone!
>Chet99’s sympathies will clearly be with the robber who wet his pants because of the mean doggie.<
I think Chet99’s sympathy would clearly be with this little baby ...
2 dogs kill infant, injure grandmother
SAN ANTONIO – A 7-month-old boy has died after being attacked by two pit bull dogs belonging to his grandmother in San Antonio.
Police Chief Bill McManus says the grandmother was getting ready to feed the boy Tuesday morning and went to her kitchen for his bottle. When she returned her dogs were attacking the baby.
The woman got a knife and stabbed one of the dogs, and got the child away.
The chief says the dogs then attacked the grandmother before she managed to get them outside.
Police killed the dogs in her backyard.
Authorities said the child was dead at University Hospital. Police said the grandmother was being treated at the hospital.
Police did not identify the family or say if charges would be filed.
The boy's grandfather, Robert Lee King Jr. of Minneapolis, said he arrived at the family's two-story house in the Folwell neighborhood after getting a hysterical call on his cell phone from the boy's aunt. The grandfather got there just as Zachary was being loaded into an ambulance.
"I didn't trust that dog," he said, adding that the dog acted quite aggressively toward others and was a big reason he didn't often visit the home.
http://www.startribune.com/local/11588186.html
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