[dolaBeetCeage]

OK, so as most of you have known I have acquired & am training a GSD (Greta) to be my seizure service dog. Well, my husband told me of another guy he knows who has a service GSD so I decided to go meet him & his dog. WHAT A MISTAKE!! Lord have mercy. Where should I start??

We didn't even get in the door good & the first thing he did was say to his son, "So what do you think? You'll be getting a puppy off this one (meaning Greta)! I mean hello?? He didn't even ask me if I wanted to breed Greta! Furthermore, privately owned service dogs aren't for breeding & by law have to be altered!

When he got a good look at her, he got all excited about her, talking about how she would throw white pups (Greta is cream & black in color). I told him I didn't support the white GSD since all the specimens I had seen were substandard & the color was a DQ by standard. He replied "Do you know what I think about the standard?" Then he held up his index finger & thumb into a zero sign, meaning he thinks nothing about the standard. So I asked him what he thought about the German standard, which also prohibits white. He said the first few GSDs that were registered were white. I saw there was no point in arguing with him, so I left it at that.

He then went on to tell me (in a very condescending manner) that I should have trained Greta in German. I asked him "Why? We live in America & we speak English in our household." And what really tickled me was that HIS dog was trained in German, but didn't listen half the time. lol.

His son said "Well, if someone tries to get the dog off them & you use German commands, the dog won't listen to them." I replied "If you have a well trained dog, they will not listen to a stranger's commands anyway." The son said nothing, but gave me the stink eye.

I added I did train my Doberman in German, but had to go back & RE-train her in English b/c my husband did not know German nor did he have the inclination to learn. The fellow replied "Well, you post a list of the commands in the house & he (my husband) can either learn them or don't." Once again I saw no point in pursuing what was obviously turning into a pointless conversation so I left it at that.

Then he showed me his dog - not impressive by any means. Good conformation from what I know of GSDs. He had nice red & black pigment but he had smutty facial markings, a VERY dry & bristly coat, a tail that curled slightly to the left & I noticed when the dog moved he had a slipping hock on the left side. Nothing I'd breed to even if I WERE into breeding GSDs.

But what REALLY burned me up is that he has this dog registered & represented a service dog when he is anything but. he is only represented that way so his owner can take him everywhere with him.

The dog is intact (service dogs have to be altered) & his owner is not disabled in any way (save for the fact that he's weird). I even inquired (politely) as to what disability he was trained to assist with & was told he was in training to be a "drug dog." Drug dogs do NOT qualify as assistance dogs!!!In fact, the dog doesn't even wear a service dog vest but rather he wears an old, ratty police K9 vest that was likely given to him!!

GRRR!! The last point REALLY irks me!! Sheesh. This guy & his son are really a couple of pieces of work. I guess these types of people aren't limited to APBTs.

He asked me if I wanted to do some training with him. he said he can't find anyone in the area he's want to train with. he said "Well, you have my cell if you want to get together." I hope he is not holding his breath waiting for a call!

Sorry, I just had to share that. Thanks for letting me vent.

Blessings ...