Tails from Germany

ShiroInu · 03-25-2011, 06:53 PM

My son is living in Germany after having spent the last almost 10 years in Japan.

He checked in with me on IM this afternoon and we were talking about dogs. He has not seen a German Boxer in the city where he lives as yet, but saw one in Croatia a few years back at a conference, and took a picture for me.

He says that from what he understands the German's take training their dogs very seriously, and they microchip them all. He said that every dog he has seen in public has been off lead. He said even if a dog is off lead and walking in front of his owner, the dog stops and waits for the owner at intersections. He says they are allowed in shopping centers and on trains and buses. He also told me that certain breeds are required to be muzzled when out in public, but if the dog cannot be muzzled easily it is not allowed in public.

Just thought I would share this because I thought it was very interesting.

Erin251 · 03-25-2011, 07:07 PM

cool, i wish it was like that here, the only place we can take dogs is parks and pet stores and even then they have to be on leash at all times

Ron · 03-25-2011, 07:09 PM

We noticed the same thing when we were over in Europe. In Paris, we saw TONS of dogs walking off leash on the busy sidewalks....in the core of the city!

Spyglass Sally · 03-25-2011, 07:33 PM

According to this article, "it's illegal to leave a dog alone at home for even just a few hours and God forbid you ever tie up your dog outside?! That would warrant a visit by the Polizei!"

Buddy would love it and I can see where, by necessity, dogs would have to be very well socialized and trained.

ShiroInu · 03-25-2011, 10:06 PM

Thanks for posting the article Sally.

Next time I talk to my son on IM I will ask him about "the not leaving a dog alone at home for even a few hours." He is not in the military so I am wondering if maybe the rules might be different with foreigners who are working there.

I hope the article is wrong because he has not had a dog since moving to Japan and I know that he is REALLY wanting one. When he was in the States visiting, he spent loads of time playing with my dogs and animals, and my daughter's dog. It was like he was a little kiddo again.

When he was a kid he had his twin bed mattress on the floor and slept with one Boxer and 2 Goldens.

Marylou Mader · 03-26-2011, 06:15 AM

Having traveled to Germany myself, and worked with the Rottweilers in Rottweil, I have on occasion seen the Working Boxers. They do Schutzhund just as the Rottweilers, this entails Tracking, Obedience, and Bite Work, the Boxers in Germany are also used as guide dogs for the Blind.
I no longer work in Schutzhund, as well as the Insurance co in US are not keen on this sort of thing. I have never seen a Boxer on a Police force here in Amreica.
The one thing I can say about Europe, when people bring their dogs out in public, the public DOES NOT bother them, like here in the US. I don't understand what it is with people here, they think if they see a dog they have the right to run up and approach it. In Europe people respect each others dog.

ShiroInu · 03-26-2011, 12:58 PM

How fascinating that people in Europe do not bother other people's dogs when they are out in public. I wonder why it is that we in the U.S. have such a need to touch other people's dogs when we are out and about.

I admit, I like to touch dogs of owners I do not know. It is some need I have. Maybe I am searching for people like me?

When I used to go to the Houston dog show I ached to touch the Newfoundlands and the Bernese Mountain dogs, and I always asked it I could. Some handlers say yes. Some say no. These are breeds I always wanted but would not do well along the hot Gulf Coast. The only Newfies I have seen in Texas other than at the shows look like hell. It is just too hot here, and not fair to the dog to be down here no matter how much you ache for one.

When I visited my son in Japan years ago the only dogs I saw out in public were the Shiba Inu, and Golden Retrievers. I thought it interesting to see so many of the two breeds that were SO different in personality.

My son wants me to come visit him in Germany. I hope I can. I would love to see what we are talking about here.

Ruby Red · 03-27-2011, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marylou Mader

The one thing I can say about Europe, when people bring their dogs out in public, the public DOES NOT bother them, like here in the US. I don't understand what it is with people here, they think if they see a dog they have the right to run up and approach it. In Europe people respect each others dog.

I have no idea what it is like in the US, but where I live, we do get people come over to make a fuss, but, due to the high level of publicity we get in this country of dog attacks on people [which are very few, but those that do happen are very widely reported], most times people ask if they can stroke and fuss the dog before launching themselves on the dog. Mostly it is people that know the breed - have had boxers or know someone who has had a boxer. I would say on average I am stopped at least 2-3 times a week and asked by strangers either in the park or on the road, if they can pet/fuss my dogs. I have also had incidents were people have just reached out to fuss them without asking too.

Scooby · 03-28-2011, 10:22 AM

In Poland it's quite similar, though in big towns they don't allow dogs in shopping malls and stores and the like. People leave their dogs sitting outside doors to the shops, and they just sit there and don't go anywhere, no leash or anything! That always amazed me. At the same time, in big cities, there's a lot of crime, so if you have a good looking purebred dog you don't leave it where you can't see it or it won't be there when you come back!
And it's definitely true about people not coming up to pet your dog. I'm not sure why, I think everyone is always taught to understand that other people's dogs are unpredictable and you shouldn't pet them.

ShiroInu · 03-28-2011, 10:51 AM

It is SO COOL to learn how people in other countries handle their dogs!

I am NOT very good at training, but I try. When I got the Boxer before Shiro (adult from a rescue) I was working with him out on our acreage to stay with me. I had a little bag attached to my belt with hot dog chucks and always a chunk in my mouth to gain his attention. My Max was doing very VERY well until one day something caught his eye, probably some wild animal as our place is very wooded, and he was gone in the blink of an eye.

I had heard stories that rural folk out here will shoot dogs on their property so I immediately went to all the houses in the area to let everyone know he was out. Even had he been on our property there was no way to see him through all the woods.

Two hours later I heard gun shots. I was dying inside. Then a couple seconds later another, and a couple seconds later yet another. Then from nowhere My Max was there with me at my side. I think someone was firing warning shots to get him to leave.

After than all his training was ONLY done on pastures with field wire.

I see people whose dogs stay at their side without leads, but I have NEVER been successful with a Boxer doing that. My mutts would stay with me off lead, as did my Goldens, and now our GWP, but Boxers . . . no! Now, when we are on 2+ and 3+ pastures that are fenced for sheep, Shiro DOES stay close by, and if he runs off to investigate something he always watches us and comes back when called, but I don't think I will ever take him on land that is only fences with barbed wire.

My GWP is so keep to watch my face that she will walk off lead through chickens, cats and sheep and stay with me. She is amazing. I think something she is like that because she was a stray.