Living on my property are two, big, strong, attack trained German Shepherd dogs who are the apple of their dad’s eye. And I’m not surprised either, because not only are they very handsome and highly trained, but they are also top of their league in Schutzhund which is a spectator sport calling for expertise in several disciplines, namely tracking, agility, obedience and guard and defence work. So Arnie and Fargo, both entire males, are certainly dogs not to be messed with!
Now, to put you in the picture, most public dog clubs have strict rules to keep all dogs on lead at all times - I guess the logic behind this is to avoid dog fights. This wisdom comes straight from the Kennel Union which is South Africa’s official governing body made up of experts who had remarkable insight to dog behaviour … in the bark ages!

Fargo breaks loose

Knowing the history, now picture this: a powerful, hot-headed, German Shepherd like young Fargo breaking loose would be tops on the Worst Case Scenario list! Well, as fate would have it, Mr Wannabe First Blood managed to escape from his garden one Thursday evening at precisely 6.15pm., just as puppy school was over and the little dears were being led to their cars by their doting parents.

Pandemonium? Puppy massacre? Human casualty?  Actually no, just the opposite really!  Maybe the Rumble in the Jumble had been looking for trouble when he had escaped, but when he was confronted by about two dozen puppies bowing and scraping and falling about in admiration of his high testosterone status, Mr Metro Macho was completely disarmed, went weak at the knees and even allowed them to lick his mouth in reverence of his rank. Furthermore, because all the Mums and Dad’s on the other end of  the  lead were unfazed by his presence, being accustomed to large, mature dogs running with their baby firkins, they too took the whole thing in their strides.

Another good reason for puppy school

Eventually young Fargo returned to his property after happily checking everyone out with not a single lip lifted nor a drop of blood spilled, because in the face of potential danger, no one had screamed or panicked. Why am I telling you all this? Well, it’s another really good reason to attend a puppy school, especially where the trainer is actually selling good behaviour and not dog food.
Oh, and one other thing … isn’t that what you’d expect from a German Shepherd? Only joking, I’m not really biased!