http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/30/us/dog-saves-family/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 This is crazy. It is proof that dogs are more than pets and we don't truly understand their sognificance, importance, or intelligence. The same goes for everything around us. We don't appreciate the things around us as much as we should. Not only did this dog shield and save the family from the bullets. It then ran behind the building to die, not wanting to subject the family to any more pain in the moment. Absolutely incredible.
Damn I miss my German Shepherd. Best dog ever. I don't like anyone who doesn't like dogs. Unless you were bit by one when you were little. That I can kind of understand.
I was actually riding my bike around the neighborhood when I was 8 when my neighbors German Shepard bit and pulled me off my bike. I'm still not really comfortable around big dogs today but I've gotten better.
I have a similar story, but it wasn't a German Shepard. It was a Rottweiler. I'm tall and not the lightest person in the world but you get me around (certain) dogs and I'm very uncomfortable. I wish it weren't the case, but it is.
My neighbors had a St Bernard when I was 10 or so. I remember it being the size of a VW Beetle... (PROBABALY wasn't) ...anyway my uncle rode bicycles everywhere and I followed him one time but stopped at the top of the hill before this dog's house. They always left their gate open, that dog ran out barking at him and he kicked it right in the face and it flew back in its yard. I was pretty impressed, I still went down another road scared of it.
I am only afraid of multiple big dogs, one Rott I am not afraid of but I was as a kid. I understand why you guys feel that way, it irritates me how many people let their dogs off the leash. I don't care how well trained they are. I had a neighbor who would sit on a chair in her driveway with her rescue pitbull sitting next to her. I stopped and had a chat with her one day when riding my bike. I wasn't very nice but I never saw her do it again.
When I lived in Alaska hiking with my friend and her dog, a Shepard Malamute mix we were confronted by a large black bear, about 400lbs. Hanna, the dog, got between the bear, which was only abot 15 feet away, and us and turned her body sideways to protect us while barking. Luckily there was no attack so the dog and us made it out unscathed, but Hanna did give up herself to protect us.
When I was 2-3, a Rottweiler put my entire head in his mouth. I was nervous around dogs for a few years after, but I've had at least one dog since I was 9, and continue to own dogs (2 right now). They are amazing creatures and amazing parts of the family.