11-year-old girl attacked by German Shepherd in Tornillo

^{By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times – 4/6/15}

An 11-year-old girl was injured Sunday afternoon when she was attacked by a German Shepherd in Tornillo, El Paso County sheriff’s officials said Monday.

The girl was in the backyard of her grandfather’s home in the 18900 block of Wencho Drive when a neighbor’s dog got loose from a leash and attacked her, officials said. The yards did not have fences.

The German Shepherd Dog is intelligent and versatile. They are courageous, intuitive, confident, and eager to learn their jobs. The German Shepherd is often used by police departments because the traits they possess make them favorably suited for public service. The German Shepherd is completely devoted to his owner and family. With proper socialization and understanding of the breed they can interact and get along easily with other pets. They require daily exercise that is rigorous and expends their boundless energy.

German Shepherds need mental challenges and thrive on cognitive stimulation and problem solving. Attention to mental stimulation is highly recommended for owners of GSDs. Daily outings or walks would are critical to their health and well being. Proper socialization in addition to basic obedience beginning with puppyhood is important. They can be cautious with strangers and they will likely bark assertively if they sense danger.

The German Shepherd’s history as a farm dog disposes them to be very protective of their territory or yard. They are guardians by nature and this may cause them to behave in a confrontational manner. It is wise to exercise extreme caution when approaching or visiting homes with a German Shepherd. They have been known to act aggressively in order to protect.

Because they are so often used for police work, some lines of GSDs have developed behavior that makes them unsuitable as household pets. Police lines often suffer an ADHD-like excitability and lack of impulse control. Some have developed what looks like ‘impulsive aggression’ – sudden, unprovoked, disproportionately savage attacks on another dog or on a human. If you are considering a German Shepherd Dog as a household companion, it is important to be sure you choose a dog from a working guide dog line or a companion dog line, and avoid breeders who supply police trainers and/or shutzhund clubs. This is particularly important if you expect the dog to interact safely with children and with other animals.

Click here to read more about the German Shepherd

POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG BREEDS

This is a list of dog breeds that have a history of being potentially dangerous to people, especially children. Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education and Awareness understands that any dog has the ability to bite or inflict serious harm to humans. This list consists of several dog breeds that have a higher than average number of recorded human fatalities. Please use extreme caution if you choose to bring one of these breeds into your home. Rental communities and homeowners insurance may restrict many of the dog breeds on this list due to the likelihood of a serious incident.

Pit Bulls, Mastiff, and Rottweiler lead in fatalities and are listed first. The rest of the breeds are listed in alphabetical order:

Pit Bull Terrier Family

Mastiffs

Doberman Pinscher

German Shepherd

Shar Pei

Siberian Husky

Wolf Hybrid

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One thought on “German Shepherd attacked 11-year-old girl in Tornillo, Texas (4/6/15)”

Joanie April 7, 2015 at 1:10 am

I know all breeds can bite but I have to admit after I read about the two successive deaths of senior citizens mauled to death in Texas that were not reported to the media.. prompting doctors to go to the media, I don’t trust any of their news coverage. Texas pitbull maulings are off the charts. That being said, if a dog is chained up Grandpa shouldn’t have the girl around it as it is chained for a reason. German Shepards don’t usually need to be chained for any reason so someone did not know how to keep a pet.

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