Schotze is a show-quality, working German shepherd. I trained him from a puppy to accompany me in the mountains for security while I photograph the wild places. He currently has twelve bear encounters, six during the day when I could see the bears, and six at night when I simply heard them crashing through the underbrush to escape der wunderhund.
Ordinarily, it is not good to allow a dog to lead. However, with a dog like Schotze, he can and must take the lead on trail to scout for potential problems without assuming superiority while we wonder the mountains. Bear, elk, and moose are not dangerous at a distance. Nonetheless, accidental encounters have the potential to provoke aggressive responses, and busting brush is the best way to unintentionally run into trouble. Schotze clears all paths and thickets. As long as he is with me, I’m okay.
Come on already; available for stud service!