A Dog Owner’s Stand: Jax and the Aggressive Shepherd

When my dog Jax suddenly faced a fierce attack from an aggressive shepherd at Dog Beach, my protective instincts ignited like wildfire. This isn’t just a story about a dog fight — it’s about loyalty, family, and the lengths we go to protect those we love.

Meet Jax: Our Rescued Border Collie Mix

Jax is my eight-year-old Border Collie mix. He’s incredibly sweet, smart, and intuitive. We rescued him from Barb’s Dog Rescue in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, seven and a half years ago. He’s a medium-sized black-and-white boy with perky ears — he looks like a short-haired Border Collie, and he’s family.

I’m a lifelong dog lover. As far as I’m concerned, there are no bad dogs — only terrible dog owners. Most people try to do what’s best for their pups, but now and then, you run into someone who has no business owning a pet.

A few things in life send me into a white-hot rage — not just frustration or annoyance, but a complete loss of rational thought. One of those happened a few days ago.

Why Dog Beach Is Our Happy Place

We took Jax to Dog Beach — our happy place. We go often. It’s a clean stretch of sand where dogs run free, splash through the surf, and occasionally hop on surfboards. Watching them play never gets old.

As usual, we kicked off our flip-flops and took Jax off his leash. The marine layer was lifting, and it promised to be a beautiful sunny day. Jax did what he always does — wandered into the waves, lay down in the surf like his private spa, then trotted after us as we strolled down the beach.

Jax laying down in the gentle waves at Ocean Beach / Photo by Whaldo Digital Content

The Unexpected Encounter with an Aggressive Shepherd

We passed dogs chasing balls, splashing, and barking joyfully. Jax greeted a large German Shepherd in passing — a quick sniff, no drama. Then, out of nowhere, a smaller Shepherd charged up. Jax turned to say hello, but this dog didn’t come in peace. He growled and snapped at Jax’s face and neck.

Sometimes dogs get overexcited—we’ve seen rough play before. But this was different. Jax looked alarmed. He kept trying to back away to avoid confrontation, but the dog kept circling and snapping aggressively.

I stepped toward them, shouting for the dog to stop. It froze—just long enough for my husband to approach—and then it took off, chasing the larger Shepherd into the waves toward a man standing waist-deep in the water. We assumed he was the owner of both dogs.

When Play Turns Into Danger: Jax Under Attack

Jax seemed rattled but unhurt. We checked him over, reassured him, and decided to continue our walk. We praised and encouraged him to play with us as we wandered further down the beach. But not two minutes later, the same dog came charging at him again — this time, more aggressively.

Jax, who has never had to defend himself, went into full instinct mode.  His fur was up, he was moving deftly, avoiding the snapping jaws, but not running away, and now both dogs are growling.  I’m not stupid enough to get in between two fighting dogs, but I’m also not one to stand by and watch my dog get attacked. 

We didn’t hesitate — we yelled and ran toward them. The dog backed off again and ran to the man in the water — who had done absolutely nothing this entire time.

Facing the Owner: Anger and Responsibility Collide

That’s when my anger hit its boiling point.

I marched straight toward the man and yelled for him to control his dog. He shrugged. “It’s Dog Beach,” he said, as if that explained everything.

My rage hit a level that bypassed logic. My fists clenched tightly, I shouted back, far more aggressively than I care to admit, with language not fit for print. 

The man stood there gaping at me from the water, and my dear husband came up behind me and gently touched my arm — a reminder that I needed to breathe. But even he couldn’t hold back entirely. He shouted at the man, too, demanding he control his dog.

Needless to say, we had a packed audience on the beach.  The man just stayed in the water, doing nothing.

My husband took my hand and led me away, calming us and comforting Jax. As we once again started down the beach, I warned other dog owners about the aggressive Shepherd. They took the warning seriously, as responsible pet parents do.

Watching Jax Recover: The Road Back to Confidence

We encouraged Jax to play, but he wasn’t himself. He played with us, but didn’t want to interact with other dogs. About half an hour in, a playful little pup refused to take no for an answer — circling Jax until he finally gave in and joined a game of chase. It made our hearts swell to see him smile again, even if briefly.

When another dog joined the game, Jax lay down in the water, watching from the sidelines. His confidence was shaken.

We continued to encourage him. Once we turned to head back, my husband and I discussed that we would have to keep an eye out and make sure that Jax didn’t get attacked again. 

I said flatly that if it happened again, the owner would be the one attacked—not the dog. My husband gave me a long look and said, “Please don’t do anything that will get you arrested. We’ll protect Jax. That’s what matters.”

It was then that I knew that my anger had reached an irrational level because I couldn't care less about being arrested.

The Importance of Responsible Dog Ownership

As we walked back, I scanned the beach, on high alert. That’s when I saw the aggressive Shepherd — now walking beside the man, finally on a leash.

I don’t know what changed. Maybe something else happened, or maybe our confrontation did the trick. But I felt relieved knowing this shepherd would not attack Jax again.

The thing is that I was never mad at the dog.  He didn’t know better.  I don’t know what specifically triggered him to attack Jax.  There were plenty of other dogs out there.  Maybe Jax’s proximity to the larger German Shepherd set him off.  It’s not my job to know — it’s the owner's.

Training a dog isn’t always easy. Sometimes you need help. But it’s your job as a pet parent to ensure your dog is safe — and that others are safe around your dog. If they’re not ready for social play, don’t force it. That’s not fair to anyone — least of all the dog.

Showing Love, Building Trust, Protecting Family

My husband and I talked about the experience the rest of the day. The next morning, we took Jax to another beach he loves—Fiesta Island. He ran and played, still a little reserved but more like himself. We’ll keep taking him out, encouraging and praising him.  Helping him heal.

I don’t know if he’s reacting to the aggressive dog or if hearing me yell made him think I was upset with him. He’s not used to me raising my voice—especially not at him. Maybe he thought he’d done something wrong when all he was doing was trying to protect himself. 

Jax getting back to normal play with other pups / Photo by Whaldo Digital Content

Whatever the reason, we’ll keep showing him he’s safe. He’ll get nothing but love, reassurance, and all the praise he deserves—because he’s a very good boy.

But let’s be clear: I will always protect my dog. And if that ever means getting arrested? So be it. I protect my family.

Because when it comes to those I love, there is no hesitation—only instinct.

- J.S. Whaldo