Cross Canada in an Airstream is 6 weeks away for a fishing trip with the boys at a mountain lodge in BC. That'll be her intro. That and Schutzhund. http://www.narniakennels.com/all-about-schutzhund.html The kennel provides a ton of dogs into police and protective services, and they highly recommend Schutzhund training. We're lucky enough to have some local experts that provide that training for not stupid money, so I'll be enrolling us in that as soon as I can.
Almost posted in the wdt but it's a bummer so I'll stick it here. Today was beautiful so we went to the playground. A drunk guy came up with his dog and tallboy and sat under a tree. Then he proceeded to nonchalantly and repeatedly hit the dog with a baton looking thing. The dog looked so stressed when they came, I see why. It was the most depressed, low body language I've ever seen from a GSD. My husband saw red and went over and yelled at him, dropped a few choice words that scared away the other family on the park, I called the non emergency police line, and we went home. I'm glad my husband did not actually beat his ass because he would gotten in trouble for that, meanwhile the drunk beating his dog keeps on being a shithead without recourse. People who abuse animals are the fucking worst. That poor dog will never understand, and yet still love or show loyalty to that man.
The "owner just died and now I have this dog I don't want" side plot in Reacher was amazing. Too bad it was Hollywood.
My wife’s brother got his dogs from a shelter and they’re completely screwed up. I don’t fault anyone for rescuing an animal, but you’re really rolling the dice with temperament, etc. My parents have three dogs. The two chocolate labs from a breeder are amazing. The mut from a shelter is a mess, is super aggressive and has to be on anxiety medication.
I like how you put "us", any training program that doesn't involve you both, isn't much of a program. Otherwise, you end up like my neighbors, with a dog that probably listened to the trainer, but couldn't give fuck what his owners say.
Dogs are like people and their past experiences can color their existence for life. They show trauma responses similar to humans. My two dogs are both mutt rescues. They are both excellent dogs though are truly ying and yang in every quality. Buddy was an adult dog at the shelter. He locked his sad eyes on me and told me to take him home. He is extremely attached to me to the point that I suspect he was abandoned at some point. Piggy was an older puppy found on the highway. Shes a pit mix and has some funny quirks but is smart as a whip, obedient, and great at being carefully playful with the baby. Training the dogs was a lot of fun, and of course is ongoing forever. I don't know if I could do it again any time soon though. Firstly, the toddler is exhausting and would need to be older to help with positive and correct interactions. I expect my dogs to have excellent manners and it is a constant process at first. Also, I love the shit out of Buddy. He's my boy. I love Piggy too but she's hubs girl first and foremost. I just don't think I'd be emotionally ready for a long time to have another dog.
That's an idea, but I don't really want to promote that kind of behaviour. The cats are not allowed up on counters or tables, and I don't want them to start now. As it is I might just cut a cat hole in the door to the pantry and feed them in there.
My neighbor does that basically. She has a small cat door on her laundry room and the dog can't get into.
Awesome idea. I worked for a guy who did schutzhund training. Man, when you put that sleeve on... THAT was impressive. Our dog is very well behaved, except when he needs to burn off some steam, then he's a maniac. Man, when he wants to roughhouse, it sounds like he's gonna tear your throat out. But he's learned the meaning of "be nice" and when he hears that immediately switches to docile mode. He's only about a year old or so, and sometimes has some issues with listening, but we're working on it. But we knew he was the one at the shelter when they brought him in and he walked right over to my son and I sat down, and leaned into us, wagging his tail. It was love at first sight. He's still a very loving dog, we got lucky with him. But damn does he love to chew. I've never seen a dog destroy chew toys as fast as he can.
No matter how well trained, sometimes you gotta let the dog be a dog. I've worked with a few K9 handlers over the years and I recall one saying the first thing he would do when he let the dog out if it's kennel was just run around the yard and burn off energy for a few minutes.
Wow, Nett he is beautiful. He's got some sable GSD in him. I'm excited for you. There is nothing better than a puppy. I remember Ruca's first day with us like it was yesterday. Enjoy every moment. @bewildered your drunk guy story broke my heart. Hopefully someone is able to help that poor dog. Sounds like it'd be better off at a shelter, which is so god damn sad to say.
This ol boy is growing his coat back. I'm giving him weekly medicated baths. It's not coming back as fast I would like, I think I need to check with the owner to see if he has dog bed or blanket he sleeps on that needs washing, too, make sure that's getting done.
She is a stunner. Just wait until those ears stand up. She'll hear what's happening on the moon. @wexton me too. I've had puppies that were little fucking terrorists (female rottie pup that chewed and ate the copper wiring out of the hot water heater and female GS pup that tore apart a king size bed, like to shreds. I was in tears.) but, we lucked out with Ruca. By far the best puppy I've ever had. To this day she has never chewed anything that wasn't hers. She'll be 5 in July. Time flies.
When my wife and I first moved in together, her out would chew MY stuff, nobody else's stuff. Fishing rods, shoes, even the tires on my dirt bike, which was kept in the spare bedroom. With our Lab and German Shepherd, we could probably fill a dump truck with all the toys we bought those first few years so he wouldn't chew on our stuff, and that worked.