this is a board that talks about issues concerning animals...your own pets as well as animal rights,alerts,bills before congress that need our attention.This is a family board but as abuse cases may be posted it may not always be for the sensitive readers.Please be kind to each other,thanks!
LOL!!! he had his first day of training today.I don't know who needs it more,him or us!!! We have to be trained as well! It was awesome though.We learned how to get him to "watch us" and how to get him to walk on a relaxed lead.He loves his trainer so hubby and I have decided that we will just stick with her for his next 3 courses of training.This first course is 8 weeks.She said that we are already well ahead of the norm because the obcessive person I am read all the books on german shepards that I could get my hands on when we got him!! She said that was good because we are more familiar with the breed because of it.She gave us some tips to keep his mind active and everything (almost!!) that we have been doing so far is good. I will let you know how he does next Monday!!
Tuesday: I STRONGLY recomend training to even the most laid back dog...just 1 session and the difference is marked.I feel we did a moajor injustice to our other dog by not getting him even the most basic of training.Money WELL SPENT as far as I am concerned.
Niki: I wanted to,but hubby said no,he wasn't throwing money away on something stupid like that when he could sit,lay,come and stay.Well,that is really only a very small part of the training that they need.After he saw for 11 years how I stuggled with the dog (because we were always fighting for who was the dominant one) he said ok to us getting this one training.This one will get to over 100 pounds,the other only about 75.I told him I wasn't going to fight with this dog,I needed to be the one in control.He says he kicks himself too for not getting the other real training.
anastasia: I thought you and Patch made an awesome pair. He will always be missed :) My german shepard is 9 and she stays young because of my pug who keeps her on her toes lol
Gemina: It's fuuny cuz one part of me wants Damien to stay little (well as little as he is,lol) forever,but the other wants him to come of age faster so that we can get him bred and get pick of the litter for our next pup!! Hubby still says we will take a son but I think I may be swaying him towards a female instead.I think having the 2 of them will be a blast!!!!
Gemina: He REALLY tested my mother in law yesterday.I need to talk to the trainer about it...to the point that he had her ankles in his mouth and she could not walk.She said she almost hit him....WELL,you know THAT will NOT happen as long as I'm alive so hubby and I got into it a bit over THAT one.I'm sorry,I don't care if she is his mother...she is NOT going to hit my dog!
anastasia: just curious.. What is then.. the normal reaction to getting a dog to stop biting one's ankles?? LOL
Sorry.. but, if a dog is trying to use any part of me as a chew toy.. that dogs nose is getting smacked.. and a big NO! with a GENTLE.. NO BITE!! command will be stated.. if my skin is breaking through his bite.. I may even whack him where I can reach at him.. That would be my reaction.. (I am not suggesting beating a dog mind you)
ScarletRose: Honestly..when he was little he NAILED me BAD and yes,it was just a natural reaction that I popped him,soflty THANK GOODNESS because I did it without thinking.I did it as a natural refelx to the sudden pain.She stood there while he was biting her ankles so the hit wouldn't have been a "refelx action" it would have been a dileberate hit to him.I suggested that since my husband came out,he should have taken the dog and put him in his crate for a few minutes so the dog could settle down.A dog does not understand being hit as a form of punishment.