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Post by jennym on Dec 14, 2017 19:50:02 GMT
... Thanks for your kind words Brian! x I remember when you sometimes despaired - but they _all_ come good (or so I keep telling Dawn, never seen a shep like Tasha)  I did despair with Rusty  . I didn't understand his needs, and thought he was naughty for demanding to be with us all the time. When one of us went to the bathroom and closed the door he'd go berserk, literally throwing himself at the door in a panic. I also remember being cross with him when he would yawn at me, in response to being told off for something. Now I understand that he's got terrible separation anxiety, and that the yawning was not an act of 'defiance' but it's 'dog's speak' for trying to calm down the situation. Often I've thought how I misunderstood him and I now feel ashamed - thank God that you Brian, and the good people of the My German Shepherd forum were there for all of us, to help correct ours, and Rusty's behaviour. For 50 odd years we've been owned by dogs and without much of a problem, but Rusty is something else, though we wouldn't change him for anything. Mind he still gets told off, recently we've had to step up a bit when he plays at being asleep when being told to get off our bed  Tasha sounds like she's got a good guardian angel who placed her with you. |
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Post by gtrmacs on Dec 14, 2017 20:06:24 GMT
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Post by jennym on Dec 14, 2017 21:28:12 GMT
That made me laugh Brian .... what goes through their heads? Guess it's best we don't know. That's something else I've learnt, you can't laugh WITH them, because they learn this is a funny thing to do to get attention, and you can't laugh AT them because they get upset. It's literally like having a 5 year old about the place.
At least Tasha has respect for cats, something we're working on. He's getting better, but it's the eyeballing cats do that spooks him.
When they pull it's so hard on your knees and hips. We're still having moments of pulling.
We're going into a marina tomorrow till possibly till after Christmas, and we're hiring a car to make Christmas visits and shopping. Rusty doesn't appear to mind being left in a car while we have a meal in a restaurant or going shopping together, but we just can't leave him alone on the boat, he goes crackers. We've really got to work hard at this soon (New Year's Resolution), because you never know, there may come a time (God forbid) when we have an emergency, and we'll have no option to leave him in the boat alone.
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Post by cockneychris on Dec 15, 2017 6:39:57 GMT
Small micro steps and he will love being alone. I have got a camera for when we get the next one and then I can keep an eye on what hes doing in the three hours we will need to be away each day. You can also talk to them as well if things are getting out of hand, lovely bit of kit.
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Post by caryll on Dec 15, 2017 18:10:15 GMT
Funny, isn't it? We all moan about the bad behaviour of our dogs, but then praise them to the skies and say we wouldn't have them any other way!
Are we mad? Or, maybe, are we so sane that we appreciate companionship?
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Post by gtrmacs on Dec 15, 2017 18:15:45 GMT
I love Tasha to bits, but she's a jolt after Charley - so much for my super-dog-person status  The park pack dogs still mostly pay attention, tho'  |
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Post by cockneychris on Dec 16, 2017 10:26:39 GMT
Every one likes a well behaved dog don’t they, but I like a few raw edges now and again it gives..your dog.. character. At times Aide would think that she knew better than me and sometimes she was right. Companionship is everything to me, maybe not to somebody who works their dogs, but for me if you haven’t put enough effort into your dog and he/she doesn’t love you what’s the point.
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Post by cockneychris on Dec 16, 2017 10:35:19 GMT
I love Tasha to bits, but she's a jolt after Charley - so much for my super-dog-person status The park pack dogs still mostly pay attention, tho' Ha ha! Yes I expect you walk a lot faster now Brian. I think you need a dog that is different from the last to keep yourself on the ball as it were. Having said that, I have a few pictures of Charley at home and when I’m flicking through my albums and I see Charley my heart melts he was such an adorable dog whom the dogs on group walks used to respect, you could see it. Apart from Mowgli that is, sorry Laney 😘 Talking of Mowgli, he is another dog that I just love, just stunning. Brian you will always be a super dog person, they respect you, but I have heard you lose patience with Tasha and I thought ah! He is human after all and not the patron saint of dogs 😘 |
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Post by jennym on Dec 16, 2017 15:10:11 GMT
Small micro steps and he will love being alone. I have got a camera for when we get the next one and then I can keep an eye on what hes doing in the three hours we will need to be away each day. You can also talk to them as well if things are getting out of hand, lovely bit of kit. Wow thanks Chris, I didn't know dog cams existed. What a brilliant idea, guess who's getting one for Christmas link. I think John will be very happy with this, it's got huge potential. Thinking about what you said about Rusty will love being alone... maybe this could be true, it could give him confidence? Thank you! |
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Post by jennym on Dec 16, 2017 15:12:52 GMT
Every one likes a well behaved dog don’t they, but I like a few raw edges now and again it gives..your dog.. character. At times Aide would think that she knew better than me and sometimes she was right. Companionship is everything to me, maybe not to somebody who works their dogs, but for me if you haven’t put enough effort into your dog and he/she doesn’t love you what’s the point. Exactly, if you let their character shine, kids, dogs, cats, etc., it's surprising what delights you find. |
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Post by gtrmacs on Dec 28, 2017 20:30:43 GMT
Small micro steps and he will love being alone. I have got a camera for when we get the next one and then I can keep an eye on what hes doing in the three hours we will need to be away each day. You can also talk to them as well if things are getting out of hand, lovely bit of kit. Wow thanks Chris, I didn't know dog cams existed. What a brilliant idea, guess who's getting one for Christmas link. I think John will be very happy with this, it's got huge potential. Thinking about what you said about Rusty will love being alone... maybe this could be true, it could give him confidence? Thank you! There's even a version which will dispense treats remotely  |
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. I didn't understand his needs, and thought he was naughty for demanding to be with us all the time. When one of us went to the bathroom and closed the door he'd go berserk, literally throwing himself at the door in a panic. I also remember being cross with him when he would yawn at me, in response to being told off for something.
!! Give it a few days ...
