gsdog2

To tell you the truth it was just pure luck as I was looking for a dog suitable for trialling - so looks weren't really an issue. She was replacing (not that they ever 'replace') a fairly tall, shortcoat, light coloured female I'd lost that was 11yrs of age. I was not looking for a longhair either As far as colour is concerned she is totally her dad - dark with a lot of red. She's nearly 3 and if anything seems to be getting darker. She has her fathers drive but she can also be very gentle which is all her mum. Everytime I get a new GSD (over the last 30yrs) I know it won't replace the last one, and they never do. On the other hand they have a whole new personality and I fall in love with the new addition all over again - and I'm sure that no matter which pup you choose you will love it too

Volhard test is another way of screening

ETA Watch how often you give pigs ears and other treats - full of fat and many puppy treats are high in salt

Indi with my beautiful Silas (RIP) We both miss him so much

... and to this day the question remains eternally unanswered *queue the creepy music*

Sooooo let me get this right ........ in the beginners class there's no rewards, but in the advance class they're using clickers?? How does that work? If there's no rewards allowed what happens after they click?

This also applies to Goldies ;)

This gives me hope . Maybe I can look at a long coat Shepherd as this sounds quite manageable. After hearing peoples stories though it seems that a short haired is out of the question for me, I really do not think I can handle that volume of dog hair! I know when I go to my friends place I am pulling hair out of my food and coffee cup I've had shepherds for the last 30 years and usually they shed LOTS! I've had two longcoats and have one at the moment - the first one had a double coat which was constant work, however the girl I have now has a single coat (dry in an hour after bath). I brush her weekly and even with a white tile floor her coat isn't a problem. Even though it's a single coat it's beautiful and literally floats when she moves

x 2 ......... and after owning German Shepherds I have also found Goldies LOVE their food!!!!! We have worked with our Goldie and taught him manners when it comes to food/eating but the first time I gave him a chicken neck as a pup he literally sucked it up and it was gone . Exercise is very important or weight can easily become an issue.

and only one hour!

I have The Power of Playing Tug With Your Dog and can recommend it . I think I'm still new to the whole training in drive thing (2 yrs) and I find Michael Ellis very easy to understand. I don't have the the Advanced Concepts of Motivation (it's new isn't it?) but would love to know what others think of it ETA Michael Ellis often uses demonstrators who don't tug correctly and I find I learn a lot more that way than only using the perfect domonstrators - I also want to learn what NOT to do ;)

What does Kei think of the new addition?

9wks!!!!!

I think she's into copying the cat.;) Oh no, poor cat! Does this mean no matter how high it climbs Elka's going to be right there? Wow, you've got to be happy with that - imagine what she's going to be like in the months to come

I agree - have never had a problem with my own ....... but this ones not mine ;). It's a whole different set of rules when it's a military pup (doesn't have to be "domestic") ETA Is Elka into agility maybe?

I'm happy to leave my own two dogs in the house on their own but I wouldn't be game to leave the pup on his own - he'd eat the house

reminds me of what I'm going through with my mwd pup - I just put a new hesian cover on his bed and he started chewing it this morning. I really want it to last more that a day so I picked the bed up and put it on the pool table (has hard cover of course) and the next thing I know he's pulled the whole bed off the table and he's chomping into it again . Rogue looks like an

Really??? I think I'm starting to get an idea and I'm thinking I'll just stick to SK's updates of Elka - and save my hands

I'm requesting daily updates and a video/pic every other day - as I don't have my own Mal pup Elka is the next best thing ;)

Minimal obedience - he is to be encouraged to walk out in front of me (not beside me) and we play with the tug every day, as well as the two ball game. He's obsessed with the balls (provided by RAAF) and whenever he see's me he goes to the table where I keep them and waits (not that he gets them everytime). They tested him for his prey & bite drive last week and I think they were VERY happy - he was already super-hyped and he went crazy when they waved the rag in front of him and he was climbing over these massive tyres when they held a ball above them I said to one of the people there that I just want him to graduate and they said from what they saw of him that's not going to be an issue - I soooooo hope they're right SK: I wonder if they're going to foster the pups out? They'll be at RAAF Amberley which is literally 5 minutes from my place and where my pup comes from. He goes back in a couple of weeks but I've already decided I want a break over xmas before I think about getting another one

For what it's worth this is what I've found with my Military pup - from when he first came home (3mths) I allowed people to pat him when we were out on walks as he was on lead and closely supervised. He is now 6mths and yesterday on our walk at the local shopping center I found that, probably due to his size, not too many people want to pat him and he has absolutely no interest in people or children. I walked him through the carpark and a child thought it would be funny to stick her head out the car window and scream at him - but as I expected my dog glanced at her and continued walking

Yep, she is :D She's already a VERY busy girl I had a play with couple of 4mth Mal pups this afternoon after training - I think I'm falling in love with the breed

OMG look at that cute little black face - Now the fun begins

x 2

Nah ....... I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight!!!