Akayla

My grandfather used to make "flying" birds out of wood. Cut the shape of a bird. Then two separate wings. I think he attached with some hinges and just hung up with fishing line attached to each wing. As the wind blows they flap.

We made our own too. Metal poles, hurricane wire and concrete. Here is a photo. We actually got the materials second hand :)

No harm in coming in here and letting off steam. People can be idiots! Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, chasing trains. HDW - I have to say Canberra dog parks aren't the greatest to start with. Let alone the people you can meet in them. Best dog park I have used was one owned by a group of people who basically rented and fenced private property. So you did book a time and no one would enter. Great arrangement. Unfortunately they moved overseas so no more mooching in their dog park for I have owned GSDs for a long time and I have to say they attract idiot owners of other dogs. Its just better to avoid places like that. Mind you lately seems the thing to have dogs running around in clearly marked on lead areas too. I have to get them out sometimes but I dread to inevitable bad experience.

My dogs as a general rule have not been interested but Jerry Lee loves a good movie. Typical boy loves action movies. He watches with great concentration all the way through. He is a dog that watches though and copies everything I do. He also paints and attempts to type on the computer. :laugh: Blaez on the other hand is undone by shiny tiles. He is so taken with that handsome fella he cant look away! Maybe if I video him and play it on the tv :laugh:

Im all for breeders being picky although my experience is that people are good liars. However I watched my sister go through the process recently and really felt for her. She did everything right but asked the breeder what the price was on her third email and all contact ceased. Just...nothing. It was so rude and uncalled for. Either way she got in contact with another DOL breeder and got the lovely Pippa who is loved and wants for nothing. My sister wanted to do everything right having never owned a pure bred before. Couldnt ask for a better pet home.

I dont know if this has been suggested but a sandpit in the shade and wet it down. My dogs love this. They dig down where its really cool. Feels lovely if you try it. Although makes for some sandy pets. I ended up with two as they will fight over it.

Can the dog be inside during the day?

Reminds me of losing Lakota. My ex ended up coming around to dig a deeper hole and I wrapped her in a blanket then covered her in flowers. I played amazing grace and bawled loudly while filling in her grave. Its now covered in flowers and we all sit with her often.

Definitely long coated. I prefer the snow but love to swim. I can be social so long as I get plenty of time away from the crowd. I also don't like everyone. Fine with animals. Aloof except with family and close friends. Then I'm 100% loyal. Would die for my loved ones. Will generally do what's asked of me if I feel like it...then again if you TELL me what to do I will do the opposite! I would probably bite :laugh: Not sure I'm a dog..... maybe a cat :laugh:

:laugh: I just remembered another one. Lakota used to be scared of dog poo. If she stood in it, she would hold her paw up in the air till someone cleaned it off. Once one of the pups had an accident in the laundry where she slept. I found her up on the washing machine where it was safe. I tried to get her to go out so I could clean it and she climbed higher onto a window ledge. That's right my 35-40kg dog stood on a tiny window ledge rather than go near puppy poo. I had to carry her to safety. Then back in again as she did not believe me when I told her it was all gone! She was the toughest dog....so long as there was no dog poo!

I prefer a pup from a breeder but Im not against a rescue. I said puppy (although Id also only choose a certain type ect) purely because I have a two year old. Dogs brought up around little ones tend to be more careful of knocking them over. Finding an adult that meets my needs AND has experience with toddlers is rare and Ive been told by rescues before Id be lucky. Also Id rather see a problem in a 10kg puppy then a 45kg adult.

My previous GSD LOVED splashing. Any kind. We took her to the beach once. She ran straight in, swam to where the waves were breaking to "catch" them. The wave would crash down and the next time you saw her would be her bum and tail going over as the waves hit the sand. Up pops her head and straight back out again. Took quite a bit to get her out. Poor girl threw up sea water for so long. I always ended up having to go in after her near water. It a wonder I bothered wearing jeans at all!

Blaez is a dope because he too thinks a snarling bitch is an invitation and just wants to snuggle with him. If that fails his go to is to bark high pitched in her face non stop. He also likes to build a den (like actually tunnel under a way then hollow out a "room" and pad with leaves ect) when theres a bitch on heat nearby. Jerry Lee is a dope because he thinks he can walk on the window ledge with the cat. Because I came down late the other night to find him with the spew bucket (we were all sick) firmly wedged on his head snoring loudly complete with legs in the air and paws crossed. Because he sits infront of the heater no matter the weather. Im a dope for thinking what a great trainer I was teaching Jerry Lee to paw at me instead of mouth as a puppy. He will now reliably b!tch slap me :laugh:

Jerry Lee is more of a blanket these days. He still lays on my stomach but is now as tall as me stetched out. He wont lay down next to me only ontop. Of course this means the winter blankets AKA Blaez insists on pushing the first blanket off and climbing on top. All the while Im drowning in fluff :laugh:

snuggle puppy - http://m.ebay.com/itm/231098720553 I have a feeling I have seen them in petstock but may have been dreaming :laugg:

Just wanted to come in and say good on you Sam man doing your research and putting your dogs wellbeing above all else. :) As far as the subject at hand goes I have found IME that most dogs do ok. If a dog was really closely bonded or anxious I probably wouldnt. I have also kept GSDs in a flat like situation but I spent alot of time out and about with them. I have also needed to rehome a dog and I could not visit her. It was for the best and she seemed 100% happier. I still think of her years later though and miss her goofy self. So its hard ....for the person.

yep. they discount if needed.

I would agree with the others. I would remove the little dog at once if it were mine. Some normal range submissive behaviour is fine but that kind of fear can lead to bad things. If it had run and been chased like the husky/other dog situation and rolled and snapped when caught a big dog can react to that and make a point of taking it further. The husky and other dog was a real worry. Unlike the small dog interaction which I agree the husky only looked interested not overly aggressive (slightly aroused by the submissive behaviour I would say) the body language really changed. I wouldn't say so much prey drive as much as a dispute about body language. Id be worried as the owner of either that the husky would discipline the other dog. Id expect prey drive to kick in when it was already to late. I don't like the way she put things but I definitely think people need to intervene early. Don't let it get to that point. Don't allow bad habbits to form.

In my experience. Stay calm. Try loud vocal correction and clap hands. If they keep going go get a bucket or hose of cold water. If they keep going and you are willing to risk injury try the wheel barrow. If they keep going which has happened to me with large dogs, drag to a doorway and close door/gate what ever on muzzles (so one in one out). Also if you have one handy a folded chair between them can work. Be aware at any point it can be redirected to you. Be careful.

When I was little I used to get annoyed at one of our cats that had passed away as it would headbutt and lean on me except when I would turn around she was gone again. She even made me lose my balance once. I would walk inside grumbling about invisable cats :laugh:

Every dog I have lost I have brought home to the others. They sniff and then leave. Once they have a sniff they leave and thats that. A couple have refused to go near. That was my experience till I lost Lakota. When I brought her home the lappie became increasingly distressed. He kept trying to play and nudge then bite, bark, push. He refused to do anything else but sit on her grave. He cried constantly. He would dig her favourite spot on the tiles till his paws were bleeding. It was horrid to watch. He is back to his old self now except he sleeps on her grave when he rests outside. If I bring him a bone or something new he takes it to the grave, drops it there for a minute before leaving with it. I dont know what this means but I wish there was more I could do for him.

I had every breed BUT GSDs growing up. My mum said no GSDs ever but from the age of 5 thats all I wanted. So I was breed loyal but my family wasnt :laugh: Turns out my dad is nuts about GSDs and has worked with them for many years. He even has his first GSDs face tattooed on his body. My mum had hoped she could steer me in another direction (I didnt grow up around my dad) but nope thats the first dog I bought on my own :)

I've had a GSD pup that was around 3.5kg (tiny!) and another that was 10kg (huge!) at 8 weeks and lots in between.

Yes I have had a neighbour who made constant complaints. Council closed the case as it was proven without a doubt he was making false complaints. However since it was never about the barking but the fact my dog run blocked his view into my yard he took me to court. They do a pre hearing thing. He was told he would lose. Then he had to pay his lawyer and mine. That fixed it :laugh: I will always fear he could bait them so they are in if Im out and I have a fake security camera. He has been warned to leave me in peace and my lawyer will take action against him if he does not. His harrassment didnt start with council, that was just the end of a long story. So keep recording and doing the right thing. If it does go further they will be the ones to look silly. PS - I didnt read the whole thread so sorry if my post is no longer relivant.

Kelpie and Kelpie Xs Staffy and Staffy Xs SWF Plus there are 5 of us on this street who own GSDs. Yes I stalk people who have them and know where they live :laugh: