abby dog

Hi all. My recent experience with my beautiful GSD is that there is minimal doggy smell in the house but the fur definitely prevents my girl having a cuddle before I leave for work in my suits. She has been crated inside since we got her at 8 weeks. She was given free rein of the house at 13 months mainly because she outgrew the xxl crate I got her. We live in a two bedroom townhouse. I have an extremely fussy mother (fortunately that gene skipped a generation) who visited us regularly during Abby's first twelve months and commented often on how unusual it was that the house didn't smell doggy. However, she hated the fur from Abby on her clothes. So to help your musing; no I do not think my GSD smells but she constantly sheds so the constant cleaning of the loose hair helps in minimizing odours as do timber floors and regularly washed throwovers on furniture. A bit of extra effort but well worth the joy of owning a GSD.

Hi Alfie. I am definitely no training expert and i can totally sympathise with you. I have a 7 month old german shepherd female and was encountering exactly the same issue. I tried food reward training and was taking her to doggy school in an attempt to avoid negative reinforcement methods but finally resorted to a check chain about a month ago. I am now walking her on a normal collar again for the majority of her walks. This is because she is no longer pulling all the time and is responding to me when I verbally check her with 'heel'. She is definitely not a perfectly heeling dog but I don't want that, I just want her to walk on my left and not trip me over. I am not worried if she is a couple of steps in front either. A number of other changes occurred around the same time so I can't swear it was just the correction she was geting. I had her spayed a month ago and I also put her into a kennel for 1 night trial last weekend. Prior to using the check chain she was always pulling to get to other dogs and people; to play! Before I decided on using the check chain I would make her sit when I saw dogs and people coming and give her food rewards when she behaved well. However this was only good while the food lasted and once she couldn't smell it anymore, or if I didn't give it every time, she would go crazy next time. I walk her morning and night so you can imagine how crabby I was getting. I also started reading about K9pro's 'triangle of temptation' which is linked to a training blog in this forum and although I had been doing something similar when feeding Abby I started using the trigger of 'Yes' and using her food drive. I think this is now carrying over into the walks we have because she is behaving so much better when I use 'Yes' if she is doing the right thing and 'Okay' or 'Free' when she has sat to cross roads etc. Have a look at the training section and find postings by K9pro which might help you as well. Don't take anything I write as gospel; just some reassurance that when you find the right thing for your pup it will seem so much easier to walk him.

Hi Daisy and everyone. Daisy I am with you in the motivation league. As it gets colder I want to get out less and less. Abby isn't giving me a choice though. I was late home from work yesterday and she had all but destroyed her bedding in the crate. I felt so guilty that we went for a 90minute wander and I let her say hello to every barking dog behind every fence. I guess it is harder for you though cause your dogs are older and have company during the day. They are probably less demanding even though they would love their walks. Abby is an only dog who spends 8 hours a day home alone. And she is only 7months old, so full of energy all the time. I am such a cold frog I am already wearing a scarf and jumper when we walk so heaven help me when it gets really cold. To Melbournites and Adelaideans the temps we get in the 'gong aren't considered cold, but I freeze. Keep writing Daisy as most loggers are probably like me and are just slack writers. I enjoy reading the posts though. Where do you take your dogs? Just street walking or do you go to parks as well? Are there many off-leash areas where you live? It is good to hear what you are up to; unfortunately though you seem to be having a bad run with illness so I hope you get well soon.

Hi all. Daisy I thank you for your kind welcome last week. Abby and I are still walking morning and night and I agreeit is certainly getting cooler. I had her spayed last week and was told to keep her quiet. How do you keep a six month old Gsd quiet??? I thought by only taking her to onlead areas we would avoid mishaps; but of course not! A lot of people don't take notice of signs do they? Never mind; stitches come out Monday so hopefully that will be one less stress on our walks.

Hi everybody I have been following your logs since January and finally have found the right moment to join in. My girl is a 6 month old german shepherd and although I think she is good most of the time I am having some adventures with her on our walks. I crate her inside my townhouse which has a small yard out back. She is a spoilt pooch but I am quite strict and have high expectations about her manners. I'm walking her twice daily and we have regular visits to the local off leash beaches but these activities are carried out with mixed results. When I just read Pete the dog's post I could totally relate. I want to thank you all for writing so honestly about the issues you encounter and the ways you deal with them. I have read other forums where people keep complaining about bad mannered dogs and I am afraid my exuberant puppy is one of those dogs. She gets in the face of every dog she meets, and although she no longer barks in their face, (with excitement) she is still too big and she threatens them I'm sure. So I hope you don't mind if I jump in every now and then with a question; I really think you are a great group of positive dog owners who understand that not everyone has the perfect dog and we aren't all perfect owners/trainers