I got her!!! YAY!

I say phooey to my dogs all the time. I was told it meant no, but I use it for stop it or leave it. I think it's cool speaking german to my dogs too.
I have 2 dogs from working lines and let me tell you, I had no idea what caliber dog I was getting. (The male does not have the high drive which is why he was placed as a pet) I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found the trainer I did. She was #3 but I found her. I highly suggest from my own experience to find a positive trainer who works with working dogs.
My girl is from a working k9 and a schutzhund bitch and an accidental breeding. Sounds sort of like yours. Luckily her mother was going to be a breeding bitch until she suffered an injury so she has great lines. The dad, never should have been bred.
Honestly if I knew then what I know now, I would let someone who is familiar with working dogs raise her and I wouldn't have taken her. Don't get me wrong, I love her and am trying to do right by her. I made a ton of mistakes with her. I am constantly told that working high prey drive dogs don't make good pets. I don't know that I agree with that, but it does take a lot of work and commitment to training.
Good luck and enjoy her. She'll be the best dog you ever had just as Gabbi is to me.

Oh and I have never had to clip Biz's nails. They just don't grow. i wondered if the breeder did something to them as I have never had a dog who's nails didn't need to be clipped. I think Biz's picture is up and he is a sable male from Slovakian lines. Gabbi the blanket coat I think it's called, is strait from German & Czech lines.

and one last thing, when I got Biz he was eating the Royal Canin German Shepherd food (as are most of the dogs at work) and well to me he had a dull coat and feeding him Innova and now Evo his coat is shiny, softer and the breeder said darker, I think that may have happened anyhow (darker)? I got him when he was 1 1/2 yrs. Just food for thought on the food you will be feeding. He was eating 4 cups of the RC GSD and he gets 2 cups of Evo.

I'm sure that you and your new dog will have a great future but you really do need to take some precautions and get an education. You need to seek hands on help outside of this forum. Somewhere that you can work one on one with a trainer and learn how to handle this dog. You also need to get the help of a vet right away.

No one is saying that this is a 'bad' dog with an impossible future. I think most of us have adopted dogs that needed work or hand less then ideal confirmation, etc.... You just need to make sure you aren't getting in over your head. and if you ever feel like you are don't be afraid to ask for help. On the forum, with your trainer....

About the kids. Like many others have pointed out that picture is soooo startling. Both my dogs love my daughter but they see her one at a time when I am there supervising. You never know how animals are going to act. Until fiona is old enough to actually handle my dogs she will not be left with especially the two of them together. You are very lucky that nothing happened with your two dogs. It is quite likely that your original dog could have gotten territorial/protective of your baby and tried to defend her from the new one. I fight would have been on and your kid would have been caught in the middle. This would all happen before you had time to drop your camera. It could happen with anyone's dogs but especially two dogs that don't know each other with one on the other's territory. And what would have happened after? Vet bills, medical bills and most likely a dog that was deemed 'dangerous.' Best case scenario. I'm not sure you really get that.

That being said I'm glad this dog is with someone who is willing to learn about him and love him.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

She is very, how do you say, ready to go. lol
She was up at 430 this morning ready to go. Uh. haha I dont mind. I have been thinking I need to start getting up earlier. I use to get up at that time so its not so bad.
She has become SO much better about Mary being petted. I think she was just trying to find her place.

What yall said about they guy getting rid of her for her feet, my SO said that last night when we were laying in bed. Oh well. If hes going to be that way shes probly better off somewhere else anyways.
He did say he kept her in the crate. She was in a crate when we drove up. He said she slept in one, and since his wife did not agree with the dog im sure she had her fair share of crate time during the day also..
To me, one foot seems a bit more off than the other..
She is a BIG BALL OF ENERGY. Ready to go go go..hardley lays down.
Last night I layed an old comforter down for her to lay on. She did but I dont think she knew really what to do...She laid on it but I just dont think it was reg for her to go to sleep.
Shes funny and a joy. Very sweet and veeerrry curious.
I think shes happy..I hope shes happy atleast.

What did you mean by Highlines?

Any exersizes or games I can play with her to put some of that energy to use?
I thew her that shed alot alot yesterday, her and Mary played some, and she was all over and was STILL ready to go. This is fine but I feel shes not comfortable with all this energy..

Mental exercise. Teach her to find you. Play hide and seek. Make her work for her food.

My dogs work for their ball. In fact my trainer said no more "free throws" for her.
Works her brain and running after the ball. Both will do about anything for the ball.
We aren't going to do protection training as it is too intense for me. I know my limits and keeping up on that isn't one of them. The obedience part of it is fun though.
I hope its ok to post this site, but she's my trainer and has written articles and if she is doing a seminar in your area try to attend.
http://www.thedogathlete.com/playing-with-prey-drive/

http://www.spritebelgians.com/seminars/

Don't stress Sarah. I have a horribly bred rescue Papillon. She has horrible back legs. She is cow hocked and has luxating patella. She will probably need surgery when she is much older. When I first got her she was a lot worse. I started walking her on the beach in deep sand to boost the muscles in her legs. Now she only stands cow hocked when she is tired.

I agree with taking her to obedience training, just to cement your bond with each other. She seems like a lovely girl. Enjoy her!

Thanks yall!

The question you posted on Charlie's thread

First of all let me say that the guy you got Rudi from sounds like a big JERK! Not because he doesn't believe in treat training, but because he met you in a parking lot and gave you his dog (that he supposedly cared about) with out knowing anything about you, your family, or where the dog was REALLY going to be living. Lucky for the dog that you seem to be a kind caring person who wants to learn.

That being said, I wouldn't put two cents worth of stock in anything that man had to say to you........he obviously didn't have Rudi's best interest at heart. You should start out with her as if you found her on the street and do it the way YOU know how, or ask for help in learning.

If Rudi is stomach driven (LOVES FOOD) then treat training could work very nicely for you, it's normally an easier way to go for someone less experienced (like me, LOL)

Get something she seems to REALLY pay attention to, a lot of people use cut up microwaved hot dogs. You microwave them until they are getting hard. Start with the basics like SIT.

And honestly, I treat trained both of our dogs and I don't need to carry treats around in my pocket to get them to listen to me. The treats keep their attention while they are learning and in doing so keep them focused to LEARN what you expect. Once they KNOW what you expect they are normally happy to make you happy WITHOUT a treat involved.

You still use praise along with a treat...........so once they are getting it, you can skip the treat for EVERY time and just give them praise

Thats an ex pig for you
lol jk. ihave much respect those who 'protect and serve'
Just not the rude ones who let it go to their heads..

She sits lays and knows no very well. More so in German. I would like to keep her fluent in both so if I need someone to watch her they know the commands, but if I speak in German she will listen to me over all. Is that possible?

Shell fetch the shed, YAY! Should I igive her a treat for that? Or is the reward throwing it again?
and what do you consider 'light exersize'?
If it were up to her shed go ALL day. I thought dogs slept alot :lol-sign:

Thanks coop for taking time!

A treat to a dog can mean ANYTHING.

To Bodhi her "treats" are her toys..... find out what Rudi's treats are and go from there

A beautiful face !!! I do agree with the posts here ....be careful !!

I sall! Thank you!

Dizzy is very right!

Toys don't mean a thing to Phoebe, she prefers FOOD and running. But Orson does love his toys as well as food and we use both. Little things like making him sit and calm down before we toss his ball, or lay down and stay before he can go fetch it..........it's all part of training.

Right now I am trying to teach her 'hide and seek' with an antler but shes just confused.. lol
Im going to try to reward her with treats and she if she doesnt pick up on it faster..
I have them in my pocket and she keeps sniffing it so Im just letting her get use to the smell being there (not giving her any just yet) so she just doesnt stand by my side. lol

How is that a "recipe for disaster"? Exactly how old will your child be before you allow him to be around two dogs at once?

-Rosefern

I dont really agree with that myself...
I think when the time is right and everyone is happy and healthy its a great thing!

When your kid is either big enough to break up the fight or aware enough of body language/a potential fight so they never put themselves in that situation, then they can be left alone.

How many headlines do we have about kids getting bit by the family pet? Entirely too many. It's not a matter to just brush off.

I wasnt brushing it off..
I just think NEVER is a very very long time

In Mia's defence, she said her CHILD would never be between two dogs............not her adolescent, or teen, or anything else. A child shouldn't be out of your reach when there are dogs involved, ESPECIALLY a strange dog.

I couldn't agree with this statement more. Think smart. You just got this dog. She's still unfamiliar with your family which makes it all the more dangerous to have a kid running between the two dogs like that... just be careful.