Awwwwwww....such a sweet story....we were very nervous. Anyone you mention a shepherd to in the real world was so negative....after this forum....I felt much better about our choice.
They are so smart....Millie wanted steaks, we had pushed then back to the far corner of the counter tops, she was only 6 months old, we knew she could not reach the deep corner on her back legs.....we turned for one second and she was on the countertop like a cat devouring the filets my husband was preparing to grill. She is also the one that paid attention while we entered the back lawn. She figured out how to unlock the door and open the sliding glass door without help. We now have a security bar from lowes to keep her inside. She seems to be much more into things than Miles. He is my prince...always behaved, gentle and so charming....my girls call them beauty (miles) and the beast (Millie)....although last week at my husbands office he wanted to see what we were doing and decided he needed a higher place to see through the window....
Millie just passed her therapy dog test last November....right after her first bday. She loves it, she is a diva and thinks everyone's attention should be focused on her so it is great work for her. It fills her need to be center of attention. Miles will not be testing for a while if at all, he is much more alert and much more protective with the kids...he also loves to have a conversation. If someone ask him a question....he replies and it usually sounds like a scary dog. The trainer said he needs to be a bit more mature...sounds like chief is a great dog if he is already ready for therapy work. Millie does the mental health hospital, the nursing home area of that hospital and will start the program to help kids read....I am a stay at home mom and need things to do while mine are in school and I can't be of help!
It is amazing how much they bring to your life! We have not been the same and my kids rarely pick a place to go that the dogs are not allowed. We had a huge loss right before we were to pick up the puppy's we reserved. My inlaws have zero boundaries and they were very dangerous to our marriage and children's mental health....the meanest if mean....while we were trying to enforce boundaries they decided to walk away instead of respecting our marriage and girls....the dogs have been a huge source of healing for the girls, and us. The group we train with has become like extended family, the guy who trains our dog even came to my oldest daughters school for career week. He showed off his protection dog and how he trains....just a wonderful group of people....the dogs were one blessing but the people we have gained have been an even bigger one. The girls always say what they are thankful for at night and since we picked the puppy's up they have been on the list every single night, even on the worst of puppy's days...
I guess we sound insanely cheesy about what our dogs have brought to us, but they have given us so much more than just being our pets....
How much do you run? When did you start training chief (who is very handsome)...? What can we expect? Right now they have only run around a mile...the breeder told is to start after they were a year old... The vet said 6 months but the girls will not be training without me until the fall of this year....I trained with them last fall....I want to start working them up to the real workout...so any ideas would be welcomed...we have not run them the full training period yet...the breeder said 1 mile a while, 2 miles for a few weeks, to build slowly so not to hurt their paw pads starting all at once.
Congratulations on your beautiful or should I say handsome chief! I can imagine your joy with your decision, I think we share the same appreciation.
Another great thing about this site, most share the excitement and joy of the breed. People question how we can have a dog with us all day and not go nuts...or how we can spend so much time training and not be sick of the dogs. It is not like any pet we have had...they are a joy to be around and so entertaining.
Great to meet you! Can't wait to see pics of Chief when he passes his therapy dog test, he will look great in the therapy dog vest...
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