Small Brag - Page 2

Congratulations to you and Star. Keep up the good work.

Congratulations to Star and to you, Sunsilver!  It really is a shame the way other people want to bring someone down but hey, you and Star got out on the field and did it so that's what matters!!

Joanro - exhibiting a dog with a muzzle for the BH definitely would not be allowed.  It would go against what the BH is supposed to be about.  

Joan, it's been impossible to find volunteers that live close enough to help, or that have the experience to deal with breaking up a fight should anything go wrong. Gracie hates the muzzle, and has already destroyed one of them by getting her feet inside the bottom part of it, and pulling until the leather strap broke.  It is currently at the harness shop, having the straps replaced with English harness leather.

Also even if she were muzzled, and went after another dog, the dog might turn on her, so there's that to worry about...

I do have a friend who's worked with her twice, and by the end of the second session, she was holding her own female's leash in her left hand, while petting Gracie with her right, and Gracie was lying on her back, while the other dog sniffed her.

She rates Gracie's aggression at a 2 out of 10. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a car, and doesn't live close by.

A local trainer did say he could rehabilitate her, but it would cost me $2,000 -3,000 for board and train for a month. I am not a fan of board and train. The OWNER is the one that needs to learn how to work with the dog!

Congrats on a good job.  

SS, may I tell you once again how much I admire and respect you?  Far better people than I would have bailed on Gracie, especially given that you're on your own and running your own business to boot--but you've been this girl's savior and continue to keep your promise to her that she was coming with you to her forever home.

That, for me, puts you on a far more important and prestigious podium than any SchH or IPO trial could ever come close to having.

I salute you, and only wish that fact could in some way make your life easier.

Hexe, I still feel she deserves better than what I'm able to give her. I don't have the time to really work with her, and she is a dog that needs and deserves a JOB!  The muzzle order is only valid locally, but I don't have time to drive outside the local area to somewhere I can work her without it.

I am seriously considering changing schutzhund clubs for her sake. The muzzle order does not apply at our club, but the club execs still don't want to take the risk. 

She's alive, she's well-fed, she gets scritches and walks (mostly on my property) and plays with the other dogs through the fence, and wags her tail at them.

But she deserves so much more... 

So, if anyone happens to know someone who doesn't have a dog or a cat or small animals, and is willing to take on a 7 year old female GSD with dog aggression issues and give her lots of love and attention...

(excuse me while I fall down laughing   )

At the muzzle interview, I told Animal Control Gracie was now fine with other dogs when on leash. They said 'what about off leash?' and I felt like saying "Are you KIDDING?"  I'd let an aggressive dog run off leash? You think I'm nuts?

I guess their concern is not that I'd try to take Gracie to the dog park, but that some bozo would break the leash laws, and let their dog run up to her and possibly get nailed. I THINK I could prevent that, but can't guarantee it. I mean, who could?

So, they refused to lift the muzzle order.

Well, I have faith in you and in Gracie, and it will not surprise me one whit on the day you tell us that Gracie WAS permitted to do the BH and PASSED.  I've had two dogs that were guaranteed, card-carrying chicken killers, and it took time, a lot of teeth-grinding on my part, and most importantly, working on it with them without using/causing additional conflict, but both dogs DID learn that those chickens were MINE, and I would not sanction them being killed or harassed. Living on a farm with free-range chickens, the only other option I had was to not have chickens, and I wanted to have chickens. You've got Gracie conditioned to other dogs while she's on lead, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who told you it would never happen...and yet you were able to accomplish it.

Were I to suddenly find myself dogless, I would welcome her with open arms. There's a lot going on in that dog's mind, and I like a thinking dog.

And my admiration and respect for you remain unabated by your post above, because even as you speak of rehoming her were that rare perfect circumstance present itself, it's her best interest that you're considering, not your own--were the latter the case, her bags would have been packed quite some time ago, and no one would have faulted you for doing so. THAT'S why I hold you in esteem.

congrats SS...we are all proud of you.