What have you done with your dogs? - Page 4

Gsdfan-  Thanks for sharing your story.  I guess pretty much everyone who gets started feels the same type of insecurity when trying to learn SCH.  Looks like you had some great help and support as you and Andy look great together.

I don't even own a dog.  I never will, either!  I'm allergic.  I only come on here to talk to all the nice people.

In the early 80's I worked in a kennel and also had my first GSD.  There was a girl who worked with me who schooled me in obedience.  We would go to the local park and train and soon had other people we knew who joined us, about 10 in all.  That bitch was killed in an accident and I kind of gave up after that.  I trained the other two myself but just for manners and fun.

Fast forward to 2005 when I finally got my long awaited GSD, Link.  We started him in an AKC puppy class and he was a great OB dog.  We then found another trainer that we really liked but it was too far for a week night, over an hour drive.  So, I kept him in AKC OB at the other club and he had just finished novice when he died at 22 months.  We enrolled Drake right away so he's been in OB since 10 weeks and is now half way through novice AKC.  We earned his CGC at 8 months which I am extremely proud of.  We have also taken him back to the other place where we had taken Link for OB but this time is was for Schutzhund.  It's a small club with only one helper and it's iffy gaining membership.  I have wavered back and forth as to whether it's worth trying since it's not a given but haven't given up yet.  He's doing very well in AKC OB but we've been put in touch with a new trainer we will meet this coming Sunday (he was recommended by a DB member and I have high hopes). I spoke with this guy the other night and liked what I heard so I'm really looking forward to Sunday .   We have also started AKC tracking, went to a 2 day seminar in September and have been tracking once a week.  Actually, my husband has been doing more tracking than I have.  He is also commited to helping lay tracks so I'm taking Drake with me on Sunday and he still has to go assist the others.  He plans on taking his terriers with him to see if they may have any interest but I think that would only be the case if the article happens to be a rodent .

I too feel that I will do whatever it is my boy is capable of doing and most importantly, having fun, building a relationship.

Side note: The Border terriers are my hubby's dogs but I do regret not doing Earth Dog with our female, I think she'd be really good at it.  Anybody think it's too late to start?  She'll be 8 in January. 

Don-  Then perhpas I can interest you in a pup out of my 36 nippled bitch that I'm breeding to Sig's male that also has female organs?  Then you too can join in our our conversations.  There sure are some swell folks on this board.

Melli-

You want to share? Come help me put the retrieve on Portia. Better still, take her with you. Ha ha ha.

I've met my match.

SS

Arwin and I just got our BH.  She's my BHOT dog, and I hope to get at least her SchH1 next year.  I'm also working with Athos in training so he can teach me the SchH3 routine.  I have trained three dogs to skijor, but didn't do so more than a couple of times last winter.  This year, I have several dogs to start in skijoring, and then we will try the tobbogin dog sled I bought from Laughing Husky once they get the idea of pulling.  

Any suggestions, Blitzen, on muzzles for mushing that work better than greyhound stall muzzles?  This is to keep the dogs from eatting each other or passing teams.  (Some of my bitches have serious Alpha Female complexes.)  Other mushers hate "aligator dogs", and they'll get really furious if your dogs bite their dogs when passing on the trails. 

I've been hiking with most of the dogs at one time or other, and Anouk went camping with us once.  Hopefully next summer we'll do a lot more camping and more dogs will get to go.  If I get some of the girls and Athos really good with the sled, I've toyed with the idea of an overnight winter camping trip with just the dogs who get along with each other the best.  Of course, I have to consider this as more $$ spent on dog-related activities...winter tents are expensive, as well as arctic-quality sleeping bags.  When does the dog-related activity expenses ever end?~ Veronica

Shelley's idea of "hiking" with dogs.

I like your idea of hiking, Shelley, LOL.  Buying a four wheeler could even be approached to my hubby as a good way to keep the driveway clear of snow...I could get a little snow plow for the front of it for pushing snow.  Of course, probably a snowmachine would work better in the deep snows that we get for "hiking" purposes....do they make snow plows for snowmachines? ~ Veronica

Don't know the best muzzles, but I'll post that question to my Mal list, Veronica. There are a few serious mushers there who will give you some suggestions. My idea of mushing dogs is watching the Iditarod on TV - I hate cold weather .

ATV's have tons of attachments these days. They even make a neat snow-blower for some of them. One ride and the husband will be SOLD (its a guy thing). Ours is about 20 years old, only rear wheel drive, runs occasionally but bent rear axle (from kids years ago) makes for a funny ride. It handles snow remarkably well, especially with the new knobby tires, but AWD would be better. Right now the transmission is stuck in in geat and it can't be started. Been that way for,  oh, about a year and a half. Hubby could probably fix it...  maybe this year or next? Such is life around here.

SS