Dog and Family? - Page 1

My husband and I met at the Schutzhund club. At the time I was working my Beauceron, but had always loved GSDs. Our son is now training to be a helper and our daughter is working toward her first Schutzhund titled dog. I recently got my first GSD of my own(as a family we have had many, but this one is all mine). So he finally swayed me over to the GSD, I still love Beaucerons and will have another one day. I managed to sway him over to driving a MINI, so it's all good!

Annette

Annette, Certainly a firm family interest with yourselves.  I see where your User Name comes from now!   ;)



Regards,
Vixen

noop my boyfriend does not like dogs at all
he dislikes dogs an many animals because he thinks they seem to mess the house with dog hair and dirt


I have a 3 year old son he likes animals
 

So where does your boyfriend live then Myret?  (Presume in the shed at the end of the garden)!  WHOOPS

No boyfriend would have time to wipe his feet at the front door if I discovered he was opposed to dogs!  LOL.


Seriously, presume it must be awkward at times.


Regards,
Vixen

I couldn't imagine having a boyfriend who didnt at least like dogs. My dogs are not into "guests" (if they dont live there, they are guests). So if the guy doesn't care for them, the dogs advise the guy can't come back over.

My son who is 15 helps me care for the dogs. He isnt into shepherds but wants an English Bulldog. All I could ask for while raising him was that he respect and treat them well even if he didnt want one for himself. He does that. Im glad. It would break my really if he didn't like them too.

DOG IS FAMILY!

A couple of stories and I'll try and keep them short. I started with GSDs but entering the military had to give them all away. During the military picked up two Chows and had them 17 years. When separating from the military went back home to Michigan to stay with family. My father, (full Spanish and hard headed)believed dogs were for the ranch not the city let alone indoors. I told him "they go, I go". I never once raised my voice or backed talked my father in my life once, ever. We stayed and he befriended them, (giving them treats which I rarely ever did).

I left for the D.C. Metro area to become an FBI Agent but a Government freeze stopped that. I found the area not to be pet friendly towards renters and what I told to be one month of watching my dogs now turned into six months. I had gone back and built a 12X20 fenced in kennel and told pops don't let the Chows run the yard with no one home. They will protect the yard and house. (Neighborhood wasn't the greatest). A little boy had had entered the rear of the yard and got bit, (not bad) but that didn't please me anyway. I asked how he could have been bit? Did he put his hands in the kennel? Found out the dogs were in the yard. (Pops was hard headed, couldn't tell him anything) 

A few months later, the neighbor's cat had kittens and one of the kittens climbed over the fence into the yard,(the dogs again were not in the kennels), it was not a good sight. I get a phone call a few days before Christmas on a Weds and am told I need to pick my dogs up on Fri. or they will go to the pound. I ask what is the problem and my parents say "now that they have the taste of blood they will want more". I tell them they are not vampires. It doesn't work like that" But they said "by Friday". Tried to explain that I was working and two days was too short of a notice but they didn't want to hear it. So on Friday I drove 10 hrs. one way, pulled into the driveway open the door and said "Sasha and Ky-Lin get in" Both jumped in. I said "Hi and Bye" and drove 10 hrs. back to Maryland. I didn't speak to my parents for one year. And when I finally did speak to them I found out my father had told all our friends and relatives that I must be mad at him for what he did.

Second experience; A couple of years ago, living with a girlfriend, with one dog, Reiker. She wasn't a dog person. When the opportunity arose for Explosive Detection Dog Handler and acquiring a second dog she said there wouldn't be two dogs at the house. I said I was taking the job and if she was serious about not having two dogs in/at the house then I would have to leave. I was taking the job thus giving me a second dog. Before departing for school I found a place, (the farm I'm on now) and without seeing it, while in Indiana, took it. While in school she called and told me she was wrong and reconsidered and that two dogs would be okay. I told her the choice was already made. By her then by me.

And now there are four with me. It is a GREAT responsibility and at times you have to give up something. But I would have it no other way. I have always made a vow to myself that when I get a pet that I will never get rid of it, no matter what. There have been some rough times, being in the military overseas, single, with two Chows and 17 years old. The economy now days with 4 GSDs. ( you have to wonder how some do it running a good size kennel?) But it has worked this long in life and I believe it always will.    

i love my dogs my brother dislikes them but likes them its odd. his girlfriend sighs every time i get a new dog or am working dogs because she feels its anoying. my mother loves that i am doing any work with my dogs and my bf loves the work and wants to become a helper.. lolz

One of the first things that drew me to my partner was his love of working dogs, GSD's in particular. My kids are only young at the moment, but my oldest is taking more of an interest in the small 'toy' type dogs, not my preference but oh well. I think their age is a big factor but they are all interested in showing and obedience and i'm hoping once i can drive i can get them signed up to a club.

Once my partner and I got more involved and he learned of my desire to get into GSD's on a deeper level with competition and breeding, he's promised to support me and give his objective opinion in my goal to improve on the breed, as much as we both love the GSD as a dog, we both still see things that could use improving and he's more than happy to help with that. I think the bonus of playing with puppies every now and again was probably a big factor

My husband is a "cat person".  He "accept" my 2 dogs.  Today, I mentionned my desired to get a third one.....I thought he was having a heart attack....
My 3 kids love GSD.  My 11 yo daughter always says that when she's a grown up, she will have her 2 GSD working with her !