Quote: Cheri Grissom

Congratulations on your new addition, Mike! Poppy's story is an uplifting one, a dog in need, a special person steps in to help, then that dog ends up with a great forever home. I've never owned a hound type dog either, but I'm not ruling it out for the future. I'm so glad to know your house is less quiet now, in a very good way.

I didn't realize you would consider a Hound ... Have you ever thought of a Plott (hound), Cheri ??? We rescued one that had been abandoned in Taiwan, of all places, by an American serviceman deployed over there -- He was a good dog who fit in well with my son's 2 all-natural rescue Dobies, and looked rather like a Brindle version of them, with the same coat type & a fairly similar silhouette There are lots of Plotts throughout the South, especially, and I think some of the Midwestern states.

 Quote: Candi Campbell

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

Congratulations on your new addition, Mike! Poppy's story is an uplifting one, a dog in need, a special person steps in to help, then that dog ends up with a great forever home. I've never owned a hound type dog either, but I'm not ruling it out for the future. I'm so glad to know your house is less quiet now, in a very good way.

I didn't realize you would consider a Hound ... Have you ever thought of a Plott (hound), Cheri ??? We rescued one that had been abandoned in Taiwan, of all places, by an American serviceman deployed over there -- He was a good dog who fit in well with my son's 2 all-natural rescue Dobies, and looked rather like a Brindle version of them, with the same coat type & a fairly similar silhouette There are lots of Plotts throughout the South, especially, and I think some of the Midwestern states.

I have a new dog! I'll start a separate thread about him very soon.

 Quote: Candi Campbell

I'm really Loving these posts, Mike -- They're so Uplifting in a time when we can ALL use a dose of Good Cheer ... Thanks VERY Much

I sure do agree, Candi!

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

 Quote: Candi Campbell

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

Congratulations on your new addition, Mike! Poppy's story is an uplifting one, a dog in need, a special person steps in to help, then that dog ends up with a great forever home. I've never owned a hound type dog either, but I'm not ruling it out for the future. I'm so glad to know your house is less quiet now, in a very good way.

I didn't realize you would consider a Hound ... Have you ever thought of a Plott (hound), Cheri ??? We rescued one that had been abandoned in Taiwan, of all places, by an American serviceman deployed over there -- He was a good dog who fit in well with my son's 2 all-natural rescue Dobies, and looked rather like a Brindle version of them, with the same coat type & a fairly similar silhouette There are lots of Plotts throughout the South, especially, and I think some of the Midwestern states.

I have a new dog! I'll start a separate thread about him very soon.

I can guarantee that Cheri's GOOD News will be filled with More UPLIFTING Cheer

The ongoing saga of the mutt hound and the big GSD.
Poppy and Titan get along famously, though I think the 30 pound plus hound thinks she is a big fearless dog and doesn't see 100 pound Titan as any threat what so ever.

And Poppy is absolutely unafraid and not intimidated by my daughter's GSDs.

Though Axel, one of the two, did get sideways with Titan and the outcome was not in his favor. Titan is pretty laid back but Axel got in his face once too often and it did not go well. Titan reacted immediately to commands but it only took two seconds to draw some blood. One day in 5 months, and the realm is back to stability.

Axel was warned and commanded and checked but he just didn't seem to understand boundaries when it came to Titan. He does now.

Had me right knee replaced last Tuesday. And the dogs have been intuitively gentle. Nothing like petting a dog to mitigate discomfort.

And so it goes.

I'm glad that Axel and Titan didn't cause big damage!

How is the knee? Are you getting around, albeit slowly and carefully?

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'm glad that Axel and Titan didn't cause big damage!

Me too! Sending get well soon wishes for your recovery from the knee surgery.

WOW on the knee Mike. I've known a number of people that have had it done. The only ones that have really complained are those that didn't follow the Physical Therapy rules and exercises. The dogs I know you can cover the bases on that one. Hang in there!

Well, where to start.

With me, of course. Last formal PT this past Tuesday. The knee is fine. Getting used to it. Good to get around without issues.

Poppy is getting on with Titan great. I get a kick out of her walk under Titan. She has no back down in her, and Titan seems amused by her posturing. They are seldom farther than six feet apart in the house. A Mutt and Jeff look, for those of you old enough to remember the comic strip.

Last evening my daughter came over and we chatted our way into talking about her two GSDs. She mentioned that she thought her dogs reacted much differently to me than her or Matt, the significant other. I mentioned she treats her dogs like they are her children. But they are dogs.

My bride and I care for her dogs when when she and Matt are working, so they are here for about 10 hours a day 5 days a week. And I make little effort to train her dogs, other than to emphasize my personal rules for dog behavior when they are around me.

I don't negotiate with a dog, and that is a big difference in our approaches. Not mean spirited, just some behaviors I don't like. Over the years I have apparently perfected a command voice and visual cues that resonate with a dog. I am a fan of the command NO. And equally, WELL DONE. And, of course, Come, Sit, Down, Place, Enough, OK, etc. All accompanied with complimentary expressions, rewards, corrections and or postures.

The dogs get it, and we get along fine, with plenty of praise and touching but no rewards for unwanted behaviors. And no negotiation.

So, my daughter, who grew up with GSDs, seemed to have had a light bulb epiphany. My favorite expressions are, you train the dog today for the dog you want tomorrow, and if you don't train the GSD, it will train you. And don't settle for.

I love energetic and happy dogs with abundant spirit and appropriate attitudes but I really, really love dogs that exhibit those characteristics and behaviors mindful of me. I love her dogs but I don't negotiate. Maybe she will try to think of them less as children with corresponding willingness to indulge them, and more like dogs that are members of the family and subject to the rules of the house.

It is a good feeling and amusing to see Poppy barking to correct Zuzu and Axel when they are beginning to do stuff that isn't accepted behavior. The power of the pack.

Quite the ramble. Eh? Who knew where it would go.

So glad your knee is doing well, Mike!

I agree about negotiating. Same with bribing, even though I'm pretty open-handed about rewards for asked-for behaviors, including random rewards after the training.

I remember Mutt and Jeff! It was still syndicated into the early 80s.

I'd love to see Poppy walking under Titan, and also keeping the daycare dogs in line.