The four couples who used to be quite active in GSD rescue efforts met last night for our quarterly dinner at one of our homes. A lovely get together complete with resident GSDs.

Last night it was Italian with stuffed shells and primo meatballs. Salad of course, and various dips before dinner. Chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches for dessert. Quite the feast.

Talked about the past, the present and the future of our dog interests. I'm down from five to two dogs and the others are all down to two or three dogs, all, of course are rescues.

The dinners are a nice way to remain in contact with people we shared and share a common interest with.

Tangentially, I shared a picture of a Belgian Malinois named Katie who is a member of 3rd Group Special Forces, that a friend sent me from Ft. Bragg. A very intense dog with fixed stare and well trained, as one might expect.

The discussion then bounced between GSD and Malinois for awhile. Both are smart breeds, and in the upper quartile of their respective populations, very impressive.

All the while, arrayed around were three GSDs, comfortable in being around the conversation. It is impressive how several people can be conversing at one time and everyone is being listened, more or less.

Chats wandered between vet preferences, meds for various ailments, training approaches, rules of the house(s), and all manner of miscellaneous stuff dogs.

Common interests shared informally over some tasty vittles. Of course, we all wore masks and bathed in hand sanitizer, and sat six feet away from each other. And I still have that land available for purchase if anyone is interested.

The bride and I will host the next get together, probably in late May. I predict the smoker will be put in service for some pork tenderloins and/or brisket.

It is a beautiful if brisk day. Blue sky and bright sun. Feels 28 F., with a N wind gusting to 9 mph. Sun is a warming gift.

Had to write something. It is sad to see days go by without anything posted here.

Be safe.

Mike

 Quote: Mike Arnold

The four couples who used to be quite active in GSD rescue efforts met last night for our quarterly dinner at one of our homes. A lovely get together complete with resident GSDs.

Last night it was Italian with stuffed shells and primo meatballs. Salad of course, and various dips before dinner. Chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches for dessert. Quite the feast.

Talked about the past, the present and the future of our dog interests. I'm down from five to two dogs and the others are all down to two or three dogs, all, of course are rescues.

The dinners are a nice way to remain in contact with people we shared and share a common interest with.

Tangentially, I shared a picture of a Belgian Malinois named Katie who is a member of 3rd Group Special Forces, that a friend sent me from Ft. Bragg. A very intense dog with fixed stare and well trained, as one might expect.

The discussion then bounced between GSD and Malinois for awhile. Both are smart breeds, and in the upper quartile of their respective populations, very impressive.

All the while, arrayed around were three GSDs, comfortable in being around the conversation. It is impressive how several people can be conversing at one time and everyone is being listened, more or less.

Chats wandered between vet preferences, meds for various ailments, training approaches, rules of the house(s), and all manner of miscellaneous stuff dogs.

Common interests shared informally over some tasty vittles. Of course, we all wore masks and bathed in hand sanitizer, and sat six feet away from each other. And I still have that land available for purchase if anyone is interested.

The bride and I will host the next get together, probably in late May. I predict the smoker will be put in service for some pork tenderloins and/or brisket.

It is a beautiful if brisk day. Blue sky and bright sun. Feels 28 F., with a N wind gusting to 9 mph. Sun is a warming gift.

Had to write something. It is sad to see days go by without anything posted here.

Be safe.

Mike

Hi, Mike ...

The food sounds great, and so does the conversation.

I'm glad you posted!

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'm glad you posted!

Me too! Talking about dogs with other people who love them as much as we do is always uplifting, and we can all use some positive thoughts.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'm glad you posted!

Me too! Talking about dogs with other people who love them as much as we do is always uplifting, and we can all use some positive thoughts.

PLUS throw in some good food!

Thanks Mike! Sounds like a good time for all. Seems a bit lonely on here now. Hopefully with warmer weather it can pick up some. I'll be here for sure.

Love the masks part lol!
Sounds like a great time!
With ample distance between everyone!

Hi everybody! Yes, I too I'm glad for anyone that posted. Was a long time of silence here. I gave a look almost every day, but big disapointment!
I myself didn't have to tell much. Because of my illness there's not much going on with the dogs. When I feed them, I always do it sitting, asking for some old little tricks they had learned and which I once intended to put together into a little dance with music. Samba for Socks, the more active one, Tango for Slippie and Rockn'Roll for Bruxinha (the one who died some months ago). I have to forget all this now, don't know for how long.
But I'm very surprised to see, how little they have forgotten. One year quasi without sessions, but they remember most of the commands, in some cases I have to help with a body signal after the command. I feel very sorry for them, because I'm unable to train enough with and am seeing them lying around. I'm unsure, if they are just taking a lot of naps, or if it is great boredom.

By the way, I also loved Mike's description of wearing masks and bathing in hand sanitizer. My husband and I are also very careful with what concerns the corona virus. We too have hand sanitizers ready, and everyone who comes into our house, has to wash his hands with it. My husband, when shopping etc. always wears a mask, the rest of the big shopping pack (except 3 of them who were wearing masks too) are watching him as if he were an extra-terrestrian. People here don't seem to have grasped iyet, how necessary precautions are.

I wish to all of you to stay safe, cause if not, I'll miss your contributions here very much. I know, sounds selfish, but it's not meant like that, but frankly true too.

No reason to lock ourselves in our houses with this thing just no close physical contact with to many unknown people. During the Spanish flue in 1918-19 the hospitals were full beyond capacity. Tents were put up outside and later studies showed that those in the outside group, exposed to fresh air and sunshine had a much higher and quicker recovery. Enjoy you yard or even the neighborhood parks as long as they aren't crowded.

No, we don't lock ourselves in, in our house. We are already locked in in a figurative, because everything's closed. We would love to avoid crowds, but there are none, except sometimes in Supermarkets. The normally high-traffic street from our town to the next bigger one is almost empty. Creates a creepy feeling.
We drove there various times in order to get the results of some blood tests, make an Echocardiogram and other scans, but every lab was closed. One hospital only was open, but just for giving informations at distance. Well, we at least got the info, that they are not informed about where we might try to get what we need.

No, we don't lock ourselves in in our house. We are in a figurative sense already locked in, because everything's closed. We would love to avoid crowds, but there are none, except sometimes in Supermarkets. The normally high-traffic street from our to town to the next bigger one is almost empty. Creates a creepy feeling.
We drove there in order to get the results of some blood tests and to make an Echocardiogram and various other scans, but every lab was closed. One hospital only was open, but just for getting informations. Well, we at least got the info, that they are not informed about where we might try to go.

Okeydokey, lets take it from the light side. It gives me finally plenty of time to be with my dogs

I'm keeping fingers crossed for you in the States. It does look very bad in many regions, doesn't it? I hope it won't worsen too much. Very difficult time for those who are hospitalized or isolated at home totally lonely.