spring flowers and good food

[Darren8306]

Temp is around 2 here, and rainy. My Saturday run will go on as planned at 2, and of course you are all invited (meet across from the coop in the parking lot)

With wet rocks, it should be a bit extra pretty, and a bit extra slippery. Bring your good shoes

[Mablung]

I enjoyed reading through the recent posts about GSDs and Huskies. I have a Husky/Belgian Malinois mix. She does okay with a 3-mile/5K-ish walk or run, but she always wants more like a 10K and some playtime. She's 6 years old, but the vet always thinks she's about 2. And judging by her energy levels, one can believe it, lol. Surprisingly, she'll spend a lot of time chilling by my feet when I'm at home, or sleeping on my bed, while I'm at work. Once I'm up and moving, it's time to move, lol. I'll post a picture at some point. And yes, I made her collar and leash, of course.

[fredk]

My sister and b-i-l had a German Shep. A big dog. Called Kaiser. He watched over my nephew and niece when they were small and guarded them whilst the played. Shepherded them homewards when they wandered off a bit.

Wonderful dog. 

But a real coward. I kid you not that this big dog actually peed himself and cowered against a wall when a collie was walked on a leash across the road!

[Sheilajeanne]

The temperament test for the German shepherd requires they be gun-sure. The only one of my shepherds that wasn't was the first one. And of course, she didn't much care for thunderstorms, either.

Here's Star (female) and Ranger (male). When Star did the gunfire part of temperament test, she actually wanted to go behind the blind, to see who was making the loud bangs!  

I trained Ranger to be my hearing ear dog. When I take my cochlear implant off at night, I can't even hear the smoke alarm. He probably saved my life one night, but it didn't have anything to do with his hearing ear training!

I had him at a conference. When I took him out for his bed time walk, the sidewalk was very icy, as there had just been an ice storm. As we were passing by a small woods, I thought the ground there would be better footing, are there was still snow among the trees. I took one step off the sidewalk, and my leg went into a fence post hole that was hidden in the snow. It was so deep, I couldn't pull my leg out of it. It was after midnight, below freezing, and there was absolutely no traffic on the road to the hotel at that time of night. I could easily be dead from hypothermia by morning.

I'd knocked the wind out of myself when I fell, and was making distressed noises. Ranger came over, and stood in front of me, trying to comfort me. Hmm, I thought, I wonder if he will let me lean on his back. That will give me the height I need to get my leg out of this hole...

He stood like a rock as I leaned on him, and pulled my leg free!  

What a wonderful dog he was! People with mobility problems often train their dogs to help them back up after a fall, but of course, Ranger never had that sort of training. 

 

[chuck123wapati]

On 10/11/2025 at 5:31 AM, Handstitched said:

@chuck123wapati  spring has definitely  sprung here in Oz although it's still a bit chilly in the evenings . Getting cool over there by now 😎 

 

 

it was 27 last night, with snow in the high country. I'm going hunting today. Be back soon lol. You take care, my friend, and say hi to your pop for me. 

[Darren8306]

My little golden was out for a play-date with a pals NSDTR (a.k.a. - Little River Duck Dog)

Tolling is a behaviour I found interesting. The 'tolling retriever' chases a stick back and forth along the shore line, and that, maybe because of their tail, attracts ducks.

Haven't seen the behaviour, but it's why they are prized by hunters.

Here is he and my little Ethyl NOT working.

[Handstitched]

@chuck123wapati I so love the changing of the  seasons in both parts of our planet .its starting to have  that ' summery feel ' now.

@Sheilajeanne they are lovely friends you have there.  

 One morning, I was in my room on my computer when my dog  Abby, ( a border collie x kelpie)  came to my room looking quite  shocked, running back and  forth, she alerted me to Dad having a dizzy  spell by the front door . I gave  her a lot of praise, and a few treats , Dad was fine  after some rest.  

Well done Abby 

HS

[Sheilajeanne]

HS, alas, both are gone now.  The both made it to age 14, which is a really good age for a GSD.

It's amazing how intuitive dogs can be, even if they aren't trained to be service dogs, isn't it? Good for Abby!

A lady I know who had her service dog trained to help her balance when she walked, and also alert her to when her blood sugar was low, told me her dog would get upset when they were at the doctor's, because she wouldn't let her alert to all the sick people that were in the room!  

After being told to mind her own business a number of times, she'd lie down and give a big 'huff' of frustration! 

Once when her owner was visiting with a friend, the dog kept poking the friend's breast. She asked if she was having a problem with the breast. The lady replied she was actually on her way to the clinic to get a lump checked out! 

Another lady had a similar thing happen with her German shepherd, and finally decided to arrange for a mammogram. Diagnosis: breast cancer! The lump was small enough that it wasn't detectable without a mammogram or ultrasound.

The dog probably saved her life!