Stubborn German Shepherd Part I

Bodie is smart, but with a huge stubborn streak.  He is now ten and a half months old and it is almost impossible to play fetch with him.  He loves chasing a thrown toy and he brings it back at a run.  So what is the problem?  Well, that is it.  Bodie won't give the toy back.  You throw the toy, he chases it and brings it back.  Game of fetch is over.

We have tried several techniques and finally found one that works.  We need to play with two similar toys.  We throw the first one and when Bodie brings it back, we wave the second one until we have his attention.  Suddenly, the second one is much more desirable than the first and he drops that first toy.  Only then do we throw the second.  Finally we can play fetch until Bodie gets tired.

And a tired puppy is a good puppy!

German Shepherd on a Long Line

When I first moved into my place I was pleased that the backyard was up against a greenbelt.  Homes would never be built behind my home!  Well, a couple of years ago the county decided to turn the greenbelt into a full-fledged conservation area with an extensive trail system.  One of the main trails comes within a few feet of the back fence.  Now, everyday and especially on weekends, a whole slew of people pass within feet of the backyard!  Given the protective nature of German Shepherds, patrolling the backyard has become a full-time job for Bodie.

On a nice day like today, the puppy can get really worked up with all the mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers and dogs passing back and forth on the other side of the fence.  The groups of bikers are the worst because they tend to yell to each other a lot.  Bodie barks and whines and runs along the fence line.  It is extremely difficult getting his attention and it is almost impossible to keep him quiet!

On active days on the trails, Bodie doesn't pay any attention to us.  "Come" won't work, treats won't work, toys don't work, and trying to catch him becomes a game of catch.  Well, we tried something new today and it worked!  We got a really cheap long line for him.  It is a lightweight 50' line that does not easily get caught on anything in the backyard.  He pretty much ignores it, can run around the backyard normally, and when we want him to come we can reinforce the command with a firm tug.  But something amazing happened - he was much calmer with it on.  His barking was greatly decreased and he listened to us much more - weekends are going to be better!

The Bodie Blog

I can't believe that it has been so long since I did a Bodie Blog.  Almost every day I think "I need to make a Bodie Blog" and every time I do, I think of a reason not to.  I am avoiding it because I don't want to sound negative.  But it is time to do an update!



Bodie is a challenge, a real challenge.  He is nothing like Willie.  And anything that I wrote would sound like a critisism.  I don't want that.  Bodie is stubborn, and challenging, and oh so intelligent!  He destroys everything - the car, the backyard, and anything else he can get his teeth on.  But he is a good boy, and I am glad that we have him.

First Snow!

I am about a week late posting this but we ended up with about 12-15 inches of snow, lost power, and there were other weather-related worries but another first - Bodie's first snow!

What is this stuff?

Wheeeee!

It started snowing last week Friday night and by the time we let Bodie out Saturday morning, there were about three inches of snow in the backyard and big snowflakes were coming down.  The puppy stood on the porch for a minute just looking.  Then he cautiously put a paw out on that strange white stuff, waited a minute, and did what he does with everything - he bit at it!  It must have tasted good because he was off like a shot gamboling all around our huge backyard!  He would run like crazy to one end of the yard, stop, change direction and then run some more.  It looked like he thought everything was new and exciting, trees and bushes and anything snow-covered.

It was so much fun to watch him enjoy the snow, running and jumping and trying to catch snowflakes in his mouth!  That is one thing I have always loved about dogs, they can have such unadulterated joy in the simple things.

Then and Now

Comparing the then with the now and you can see how much Bodie has grown!  Where is our cute puppy?  Back then his rope toy was almost as big as he was.  Now, he could probably fit the entire toy in his mouth!

King of the Hill

Bodie, King of the Hill, surveying his kingdom from atop his cushion - which he is ripping apart as we write!

He is turning out to be a wonderful German Shepherd.  Bodie is devoted and protective, wacky and silly, and above all intelligent.  I am amazed at how long he will wait after we drop a treat, and how quickly he picks up new commands.  We really need to get him into Schutzhund training.

Brain Surgery Continues GSD Style - Kyjen Hide-a-Squirrel

Bodie, the brain surgeon, has now lobotomized all his squirrels.



He is now working on monkeys.