[Eris13021]

i just got a gsd..well the papers say mix..but i highly doubt it. He looks gsd with long hair(but the previous owner buzzed it off). He is 2 years old his name is Bear. He is a tad underweight but he is current with all his shots. Im going to take him to my vet for a check up. He came with a bag and a half bag of kibble n bits...going to slowly introduce better quality food. He is a sweet dog easy to walk. whines to go to the bathroom. Buries treats in his doggy bed. Doesnt play alot, but figure that once i get him up to par he will be a tad more playful. At the moment he is trying to bury his food dish with a towel. Great wth cats and kids!!--------------dogs too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what should i do to put some weight on him?

 

[Keechak]

pictures! please

 

[bigblackdogs]

awww! cute! I love GSDs. they are so loyal. also, they scare the crap out of the bad guys. pictures please!
if you want a GSD forum to ask questions at, this is a good one.
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm

(and it is spelled Shepherd)

 

[Eris13021]

the only problem im having right now is he is growling at one of my kittens who is trying to intimidate him. he's not showing his teeth or anything. she is following him around and hisses at him and is even taking his toys!!

 

[bigblackdogs]

haha! normally its the other way around. is your GSD (whats his name btw) chasing your cat? I don't really have advice on that, maybe the other GSD owners here will be able to give you advice!

 

[Eris13021]

haha! normally its the other way around. is your GSD (whats his name btw) chasing your cat? I don't really have advice on that, maybe the other GSD owners here will be able to give you advice!

he stares at Storm(the kitten) and then barks at her. Then rushes towards her and the kitten ducks under the futon and Bear goes back to his bed. Then it starts all over with the kitten walking over to his bed hissing at him, he growls she runs a lil ways...

Well besides that Bear passed another one of my tests. I walked him while pushing the double stroller with my two youngest children in it. He did GREAT!!! We had to walk by a husky, he did NOT try to run to her. He just trotted by with ears perked up and tail held high. Listened to me while we walked by...I think im in love...lol.

I guess the reason he was labelled mix was because he has a long coat!!

 

[wvasko]

Good food and let the world take a couple spins, he is in a brand new world with enough to worry about now. I would get a heartworm test and after start him on heartguard which will help eliminate most worms. Please a Vet visit is your very 1st job as I would not believe anything previous owner told me about health as he is now your dog do not take chances as he sounds like a nice dog, a keeper.

 

[Elana55]

It is incumbant on you to keep the cats safe from the dog. Growling is a warning that more can follow and if you do not intervene NOW, more will and a cat may die as a result.

Separate dog and cats when you are not right there. Crate the dog or separate the cats physically in some other manner.

When you are there, if the dog growls at the cat, intervene by stepping between her and the cat and moving into the dog's space leaning over (I do a little cha cha move). Say 'MY cat' when you do this.. not that the dog knows what that means but it reminds YOU of what you are communicating to the dog with body language.

My GSD loves her cats (but I still physically separate the dog and cats when I am not there to supervise). She takes a submissive stance when a cat hisses at her.. ears down, tail wagging (yeah.. looks sad.. LOL). Oliver (the youngest cat) will steal food out of Atka's dish and the dog says nothing. He will even take food out of her mouth and she doesn't seem to care (we worked hard to have her NOT resource guard). all the cats will play with her toys and will walk under neath her and wind around her legs (like they do with people). She stands there and watches them and wags her tail in big, wide, sweeps.

That is what you are going to try for with your dog.

 

[Eris13021]

Good food and let the world take a couple spins, he is in a brand new world with enough to worry about now. I would get a heartworm test and after start him on heartguard which will help eliminate most worms. Please a Vet visit is your very 1st job as I would not believe anything previous owner told me about health as he is now your dog do not take chances as he sounds like a nice dog, a keeper.

i believe the guy. He came with all his vet records. He has been tested for heartworm and was on tri heart plus. Rabies was done 3/25/09 and is good till 3/25/12. Im taking him to the vet for a check up to see why he is skinny.

It is incumbant on you to keep the cats safe from the dog. Growling is a warning that more can follow and if you do not intervene NOW, more will and a cat may die as a result.

Separate dog and cats when you are not right there. Crate the dog or separate the cats physically in some other manner.

When you are there, if the dog growls at the cat, intervene by stepping between her and the cat and moving into the dog's space leaning over (I do a little cha cha move). Say 'MY cat' when you do this.. not that the dog knows what that means but it reminds YOU of what you are communicating to the dog with body language.

My GSD loves her cats (but I still physically separate the dog and cats when I am not there to supervise). She takes a submissive stance when a cat hisses at her.. ears down, tail wagging (yeah.. looks sad.. LOL). Oliver (the youngest cat) will steal food out of Atka's dish and the dog says nothing. He will even take food out of her mouth and she doesn't seem to care (we worked hard to have her NOT resource guard). all the cats will play with her toys and will walk under neath her and wind around her legs (like they do with people). She stands there and watches them and wags her tail in big, wide, sweeps.

That is what you are going to try for with your dog.

this kitten could test the patience of a saint.

 

[wvasko]

i believe the guy. He came with all his vet records. He has been tested for heartworm and was on tri heart plus. Rabies was done 3/25/09 and is good till 3/25/12. Im taking him to the vet for a check up to see why he is skinny.

Well alongside of a good dog, sounds like he had a responsible owner. I probably sounded a tad paranoid, just too many years of listening to some people's bull. Good idea on Vet though, it may be that your dog is just slender as some people are, but the Vet visit is one of those things that if it doesn't help it won't hurt.

Please follow elana's advice on cats/kittens etc as the longer you are on DF the more horror stories you will hear about dog/cat fisticuffs and worse. Some of the tales are from people who trusted their dogs untill the dirty deed was done and cat dead or dog minus an eye.(again murphy's law paranoia)

 

[bigblackdogs]

I guess the reason he was labelled mix was because he has a long coat!!

just because he has a long coat doesn't mean he is mixed. there are coated (long haired) GSDs. that doesn't mean he ISN'T mixed though.

with the kitten, saying the kitten is yours and separating is a good idea. maybe also teach the command 'no cat'.

Well besides that Bear passed another one of my tests. I walked him while pushing the double stroller with my two youngest children in it. He did GREAT!!! We had to walk by a husky, he did NOT try to run to her. He just trotted by with ears perked up and tail held high. Listened to me while we walked by...I think im in love...lol.

I'm glad! aren't GSDs a great breed? I hope that he settles in soon!

oh, and I wouldn't trust Bear to be out and about by himself. if you can't directly watch him (usually on a leash), he should be in a crate, and preferably behind a closed door so the cat cant get to him!

have you started NILIF?

 

[Eris13021]

just because he has a long coat doesn't mean he is mixed. there are coated (long haired) GSDs. that doesn't mean he ISN'T mixed though.

with the kitten, saying the kitten is yours and separating is a good idea. maybe also teach the command 'no cat'.



I'm glad! aren't GSDs a great breed? I hope that he settles in soon!

oh, and I wouldn't trust Bear to be out and about by himself. if you can't directly watch him (usually on a leash), he should be in a crate, and preferably behind a closed door so the cat cant get to him!

have you started NILIF?

i have never used NILIF, so i dont know exactly what it is. He is doing better this morning with the kitten. His previous owners had cats too so im hoping he gets used to bossy storm! Storms brother Snowflake is more laid back so Bear is fine with him sniffs him and walks away and snowflake continues doing what he was doing too. He hasnt met princess yet, my adult cat once he does he probably will never want to see another cat(shes about 18lbs).

 

[Elana55]

NILIF is Nothing In Life is Free.

This means the dog has to do something for you before he gets ANYTHING he wants.

Things like this are having him sit and wait before releasing him to eat his dinner. Sitting and waiting before allowing him to go thru a door. Lie down and wait before getting petted. Going to heel position during a walk and then releasing him to go and sniff things...

It is a good program and essentially means continuous training with a reward the dog wants for everything he does for you. Can't beat that with a stick!

Last night on the way to Dog School Atka saw a HUGE cat as we were driving by this house. I slowed and did a double take myself. This cat (white with black) was long haired and as big as a Cocker spaniel. I thought it was a dog.. but the way Atka was acting I figured a cat.

Atka thinks we need to bring every cat we see home. She is a Cat hoarder. We'd have 20 if it were up to her.

I have limited her to the five we have.

 

[bigblackdogs]

http://www.dogforums.com/3-dog-training-forum/6856-nilif-nothing-life-free.html

that is a thread explaining NILIF. although Elana did a good job of it.

 

[Eris13021]

NILIF is Nothing In Life is Free.

This means the dog has to do something for you before he gets ANYTHING he wants.

Things like this are having him sit and wait before releasing him to eat his dinner. Sitting and waiting before allowing him to go thru a door. Lie down and wait before getting petted. Going to heel position during a walk and then releasing him to go and sniff things...

It is a good program and essentially means continuous training with a reward the dog wants for everything he does for you. Can't beat that with a stick!

Last night on the way to Dog School Atka saw a HUGE cat as we were driving by this house. I slowed and did a double take myself. This cat (white with black) was long haired and as big as a Cocker spaniel. I thought it was a dog.. but the way Atka was acting I figured a cat.

Atka thinks we need to bring every cat we see home. She is a Cat hoarder. We'd have 20 if it were up to her.

I have limited her to the five we have.

i have him sit before i put the leash on him to go outside and when we come back in he is to sit before i will let him off it.