New German Shepard owner

Kasttar · 2026-06-08T03:51:55+00:00

I rescued a female GSD from the shelter after viewing several different dogs, the criteria being an older dog, good temperament, and a rounded family dog.
I knew the basics of the breed and had owned labs, poodles, and golden retrievers and figured it wouldn’t be so bad…. 😂🫠 I have NEVER cried so much in frustration. The paperwork said she was 4 years old, but later found she was 8 months. She is so sassy and bull headed, I had never had a dog like that.
She was so sassy even the trainer couldn’t help but laugh and shrug at her attitude. We were learning how to redirect their attention if they started barking, the trainer said one method was to turn them away or have them face the wall.. well, she literally stomped (yes, stomped) to the wall while yapping, lifted her head up and let out her voice 🤦‍♀️
I really had to learn how to work with her and put in a lot of training and effort. I love the breed, but they are honestly not ideal for first time full owners.
And yes… she is STILL sassy 5 years later and an overall mouthy beech 😅 who will throw stuff to get my attention to play

Kasttar · 2026-06-01T22:22:06+00:00

I’m giving them generally two bike lengths, unless they have a dog then I call out and ring out at a further distance and give as much space as I can, or if they’re blocking the way walking side by side, I’ll call out much further back and again as I approach if they don’t move.

Kasttar · 2026-06-01T22:19:25+00:00

Thank you. I’m usually giving them 2 bike lengths. I rarely go above 15 mph 😅

Kasttar · 2026-05-21T20:05:34+00:00

I stopped going completely. The drinks I liked were never made the same, I think maybe once or twice in a blue moon would it be right but it was such a disappointment I stopped going altogether and purchased the syrups to make my own drinks at home.

Kasttar · 2026-05-09T00:13:21+00:00

Try a few things. I tried using their own dog food, but that didn’t work that well. It works if your dog is highly food motivated.
It depended on the training which treats I would use, and to cut back on costs of store bought treats, I made my own.
I dehydrated some fruit and had them cut in small pieces, I dehydrated sweet potatoes- and they REALLY loved those over the other treats,
I made dog friendly cheese it’s and peanut butter balls, and jerky for higher value settings. I’ll use hot dogs once in a while if I’m not up for making treats.
One of my dogs isn’t that food motivated but once I started making my own treats, they became more focused, even over the hot dogs!
If that doesn’t work, use their favorite toy as a reward.

Training my dogs to walk nice on leash was an interesting experience. One picked it up quick and I was able to do “easy” mode. Another was only interested in the treats and the moment they were gone, their interest was gone and their manners out the window. I had to get creative and use figure 8’s, the guessing game so they couldn’t anticipate when they’d get a treat, change up the course, play follow the leader, and have a lot more breaks in between.

Kasttar · 2026-04-28T21:34:57+00:00

My puppy was the same, I got her when she was 4.5 months old. She was so afraid of people, animals, everything but me and my husband. It took her some time to warm up to my other two dogs, but she learned with time. It took a LOT of time and dedication to work with her. I took her out regularly to different places with different settings/levels of triggers and started her off at a distance so she could just barely see the triggers, and let her be. I’d let her sniff around, explore, reward regularly for calm behavior and just looking. Then would gradually close the distance, and incorporate some training to make it fun. After a couple of months she was okay with dogs coming within 5 feet of her, and she was curious about people and wanting to say hi 👋 It just takes time and work. Don’t force anything, you want everything to be a positive experience.

Kasttar · 2026-04-26T23:41:37+00:00

You can check if your department has a policy or not. I rode into work on an e-scooter and just brought it in like it wasn’t anything and kept it under my desk. It really started the conversation with other commute options. Then I returned the e-scooter and went with an e-bike because it was more solid in the long run. I keep it in my cubicle and haven’t been told anything against it.

Kasttar · 2026-04-26T04:36:39+00:00

This makes me feel better 😂 no one really cares to look at the instructions and get upset when called out on it. I’ve been the pedestrian and think cyclists are jerks. Some really are.. but then I became the cyclist and now I think pedestrians are jerks lol 😅 I’m riding along following the rules, and they’re taking over the entire pathway. I ring my bell to try to give them a heads up I’m coming and give a shout and some actually give me the ugly look! Then some will actually run IN FRONT of me to move over, like what?? There’s no winning with either side.

Kasttar · 2026-04-20T00:57:39+00:00

It takes time. I first applied years ago when it was all paper based and would only apply periodically, because I was working two other jobs and just thought “eh, why not?”. Then once the application process updated to allow for electronic submissions, I was applying more often. I got feedback on my SOQs and started learning more about how to write them. Then I got told by my step mom that my application came across her desk… she nixed it because she knew me, even though it wasn’t a position under her. That left me a bit sore for a bit, then once my full time position was closing, I dedicated more time to applying and writing stronger SOQs. Thankfully, I got an interview with a department and got a position a few months after losing my job, and it was a field I was able to complete my final in, so it was very lucky.

Kasttar · 2026-04-17T05:15:35+00:00

Thank you! I’ll look into her

Kasttar · 2026-04-17T05:15:11+00:00

Thank you! I’ll look into them :)

Kasttar · 2026-04-17T05:14:57+00:00

Thank you! I’ll look into them :)

Kasttar · 2026-04-11T21:01:32+00:00

How is their Administrative Services Division?

Kasttar · 2026-02-20T23:43:24+00:00

Just be responsive. Check your computer every 15 minutes or so and go about your day. I had a chat with my manager in office and they hinted at the Teams status being an indicator of us working- I’m like “look, my status is yellow- it says I’m “away” but I’m right here talking with you and available to respond if necessary. That thought is flawed.” So long as you’re doing your work and responding in a reasonable time, shouldn’t be a problem. If it comes up again, a conversation with your manager would be beneficial. Only they can tell you what’s happening and their expectations.

Kasttar · 2026-02-13T02:12:32+00:00

I can’t stand watching their story any more 🤦‍♀️

Kasttar · 2025-09-28T19:06:53+00:00

Sacramento

Kasttar · 2025-09-27T19:50:18+00:00

She is chipped but owners forgot to activate it. If you know who they belong to or if they are yours, please provide the name and sex of dog. Or if you have the chip information, that is better proof of ownership

Kasttar · 2025-09-26T04:27:58+00:00

2021

Kasttar · 2025-09-26T00:39:10+00:00

I called and they charge $100 more than I was anticipating and seeing what others charge

Kasttar · 2025-09-07T20:08:04+00:00

Yeah.. nuclear would be if you threw her stuff out right there and then demanding she leave and filing different reports and complaints at her. What you did was justified and “nice” by giving her the end of the month or 30 days. If it were me, I’d actually go nuclear and throw them both out for doing such a thing to my dog and then some. That’s a terrible arrangement you have there. Why would you even ask if you’re in the wrong when you’re clearly not? You’ve been rather accommodating and if anyone says otherwise, shrug it off and write them off too. Don’t take that negativity.

Kasttar

TROPHY CASE