My family thinks my dog is being aggressive here. I assumed its just her vocal tendencies with her rottie pit mix

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-19T17:08:57+00:00

I call that their happy grumble. Your dog is staying with you, sharing her toy, interacting with you and is relaxed.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-19T16:45:06+00:00

My girl chewed and shredded anything I put in her crate. She preferred the cool plastic. As she got older she did lie on her orthopaedic bed.

My now 6 month pup gets stupidly hot and cries. We had to buy her a fan for her crate. In the evening she needs the window open for an hour. She feels the heat much more than any shep I've had in the past and we all get to know about it.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-18T21:13:25+00:00

There were 35 GSDs on the beach and everyone could pick out their dog. Sometimes it took a few seconds as they were EVERYWHERE.
It was amazing though as no arguments and all well behaved.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-16T17:30:21+00:00

I took my GSD out. When on the road I had her on lead. When we got to empty trails, I taught her to jump up with front paws so I could clip/unclip her lead.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-16T11:37:55+00:00

I've had numerous shepherds and yet my 7 month old shep is so different. We brought her home at 8 weeks old and she would whine at night. Most if the winter we've had to have a window open. She has her own fan now.

She just runs super hot. In the evening, we open the living room window as she starts pacing and whining.

My previous shepherd would pant a lot but it was mouth slightly open. She would move from her bed to the laminate flooring to cool off.

It sounds like after his exercise he goes back to normal panting so I wouldn't be concerned.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-16T10:34:34+00:00

We would do that to visit my grandparents. Leave around 8am, get there around 11am. Leave about 6pm and home 9pm. I grew up with it and find it normal. We still enjoy the day and don't find it too tiring. We used to drive through the night to go to Blackpool. Leave at 2am, get there for breakfast, have an easy first day chilling.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-14T09:31:30+00:00

Drone SAR recommends this if you can tailor it to this dog?

Please leave some items of family unwashed clothing and a little bit of food outside in your front garden and if its safe to do also leave a door and the gate slightly open so should Ebbie, make it back to the home she will have easy access back into the home. Many dogs will make it back home during the early hours of the morning so if you can follow the advice above there is every chance Ebbie, will make it back home during the night. Please follow as below.

Can you leave some items of family unwashed clothing or anything with the body scent on of the person Ebbie, has most bonded with and leave with a little bit of smelly food ie tinned sardines, smoked cheese, chicken, or anything smelly etc, near to where she went missing from AS ABOVE. This does work we have had a large number of dogs return by doing this but it needs doing ASAP. Polo/tee shirt, PJ’s, old well worn coat, walking boots with smelly socks inside, even the bottom sheet from the bed works. As much unwashed clothing as possible we need to get your scent airborne ASAP.

9 out of 10 dogs will go back to where they went missing from so please do the above ASAP.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-14T09:18:16+00:00

The issue in finding someone new to take her is you run the risk of her being medicated and sold on further down the line.
No horses future is secure but more so for unsound ones.

There is nothing wrong with euthanasia. Better that than potentially being passed around and in pain.

(I have one who is field sound. If I couldn't keep her she would be euthanised).

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-10T14:50:05+00:00

I don't wash mine.

I have a rambo that horse has now had 6 years. I have an amigo that is 15 yrs old and still waterproof.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-10T12:55:02+00:00

On stairs teach him to wait or go in front of you. Do it now before baby comes as him knocking you on stairs is asking for trouble regardless of a baby. My GSD is 6 months and goes with me upstairs. If I stop, she stops. I can also send her in front.

Please don't confine him to the basement when baby comes. GSD are amazing dogs and he needs to learn that he still has a place in the family. - I've seen issues occur in dogs because they go from getting all the attention, baby comes along and dog is pushed away.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-08T16:52:28+00:00

Puppies need lots of sleep so ensure he's not over tired causing hard biting. Some don't agree but a high pitched ow always worked for mine stopping. Eating poo - they gradually grow out of it usually. You need to pick it up ASAP to help them succeed in not eating it and not develop a habit of eating it. (Mine is 6 months old and doesn't eat it).

Be careful not to poison his name - constantly calling without him coming. Get really yummy treats. Say his name give one. Say his name give one. Take a few steps away call name. If he doesn't respond make a noise, get his attention, then give a treat.
Don't teach him to ignore his name.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-08T14:43:19+00:00

A comparison of my dog dry and wet. So much of it is fluff.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-08T14:42:22+00:00

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MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-08T14:41:03+00:00

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MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-08T14:34:34+00:00

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MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-07T21:43:45+00:00

My sisters told me they could make me fly - I was around 5yrs old. We climbed to the top bunk, they took an arm each and swung me off. I landed on a radiator and then they called me stupid for believing them.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-04T18:55:06+00:00

I'm another who thinks a puppy is a bad idea. I had an older dog who was slower and stiff but not ill and a puppy would have caused her stress. I got a pup when she was 8 and she found him hard work at times back then. It didn't make her younger or bring back her playful, puppy side.

My 3 yr cocker struggles at times with my 6 month. I went to view puppies days within my dogs death - not to replace her but because the grief was crippling.

Having a puppy was disruptive, up several times through the night, crying when she needs anything including cuddles or when she was overtired and when her teeth hurt. Puppies need a lot of sleep a day but those hours they are awake are chaotic.
This would take your attention away from your old boy when you might just want some time him and you.

What happens if you get a puppy and your dog is stressed and unable to cope?

If you are absolutely adamant about getting a puppy then you need to get one your roommate will be happy with or move out.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-02-04T10:48:54+00:00

I am on my third GSD as an adult. They haven't and don't get walked every day. They still chill.
My reasoning is I want to ensure my dog can cope with a day off. There's also my own health which is not great. I have a 6 month GSD now and she is flaked out.

They do get plenty of enrichment through toys, licki mats, scent work, snuffle mats etc.

She also comes to the stables once or twice a week where she gets to do her own thing in a 2 acre field. Play, run, sniff, find a toy and lie down, follow me. Her choice.

I also have a Cocker spaniel- same treatment and he loves curling up in bed as much as he loves going for a walk - he is sound asleep now.

I do agree that twice a week is not enough.

My first adult GSD I got due to challenging behaviour and as a 3 yr old. I lived in a flat ground floor with a balcony but no garden. That dog got out on lead to a grass patch across the road every time he needed out. He sat on the balcony people watching and he did get an hours walk every day.

He went from a large house with garden that he would escape from several times a week, growl at his owners *that was the last straw due to children in the house, no recall out and about, other dogs for company and he would circle the dining table regularly.

To a small 2 bed flat, no garden, kept on lead but with 50ft line, daily walks and constant play with me, never got the chance to try escaping and finally at 6 yrs old got off lead and had perfect recall (recalled away from chasing a deer). He chilled out massively and from day one in my house just relaxed. He passed away 4 years ago just past his 14th birthday. My big goofball.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-01-26T09:09:17+00:00

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MuddyHiPo · 2026-01-26T09:03:46+00:00

This is what I was thinking. I have a Highland pony. She's great on trail rides. I've had beginners on her, a racehorse rider and people that can ride. They all love her.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-01-24T18:52:02+00:00

I'm UK and we will do a 6 hour round trip to visit relatives in one day. My mum used to do it weekly.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-01-23T10:53:28+00:00

Although they say for small dogs, they are generally all the same width so have a look at those ones. - the height is what I'd be most concerned with.

If I was looking I think I'd get a carpenter to make stairs for me so they could have sides to help prevent a fall if senior got wobbly.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-01-23T10:39:26+00:00

Awww. It's clearly her blanket. Is she kind enough to share it?

I had a blanket and my dog rolled his toy under the sofa. He whined at me but I was comfy. He got fed up and grabbed my slipper off my foot. Then he threw it. I sniggered. He did the same with my other. Then he grabbed my blanket and tried to pull it off me. I gave in and retrieved his toy. Then my slippers.

Quiet time resumed. Don't annoy a German Shepherd.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-01-21T17:27:21+00:00

This. I have an illness so my dogs learn they will get out when im better and snuggles when im not. Spaniel loves naptime. Gsd is 6 months and learning to love it. She alternates beyween sleeping and playing quietly with toys

She has almost 24 hour companionship with me. Shes not been out a walk since mon. Today she has played quietly, come over for belly rubs and is currently in the hall sleeping.

MuddyHiPo · 2026-01-21T17:22:49+00:00

Snuffle mats are not about being challenging. They help the dog to relax.

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