Dogs.

[scootr]

Smart dog!

Yes, she was a Queensland heeler, smart dog indeed. One of 2 I had over the last 25 yrs. Great breed if you have the drive to manage one.

 

[scootr]

I am sorry to hear that. It seems like being blind must have brought you even closer together than normal.
If and when is a rough decision. I lost Ruger in August 2023. I looked into getting another last fall but realized that I didn't want to take time to train it yet. I still find myself talking to him though and am starting to feel like Mr BoJangles. I foresee a puppy in the very near future.

That is a great picture of Tag.

Thank you. Honestly I cried a few tears at the injustice of him becoming blind. All he wanted to do was chase a ball back then, even though he was working so hard to see it with the Glaucoma setting in. When he went blind I spent some time putting bells in tennis ball and such but we gave up the retrieving after another year because he would run into the tree or the wall. In his later years he became more dependent upon my vision and guidance. And he always respected my warnings. A sudden NO would stop him in his tracks often inches from the wall or the truck bumper. A 'look out' would alter his track enough to miss the dog poop or the forklift in front of him. He never did get the go left, go right thing... my fault for not teaching it good enough, I suppose.
You don't sign on for a blind dog but if you're bonded and handed the job you do the best you can, for a friend. I work at home so I spend 90% of my time on the ranch where he spent 99% of his time, it was the best life he could have given the hand he had to play. He could always run straight to the BBQ grill from any point when BBQ was said. We will miss the ole guy.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I feel guilty because this GSD mix apparently expects some commands from me besides the usual "sit" etc, but I haven't figured out what they are? Plus, she is obsessed with car rides, but I limit her riding to when it is necessary to visit the vet.

roll, lay, crawl, weave between your legs, touch (nose to your hand), bed, stay, and search are commands you could expand on.

 

[Jstpssng]

You don't sign on for a blind dog but if you're bonded and handed the job you do the best you can

This really shows what kind of a person you are. A lot of people would have given up. Then again, most people shouldn't have a smart, working breed like him.

 

[Sigarms]

We will miss the ole guy.

The way I see it, when I'm dead on this earth, I will see all my loved ones, including those 4 legged critters I called part of my family.

Dogs are a lot like kids IMO where you get out of them what you put into them. Needless to say, you did some remarkable work with your dog and he was lucky he found you

 

[Rockbadchild]

The way I see it, when I'm dead on this earth, I will see all my loved ones, including those 4 legged critters I called part of my family.

Dogs are a lot like kids IMO where you get out of them what you put into them. Needless to say, you did some remarkable work with your dog and he was lucky he found you

You might like to hear this,

There is a author name John Burke, (book name: imagine the God of heaven and No perfect people allowed) he investigated near death experience from thousand of people all over the place, from all kind of religion and some of them God did show them their dogs in the afterlife before he send them back, his investigation is very credible and I have no reason to doubt him so I think you are right about that.

 

[Sigarms]

You might like to hear this,

There is a author name John Burke, (book name: imagine the God of heaven and No perfect people allowed) he investigated near death experience from thousand of people all over the place, from all kind of religion and some of them God did show them their dogs in the afterlife before he send them back, his investigation is very credible and I have no reason to doubt him so I think you are right about that.

Either way, Will Rogers said "if there are no dogs in Heaven, when I die I want to go where they went" and I'm fine with that as well

It's a win win...

 

[5030]

Well, I lost my dog Tag last week. He was old and blind and something seriously failed. It was a great loss for me. He was a Queensland Heeler and in true Heeler tradition He stuck close by my side and slept pressed up against me so he would know if I got up so he could get up too. He was 11 but it seemed like he was always here on the ranch waiting when I got home.
The last time I lost a dog I waited 3 yrs to get another. Now I'm torn between being dog free after caring 5 yrs for a blind dog. And wanting a new puppy.View attachment 2905565

Lots of no longer wanted pups at your local pound. What we did when we lost our last Aussie. He had a coronary and died right beside me laying on the bed. It was a painless death but broke my heart and we swore no more pups. That lasted a year and we got another Aussie from the Aussie rescue org on the Net. Drove to Indy from here in Michigan to get him and that was almost 2 years ago and he's become a valued member of the family, I really like Aussies, they are very friendly and dedicated dogs. Sleeps on the bed (somewhat between us but mostly crossways so we cannot get under the covers, like cats, in fact the cats like him too. We got him fully house broken, sits, stays and heels on command and walks with no leash as well. He's a poor driveway alarm however and never barks at the delivery people who always give him a bsicuit. He looks nasty but he's a milktoast and he's 10 years old and we saved him from a certain death. No one wants an adult dog today except us. His previous owner abandoned him. That alone pizzes me off.

Lots of pups at shelters looking for a good caring home, lots of pure bred ones too, like ours.

Now, he can live out his days in comfort and he's supremely spoiled too. Laying right next to me as I type this. Just got back from the groomers. We have him professionally groomed every other month. Though he basically only gets dog food, suprisingly, he likes about everything we eat as well including, of all things, Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower.

Last 3 we got came from shelters and they have all been great dogs and they are all still here as well. Same with the cats and some of the horses. Living out here I can keep them here, forever.

The issue is, pups don't live as long as we do so you always have to keep an attitude about giving them up eventually.

Our philosophy is, we give them the best home and care we can and we always do.

 

[Dftodd]

Every puppy we have had, I sign up for the training classes at Petsmart. Usually the instructors are good and the training goes well.

Gypsy attended puppy school at pet smart for yhr basics.

Then we took her to a professional trainer for more in depth training.

Here's the guy we used.

Expert Dog Training & Online Courses | 1st Mind K9

Discover expert dog training and online courses. Calvin Wilbon helps you unlock your dog's potential with proven techniques. Start your dog training journey today!

www.1stmindk9.com

Here's one of his old training videos taken around the time Gypsy was seeing him. We had her in gor obedience training.

The bite work going on was her distractions

 

[jyoutz]

Gypsy attended puppy school at pet smart for yhr basics.

Then we took her to a professional trainer for more in depth training.

Here's the guy we used.

Expert Dog Training & Online Courses | 1st Mind K9

Discover expert dog training and online courses. Calvin Wilbon helps you unlock your dog's potential with proven techniques. Start your dog training journey today!

www.1stmindk9.com

Here's one of his old training videos taken around the time Gypsy was seeing him. We had her in gor obedience training.

The bite work going on was her distractions

The basic training works well enough for my purposes. I want a dog to sit, lay down, and stay on command. Also to come when called and be well mannered. I don’t need them to do anything more. My Aussies are also naturally easy to train and I can just tell them what I want them to do and they will learn quickly. I’ve never had another breed of dog so easy to train.

Cooper