Dickie's Diary - Loose Lead Training

Hello pupsters. Dickie Hill here once again. I’ve had such a busy day today.  Mum's taught me loose lead walking. This is a tricky one because it’s so easy to get excited and want to rush where I am going. It's natural - I'm the fastest, so should go fast. 

Thankfully it seems that I don’t have to walk by her side (she says that’s a bit boring and restrictive for me) but I mustn't pull the lead tight. Whilst the lead is loose I receive lots of praise so I know I'm a good boy, and cream cheese. Cream cheese is the best - I don't mind walking at a slow hooman pace for tasty creamy cheese!

She uses the clicker thing and every time it makes the click noise I'm given a treat. If I get a bit excited and the lead goes tight she stops walking and there is no click noise or treats. If I say so myself, I am really good at this. That is the simple part really. 

The confusing bit is that I'm supposed to continue walking and not take notice of everyone around me.  They must be in on the training because they make it more difficult as they'll sometimes call me or try to make a fuss of me. Naturally I think that means I should go and see them but mum only allows that once she's given the cue to do so. I don’t really understand why this is but I’m sure I will learn in time and my mum is usually right about these things. She also says things that caused me to rethink the strangers working with her - she probably thinks I don't understand some of those words - but I'm a clever dog and I do.    

There's just do much to learn! Lots of love Dickie 🐾🐾🐾 

Tia's Pupdates - ACE Free Work

Morning everypawdy. Tia here with a pupdate. As you can see I’ve been busy doing some ACE free work, and trust me their a lot of fun! The hooman lays out several food stations with different texture foods. There are some lickie ones like doggy pate and cream cheese. There's also soft ones such as chimkin (My favourite!) and sosages. Not only those delights, but we also get crunchy bits like puff candy, kibble (I'm assured it's best), and then a pigs ear. 

All these foods are put in lickie mats, snuffle mats, and slow feeders. I also have to walk in different surfaces like grass, rubber mats, fluffy blankets and tarpaulin. The hooman says this is all good for me. I am not complaining with all these yummy foods on offer. I usually feel quite relaxed after and have a little snooze. I’m off now to see if there is any more treats on offer. 

Bye for now. Love Tia 

Looking for their New Home - Ace

This handsome boy is Ace, and ready to find his forever home. He was born on 25th June 2013. Ace is an entire male who's proved good with kids and also with other dogs. 

He does enjoy chasing cats, so his new home needs to be cat free. He is a very quiet lad and is so well behaved. He's currently located in South Lincolnshire, and he now just needs a nice loving home.

If you can provide a loving forever home for Ace, or any of our dogs then please read about our rehoming procedure here https://gsdwelfare.blogspot.com/p/adopting-german-shepherd-dog.html

A Reflection on Lizzie (Content Warning - Distressing Images)

WARNING THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS DISTRESSING IMAGES!

Some years ago, GSD Welfare Fund received a call from a concerned council worker.  She visited a tenant who lived in a flat and was horrified at the situation there.  The tenant owned 11 German Shepherds, 10 females and a single male.  One of the females nursed a litter of 5 puppies. Her real horror came from the condition of the poor dogs.  All were emaciated and too weak to stand.  The desperate female trying to feed her pups, couldn't make enough milk and the pups were fading.  Some of these dogs had club feet amongst other abnormalities and health issues.

The council worker immediately called a well-known animal rescue charity but was told they were too busy. As a last hope she called us.  Sadly, we're not empowered with the authority to take dogs without the owner’s permission.  Our chairman rang this well-known animal rescue charity and informed them we would be going the next day to the premises in question, and if they weren’t there, then they could rest assured that we'd have the local press there to show the public how they'd let these German Shepherds down and left them in such conditions.

We arrived the next morning (it was a Tuesday) at 11 am and thankfully an officer was there to meet us. We gained entry and were aghast at what we found.  These poor dogs were too weak to walk and had to be carried out. The females had been continuously bred from, with the male allowed to mate with them at every season.  The weakened female with the puppies lay at death's door, along with her puppies.  The officer wouldn’t allow us to take the male.  He informed us that we had to leave the poor man with one dog.

With several vehicles already waiting, we loaded our precious cargo and drove away as fast as we could and took them to safety.  We'd arranged boarding kennels, and also vets ready to come and treat them.  Sadly, three of the pups and two of the females didn’t survive.  The rest, thankfully, made a full recovery health wise but remained mentally scarred and afraid. We found understanding homes for them.  

This beautiful girl was Lizzie and this was the condition all of them were in.  This is a day that is forever etched in my memory. Some people ask why do I do what I do? How can I turn away after seeing such cruelty.

Debbie Hill

Sadly the photos below are the only ones we still have of Lizzie, and while they effectively record the cruelty she endured, they don't represent the final, and much happier remaining years of her life.

Dickie's Diary - Weighing In

Hello pupsters. It’s Dickie Hill here with another recent awesome day! It was such a busy day - not only that my mum told me that I was a star. Thanks mum!

First I went to be weighed to make sure I am putting on the right amount of weight. I weighed in like a champ! I received a fuss from some people in the shop. Not everyone was allowed to come to see me in case I was overwhelmed, but naturally I coped really well. Then I sat and watched the people and cars go by on the main road. I sat very calmly with the noise and bustle all around me, and mum says I was a very good boy. It doesn't get any better than that - well except for some yummy creamy cheese!

I'm walking very nicely with my harness on now. Once home, I played in the garden and you know what? No matter how often I play in there, there's always some new smell to discover, or toy I can play with. It's all kinds of awesome! After dinner I needed a little snooze - I thought I heard a sigh of relief as I drifted off, but that must have been a dream. I will keep you updated with my next adventure soon.

 Love Dickie xxx

Welfare Welcome to Shyla

Welfare Welcome to this attractive lady is Shyla. She is 3 years old. She is super friendly with dogs and people. Unfortunately family circumstances meant she was past on to us. Being loved and cared for by Uncle Lawrence 💖

If you'd like to provide a new forever home for one of our rescued dogs then you can learn more here -
https://gsdwelfare.blogspot.com/p/adhopting-german-shepherd-dog.html

A New Life For Dax

We are pleased to announce that the handsome Dax has departed for his new forever home. Here he is waiting in the crate in the car ready to start his journey. 

Dax had never lived in a house (other than the 4 days his previous owner had him and he wouldn't settle) so we felt it would be beneficial for him to live as an outside dog, where he is comfortable and not put under any stress. It's not something we'd typically support, but we considered it appropriate in Dax's case.

Thank you to his new family for adopting him and giving him the chance of a life he deserves. We're sure you'll all join us in wishing Dax and his new family all the best for their new life together - be happy darling! 

If you'd like to provide a new forever home for one of our rescued dogs then you can learn more here - https://gsdwelfare.blogspot.com/p/adopting-german-shepherd-dog.html