A Very Special Welcome to Elda

The committee of GSD Welfare Fund are thrilled to welcome this little girl to the Welfare family. She's been in "police custody " for almost 2 years after a bite incident. 

Below I have copied what the defence expert witness wrote about her. When you read it you will understand why we are so thrilled to have her with us. Thank you to the defence expert witness who made it possible for her to join our family. 

We have named her Elda, a name of Germanic origin meaning warrior (it also means Wise Adviser in Anglo Saxon). Your new life starts today sweetheart. Let’s all be thankful she is finally safe and where she needs to be. Once she has settled we will take some nice photos. 

Elda was seized in July 2020 after a second bite incident involving a child. A voluntary order had been made the first time, which the owner subsequently breached. The judge was rightly not pleased with the owner's attitude and ordered that the owner pay substantial compensation. He also received a sentence of 2 years, which was suspended for 2 years. He is also banned for life for having a dog.

The position of the police and the expert they used was that the dog should be destroyed. I have owned and rehabilitated many, many dogs like this, particularly this breed and I believed rehab was appropriate.

The experts had to do a second assessment each last Autumn as agreement could not be reached.

I realised that this dog had not been exercised since seizure. Had no view other than a wall and her kennel was bare of any toy or chew. I raised this with the court and police via a report. The police refused to move the dog to a different kennels. The staff then started interacting with the her and were able to provide daily exercise. This was after a little more than a year of no exercise.

This morning a new report appeared from the prosecution expert who had been back for the third time at the end of March. As this hearing was due today I had no time to properly evaluate this late evidence or go to check again myself.

I attended court and the judge made it clear he wanted to make an order today.

This dog is now going to a breed rescue for rehab. She will wear a lead and muzzle in public and cannot live with children. I look forward to seeing her again in rehab.

Thanks to the rescue for their assistance in offering her help and thanks to my assistant Andy Hoyle for his help at the first assessment.

Keep up to date of Elda's progress via her playlist on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcJKHkODDGk&list=PLbY9KRl9MWIRLW-LWbg21m7KICRw7jVNr&index=1

Dickie's Diary - Slow-Mo Superhero

Hello fellow pupstars. I'm so excited that I can barely run at normal speed. After all these weeks, I have it! Proof that I am destined to be a superhero. If you watch this video carefully you will see that they have to capture the video super slow because I am running super fast - even with the lead trying to hold me back! 

I knew that I had to immediately tell all my friends. Soon I'll be fighting crime! I must prepare for a mission of retrieving the stolen treats, so Dickie 'Faster than Lightning' Hill signing off for now.

What do you think my superhero name should be? And how can I keep my super-identity a secret from mum? She will worry. Tell me your suggestions below and let's make a plan together... 🐾 🦸 🐾

Back Street Breeders

Being in rescue I am always hearing people moan about breeders. People think that if breeders stopped breeding, then there wouldn't be any German Shepherds in rescue and more people would adopt rather than buying a puppy.

Whilst I understand the logic of their thinking, it is not quite that simple. There are a lot of "GOOD" breeders around and those of us that love the breed need them. Being a GSD lover means you want the breed to continue. We don't just want any GSD, we want the parents to be health tested and have good temperaments. Reputable breeders strive to improve their breeding stock. They choose stud dogs that they think will improve their lines and they also take the temperament into account.

GSD Welfare Fund was actually started by a group of GSD breeders and obedience people. In 1975 a GSD bit a child, and the press generated a lot of coverage. Owners that had had their dogs for years but who had children, suddenly wanted to get rid of their loving pet. The fact that their dog had never done anything wrong didn't matter one little bit. There was a lot of scaremongering about "how the GSD can turn any time". Because there was a surge of GSDs needing homes and not enough rescue space in the re-homing centres, some breeders joined together and formed German Shepherd Dog Welfare Fund. Many a time in the beginning, this group of GSD breeders/enthusiasts were paying kennel fees from their own pocket, especially our previous Chairman.

Most of the dogs we have come in are not from reputable breeders. Most reputable breeders send their puppies out with a contract stating that in the event the puppy/dog needs re-homing it must be returned to the breeder. I will not lie; we do have dogs come in from breeders who when informed do not want to know or do not want to take the dog back but on the whole most of them will do their best to help with the dog and lots of them even support Welfare.

The majority of the dogs that come in are from what we call "back street breeders". These breeders have a pet German Shepherd and think it will be "fun" to have puppies from her, or they see it as an easy way to make a quick buck. 

This often means that they do not have any of the health tests done therefore giving no thought to the heartache they may cause the puppies' new owner later when the dog develops Hip Dysplasia or some other illness that could have been avoided, if the parents had been health screened. Lots of them do not conform to the breed standard. Many of the dogs being used to breed by these people are pet shop/back street breeders’ dogs themselves. All that matters is the money that they sell the puppies for. When put in a situation of a dog needing to come back to them, they either don't have the space or time to take it or generally just don't want to know. These are the majority of the dogs that find themselves in Welfare.

Of course, there will be times when circumstances prevent a responsible breeder from taking back a puppy they have bred. None of us know what is around the corner, or what circumstances we will find ourselves in tomorrow. We are more than happy to work with these breeders.

The bottom line is that RESPONSIBLE breeders should be applauded. We need them if we want our wonderful breed to continue. I know I do. In fact, I would love a puppy but my heart aches too much for the dogs we have in Welfare so if there is room in my home for another dog, the Welfare dogs take preference, but I don't give up the dream of one day having a fluffy bundle who I haven't got to take months to rehabilitate. Having said that, the love you get back from a rescue that you have had to work with is beyond words. 

What I would like to see is the people buying puppies ONLY buying from responsible breeders. Parents that have been health tested. Parents that the breeder is happy to introduce you to so you can check the temperament. Breeders that take an interest in the puppy's life and not just take the money and wave goodbye. That is when Welfare and other rescues will not be constantly trying to raise funds to help yet another poor GSD.

Dickie's Diary - Meeting Small Hoomans

Hello fellow pupstars! Dickie Hill back again with another of my recent adventures. Whilst walking with mum, we met a lady with a pup. Apparently hooman pups are called 'children'. They have a really interesting scent to them. It makes me want to roll around in it, but also a little bit icky.

The child noticed me and became so excited that my mum stopped and asked if it would be ok to say hello. She explained that we don’t get many child visitors to our house and I need to feel comfortable around children. I realised that mum had spotted another life skill learning opportunity. The big words in that phrase no longer worried me as they once did. I'd learned that being a clever boy usually resulted in delicious treats.

They replied, and stated that they'd love to say hello to me. Who could blame them? My mum told them they could only fuss me if I had “Four on the floor” and that they had to wait for me to go to them. She gave me the cue to say hello and waited for my response. 

Of course I went straight over for a fuss. I think she worries too much but apparently some pups can be a little overwhelmed meeting new people. She forgets that not only am I clever, but also a very brave boy. Naturally I did get a bit excited at one point and so technically all four feet weren't on the floor at the same time. Of course mum noticed straight away and told the two strangers to stop fussing me, 

It seemed a bit unfair to me, but as soon as I settled, the proper attention to me resumed. The lady said she didn’t mind if I jumped up, but my mum explained that when I've grown to a 40 kg dog it won’t be so cute. So I had to learn the correct behaviour now and do so before I grew into a big dog - I think I'm going to be the biggest dog, as well as the fastest. 

After receiving a good fuss my mum called me to her and I ran straight to her. Apparently this was good because I got a treat. We continued our walk and with my mum making the click sound and rewarding me with treats again. Along the way, we encountered We saw a big dog, but I was very brave and just walked past.  

Another cool change is having to wear a  big dog harness when out walking! It's not just any harness though. It has to be a Y neck one with a clip on the chest and one on the back. The Y neck ensures that my movement wouldn't be restricted. While in the pet shop I saw a big boy's collar with studs which looked super cool and I thought would make me look grown up. My mum said that a collar like that could press on important and fragile parts of my neck. It didn't seem so cool after I thought about that.

I'm feeling rather tired now after all that walking, and a superhero needs their  power nap. Lots of love Dickie 🐾🐾🐾

Virtual Easter Egg Hunt Winners

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our first Virtual Easter Egg Hunt we've raised some vital money for the German Shepherd Rescue Fund. With over 90 dogs to care for it is sadly an expensive business so all contributions are valuable.

Congratulations to Natalie Palmer who won the hunt with a perfect score and so the collection of hooman and doggy Easter goodies will be on their way to you soon.

The Bonus Egg

No-one managed to find the bonus egg, which was a sneak peek at our updated logo. The version shown is the standard colour variant, with different version to suit different situations. With no clear winner we randomly drew a winner from the pool of those submitting their hunts and congratulations to John Tandy. He will receive the metal GSD head wall ornament.

Well done to our winners, and thank you all for your support.

Tia's Pupdates - A Triangle Forms

Hello everypawdy. Tia here with another pupdate. It’s been a good morning. I’ve enjoyed some play time and then did some clicker work. Apparently the hooman thinks I need to use my brain.  I have to work out what she wants me to do without her telling me. Simple. 

Maybe I should try it with her, although I don’t hold out much hope it would work. Hoomans are rarely as clever as they think they are.

The problem is that I have a bit of a dilemma going on at the moment. Things were going really well between me and Rodney, but the hooman had to go and upset it all. She moved another dog called Tony into the kennel on the other side of me. Now I am torn between them and don’t know which one to choose. 

Tony is very handsome, extremely very kind and caring, so it'd be all too easy to fall for him. Rodney is also a perfect physical specimen, but more rugged.  He is also a 'treat them mean, keep them keen' sort of guy. And I do rather like a bad boy. It’s  like a  hooman trying to choose between Sean Connery and Brad Pitt.   One possible problem is that Tony will probably find a home quicker than Rodney and me. So if I pick him and then he leaves, then Rodney may not want me then. 

I don’t know which one to choose. Who do you think is best for me?

Anyway, I must dash back to my kennel now. There may be treats waiting, but their scents are also kinda exciting!    Love Tia 🐾🐾🐾

Puppy Care Topics - Calm and Confident Puppies

Expert dog behaviourist Lisa Hird from the Dog Behaviour Clinic has provided this latest Puppy Care Topic concerning how to best ensure that your puppies are as calm and confident as they can be.

To learn more about Lisa's background, experience, qualifications and services visit her website - https://www.dogbehaviourclinic.co.uk/

Calm and Confident Puppies

Socialising

There is a lot of information about how important ‘socialising’ puppies can be. Many puppy books and social media sites encourage new puppy owners to socialise their puppies by exposing them to as many different things, places, people, and dogs as possible in the early weeks of their lives so that they become used to everything they encounter.

Socialising is a vital part of training your puppy to cope with every situation she may need to face as she gets older, but it is the way that you socialise your puppy that really matters. How you approach socialising makes the difference between a calm, confident puppy and an over excitable, or stressed and anxious puppy.

Socialising Rather than Experiencing

A puppy’s first experience of something new needs to Feel Good.

Then the next 10 experiences of that same new thing need to Feel Good.

Only then is it ok for an experience of that new thing to just Feel Ok.

You need AT LEAST 20 good experiences of something before one of those experiences can Feel Bad, otherwise your puppy may develop fear issues.

If your puppy sees something in the house, garden, or street that she is afraid of, you will see some of the following signals:

❖ Lip licking

❖ Yawning

❖ Panting

❖ Drooling

❖ Penis-crowning – the further out it comes, the more stressed he is

❖ Stiff tail

❖ Shaking off shows he has felt stressed and is trying to calm down

❖ Chewing ‘hard’ on a bone or toy

❖ Obsessive sniffing of the ground

THESE SIGNALS MEAN YOUR PUPPY IS UNCOMFORTABLE - YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM DISTANCE FROM WHATEVER IS BOTHERING THEM.

Signs of Stress and Anxiety

Try to be aware of any signals that show your puppy is stressed or anxious, either inside or outside the home. If you see any of the signs, then your pup needs distance from whatever is making him feel uneasy, so take him away, or make sure that he can get away if he feels crowded by somebody at home.

Do not say anything when he needs to move away – try to remember that reassurance will not make him feel any better. Unlike children, puppies are rarely soothed by owners trying to reassure them. The only thing that makes most puppies feel safe is distance from the thing that is bothering them, so create that distance without saying anything.

Once he has enough distance and you can see your puppy feels ok and is calm, praise and treat him. This is a way of making his calmness Feel Good.

It can seem a bit counter-intuitive because it might seem as if you are treating him for moving away. You are waiting until he is calm and can preferably look back at the thing that has upset him.

Calm methods always use Feel Good to reinforce calm reactions. So, we ignore any fear, whining, trembling etc. We just give the puppy what he needs in that situation, which is distance.

By reinforcing a calm reaction with the Feel Good of a treat, your puppy’s brain starts to become programmed to react more and more calmly to things that bother him, building his confidence.

THESE SIGNALS SHOW HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS OR ANXIETY IN THE HOME

❖ Shredding toys or bedding

❖ Chewing furniture

❖ Suckling for a long time on his bed. He’s doing it to self-soothe, which is good, but he needs to self-soothe because he feels stressed.

❖ Pacing

❖ Licking any part of the body obsessively

❖ Repeated scratching of any part of the body

❖ Whining

❖ Panting

❖ Inability to concentrate

If your puppy regularly does any of the above, please let me know so that I can help you work with him to reduce his anxiety levels.

The Fear Period

For many puppies, the world will become quite a frightening place during the first 3 months of their lives. All puppies go through a ‘fear period’ at anything between 5 ½ weeks to about 20 weeks. Even puppies who have previously seemed confident in every situation can suddenly become scared of new things, or even familiar things.

How you react during this fear period will help your puppy become a calm, confident teenage dog:

❖ Stay calm.

❖ Give distance if he wants to move away.

❖ Allow him to approach the scary thing at his own pace.

❖ Reinforce any moves towards it by praising him and giving tiny, tasty treats so that he gets strong Feel Good associations for approaching the scary thing.

❖ Let him move away at any time if he needs to.

❖ Sometimes touching the scary ‘thing’ yourself can help, but make sure he still has room to move away on a loose lead.

❖Try approaching the scary ‘thing’ from different directions once he is comfortable with it.

❖ Try to approach the scary ‘thing’ over a period of several days, repeating the experience until you know that he is completely calm and confident with it.

Meeting New People - Don't Touch Me Signals

❖ Turning her head away or leaning away

❖ Lip licking

❖ Panting with a tongue that is tense, rather than loose and lolling out of her mouth

❖ Yawning

❖Trying to hide behind you/furniture/anything or anyone that makes her feel safe

❖ Drooling (other than for food)

❖Penis-crowning – the further out it comes, the more stressed he is

❖ Stiff tail

❖ Shaking-off shows she’s felt stressed and is trying to calm down

❖ Chewing ‘hard’ on a bone or toy

❖ Obsessive sniffing of the ground or of hands that come towards her

These are the first signs that a puppy gives to say, ‘Please don’t touch me’. If you see these signals, give the puppy a break from people and put him in a confinement pen/den if he is at home. If you are out with him, take him away from whoever is trying to talk to/touch him.

These pens are ideal to allow you to get on with household jobs and not have to worry what your puppy is getting up to. It also helps teach puppies independence. Place puppy toys, water bowl and a bed inside the confinement area so your puppy can amuse himself.

Following the Socialising Code will teach your puppy how to be calm, content, and confident in all areas of his life. If you allow him to approach things at his own pace, use treats and praise to help him Feel Good, and ensure that this is used for every new thing that he encounters, he will trust that you will always keep him safe. There are bound to be things that he finds a bit difficult in his life, but, giving him this strong foundation in the early days and weeks in your care means that he will always feel secure as he grows into an adult dog.