Dutch Shepherd Forum

So I live in an apartment complex, in a fairly large city. Not by choice, I'm a country girl raised on 10+ acres. Oh well, it's temporary while the other 1/2 goes to school. Anyways, it can be quite a challenge with the dogs. I keep a somewhat 'no pet' policy with Koenig. Not because I don't trust him with strangers, but because he's going to be my working dog, and I need to be his ONLY concern- I don't want to have to fight for attention. The English Pointer whores herself out to anyone who comes within 5 feet, and I don't want Koenig acting like this.

This morning at the bus stop (usually has 20 ish kids, from kindergarten to 5th grade) one of the first kids very politely asked to pet Koenig. He was at his 'place' laying between my legs, so I said sure. One child quickly multiplied into the entire PACK of kids, all mobbing my young, excitable, sometimes mouthy dog. He held his place, soaking up the attention, and glancing up at me every 5 seconds or so.

GOOD BOY, Koenig! I was SOOOO happy that he stayed calm, and even happier he held his place. Once I removed all the kids from my dog (hahah) Koenig got to show off a little, and was put through his commands, with lots of hand touches. (jumping dutchie style high, of course) Not surprisingly, these kids have never seen any dog act like anything more then the average pet. I thought they were going to pass out when they realized I was giving commands that didn't sound like normal words (german) "What does plffffff mean? (Platz, silly 8 yr old)????" I explained, and they just couldn't believe a DOG could speak a GERMAN! Then we had to go through everything. Bring, hier, fuss, bleib, etc....

Anyways, my little brag of the day. SO proud of my kid for being good, and still having the focus to work after all the pets and loves from strangers. Of course, during all this attention, my 6 yr old is telling everyone "Koenig is a Dutch Shepherd. They are not the same as a german shepherd. His color is called brindle, and thats why he has stripes. He is ment for cops."
What a dork.

thanks for listening! My hubby is not nearly as impressed as I am. He's never had a drivey/crazy dog like Koenig, and just assumes every dog should be pet by everyone, under any circumstance. I figured you folks might get why I'm so thrilled by his behavior!

Very Cool! It never ceases to amaze me that people think a dog cannot "speak" any language other than Canine and English.

when I first got Abigail (my mutt) my friends joked that I had invented a new language: Abigailese. It was a mix of german, dutch, english, grunts/sounds, whistles...whatever worked. I was a complete newbie and whatever word/grunt/sound that came out of my mouth while trying to teach her something ... or stop her from doing something she shouldn't do.

...

on another note. Don't forget to sign your posts. You can update your signature line with you name so you don't have to remember.

Very impressive! What a good boy!

It always cracks me up when people think different language commands make any difference to a dog at all. Also, they're so impressed by hand signals, when of course, that's so much easier for a dog than a verbal cue .

Isn't it funny? People just don't get 'dog brain'. They don't realize how easy it would be to teach a dog to sit when we say down. Down when we say sit. Jump when we say stay.... they aren't human folks. Welcome to the world of operant conditioning!! Koenig still needs 'help' with a signal for Platz sometimes. (under distractions, usually) I introduced the command too early. My bad. He's a good teacher though! Very patient, so long as I don't run out of chicken breast. . .

Kelly
Now, off to change my signature. I'll always forget to, if I don't add it Eric!

turnnburn52984 wrote:Now, off to change my signature. I'll always forget to, if I don't add it Eric!

Thank you Kelly! It makes it so much easier to "know" who is who....and...all of your previous posts are now signed as well!

No prob!!!

That's awesome Kelly! I find the little things that my dog accomplishes make me feel very proud too and think it's great when other people do also. We aren't going to make this world a better place for dogs if we don't acknowledge that and show people what wonderful, intelligent animals they are. I'm not even quite sure why they hang out with us (food!) especially after the abuse that some of them go through, but thank God they do!

Deanna and Zori (my rescue that will always be "in progress")

turnnburn52984 wrote:I explained, and they just couldn't believe a DOG could speak a GERMAN! Then we had to go through everything. Bring, hier, fuss, bleib, etc....

Risking neighborhood kids lives to advance your training huh?
I know it must have fealt good and I am happy for you.
I doubt that your dog 'speaks' German though. I once had a smart little kid correct me when I said that the dog (named Tino) spoke English, French and Dutch. Kid shakes his head and says 'no, he doesn't' So I tell him that yes, he does! Go ahead and try some commands.
Then the kid tells me that he does not speak these languages, but that he merely understands them. Uh...... Uh.... Darnit. Little smart@ss was right.

Don't ya hate it when the little 2 leggeds out smart you? I do! It's one thing when one of my DOGS out-smarts me... but to have a kid be a smart @$$ just makes me mad! It happens on a daily basis here- I share my home with a 2 and 6 yr old! Yikes!

Have patience dear. I have heard that the first 40 years of parenthood are the hardest. After that, I gets easier.

40 years. . . crap. 38 to go on the young one? A red-head at that? I'm screwed!

Maybe you can place them in rescue.

Ohhh, thats a great idea... Then I can fill the extra bedrooms with Dutchies! My hubby will be just THRILLED with that.

He really might...if you tell him about the life sentence he is facing if he keeps the rugrats?

vneerland wrote:Have patience dear. I have heard that the first 40 years of parenthood are the hardest. After that, I gets easier.

You are right about that!!!! My oldest is 29 (the son in Iraq right now) and youngest is 21 (in college). I had no idea child-rearing would be a lifelong committment, financially, emotionally.......Enjoy them when they are little. I tell folks I would blind-swap my oldest for a 2 yr old anyday!!

Denise Gatlin

I'm late to reply- been busy, behind on my dutchie reading!

You haven't met MY 2 yr old! Spit-fire little red head. In the span of a month she went from quietly going to her room and crying, coming out when she was sweet.... to 'Kylie, go to your room please, we'll see you when you're sweet' and getting back a resounding 'NO!!!!!!!!!'

She's revenge for my older boy, who was the sweetest infant, toddler, and preschooler ever. No talking back, no tantrums, etc. Just a nice sweet boy. Kylie (2 yr old) has even managed to get a growl out of Koenig a couple times today. We're pushing the limits, me thinks...