german shepherd puppy rescue ny

Are you looking for a German Shepherd rescue in Alabama? Tips for making German Shepherd ownership as simple as possible. These rescues will be helpful in your mission to adopt a German Shepherd : 1. All rescued German Shepherds are either from shelters or surrendered by their owners, who can no longer care for their dogs for many different reasons. Saved dogs are initially placed in foster homes where they are socialized, trained, and rehabilitated. This rescue initially helped to re-home Dobermans before adding German Shepherds to their organization in .This rescue has a pretty simple mission — to assist both breeds in any way they can. Instead, they are often portrayed as aggressive when any aggressive behavior is due to fear caused by insufficient socialization and training by the owner. Rescued dogs are fully vaccinated, microchipped, health checked, and spayed or neutered before adoption. Although based in Alabama, the rescue will consider all applications. Alabama German Shepherd Rescues and Shelters If you live in Alabama, You should also search local animal shelters in your neighborhood. Because many people do not understand the breed-specific needs of German Shepherds, they are a common breed to be found in general animal shelters and rescues. Also, people giving up their German Shepherds who can no longer care for them often surrender their dogs to any general shelter instead of a specific German Shepherd rescue. Hard Knocks Rescue and Training This rescue program is focused on positive reinforcement and mutual respect to help dogs adapt from a neglectful or abusive past. Before finding its permanent home, the traumatized dog can take as much time as it needs to adjust and grow comfortable in a home setting. They also offer a training service to ensure all dogs have the best chance with their new family. Location: Huntsville, Alabama 2. They aim to rescue dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters and provide care before finding them a home. Check out their website for any German Shepherds that need a home. Location: Theodore, Alabama 3. Alabama Animal Adoption Society The Alabama Adoption Society has been helping stray dogs and unwanted family pets find loving and responsible homes since .It also has a mission to educate people on the importance of spaying or neutering pets to reduce the pet population. Location: Birmingham, Alabama. If you are looking for a dog in Alabama, it is best to check breeders near your area. How to Find Free German Shepherd Puppies in Alabama One way to find a dog without a fee is to donate to animal welfare groups in your area. These groups are often independent organizations, but they share the same mission of saving abused animals and finding good homes for them. ASPCA and local humane societies are two such groups. However, you can still donate and support these organizations. The German Shepherd is a highly intelligent breed and can detect whether a person is being cruel to them by using their nose and ears. These pups can be very tolerant of other dogs and are a good choice for families with children. A good quality dog should have excellent intelligence and a gentle temperament. The German Shepherd is a wonderful dog for the whole family, and even the smallest puppies can be very intelligent. The most popular way is to search for breeders that have available puppies for adoption. This will ensure that the animal has the proper vaccinations and health information, and that the adoptive family will be able to take care of it. Besides, these rescues will often help you save money because they are often affiliated with other rescue groups. Another way to find free German Shepherd Puppies in Alabama is to seek out a breed-specific rescue organization. Many breed-specific rescue organizations help abused animals. The breed-specific organizations can provide the care and guidance needed to raise the best possible dog. They are 13 weeks old and have AKC papers proving their bloodlines. While it is not always possible to adopt a dog from an AKC-registered breeder, it is often the only way to ensure that the dog is healthy. While free German Shepherd puppies are a great way to find a dog, you should be aware that they can be expensive. Nevertheless, a GSD puppy is a great choice for an active family. If you have the money to purchase a German shepherd, make sure you do your research and do not get a puppy that will need medical attention. You may be surprised to find that a German Shepherd is the best choice for many people. These dogs have great temperaments and are loyal to their owners. While free German shepherd puppies are rare, they are often available in shelters and rescue organizations. These dogs are known for their loyal and loving nature. They are intelligent and loyal and are an excellent choice for families with children. In the United States, the German shepherd is the most popular breed of dog. It is a great companion and is a wonderful family pet. If you are looking for a dog for your home, the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals frowns on the sale of animals online. You can find free German Shepherd puppies in Alabama. The adoption process is not as difficult as it sounds. You can also find free dogs by searching online. But make sure to ask questions and be prepared to answer many questions. Share this:.

The vet said, she was almost bred to death. She had heart-worms and various other injuries, but she's now HW free, spayed, and healthy! Because of her questionable former life she does not do well with cats, and is currently in training and getting better with dogs each time. She's been around children and is amazing with all ages. Older kids would be better because she is strong and sometimes forgets her strength. She is house trained and crate trained; and along with her training on how to interact with other dogs, she is learning leash walking and other basic commands. She is very food motivated and extremely smart, picking up new training in no time. She also redirects from stressful situations very easily as long as you have a treat. She is a very gentle soul and the bestest girl. She was abused in her previous life and deserves to live in luxury the for the rest of it. She needs someone looking for a companion, but it doesn't matter what kind - family, adventure, couch potato- she can do it all. She just enjoys life now that it's not at the end of a chain. She's the bestest, sweetest doll baby and all she needs is a chance. Our rescue pets are fostered in Southern foster homes unless otherwise stated and are posted for adoption once they are completely vetted and ready to travel. Our pets are adoptable in Alabama and New England States. Once an application is received, our team is happy to answer all of your questions and send additional pictures and videos. Thank you for thinking rescue! We invite you to take a peek at our handsome, friendly, large breed American Bulldogs. We are a a team of private American Bulldog Breeders and our dogs and pups are never kenneled or crated. They are our family pets and roam our house and land. We breed loving American Bulldog Puppies for you and your family to cheerish. Learn More After breeding these amazing creatures for 22 years. We have perfected the best breeding standards that have award us the 1 American Bulldog breeder in America. At We Love American Bulldogs we take a lot of care and pride in helping educate families about the breed that are interested in bringing one of these beautiful creatures into their homes. As any breed the most important thing you can do, is educate yourself about the breed that you are about to bring into to your life. We hope by offering these documents and our YouTube videos, about the breed and about the puppy you are about to consider to be a part of your family, that you will do it with complete awareness of your responsibility to the breed and your puppy. Get a Puppy Our team at "We Love American Bulldogs" feel blessed to care for these wonderful creatures we brought into the world. We worked very hard to make sure the foundation of your puppy is stable, loving and strong. Now we hope with all the information my over 22 years experience with this breed bring me, that we will share with you, that you will stay the course and make sure these pups are the best and true American Bulldog they can be. A Day In The Life.Call Morgan at for specific pup identification if you are leaning towards placing an early deposit. Please check back, we update our website daily! Please see our Deposit Page and our Transportation Page for information on getting your puppy. We love the English bulldog temperament, physique and expression, I just personally like it to be about lbs. We find the smaller sizes are more buoyant and playful and, though still very heat sensitive, are better able to cope with life in general. Downsizing an AKC breed takes time. Our girls all come from long lines of lb. We not trying for 20 pounders…our goal is to have healthy, beautiful babies that consistently mature at lbs. If you see a puppy that tugs on your heartstrings please call, or go to our deposit page for more information. In the last few years it has become clear that most people would prefer their puppy to be transported using our White Glove transport or Nanny Flight transport. Today, we have requests for our Puppies from all over the country. Because of this, the majority those requesting a Sugarplum Bulldog Puppy have also requested transport to their area of the country; those in Florida, for example, cannot easily make the drive to RI. As such, the majority of our Puppies have shifted to a transport model; this gets them closer to their new forever home. Because of this, we have come to the decision, that for the well being of our Puppies and for the benefit of our new Sugarplum Bulldog owners, we have developed a transport model for our pups using our Puppy-Mobile with direct transport to the pups new Forever Home! Our Mid-Western breeding home is co-owned by Sugarplum Bulldogs, and our partner. I realize that not having a chance to play with the Pups is disappointing to some, but please understand that our team are dedicated to the highest level of care for our little Pups. We truly feel that this new model is in the best interested of our Puppies and their new homes. Please feel free to ask me any questions…. Remember that the cost of a Bulldog puppy varies depending on certain factors such as, 1. Coat If you need a particular coat type or the most popular one, the price will go up. Authentic Breeds Bulldogs are purely bred, but there are chances of mixed breeds. So when you find a pure breed from a good breeder, the pricing will be according to the puppy and its parents. When you do find one, the breeder will charge you more. Before selling the dog, they must pay for health checks, training, food, and other expenses. Overall, you may need to prepare a good amount in your pocket before buying. Finding reliable Bulldog breeders might be difficult due to scammers. You can also check their notable works and kennel details to validate their location. Check to see if they have an Instagram or Facebook page. Kennel Visit When you visit the kennel, you can observe the puppies and breeders. You can learn about their health and mental being by checking whether the dogs are active or lousy. You can also check if the breeder has all necessary kennel items and keeps their spot clean. You can ask them why they chose to become a breeder or any other questions that can show you how professional they are. If they answer clumsily, you know the answer. When you obtain a Bulldog puppy, what should you do? Here are some helpful hints to get you started. Fix a Pee Spot Every puppy needs a peeing place that, if trained, will be the place the dog immediately goes to. Some Bulldog Breeders in Rhode Island RI potty-train their puppies before selling them, so inquire about this and save time. Give Your Puppy a Home Tour Yes, you must show the puppy around your entire house for them to feel comfortable. Take the puppy for a walk around your house to help them relax. Ensure there is no sharp-edged furniture or other items in the house that could hurt them. Each family member should express their love for the dog one by one. It will take a long time, but its loyalty and companionship are unfathomable after the dog has adjusted to everyone! It will also dull their sharp teeth, making them safe when they bite someone without an intention. Because all dogs like chewing, chewing toys should never be an option; it should always be required. Maintain a Regular Schedule Maintain a schedule so that you know when to feed, bathe, and walk your dog, among other things. A well-behaved dog is far easier to handle than one neglected. As a result, it is critical to groom them consistently. You must show love to them while training them with a stern tone. Above all, be patient and wait for the training to take its course. Crate Training is Essential Bulldogs prefer napping for extended amounts of time. As a result, crate training is critical. Watch Over Them Puppies, mainly when they are young, require a lot of attention. Never allow them to roam freely without a leash if it is an open space, for they can hurt themselves or run away unintentionally. Here are the best three websites to check to see whether a Bulldog is available. One of their best features is their search engine with filters. Puppies for Sale Today Puppies for Sale Today is another website where you may see a variety of puppies, including Bulldogs. Bulldogs have short coats that require weekly brushing. Do bulldogs make good pets for families? Yes, they enjoy playing with family members, including kids. What is the lifespan of a Bulldog? Sadly, their lifespan is short. Though they are said to live up to 10 years, research has shown that mostly they live only between 6 to 8 years. Final Thoughts Bulldogs love to cuddle but are super clever at the same time. They are a fantastic choice for training to enter into shows and competitions. With this info, we now bid you farewell. Have a nice day! Find Bulldog Breeders in Other States.

I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. With countless Bulldog breeders in Illinois, deciding which breeder to pick can be difficult. As a future dog parent, your only priority when purchasing a Bulldog should be the health of your future pet. And only a reliable and ethical breeder will ensure the puppies under its care are physically and mentally healthy. But how can you know which breeder is ethical in their breeding practices and can be considered reliable? Here are some qualities you should look for in your preferred breeder: Health Guarantee: A good breeder must provide a minimum one-year health guarantee against any genetic defects for the puppy, along with necessities such as vaccinations and deworming. Socialization: A good breeder must also ensure all puppies under its care have been well-socialized. This can be done by ensuring the puppies have regular interactions with kids if the puppies are home-raised or raised and trained with other puppies or pets. Encourage Visits: The breeder should not discourage you from visiting the facility where the puppies were raised. Visiting the facility where your future puppy is being kept can give you a good idea regarding the environment the breeder nurtures for the puppies under its care. The facility must be clean, with plenty of areas for the puppies to be comfortable and play around. Crucial information you should know about your Bulldog before you bring it home is as follows: Exercise Needs: Although the exercise needs of every Bulldog may vary, for most Bulldogs, around 20 minutes of exercise every day is enough. Exercise can include walking, playing fetch, wrestling, and more. However, this can be more or less, depending on whether your Bulldog has specific health issues. Frequently Asked Questions Is a Bulldog aggressive or not? Bulldogs are not aggressive at all. They are more lazy than prone to fight. Are Bulldogs good family pets? Bulldogs are excellent family pets that love playing with children. Can Bulldogs be left alone? Bulldogs can be left alone for around four to six hours. They have small bladders, so they will need to go to the bathroom afterwards. Illinois has several English Bulldog breeders you can choose from. We wish you the best of luck in finding yourself an English Bulldog! Located in the Midwestern region of the United States, Illinois is known for its bustling cities, rich history, and a wide range of dog-friendly activities. Our mission is to connect you with the best Illinois English Bulldog breeders and puppies for sale throughout Illinois. Our site features a wide variety of reputable breeders who specialize in raising healthy and happy puppies. Our breeders are committed to raising the highest quality puppies. They provide their puppies with all the necessary vaccinations and veterinary checkups to ensure they are in the best of health before they go to their forever homes. They also provide ongoing support and advice to ensure a smooth transition for both you and your new furry friend. Explore the vibrant dog-friendly scene in Illinois, featuring welcoming restaurants, spacious dog parks, and captivating dog shows. For those passionate about dog shows, events like the International Kennel Club of Chicago Dog Show provide an opportunity to appreciate the elegance and charm of English Bulldog canines while connecting with fellow enthusiasts. Illinois claims 10th in U. At TrustedPuppies. Most of our reputable English Bulldog breeders provide safe and affordable flight delivery, complete with a dedicated flight nanny who accompanies your new pup throughout their journey, ensuring their safety and comfort as they travel to their new home in Illinois. Many breeders also offer affordable vehicle delivery, utilizing specialized pet delivery services. This option allows your English Bulldog puppy to be transported directly to your door by a professional who understands the unique requirements of pet transportation. Begin your search for the perfect English Bulldog puppy on TrustedPuppies. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Necessary Always Enabled Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Non-necessary Non-necessary Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. You will be able to find all their current contact information, as well as a link to their website, so you can see what puppies they currently have available for sale. We provide you with all this information so that you can research each breeder individually and find the one that has your perfect puppy available! If you are considering getting an English Bulldog, you'll want to check out the incredible book "The Complete Guide to English Bulldogs". It's written in an easy-to-understand way but still has the expert knowledge to help any new owner successfully raise their Bulldog from puppy to old-age. It's widely available, so pick up a copy if you see one, here is the link to grab one on Amazon, or you can download the audiobook version here. If you can't find the perfect Bulldog puppy in your state, try checking at your local animal shelter or rescue organization. Many English Bulldogs young and old need a loving home and adopting one can be a great way to save a life. We are so happy that you have chosen Local Puppy Breeders to help you find the puppy of your dreams. In addition to visiting us often here, you can check us out on Facebook , Twitter , and Pinterest for more information, pictures, and videos!

This may vary depending on availability, payment method, location and other factors beyond our control. Close Additional shipping costs may apply. Product description Dry food for adult German Shepherd dogs and Belgian Shepherd dogs, with a breed-specific recipe enriched with L-carnitine, glucosamine and chondroitin to support joints, muscles and overall health. The German Shepherd is one of the world's best-known dog breeds and is popular as a working dog or service dog as well as making a loyal family companion. This Eukanuba German Shepherd Adult is a great choice for a complete dry food, tailored to the unique nutritional needs of the breed. This dry food is intended as daily complete nutrition from the age of 1 year old and is also suitable for Belgian Shepherd dogs. Eukanuba German Shepherd Adult provides your pet with all the essential nutrients it needs for good health, such as plenty of animal protein to help build and maintain strong muscles. This kibble is also enriched with prebiotics and beet pulp to ensure good digestive function, and contains beneficial ingredients such as glucosamine, chondroitin and L-carnitine. Additives per kg: Nutritional physiological additives: Vitamin A 44, IU , vitamin C 56mg , vitamin D3 IU , vitamin E mg , beta carotene 5mg , L-carnitine 50mg , copper sulfate pentahydrate 14mg , potassium iodide 2. Flavourings: Organic rosemary extract 17mg , tea extract 8. Contents contained at the time of manufacture. Analytical constituents. German Shepherd Information. The German Shepherd Dog is well proportioned and very strong. The GSD has a sturdy, muscular, slightly elongated body with a light, solid bone structure. The head should be in proportion to its body, and the forehead a little rounded. The nose is most often black, however, blue or liver still do sometimes occur, but are considered a fault and cannot be shown. The teeth meet in a strong scissors bite. The dark eyes are almond-shaped, and never protruding. The ears are wide at the base, pointed, upright and turned forward. The ears of puppies under six months may droop slightly. The bushy tail reaches below the hocks and hangs down when the dog is at rest. The front legs and shoulders are muscular and the thighs are thick and sturdy. The round feet have very hard soles. There are three varieties of the German Shepherd: double coat, plush coat and longhaired coat. The coat most often comes in black with tan, sable or all black, but also can come in white, blue and liver, but those colors are considered a fault according to most standards. A piebald color has also occurred in a single GSD bloodline that is now being called a Panda Shepherd. Additional Information.

Lifespan Sociability The Shepherd Inu is a hybrid breed that combines two purebreds. This is usually done to bestow at least some of the beneficial traits of one breed onto the other, to create a dog that is even better suited to a particular application. Because they are not purebred, you may also find them in a local shelter. Adoption costs vary by shelter but are usually a low adoption fee. The Shiba Inu can be prone to aggression, having been used as a personal protection dog in Japan and having been bred to hunt. The German Shepherd has also been used as a protection dog so you need to take precautions to try and ensure that your puppy will be suited to family life. Because the breed is not recognized by Kennel Clubs, it can be difficult to find breeders. Ask other owners and speak to breeders of either parent breed. Look for breed groups on social media and dog forums. It was first reared as a hunting breed in around B. C although its ancestors date back to as early as B. It was bred to hunt birds and small game, flushing them out from their hiding place so that their handlers could better hunt them. Their history means that the brave and energetic dog has a strong prey drive, and this can translate into aggression. A post shared by Robert L. Mickles micks 2. During World War II, heavy bombing attacks wiped many of the dogs out, with many of those remaining falling foul of distemper, which is a viral infection. Extensive breeding programs have helped rescue the breed from the brink of extinction and the modern breed most closely resembles that of the Shinshu variety. Following the war, many people shunned items that were associated with Germany, and because the breed bore the name German Shepherd, it fell out of favor. In some countries, breeders changed its name to Alsatian. It is now one of the most popular breeds in the world and is ranked as the second most popular breed in the USA. Max von Stephanitz took some of the most successful and intelligent herding dogs and bred them to create what he described as the ultimate herding dog, in the late 19th Century. It gained official recognition in .It is still used as a working dog , although you are more likely to see a German Shepherd as a police dog or working with armed forces around the world. They are also used privately as personal protection and guard dogs. The temperament of your dog depends on which parent breed is dominant, but it also depends on socialization, training, and the temperament of the individual, as well as other factors. They can make excellent family pets, superb working dogs, and great all-around companions, depending on what you are looking for. It should be noted that this hybrid is not recommended for novice owners. The German Shepherd has long been utilized as a guard dog, while the Shiba Inu is regarded as being prone to aggression. Experienced handlers may be able to get the best from the breed but novice trainers can struggle. Are Shepherd Inus Good for Families? As such, it is not recommended to have one around young children. Although your dog may never pose a threat to your children, they can be wary of strangers. They can also be very protective of their family, which means that they can become alarmed when children are playing with others and the games get particularly loud or boisterous. If you do get a Shepherd Inu and have a family, ensure that it is well socialized from a young age and that you have a firm grasp on training. Do not use aggressive training techniques, but you will need to be assertive and masterful. Puppy and training classes are considered beneficial because they teach owners how to train the dog and encourage good behavior. They also allow socialization in an environment with other dog owners. As a guard dog, this breed is always alert. They are constantly watching and listening for signs of possible danger. This means that they may not be best suited to life in an apartment because they are likely to bark a warning whenever they hear neighbors passing or your neighbors opening their doors. The cross can be territorial and may be protective over items, people, and even areas that they believe belong to them. They may get along with another dog if they are introduced when young, but you should be very wary when introducing them to smaller animals including cats. However, it is a lively and energetic dog that does well as a working dog and performs admirably at canine sports including agility. While it might not be the best dog for all potential owners, it could make a loving dog for you. Read on to see what is required if you do take on this impressive hybrid. The exact amount you need to feed depends on age, activity level, and the current and target weight of your dog but you should expect to feed approximately two cups of good quality dry food per day. Follow manufacturer instructions when feeding wet food, and if you feed a combination diet then make sure that you adjust the levels of dry and wet food accordingly. Obesity and dehydration are potentially very dangerous for dogs, just as they are for people, so you should monitor their weight and look for symptoms of dehydration if you are concerned. You will need to provide between 60 and 90 minutes of exercise every day. Some of this can take the form of a decent walk, but you should also look for ways to let your hybrid run around. German Shepherds, in particular, are known for their prowess in canine sports and agility. In fact, they have a canine sport that was created specifically for them. Schutzhund is designed to test everything from agility to strength and the bond between the dog and handler. Because Schutzhund has been opened up and allows dogs of any breed to enter, you can enroll your Shepherd Inu mix to take part. On the one hand, you have the responsive, alert, and typically obedient German Shepherd. On the other, you have the somewhat stubborn and headstrong Shiba Inu. Depending on which your puppy takes after, you could have a dog that is difficult to train or one that picks up commands quickly and listens when you issue a command. The German Shepherd is ranked as the third most intelligent dog breed, behind the Border Collie and the Poodle. It is this responsiveness and intelligence that has seen it employed in so many service roles. Be assertive and masterful when training. It will need brushing at least twice a week throughout the year and will suffer from serious bouts of shedding at least once a year. Regular brushing removes dead hairs and can detangle knots, reducing the amount of shed hair left on sofas and clothes, but there will always be some hairs to deal with. Because your dog cannot brush its own teeth, you will also have to help ensure good dental hygiene. Brush teeth at least three times a week, ideally starting when your dog is a puppy to get it used to the process. This will usually need doing every two or three months, depending on how much time they spend walking and running on hard surfaces. If you struggle to cut nails, you can ask a professional groomer or even your vet to assist with this. Proponents of hybrid breeding claim that hybrid vigor reduces the chances of a hybrid from developing the hereditary conditions of either parent, while opponents claim that the hybrid has an increased chance of developing the hereditary diseases of both parent breeds. German Shepherds are somewhat prone to arthritis, which can be painful and debilitating. As a large breed, they are also more likely to develop joint dysplasia. Shiba Inus are more likely to suffer allergies and eye complaints like glaucoma and cataracts. Look for symptoms of the following conditions and speak to a vet if you are concerned. Minor Conditions. You may like: Akita shiba inu mix. Shiba Inu. The Shiba-Inu dog breed was originally developed to flush small game and hunt wild boar. Six breeds of native Japanese dogs can be divided. The Shiba Inu is the smallest and most ancient of these six breeds. One theory is that the name Shiba means small. These theories led to the Shiba being called the little brushwood dog. He is likely to chase squirrels, chipmunks, and cats. He needs to get good daily exercise , be it a stroll in the neighborhood or a run with his bicycling partner. In , the Japanese Kennel Club was established. Nihon Ken Hozonkai created the Shiba Inu breed standard. German Shepherd dog. The German Shepherd Dog is one the most beloved dog breeds in America — and for a good reason. They are capable working dogs and intelligent. Also, they are unsurpassed in their devotion and courage. They are also incredibly versatile. German Shepherds are strong, loyal, agile, large, yet agile dogs. They belong to the herding breed category, meaning they are energetic and enjoy having a job or a place to exercise. They are well-known for their loyalty, bravery, and confidence. German Shepherds are often used in military and police as working dogs for bomb sniffing, search and rescue, and patrolling. The German Shepherd is an extremely new breed. It dates back to .Moreover, they are the result of one man: Captain Max von Stephanitz. He was a career captain in German cavalry and aimed to create a German breed that would be unmatched for herding dogs. The British Kennel Club did not do so until .The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix is a loyal and protective dog that makes a great companion. This mixed breed is intelligent and easily trained but may sometimes be stubborn. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix needs plenty of exercises to stay happy and healthy. This mixed breed does best in a home with a yard or access to daily walks, runs, or hikes. You may like: Shiba inu Corgi mix. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix ranges in size from medium sized dog to large dog. Most adults weigh between 50 and 80 pounds. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix inherits the distinct facial features of the Shiba Inu, including the small, triangular ears and almond-shaped eyes. This mixed breed also has a thick, double coat available in various colors, including black, brown, and white. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix sheds moderately and requires occasional grooming to prevent matting. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix is a relatively healthy breed with an average lifespan of years. However, this mixed breed is susceptible to some health conditions, including hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Regular vet checkups and exercise can help reduce the risk of these conditions. Coat and color. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix has a thick, double coat available in various colors, including black, brown, and white. This mixed breed sheds moderately and requires occasional grooming to prevent matting. You may like: Husky shiba inu mix. Grooming and shedding. German Shepherd Shiba Inu Mixes can shed a lot over the year. Brush your German Shepherd Shiba mix every other week to keep it healthy and shiny. It would be best if you bathed your dog as often as you needed to. Consider using it for everyday cleaning. Also, ensure that you check their eyes and consult your vet for any concerns about their health. Exercise needs. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix is an active breed that requires regular exercise and plenty of mental stimulation to avoid boredom and destructive behaviors. Training needs. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix is intelligent and easily trained but may be stubborn at times. This mixed breed responds well to positive reinforcement training methods, such as treats and praise. Suitability for kids and other pets. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix is a protective breed that makes a great companion for families with children. This mixed breed does best when socialized early and often, as they can be reserved around strangers. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix is good with other dogs and cats but may chase smaller animals if not properly trained. You may like: Catahoula german shepherd mix. Feeding and diet. Larger dogs may require more food. It is important to determine the size and weight of your Shepherd Inu. The Shiba Shepherd mix should eat between 2 and 3 cups of high-quality dog food. Mixed breed dogs can be fed the best dry dog food to see if they like it. Stick with the formula that they love. Your Shiba shepherd dog should have probiotics and wild Alaskan Salmon oil. Your active Shepherd Inu will need continuous access to fresh water daily to avoid dehydration. Are these mix breed barks a lot? Both yes and no. Yes and No. You can train your dog to stop barking and socialize them well. You may like: Tibetan mastiff corgi mix. How long do the German Shepherd and Shiba Inu dog mixes live? Your German Shepherd Shiba Inu mix can live between years, based on the life expectancies of their parent breeds. Their life expectancy depends on many factors, including diet, exercise, and health. The Shiba Inu German shepherd mix is a designer dog. This mixed breed inherits the best traits of both parent breeds and is known for being an intelligent, loyal, and protective companion. The Shiba shepherd mix is an active breed that requires regular exercise and plenty of mental stimulation to avoid boredom and destructive behaviors. I grew up on a farm where we had all sorts of animals, from cows and horses to pigs and chickens. My love for animals led me to pursue a career in writing about them. I have been a pet care writer for over 5 years and have extensive knowledge of animal care, health, and behavior. Friendliness: Friendly with kids and other domestic pets. Nature: Loving and devoted. Shepherd Inus are attentive and protective, with a gentle but firm demeanor. They flourish in active roles that allow them to work out each day; without enough physical activity, they may become bored or destructive toward their home environment. These dogs love being around family owners because of how considerate they can be when it matters most — which makes Shepherd owners adore this breed even more! The Shepherd Inu is an excellent family dog, with the ability to recognize people who come around frequently. They are not lapping dogs or attention seekers; however, they do require some time to spend alone every day in order for their minds and spirit to be at peace! The face is usually somewhere between the two in terms of shape and muzzle length, but there are some pups where you can clearly see their German Shepherd parentage from behind those large ears or droopy tail that trails after them as they go about doing what dogs do best — hunting! There are some pups who inherit traits from both parents while others can be much clearer in terms of their inherited dispositions. This dog has an air of elegance about them with their long body and compact shape! Facial Look: The Shiba Inu German Shepherd mix has a fox-like face that would be preferable to have if you are an admirer of this dog breed. Is it red and white? Or just black with some light patches on it that may or may not be what they seem to be at first glance. They have an intense loyalty to their family and people that borders on obsession but can be trained out if need be to behave otherwise. As intelligent as they are energetic, these dogs require plenty of exercises to maintain both physically healthy sides — going for walks or runs with you each day will do wonders! If you want the best care possible for this furry friend then make sure their coat is well maintained through the bathing season! You should keep this breed of dog away from toddlers who may be too rough or inconsiderate when they play. Friendly with other Pets: A Shiba Inu GSD Mix has a natural instinct to chase after small animals without hesitation, so it would be best not to mix your new pup with cats. However, you can attempt at an early year if possible. Well, this is an exception that proves the rule because these particular dogs seem to be getting on pretty good terms here! However, they can be territorial and will warn you if another dog comes near them first-time or frequently enough to warrant attention from their owner. Despite this negativity surrounding the breed in general society has branded them as aggressive — which is rare for these animals! Exercise: These little bundles of energy are the perfect companion for anyone who needs an active, enthusiastic friend. Shiba Inu German Shepherd Mix will keep you on track with their love and lots of playtimes! And while most people think that all hybrid animals need at least 75 minutes of exercise per day just like any other animal would need more than its own kind in order to stay healthy. Because of their German Shepherd ancestry, these pups have a natural inclination to get safeguarding of ones who own them. They were originally bred to be watch-trained, but make great guards as well! Food Requirements: You may be wondering what the importance of choosing good dog food for your dog is. Your pup needs qualified advice to grow and develop properly. The basic health issues of this breed are as follows: Glaucoma. Characteristics of Shiba Inus and German Shepherds When it comes to cross-bred dogs or designer dogs , they are typically bred for specific desired traits that will come from mixing two or more breeds. Shiba Inus are relatively small but strong dogs with strong senses of sight and smell, which has historically made them keen hunters. This breed is moderately energetic and requires regular exercise, but these dogs are not often the destructive type. The most common coloring for Shiba Inus is black and tan, cream, red, or red sesame, all with white markings. Additionally, their coats do not typically mat, so regular brushing is not necessary, though it will minimize the amount of fur that gets spread around your house as they shed. In terms of training, they require little guidance when it comes to housebreaking. This, however, should not overshadow the fact that Shibas are not to be trusted off-leash, regardless of training level. They should never be considered safe in an open, unconfined area. You should even be careful about leaving a door or gate open for a moment too long. Overall, Shiba Inus are quite healthy dogs. Though this does not mean they are always in perfect health, as they are less prone to a wide range of health issues. Characteristics of German Shepherds German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds around, ranking second in popularity with the AKC. Standing between 22 to 26 inches 56 to 66 centimeters tall and weighing in at an average of 50 to 90 pounds .A Detailed Guide While they are known and named for their herding abilities, German Shepherds are incredibly intelligent dogs. They are also loyal, muscular, courageous dogs. German Shepherds are such loyal animals that they will willingly put their life on the line for the ones they love. While it may take them a while to come around to new friendships, once they have deemed you worthy of their trust and loyalty, it will never waiver. The grooming needs of a German Shepherd are a bit more involved than that of a Shiba Inu. The medium-length double coat of his breed requires a brief brushing a couple of times a week. An extensive period of shedding will occur once or twice annually in which regular brushing will help prevent fur from ending up all over the house. All You Need to Know This breed is very active, which means German Shepherds require lots of daily exercise to keep them happy. If they are not given opportunities to be active enough, they will begin to act out. To keep your pup satisfied and your living room intact, take advantage of the fact that these dogs love swimming, agility, tracking, and even frisbee! The mental stimulation that is associated with these activities is necessary for dogs with their degree of intellect. Just check out this informative and well-illustrated article: Tackling obedience training and socialization at a young age will make your job as a dog owner much easier in the long run. German Shepherds will show tremendous results when trained consistently and in a positive manner. They do not respond well to negative-enforcement or punishment-based training. For most dogs German Shepherds, the biggest health concern is a case of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus GDV , also referred to as bloat or twisted stomach. This is a sudden, life-threatening veterinary emergency. Shepherds should also be screened regularly for their hip and elbow health. To understand more completely about the joint issues that all German Shepherds may likely face at some point in their lives, especially during their older years, be sure to read the article linked below: German Shepherd Joint Problems: All You Need to Know Characteristics of Shiba Inu German Shepherds Shiba Inu German Shepherds are highly athletic to optimize endurance and power. They are considered medium to large dogs. Depending on how much they lean towards Shiba Inu genetics or German Shepherd ones, these dogs can stand upwards of 22 inches 56 centimeters and weigh around 40 to 60 pounds .However, their faces resemble that of a fox — a trait distinct to Shiba Inus — with almond-shaped eyes that are dark brown. Shiba Inu German Shepherd mixes also bear pointed ears, a characteristic found in both individual breeds. However, beware if anyone in your household has allergies as these dogs are definitely going to shed! Although they can be found in virtually all color combinations, mixes of tan and red are the most common. So, you can expect to be vacuuming up a variety of different fur colors! You should also be prepared to deal with any negative health outcomes that this breed is prone to before bringing one home. Temperament Get ready to get some steps in! Shiba Inu German Shepherds are highly athletic dogs who require ample exercise every day. This mixed breed dog will need to get at least 75 minutes of active moment on a daily basis. This might look like taking your pup to the off-leash fenced-in dog park, bringing them along for a run while you cycle, or letting them go for a swim in the lake. Like all active dogs, make sure you take their athletic needs seriously. If they do not have a chance to release their energy, you might come home to a moody dog chewing up your furniture and acting out on you. They are also a highly intelligent breed, so they will need lots of mental stimulation. Also, leaving your Shiba Shepherd alone for extended periods will cause them to be very unhappy. A great way to provide any highly intelligent dog with adequate mental stimulation is by providing them with a puzzle toy. A great example of one such toy is this one made by Outward Hound. This toy is a full mind and body exercise for you pup, as it requires their mind to think of the solution and their paws and muzzle to unlock the tasty treat reward! Keeping your pup occupied with an interactive toy like this will also give them a sense of accomplishment, and they will love the praise that you shower on them when they succeed! While they do not require excessive amounts of attention, they do best when given a task to do, as both GSDs and Shiba Inus were originally bred as working dogs as we have previously discussed. Be sure to dedicate sufficient time to training your dog since merely letting them run around in the yard will not be satisfying enough for them. Luckily, Shiba Inu German Shepherd hybrids are not very vocal dogs. They usually will be relatively quiet unless they find barking necessary. These crosses are excellent watchdogs and loyal to their families. No harm will ever be done to you if they have a say in it! Care Keeping Shiba Inu German Shepherds regularly stimulated and active is arguably the most important aspect of their care. Having them well trained to curb their aggression and territorial nature is also necessary. Socialization at a young age will help avoid unfriendly encounters with strangers. They should also have their nails trimmed monthly to avoid pain or structural issues. This can be done at home using a professional tool like the Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder. This helps keep your dog calm during nail maintenance, which can be a highly stressful experience for a lot of dogs. If you are uncomfortable doing this by yourself, you can always take your pup to the groomers. As with all dogs, you should always take them to regular veterinary visits in order to ensure that your dog is in optimal health and to catch any potential illness that German Shepherd mixes are prone to as soon as possible. Though Shiba Inus are typically quite healthy dogs, poorly-bred German Shepherds are prone to a long list of adverse health outcomes. These include, but are not limited to:. So new, that there is no official name to this cross, though some refer to this mix as "Shepherd Inus". Designer dogs are two purebred dogs of different breeds mixed together. Some designer dog advocates claim that mixing two purebred dogs together improves "hybrid vigor". Opponents of designer dogs claim that unscrupulous breeders can easily breed together two low quality purebreds and still demand outrageous prices. This article will help to inform you of what you can expect from a Shiba Inu German Shepherd cross. You will also learn more about the pros and cons of designers dogs. In the wrong hands, these two breeds can be difficult to control and train. Germans Shepherds and Shiba Inus are beautifully striking dogs that are intelligent and loyal. They also are dogs that have a high prey drive and are prone to issues with aggression. This type of dog needs a confident handler that is familiar with the needs of this type of working breed. They are not working dogs and are actually somewhat difficult to train due to their stubbornness. Crossing an independent and stubborn Shiba Inu with a German Shepherd which is a high energy, working breed can understandably produce a dog that may not be easy to handle and train. Shepherd Inus will not do well in a backyard with nothing to do - they need regular exercise and work. This does NOT mean that owner should use excessive force or punishment. A Shiba Inu German Shepherd mix will typically be a loyal, protective, and loving member of the immediate family. However, Shepherd Inus can tend to be independent dogs that do not crave too much affection. However, Shepherd Inus are usually not friendly with strangers. Proper socialization at an early age is an absolute must with this dog. Shepherd Inus are dogs with a high prey drive. Care must be taken to ensure that these dogs are safe when they are off leash. Obedience training should be done very early. Commands such as heel, come, and stay should be the main focus of training until the dog is compliant with the commands. Both dogs have pointed, erect triangular ears and long snouts - with the German Shepherd's snout being longer. These two dog breeds also have similar coat colors. The Shiba Inu coat colors include red, black and tan, sesame, and cream. All black, white, sable, and blue are also German Shepherd coat colors but are less common and desired. A Shiba Inu German Shepherd mix typically weighs between 40 - 60 pounds with the males being heavier. In terms of height, Shepherd Inus are roughly between 19" to 22" tall. Shepherd Inus are strong and agile dogs. They have well-muscled bodies that are built for both power and endurance. These types of dogs need daily exercise and work for optimal health. Shepherd Inus have short to medium length double coats. The outer coat is straight and coarse while the undercoat is thick and plush. Normally, Shepherd Inus will fully blow their undercoats once or twice a year. Moderate brushing is required for this dog. The most serious of these issues include cataracts, glaucoma allergies, patellar luxation and occasionally hip dysplasia. Recently, much controversy has centered around the noticeably sloping backs of German Shepherd dogs entered in dogs shows. The originally bred German Shepherds did not have this curved back feature because it would hinder them from being efficient working dogs. This sloping back feature is not a desired norm of the breed and should not be tolerated. Petitions against sloping GSD backs have been successfully filed, and the Crufts competition will include stricter standards that penalize this feature. Because Shiba Inu German Shepherd mixes are new and relatively uncommon, long term health issues are not known at this point in time. The life expectancy of a Shepherd Inus is between 12 - 14 years. Because of this, anybody can breed designer dogs without any prior experience. Typical AKC pedigree breeders, on the other hand, must answer to breed clubs, breed standards, and do rigorous genetic testings and health screenings. Because of the popularity of certain designer breeds in the celebrity world, many breeders begin producing designer dogs simply for monetary gain, resulting in puppy mill like conditions for a lot of dogs. Read more about designer dog issues here. Shiba Inu fanciers and admirers typically do not endorse mixing the Shiba Inu with any other breed, period. These fanciers believe that the Shiba Inus already possess a nearly flawless natural body that is designed for optimal functioning in the wild. Proponents For Breeding Hybrid Dogs Those that endorse designer dogs believe that breeding two different purebreds will increase "hybrid vigor" or heterosis. These designer dog supporters also make claims that they can produce the "perfect" dog by choosing two breeds that best match the potential owners needs. These claims are largely unsubstantiated. While crossing two purebreds does have the potential of bringing out the best traits of both breeds, it can also, instead, bring out the worst traits of both breeds. Should I Get a Shepherd Inu? The decision to chose a dog breed is a highly personal choice that should be made with careful consideration into the consequences of your decisions. We here at My First Shiba Inu do not advocate for the breeding of designer dogs in general. Instead, we use our platform to provide as much information as possible about the issue and let you as an individual make an informed choice. Furthermore, there are many instances when our readers already have a designer dog mix and would benefit from the information we can provide about the particular hybrid being that the mixes we write about all involve Shiba Inus. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. This post may contain links to products that I may receive compensation for at no additional cost to you. View my affiliate disclosure here. German Shepherds GSDs are known for their protective and loyal nature, making them excellent guard dogs. Additionally, GSDs love to work , whether competing in agility competitions or sniffing out bombs while on duty with the military. Notably, GSDs are brilliant and quick to learn basic tricks if taught correctly. Also, GSDs are known to excel in various domestication qualities such as agility and obedience. GSDs are a large breed and can live anywhere from years. Therefore, owners can be assured to have them around for a long time unless they develop health conditions that could lead to their ultimate death. Furthermore, German Shepherds GSDs possess a thick double coat that needs excellent care through routine brushing and bathing. They can do anything to be close to their masters. Ooh, did we also mention GSDs love attention? GSDs come in a variety of colors but the most commonly recognized is tan with a black saddle. What are Shiba Inus known for? Shiba Inu is a medium-sized dog with short erect ears and a curled tail. They vary in height, with a fully grown breed measuring approximately 13 to 16 inches. Additionally, they have potent legs and sturdy bodies and weigh between pounds. Shiba Inus are known for their aloof personality. The Shiba Inu is a very independent breed of dog. You can quickly tell their characters through their dismissive interactions with other dogs or pets. Even though they can be stubborn and sometimes hard to train, Shiba Inus possess great alertness. They do little to no barking. This could be concerning if you're looking for a protective pet in the Shiba Inu. But their silence makes them a wonderful apartment dog. Shiba Inus can live anywhere from years and spend little time begging for attention. Additionally, their coat could be red, black, or tan and shed very little. This makes them suitable for people with asthma or other allergies. Launched in , Dogecoins initially termed memecoins were a considered a joke cryptocurrency based upon the Shiba Inu meme that was very popular on the internet at the time. Since it's inception in , Dogecoin has occasionally been taken seriously as a form of payment. There was a point where Elon Musk was willing to take Dogecoin payments to purchase his Tesla model vehicles. Elon Musk had such an influence on Dogecoin that it rallied in the cryptocurrency market creating some millionaires along the way as it was "shooting for the moon"! What can you expect with a German Shepherd Shiba Inu hybrid? A German Shepherd Shiba Inu mix may vary in size depending on the size of their parents. They weigh between pounds and are easily trained due to their sharpness. This hybrid is known to inherit their combined parents' personality traits. They tend to adopt the courageous, independent, and watchful nature of a German Shepherd GSD and the alertness, aloofness, and assertiveness of a Shiba Inu breed. The hybrid GSD Shiba Inui dogs may also have various body markings, such as black, red or white in their coat color. However, it could be tough to predict the exact color of a German Shepherd Shiba Inu mix, especially when they are puppies. Notably, their coat tends to change as they grow older. Temperament and Domestication characteristics The German Shepherds Shiba Inu hybrid has a great personality combined from both its parents. These dogs can be very playful yet loyal to their owners. Furthermore, a German Shepherd Shiba Inu hybrid can be great with the family and children but may portray their protective traits, especially on any potential threat. A German Shepherd Shiba Inu hybrid may inherit some of their parent's characteristics, such as aggressiveness, so if possible get to know the parents temperments. This makes it easy to train them. Moreover, these dogs are great at learning and enjoy pleasing their owners. But you should expect a price variation depending on the breeder, color, location, and size. A fully grown dog can roughly weigh up to pounds. However, the mixed breed's weight may also differ depending on the size of their parents. If their parents were small-sized, then the breed mix would also be small-sized. A German Shepherd Shiba Inu mix is known to grow up to an approximate height range of inches. Health and lifespans The German Shepherd Shiba Inu hybrid's lifespan is usually between 10 to 14 years old. However, this may vary depending on their parent's health conditions. For example, if one of the parents had a weak immune system or was prone to illnesses, the exact condition could quickly be passed to the breed mix. Ensure you give the dog maximum care early enough to mitigate the underlying conditions. The Common health problems - including the breed, symptoms, and treatment German Shepherd Shiba Inu hybrid may face a few health conditions. However, the most prevalent disease is problems on the eyes. They are prone to eye lens luxation, leading to glaucoma and cataracts. Also, these dogs may be inclined to other diseases such as diabetes, epilepsy, hip dysplasia , cardiac and heart problems. Additionally, the GSD Inu hybrid is known to inherit some of their parent's genetic health issues. Luckily, with proper care from the owner and regular visits to the vet, you can quickly treat these diseases depending on the diagnosis. Therefore, whenever you notice sickly behavior from your dog, ensure you visit the vet for a quick check-up and treatment. What is the ideal home environment for this mixed breed? German Shepherd Shiba Inu mix is a friendly dog who loves to live with the family. However, these dogs may not be suitable for people living alone. Also, these dog breeds can be very protective and territorial towards their home, property, and family. Therefore, owning this mixed breed requires extensive training time to keep them in line. Furthermore, these dogs are best suited to live in a house with a large yard. They can be highly active indoors and outdoors, so the home must have enough space for their exercise needs. Besides, they cherish playing within your home with you and the family. Conclusion The German Shepherd Shiba Inu mix breed is an excellent breed for those looking for a medium to large dog that is playful and loyal. This breed can be great with children while being protective at the same time. A German Shepherd Shiba Inu mix will be a wonderful addition to your family, whether you live in an apartment or even in a farmhouse. Welcome to the Pack! Training and socializing your puppy as soon as you take them home will help ensure they get along well with people and other dogs. Without proper affection and attention, Shepherd Inus can become destructive because of boredom. Give your German Shepherd Shiba Inu mix enough exercise and mental stimulation to prevent destructive behaviors. Discover how to train your Dog by playing games : 21 games to play with your Dog that will make them smarter and better behaved! Therefore, they should be socialized early with cats and other dogs to avoid aggression. Training This is not the easiest mix breed to train. Many people agree that they need an experienced owner to get the best out of them. This means a strong, consistent training regimen from an early age. Housetraining can be quite difficult since they are often stubborn. All you need to do is to start training them early so you can prevent behavioral issues in the future. Obedience and house breaking are obviously essential, but so are leash training and socialization. This is the best way to handle the problem of the prey drive, disobedience in public and any issues with strangers. Try teaching him his name as well. Avoid scolding or shouting at them. Those that struggle with training their new Shepherd Inu puppy can turn to an online guide, such as Doggy Dan the online dog trainer. This is a great, accessible solution for many different dog training issues. The step by step guides let owners handle the issues at their own pace. This is a great alternative to doggy obedience classes, where these wary dogs may not excel. Therefore, this is not the best breed for people with allergies. Groom your German Shepherd Shiba Inu Mix a few times each week to keep their coat smooth and healthy. Bathing should be done as necessary. For everyday cleaning, consider using the best deodorizing wipes for dogs. You need to brush their teeth several times every week. Also You should clip their toenails once a month to prevent them from getting too long Finally, make sure to check the condition of their eyes, and if you are in any doubt about their overall health and wellbeing, be sure to consult your vet.

Our Story When our 1st son was 18 months old, he was bitten by a family member's dog when he fell on her. She was a common rescue mix and even though she was kind and showed no aggression before, we had to pry her off of his head. This was a horrifying experience, and it was very hard on the family. After that happening, we knew we needed a family friendly breed for our young family. We chose a Golden Retriever puppy and she was loving, smart and affectionate. I started adding a few breeding dogs to my program and began a wonderful adventure. I have always longed for the farm experience that I grew up with. Both of us grew up in farm settings, and have always been around raising animals and puppies. I knew that breeding dogs would give me the love of the farm, at our home near Boise, Idaho. It is the perfect match for me. We started breeding Goldendoodle puppies and have never looked back. I will always be a dog breeder. It fits my personality perfectly. When we started our journey for a family dog, we were where you are. The journey you're on is not easy. If you've researched, you know that Goldendoodles are amazing with families and children. Feel free to reach out to us for support, we are here to help you in the process. Authority Check it out! I am proud to be published in the Complete Guide to Goldendoodles. I dedicate myself full-time to being a Goldendoodle Breeder. We put our heart and soul into being professional and dedicated. I am learning every single day something new about genetics, health or breeding. I network with hundreds of other breeders where we discuss changes in the parent breeds, new medications, materials, new genetic testing, and trends. I also have a handful of excellent specialized veterinarians that I work with weekly to ensure the best care of our moms and puppies. We carefully learn about genetics and commit to extensive ongoing research in health, genetics, training and breed practices for goldendoodles. We are an in-home goldendoodle breeder. We purpose to always be adding more and more health testing to our breeding program. Our Mommas We run a Guardian Program, which is on of the best breeding practices in existence. We breed full-time and therefore have lots of experience. Small breeders often make many mistakes because they only breed occasionally. They don't have the knowledge or resources to improve the breed. We average litters a year. Are we a puppy mill because of many puppies being produced? We are the farthest things from a puppy mill. Puppy mills kennel their many mother dogs and puppies for most of their lives. They re-sell their retired mothers for cheap prices, donate them to rescues, or even worse, euthanize them. Our mother dogs are pampered, and cared for with their loving families and live with no more than 1 other dog forever in the same home they were raised in. They are bred for only up to 4 times, and if they have no health issues. We are able to have many, happy dogs this way. No mother dogs are kept outdoors or in dirty, disease infected areas. In fact, they get more attention than most dogs because we hand select homes where the environment is extremely healthy emotionally and physically for a family dog. They have kids to play with, usually an adult home most of the day, sometimes another doggie playmate and of course, there are two families watching out for their health. They are groomed, exercised required , vetted, protected, and loved! Champion Lines Champion Lines means that there are close relatives of a dog that has achieved a Champion title in the show ring. We import our parent dog's lines, so they are from International Champion Lines. This is Ace for example. We raised Ace as a puppy and he now lives in Washington, DC with our sister, as a stud for our breeding program. He has 15 International Champions and 1 World Champion in his 5 generation pedigree. Several of his puppies are now grown and are currently in our Guardian Program having mini teddybear Goldendoodle puppies. She is such a wonderful example of a sweet, highly trainable mini Goldendoodle puppy. Trainability Blossom, one of our talented puppies has achieved "Trick Dog Champion. She also opens the refrigerator, gets you a drink of water and closes the fridge. She is a dock diving dog and a demo dog for a highly regarded trainer in Northern California. See her HERE. We breed our own lines of English Golden Retrievers and all of our future breeding dogs will be English Golden Retrievers. We partner with family members and choose from the very best puppies to introduce into our program. Our current American Golden Retriever mommas also have many of these characteristics. We chose them because out of the American lines, they have similar qualities. We look for blocky, mellow, and great health testing in our parent dogs. We found that most English Cream Golden Retrievers have all three of those qualities. Some American Golden Retrievers have all three, but they are hard to find. Their hip testing has significantly higher scores. The other genetic tests we do on our dogs are often much better with the English. Their temperament is the biggest difference that most people notice between the two types. They are much more mellow. We feel that because our puppies will be family and service dogs instead of hunting or agility dogs, we think that the mellow, laid back temperament of the English Golden will be best for our lines. English creams have a wonderful body style for Teddybear Goldendoodles. They are blocky and thick. This offsets the lean, athletic build of the poodle and perfectly compliments them. They are the parent dog for us! Our Puppies Our puppies are thoroughly and highly socialized. Our puppies are handled daily by children of all ages. Our Goldendoodle puppies are exposed to every household noise because they are raised in a home. They are in the dining room or living room areas so that they are close by all the daily activities in the home. This also gives everyone in the home convenient access to socialize them as part of family life. As they grow, we integrate outside playtime for the puppies part of the day, so that they learn the dog world as well as the people world. A few of our breeding females are active therapy dogs in facility settings. We have sold several diabetic alert dogs DADS and many to be trained for therapy and service. We work with local and national trainers to choose potential puppies. Golden Retrievers are known to be the all-around best family dogs in the world. They are trainable, easy going, and safe with children. That's why we initially chose a Golden Retriever when we had a young family. They are great at agility, retrieving, hunting and they have beautiful soft coats. Most of all, Golden Retrievers are people pleasers and will do almost anything to earn affection. They are one breed and so their temperaments are the same, just in different sizes. They are the second smartest dog in the world and easily trained. They are alert, and of course, non-shedding! They give the Goldendoodle their lovely fleecy and easy to groom coat. Why Goldendoodles Goldendoodles are retrievers with a soft mouth, affectionate, and highly intelligent. They have endurance and agility. Goldendoodles have what Breeders call "Hybrid Vigor. This contributes to their health and minimizes the breed specific hereditary health predispositions. Goldendoodles often grow stronger than both parent breeds. They often have better hips, eyes, and lifespan. To get a book on Goldendoodles, click here. Please reload. We specialize in breeding Mini Goldendoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other high quality breeders that raise mini goldendoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! Not all mini Goldendoodles are equal, there are a few different versions to choose from each having a little different genetic background based on the pups parents. We will explain all the differences in Mini Goldendoodle puppies and how they are bred below. We raise all versions of the mini goldendoodle breed. F1 Mini Goldendoodle Pups. A F1 puppy is also known as a First Generation puppy. The puppies mother is a Golden Retriever and the pups dad is a Mini Poodle. This version of mini goldendoodle usually has soft wavy or curly puppy fur. They will shed until they lose their puppy fur, after shedding they will shed a lot less, but will shed. This version is partially hypoallergenic and usually requires low maintenance. F1 mini goldendoodles usually need to be groomed every 6 months along with daily brushing to keep their curly hair from matting and getting tangled. The dogs usually grow up having great temperaments similar to golden retrievers. They usually get about inches high at the shoulder and range in weight from pounds. F1b Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1b is known as a second-generation mini goldendoodle with the pups mother being already an F1 Goldendoodle and the pups dad being a mini poodle also. So the difference between F1 and F1b is that the mom is not a golden retriever but an actual F1 Goldendoodle. They also have very soft curly hair but with almost no shedding. This F1b version is semi-hypoallergenic and a better choice for anyone who has pet allergies. The F1b also should be brushed on a daily basis but will need to be groomed more frequently then a F1. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is recommended to keep their coat in perfect condition. F1b Mini goldendoodles get around 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulders and range between pounds in weight. F1bb Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1bb goldendoodle is also known as a third-generation mini goldendoodle. This mini goldendoodle version has a coat more similar to a poodle than of a golden retriever. This is because the pup is more of a poodle than a retriever. Making it the very best version for anyone with pet allergies. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is required to help prevent knots or matting. This version is super intelligent and loving, and usually seems to have more energy than the other versions of Mini goldendoodles. This version is usually smaller in size, weighing around pounds and only getting inches tall at the shoulders. The smaller size makes them a great size for smaller homes and apartments. So if you live near Idaho Falls Idaho and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Goldendoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Goldendoodle Pups that have been adopted!

Sweetly Retired Stormie G. We take so much pride in our doodles. They are the funniest, smartest, cutest, little guys, so much personality. Bred for their wonderful temperament, intuitive nature and overall character; they are non-shedding and don't carry doggie odors. They undergo temperament testing and a host of socialization opportunities are provided as grands come and go, neighbors drop by for cuddles, kitchen noises, loud televisions, children running about, birds singing and dogs barking; extra cuddles, visits by the other doodle family members and on and on. All of our dogs live here in the house with us. Guardian puppies live with their own loving families but visit often. Mama doodles are whelped here and baby doodles are appropriately exposed to a busy family lifestyle. All of our doodles receive the best in health care, as puppies themselves, before breeding, during and after, because we quite simply just love them to pieces and they deserve it. They have a team of vets, health testing, repoduction management, attend NC State Therinology clinic for ultrasounds, progesterone testing, cardiac testing, etc. So if you see a tear drop or two as you close the door, know that it is the love that has been there before. Sweet puppy of mine you'll always be, heartbreak it is to say goodbye to thee, know that my prayers are with you and your new family. Blessings sweet puppy.We wanted a well-bred puppy, that would be a healthy, happy, member of our family. Fisher has exceeded our expectations.Not only did she ensure an excellent pedigree, she took the utmost care of the pups, after they were born. Thanks to her socialization, the beginning of crate and house training, and tons of love, Fisher acclimated to our home and family right away. We got a steady stream of videos and pictures, as well as results from temperament testing. We knew him before we ever brought him home and she even had us send items that had our scent, to familiarize him with us! Communication was open and encouraged. The whole process was something we'll always treasure. Labradoodles are great dogs and Lake Blue is a great breeder, worthy of these pups. Willa's litter Stormie's litter. All Reservation Fees are good for 1 year from the time they are submitted. What is an Australian Labradoodle? He mixed Labrador Retrievers with Poodles. The current bloodlines were perfected by the owners of Tegan Park and Rutland Manor based in Australia. A natural by-product of this being a conspicuous lack of dog odor! Their even temperament makes them excellent candidates to become service dogs and is also a big part of what makes them exceptional family dogs. They are highly intelligent and are a preferred breed for their excellent health. Our puppies range from 18 lbs. Our dogs are incredibly loved and extensively health tested. Our dogs will never live in kennels — they live in our home or a guardian home as a member of the family. Happy, healthy, well loved and cared for parents produce healthier puppies. Our goal is to operate with the highest integrity, while producing genetically exceptional, structurally sound, well-adjusted puppies who are ready to become a loving part of your family. These methods include early neurological stimulation and creates an enriched environment early on for your puppy to grow in. Our in-home puppy play area includes early training for problem prevention such as emotional resilience, exercises using therapy toys and sound desensitization. Your puppy is introduced early to many scary sounds including loud thunderstorms, lightning, and doorbells ringing. We start potty training our puppies using a bell on the door at 4 weeks and we initiate crate training at 6 weeks. By 8 weeks, the puppies are ready for their new homes with their loving families. We strive for excellence in our dogs, our customer service and in the relationships we build with the families who entrust our family with raising their new baby. You can rest assured and trust our program for transparency, prompt communication and excellent customer service. We understand the level of trust our prospective puppy families place in us and we take our responsibility seriously. Your name is placed on our wait list in the order your Reservation Fee was received. You will remain on the waitlist until you have been offered and accepted a puppy to adopt that meets the temperament needs and preferences of your family. If we do not have a puppy of your sex or color preference, you may choose to defer to a future litter. Final payment is due by the time the puppy is 6 weeks old and the puppy can go home at 8 weeks. Ready To Get Started? Microchipping Full socialization in home environment keeping Puppy Culture principles in mind Litter registered with the Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association Comfort blanket with mom and littermates' scents on it to help comfort them in the first few days away from our home. A 3lb bag of puppy food. Crate that your puppy was crate trained in starting at 6 weeks old. You will remain on the list until you have chosen a puppy to adopt. If we do not have a puppy of your sex or color preference, you may choose to defer to a future unreserved litter. Springdale Labradoodles does not guarantee placement on our waitlist until the puppy Reservation Fee has been received. We will reply to your inquiry promptly. Springdale Labradoodles does not guarantee placement on the wait list for any litter until the puppy Reservation Fee has been received. Breeder always has the first pick. We want our puppies and their new families to have the best chances for success! We do NOT ship our puppies in Cargo under a plane, as we do not believe it is in their best interest. You are welcome to pick your puppy up at our home, or we may be able to meet you if you are coming from one of the states mentioned above. Out of state and unsure how to get your puppy home? To make for a smooth trip for you and your puppy, we will ensure that your puppy is acclimated and ready to travel in a soft-sided airline carrier prior to going home. Don't want to fly? No worries! We have our very own puppy Flight Nanny! Our experienced flight nanny will personally fly your puppy to you on his lap with love and deliver your puppy into your arms at your closest airport. Additional fees apply and will be paid directly to the puppy nanny once travel arrangements are confirmed. We will be as flexible as we can in helping you receive your Springdale puppy. Travel fees are determined on an individual basis. We do everything possible to make the transition from our home to yours as easy as possible! With respect to the well-being of the puppy, our veterinarian does not perform early spay and neuter ESN , as she does not believe that it is in the best interest of young puppies. We follow her advice. We do our best to ensure that our puppies go to wonderful forever homes. If a dog must be relinquished, you must return the dog to Springdale Labradoodles. We have a professional flight nanny service available. Please contact us for details. Making a reservation earlier will help to keep the delivery fee lower. Among the many reasons why our Australian Labradoodles stand out from the rest is our focus on breeding for health and temperament first and foremost. We accomplish this first through our commitment to only breeding multi-generation Labradoodles. F1 and F1B doodles do not offer consistency in coat and temperament like the Multi-generational Australian Labradoodle. We can offer excellence in temperament, as well as in overall health, including desirable coats with little to no shedding. Our breeding program is so well honed we can trace our lines back to its original founding dogs from Tegan Park and Rutland Manor. Our dams and sires are placed in carefully selected guardian homes. This assures that they are well-socialized and receive nothing but individual love and attention. Puppies from Good Day Doodles are raised in home environments, where they are extensively acclimated to being with people and around day-to-day family activities. As an extra special touch, we provide families access to a Nest camera link so you can watch puppies grow and thrive from the time they are born up until Gotcha Day. With our designation as a Golden Paw Breeder, you can rest assured that Good Day Doodles goes above and beyond to present our fellow doodle lovers with a happy, healthy puppy! Australian Labradoodles: The perfect family pet As detailed above, the Australian Labradoodle is a breed all its own — and an extremely delightful one at that. They are wonderfully loving and gentle and, when bred through a multi-generational process, they bring into your home the best traits of some of the finest dogs in the world. Australian Labradoodle puppies are: Great for first-time dog owners Easily trainable including potty training Kid-friendly.

Are Poodle Pitbull Mixes Friendly? The short answer for this is yes, Poodle Pitbull mixes can be very friendly. Although both Poodles and American Pitbull Terriers are loving, energetic, family companions, each breed has distinctive tendencies, and every dog its own unique personality. Whereas Poodles tend to be a bit more dignified, intelligent, and aloof, Pitbull breeds are usually more people-oriented, playful, and eager to please. Because both of these breeds have a loyal and protective nature, Poodle Pitbull mixes are prone to being shy around strangers and can be known to bark, though they are rarely aggressive in any way. This makes it especially important that they receive plenty of socialization and basic training beginning in their puppyhood and continuing throughout their lives. With keen intelligence and a desire to please, this mixed breed is highly trainable, but because they tend to be sensitive, you should mainly rely on positive reinforcement when training and interacting with them. Just like people, dogs will have unique exercise requirements based on their genetics, diet, size, gender, and overall health. Both standard Poodles and American Pitbull Terriers are active breeds that need plenty of daily exercise, so you should expect that your Poodle Pitbull mix will need the same. A post shared by Dani Marie wild. Pitbulls have an abundance of stamina and both of these breeds have a lot of energy and drive, so they will require regular moderate exercise to stay happy and healthy. Poodle Pitbull mixes can have a high-maintenance curly coat with minimal shedding or a sturdy, short coat that requires weekly brushing. Pitbull breeds like American Pitbull Terriers, on the other hand, have a very easy coat to care for since their fur is quite short and sheds frequently. Similar to Poodles, American Pitbull Terriers have a single coat, and their fur sheds whenever the hair has reached its genetically determined length before dying and falling out. Being brushed once or twice a week is typically plenty and bathing is only necessary when the dog is visibly dirty. Even the healthiest of dogs can be prone to conditions or illnesses, and your Pit Boodle will be no exception. Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, usually known as Bloat, is another dangerous condition in which the gut and internal organs become twisted, resulting in cellular damage or even organ death. Some sources mention that as much as half of all standard Poodles also suffer from Sebaceous Adenitis, which causes the immune system to attack the sebaceous oil glands and skin, leaving dandruff, thick or scaly skin, hair loss, and skin infections. American Pitbull Terriers, although typically robust and hearty, are still prone to several different health concerns. One of the biggest issues for the average Pitbull is allergies; food allergies and allergies to materials like grass or dust are very common. Another health concern for Pitbulls is their increased likelihood of having heart issues like congenital heart disease as well as murmurs or irregular heartbeats. Hypothyroidism is another very serious issue for many Pitbulls, characterized by a lack of thyroxine, causing secondary issues like lethargy, muscle loss, weight gain, infections, and hair loss. You can expect your standard Poodle Pitbull mix to be between inches cm tall and weigh around pounds kg. As with many other physical factors of designer dogs, predicting the expected size of your dog may prove difficult. Standard Poodles are known as medium to large-sized dogs. Their adult height is usually inches tall at the shoulder, with the males typically on the larger end of the spectrum. Similarly, where female Poodles generally weigh between 45 and 60 pounds, males can weigh anywhere from 45 to 70 pounds. This breed has a square frame, long slender legs, and elegant features. American Pitbull Terriers are usually considered medium-sized dogs, largely due to their stocky body type. Females are typically inches tall, while males are only fractionally larger at inches tall. Pitbulls can weigh anywhere from 30 to 85 pounds, depending mostly on their family line rather than their gender. Depending on which parent the dog takes after most will best determine their estimated lifespan. Generally speaking, you can expect a Pitbull Poodle mix to reach years with two years more or less definitely being possible. Across the board, most rescues, expert sources, and breed associations agree that standard Poodles generally live between years. American Pitbull Terriers, on the other hand, have a wide variety of expectations; with most claiming they usually live 8 years. This discrepancy of the statistics may have something to do with the abuse and suffering which was often fatal in Pitbulls who were forced to fight for their lives. Are Poodle Pitbull Mixes Expensive? Like other designer dogs, this mixed breed can greatly vary in pricing depending on their breeder and location. Because there are no breed standards or breed associations in place, breeders can charge as much as people are willing to pay for their Pit Boodle puppies. Many of these puppies are coming from irresponsible or inexperienced breeders, who may or may not be acting ethically. Pitbull mixes are sadly plentiful in shelters, it may be harder to find one mixed with a Poodle though. Just like other pets, having a dog can be quite expensive when you consider all the costs involved. If you start with just the normal base expenses, that will probably include food, bedding, toys, and treats. Even more costly is veterinary care such as wellness checks, vaccines, and preventative care for your furry friend. In the end, though, keeping a member of your family happy and healthy for the many years to come is worth every penny. Make sure to read up about everything you need to know about a potential new family member. If you have any questions, feel free to ask or share with us your experiences on owning a Pitbull Poodle mix! Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet. Post navigation. The Boodle is a mix between the purebred Poodle and the purebred Pitbull. While crossbreed dogs are quite popular these days, Pitbull Poodle Mix dogs remain somewhat rare in the canine kingdom. For this reason, finding a Pitbull Poodle Mix puppy could prove difficult. The good news is that with patience, research, and dedication you should be able to find one of these curly cuties through a reputable source you can trust. But is a Pitbull Poodle Mix really the hybrid dog for you? As with all dogs, there is quite a bit you should consider if you are considering investing in this type of crossbreed. Sometimes known as the French Poodle, the Poodle is actually a German dog bred specifically for water retrieving. A natural athlete, the Poodle soon made his way to France where he worked as a street performer and circus dog. This dog is the ideal dog for those who struggle with allergies. Today, doodle hybrids are some of the most popular cross breed dogs in the canine kingdom. And because modern-day Poodles come in three size varieties, you can find a broad range of Poodle mix dogs in different weights per your specific needs. One thing all Poodles do have in common, experts agree, is their incredible intelligence, their affinity for people, and their athleticism. The term Pitbull is a broad term used to describe a number of different breeds that all fall under the bully breed category. Some Pitbull types are not recognized as true breeds by major breed clubs like the American Kennel Club, though most Pitbull enthusiasts agree that there are varying differences between pitbull type dogs as a whole. Unfortunately, PItbull dogs were originally red for blood sports and bull-baiting, which lead to these dogs having an unfortunate reputation as aggressive. The truth is, most studies have found that Pitbulls are actually very people-oriented, eager to please, and family-friendly. As with all dogs, Pitbulls need routine training and socialization to grow up happy and healthy, and this will also be true for any Pitbull mix you might come across. Pitbulls are highly intelligent and trainable, and they are best suited for active dog owners and dedicated dog owners who are willing to take the time to train, socialize, and exercise their Pitbull or Pitbull mix properly. There is some controversy surrounding crossbreed dogs like the Boodle mix. Hybrid dogs like the Pitbull Poodle Mix are not considered purebred dogs, though they are also not considered mutts. Instead, these types of dogs belong to their own category known as crossbreeds, mixed breeds, hybrids, or designer dogs. These are dogs that are the specifically chosen offspring of two purebred parent breeds. Unfortunately, modern-day crossbreeding is somewhat controversial. Although the practice has been ongoing for centuries, it has only recently become a popular trend among dog lovers and breeders over the last two decades. This trend has led to a variety of mixed-breed dogs, many of them Doodle mixes , that are being bred and sold for as much and sometimes more than their purebred counterparts. Purebred dogs, while often considered wildly overbred, do have the benefit of predictability when it comes to their appearance, temperament, and overall health. Crossbreed dogs, on the other hand, are less predictable when considering these traits. Another part of the controversy has to do with the idea of hybrid vigor. Hybrid vigor is the idea that crossbreed dogs may actually be healthier than purebred dogs thanks to their widened gene pool, which could mean they are less likely to inherit specific genetic health issues from one parent breed over the other. Of course, there are also those who point out that crossbreed dogs like the Pitbull Poodle Mix may be less healthy and more at risk, especially considering they have a wider gene pool to contend with. Whichever side of the fence you stand on, there are a few things you should consider before considering a crossbreed dog like the Pitbull Poodle Mix. First, temperament, appearance, and health will be left up to chance and genetics. This is especially true if your Pitbull Poodle Mix is an early generation crossbreed. Second, not all breeders who breed and sell crossbreed dogs are reputable. Are you wondering if the Pitbull Poodle Mix makes a good family dog? Then wonder no more! This crossbreed has the potential to make a fabulous family dog and is likely to get along well with children and other pets when well trained and socialized. Some Pitbull dogs may be prone to dog-on-dog aggression if not properly trained, though this can be worked with and Pitbull Poodle mix dogs are quite trainable. In fact, the Pitbull Poodle mix is likely to have an affinity for children. These dogs are energetic and athletic, plus they are sturdy and robust enough to enjoy playtime in a yard with youngsters. We recommend helping children learn basic canine body language so they can better understand when their dog is happy, playful, stressed, or fearful. It is also important to never leave young children alone or unsupervised with your family dog. Training should be done using positive reinforcement training techniques that utilize treats and praise. Socialization, the process of introducing your dog to a variety of different experiences like people, places, environments, sights, sounds, and other animals, should also begin as early as possible. If your dog has allergies, which many Pitbull Poodle mix dogs do we recommend staying away from poultry-based treats and instead choosing liver, sweet potato, rabbit, or salmon. We should also note here that the Pitbull Poodle mix dog is best suited for those who have large yards where their dog is able to run and play freely. The Pitbull Poodle mix is a high-energy dog that requires routine exercise, and this could be overwhelming for some owners. So, how can you properly exercise a Pitbull Poodle Mix? Keep reading to find out! Exercise is important for all dogs no matter their breed, size, or age. However, for a high-energy dog like the Pitbull Poodle Mix, routine exercise and mental stimulation are a MUST to ensure your dog is living his healthiest, happiest life. The proper exercise for a Pitbull Poodle mix will consist of one to two good walks a day. These walks should be half an hour to an hour or so long for each outing. The Pitbull Poodle mix may also enjoy hiking, jogging, and swimming. Remember, the Poodle specifically was a bred water retrieving dog, and if introduced to the water correctly your Pitbull Poodle mix could learn to love lakes, pools, and even the ocean! We should also point out here that the PItbull Poodle mix comes from two breeds that do have a high prey drive. For this reason, the Boodle dog can be prone to taking off after smaller animals when out and about out of instinct. Avoid aversive walking equipment like choke chains or prong collars and instead stick with no-pull harnesses and collars that help to teach your dog ideal walking manners when utilized with praise and treats. This harness fits your dog naturally and helps reduce choking or pressure on his throat or trachea. And because it clips in the front, it reduces the pressure put on the chest which could encourage your dog to try and pull ahead on walks naturally. This harness is adjustable and even comes in different colors! Along with ensuring you have the proper walking equipment to exercise your dog with, we also suggest investing in some toys and tools to help keep your dog mentally stimulated. Without proper mental stimulation, the Pitbull Poodle mix can be prone to boredom which can lead to behavioral issues like stress, boredom, chewing, barking, marking, and anxiety. You also have the option of investing in puzzle toys to help keep your Pitbull Poodle mix active and engaged. The Pitbull Poodle mix is a cross between two very different-looking purebred dogs. The Pitbull is a shedding dog that has a smooth coat and sheds moderately year-round. The Poodle, on the other hand, is a hypoallergenic dog that sheds much less and produces much less dander than most of its other canine counterparts. While we do recommend doodle mix dogs for those who struggle with allergies, it should be noted here that getting a hypoallergenic Pitbull Poodle mix could be hit or miss. If he is more like his Poodle parent in appearance, his coat could have the potential to grow out long and become tangled or matted. Because the Pitbull Poodle mix dog is not eligible for show, you may opt to have his coat kept in a puppy cut. Puppy cut hairstyles are much easier to manage in dogs like Pitbull Poodle mix dogs as they are easier to maintain. Luckily, the Pitbull Poodle Mix should not require bathing too often, and will only need to be washed with a dog-safe shampoo once every four weeks or so. This shampoo is so gentle in fact that you can use it on puppies or on dogs who are struggling with bug bites or hot spots. The shampoo is made with natural ingredients that soothe and hydrate the skin , and help to alleviate allergies, itchiness, and irritations. It also smells great and is made with lavender, jojoba oil, eucalyptus oil, and other soothing ingredients that reduce inflammation, itching, and doggy odor. The Pitbull Poodle mix is a healthy dog overall, but there are some gentic health issues he could be predisposed to. The Pitbull Poodle mix dog has a decent lifespan of between 9 and 15 years. He may also have the benefits of hybrid vigor, which can reduce his chances of suffering from certain genetic health issues from one parent breed over the other. Of course, like all dogs, the Pitbull Poodle Mix can be prone to any of the same genetic health issues of his purebred parent breeds. While it can be difficult to predict just what a crossbreed dog like the Pitbull Poodle mix could be predisposed to, it can help to take a look into the health issues of his parent breeds. They have both the strength of the Pitbull and the intelligence of the Poodle. With the right care, socialization, and training, you can be sure that the Pit Boodle will be a wonderful companion even for kids! Aside from being a great family dog, the Pitbull Poodle mix is also known for its adaptability and instinct for obedience. To understand the Pitbull Poodle mix better, we can take a glance at the parent breeds and know their history. One of these theories says that Poodles were bred from rugged Asian herding dogs and were then captured by an ethnic group native to North Africa called Berbers. Another theory is that they were descended from dogs that left the Asian steppes with the nomadic German people called the Goths. In the past, Poodles were often used as hunting dogs and duck retrievers. Because of this, they were owned not by the common folk but by wealthier families who hunted fowls. They were originally bred from Old English Bulldogs who fought and killed bulls for entertainment purposes. After games like bull-baiting were prohibited, other games followed such as ratting in which Bulldogs competed to see who could kill more rats. These games became increasingly popular which led competitors to believe that there was a need for better-skilled dogs. Later, the Pitbull found itself in America, left behind its old identity and became known as working dogs. They helped in hunting and protecting livestock and families. Photo from mexikiwitex IG How the Pitbull Poodle mix will look when fully grown is very unpredictable since Pitbulls and Poodles are built very differently. Pitbulls are muscular which shows their strength while Poodles are slender and exude elegance. But whether a Pit Boodle puppy will inherit more traits from its Pitbull or Poodle parent, some traits are predictable. These will let you know what to expect from Pit Boodle puppies. Build The build is harder to predict since the Pit Boodle puppy may either take after the Pitbull parent or inherit more from the Poodle lineage. If the Pit Boodle pup takes after the former, it may grow into a muscular build with a boxy silhouette. These pups are generally proportional but they may have slightly longer legs compared to other medium dogs. The coat can come in a multitude of colors, including white, tan, black , grey , and blue, and they may have a brindle pattern. Thus, a fully grown Pitbull Poodle mix can be as small as 18 inches or as tall as 24 inches and can weigh anywhere between 40 to 70 pounds. The Pitbull Poodle mix makes for a great family dog because of the superb temperament inherited from both breeds. Pitbull and Poodle mixes can be great with children as long as they are socialized properly. They are gentle and playful medium-sized dogs who are generally careful around children. Of course, despite this, accidents can happen at any time. Socializing them at a young age will decrease the chances of any accidental injury from happening. This could result in aggressiveness but this can easily be prevented if you train your pup well enough. As much as possible, the Pit Boodle pup should not be left at home alone since they can feel scared and agitated. This could lead to them biting and gnawing at anything they can reach. If it goes on for an extended period of time, this behavior could get worse. Female Pitbull: Which Is Better? Every dog is different, and the same is true for each Pit Boodle puppy. Their size can affect their expected lifespan, with some smaller Pitbull Poodle mixes living longer than the larger ones. The Pitbull Poodle mix is generally a healthy dog but as with all animals, they are at risk of a few health issues. Since the Pit Boodle is a mixed breed, they can inherit the known health conditions of either parent. In general, Pit Boodles have a life expectancy of 9 to 15 years. Hip Dysplasia: Both Pitbulls and Poodles are at risk of hip dysplasia , which makes it a very high-risk condition for Pit Boodles. To avoid the risk of hip dysplasia, make sure your pup has a healthy lifestyle. Otherwise, they can easily develop arthritis and other mobility difficulties. If left alone, skin infections are likely. Bloat: One of the most common health issues, bloat is usually seen in dogs with improper diet and insufficient exercise. If left unchecked, this can be fatal for your dog. Obesity: Another common health issue caused by an improper diet and lack of exercise, prolonged obesity can lead to several health issues such as many types of cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and faster degeneration of affected joints. Advantages and Disadvantages of Breeding Pitbull and Poodle Together For years, crossbreeding has been controversial in the dog world. Crossbreeding has advantages and disadvantages, and the same is true for crossbreeding a Poodle and a Pitbull. Some dog enthusiasts prefer crossbreeds because they often have a unique look. This is especially true for the Pitbull and Poodle mix because of how different the parents look. They may also be at a lower risk of congenital diseases, especially if only one of the parents is a carrier. In the future, the Pitbull Poodle mix can become the basis for a new dog breed. For example, because hip dysplasia is common among both parents, it is a high-risk condition for Pit Boodles. Lastly, because designer dogs are becoming increasingly popular, some mixed-breed dogs can be more expensive than purebreds. If you want to bring home a Pit Boodle pup, be prepared to spend some money. Pitbull Pitbull Poodle Mix Temperament And Personality Pit Poodles are loyal and affectionate with their owners, especially if they have been loved and cared for in a loving home environment. The mixed-breed dog is alert and eager to learn. They make excellent watchdogs, in addition to being excellent pets. Pitbull Poodle Mix dogs are affectionate and fun-loving. They should be active and strong and exercise daily. They make great jogging partners for active owners. People who lead sedentary lives need to find ways to drain their pup's energy. Yes absolutely! Pitbull Poodle Mix is an excellent family dog. They love to play with children and can keep them entertained for hours. They also resist naughty antics from children as they have a high pain tolerance. Don't let the negative reputation of the Pitbull name put you off having Boodles as a pet for your family. Dogs loved and cared for with love and respect are never dangerous to their guardians. It is important to socialize your dog with other dogs as soon as possible. This will allow them to learn to enjoy the company of other pets. You should also make sure they are not loose around other animals. You can monitor your Boodle's interactions with other animals and intervene if you feel things are getting out of control. Pitbull Poodle Mix Exercise Requirement Dogs can go wild because they lack mental and physical stimulation. This can be avoided by ensuring your Pitbull Poodle Pitbull mixes get at least 45 minutes to an hour of exercise each day. They can become aggressive and frustrated if they don't get enough exercise. This Boodle's curly coat collects fur and dander rather than letting it shed. This coat can be prone to mats and tangles, so you should brush him daily to keep him clean and shiny. Wooly Boodles will need to be bathed more often than other dogs. Tightly curly hair traps dirt, debris, and other waste. Pitbulls can be passed on to Pit Boodles the same way a Pitbull can adopt their Pitbull parent. A Pitbull-like Pitbull Boodle will have a smoother coat. He will lose, but he will require less care. The puppy can live for several weeks without bathing and tolerates weekly brushing. Whatever the situation, you should use mild, gentle shampoo for your Boodle. To avoid excessive earwax buildup, brush his teeth at least once a week and clean his ears. Also, be sure to trim their nails as long as possible. Long nails can restrict a puppy's movement and gait. Pit Boodles don't always get the curly coat of the Poodle. Expect moderate shedders if your Pitbull puppy inherits the Pitbull coat. Curly hair keeps loose hair from floating around, allowing him to stick to his fur instead. To get rid of loose hair, your Boodle must brush his teeth daily. Your dog's size, age, and activity level will affect his diet. A veterinarian can help you determine how much food your Pit-Poodle should eat daily. Avoid giving leftover Pitbull Poodle Mix, especially fatty foods and foods high in salt, sugar, and spices. Consuming such foods can lead to toxic effects and long-term health problems, including obesity and high cholesterol. Instead, always feed your puppy natural canine food. It's also essential to make sure your Boodle eats slowly. Bloating can lead to serious health problems. This can be avoided by dividing their daily meals into two parts. To prevent them from eating too quickly, you can buy food bowls. Pitbull Poodle Mix Common Health Problems The Pitbull poodle mix is not purebred and does not have the same genetic health issues as its parents. That doesn't mean you should blindly buy them. Always ask about the parent's health exam and medical records before purchasing a Boodle puppy. These diseases are common in both parent breeds. So let's find out what they are. This can lead to hip dysplasia in puppies. Before buying a puppy, ensure the parents do not suffer from hip dysplasia. Bloating: Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus GDV , is a condition where there is an excessive amount of air in the abdomen. If you don't take your pet to the vet immediately, this condition could prove fatal. Eye Problems: Poodles can inherit eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy PRA , cataracts, and distichiasis. These conditions are not life-threatening but can lead to blindness. Ear Infection: Ear infections can be severe and cause long-term problems for your dog. Earwax can cause infections in your Boodles' ears. Soak a cotton ball in warm water to clean your puppy's ears. Addison's Disease: Addison's disease is a disease in which dogs' adrenal glands stop producing certain hormones. If treatment is not given immediately, it can be fatal. Therefore, you should take your dog to the vet immediately if you notice any signs such as lethargy, vomiting, or lack of appetite. Obesity: Obesity can lead to many other diseases. Your Boodle can gain weight by overeating, not exercising, or eating fatty foods. Excess weight can lead to heart disease, orthopedic problems, and diabetes. A healthy Pitbull Poodle Mix puppy from a good breeder can live up to years. Leave a comment. These sizes reflect the weight and height, from the smallest to the biggest. Speaking of temperament, we need to look at the following question before we go any further… Are Pitbulls Aggressive? Yes, and no! To answer the question fully, we need to look to the past. The Pitbull breeds were originally created for fighting, so aggression was encouraged. However, these dogs were also bred to be loyal and affectionate towards their owners. All Pitbull breeds are descended from the Old English Bulldog, which is now extinct. Bulldogs were created for the bloodsport of bull-baiting, where bulls were placed in a ring while dogs attacked them. Some were forced to fight against each other. Some were placed in pits where they had to catch and kill as many rats as possible. The pit that was used for fighting is where the Pit Bull name came from, as new breeds based on the Bulldog were created for these bloodthirsty pastimes. These were Pit Bull Dogs, shortened to Pitbull over the years. Why is all this relevant? Because these dogs had to be aggressive if they wanted to survive, and large amounts of money were at stake. They possessed a trait known as gameness, which gave them the instinct to fight to win or to die in the attempt. Eventually, dogfighting was also outlawed in most places, but continued illegally as it does today, unfortunately. However, as these dogs began to be bred as companions rather than for fighting, their gentler nature emerged. The vast majority of Pitbulls today have, thankfully, never seen a fighting pit and never will. They have been used as working dogs on farms, especially across the U. Are they aggressive? Well, they have the potential to be aggressive, as do most dogs. Any dog that is fearful, in pain, feels threatened, or has been abused may show aggression at some point. Pitbulls from fighting lines, that is, one or both parents were bred for fighting, will certainly be more predisposed towards aggression. However, Pitbull pups from an ethical, responsible, and reputable breeder will be far less likely to be. A well-adjusted, properly trained, and socialized Pitbull is a joy to behold and a pleasure to be around. So, are Pitbulls aggressive? In the past, they definitely were. Some still are today, but these are unfortunate creatures that were either bred for fighting or mistreated and in pain. This has a bearing on our Pitbull Poodle mix, as many of you will understandably be keen to know whether this unique designer dog might also be aggressive. Photo from: wild. Some people call it the Pit Boodle, or simply the Boodle. Others use the name Pitbull Poo, or the Pitdoodle. Which one is your favorite? Can you think of another? Pit Boodle seems to be the most popular at present, though whether this remains the case is yet to be seen. In the future, it may be that some of these breeds become established and accepted as purebred dogs. Photo from: rubythundr Without a doubt, the Pit Boodle makes an amazing family companion. She has the strength, loyalty, and affection of the Pittie, and the intelligence and humor of the Poodle. Will she be aggressive? This depends on how you treat her! Dog aggression towards humans is almost always a result of bad treatment. True dog lovers rarely have a problem with aggressive dogs. She might sneak off to find a quiet place on the 4th of July or any other occasion when fireworks are being set off. Looking for a kid-friendly dog? Then, the Pitbull Poodle mix might be the one for you, as they adore being around young children. Her lively, energetic nature, and her ability to form strong bonds with family members very quickly make her an ideal family dog, even for first-time dog owners. You should always use positive reinforcement when training, as this brings the best results. This breed will not respond well to harsh words and shouts. The curly Poodle coat tends to be a looser curl, making it easier to brush out the loose hair. A good family pet? Pitbull Poodle Mix Breeders Photo from: mylittlefurfamily One of the most important aspects of getting a puppy is the place where you buy it. You must be certain that the parent dogs have been cared for and kept in good conditions. Look for a small-scale, local breeder if possible. Visit them and ask if you can take a look around the kennels. Ask lots of questions, and check whether they have health screening and a health guarantee. Be prepared to answer any question about your home and lifestyle, as a good breeder will want to know where their precious pups are going! Avoid buying online at all costs. This is a major outlet for puppy mills, where dogs are produced simply to make money. Pet stores and backyard breeders are also best avoided for the same reasons. You should steer clear of anyone who plays on the fact that a dog is rare, as they are using this to justify charging more. Check out reviews for breeders online to see what ordinary people have to say about them. Take your time about it, and never be rushed into making a decision! Pitbull Poodle Mix Adoption One way to avoid breeders and potential puppy mills altogether is to head down to your local rescue center or dog shelter. Fees are usually higher if they include things like spaying and neutering, vaccinations, etc. This is because selective breeding in purebred dogs, sometimes over hundreds of years, has narrowed the gene pool, resulting in a range of genetic defects. Mixing two breeds sometimes avoids this by injecting fresh genes into the hybrid pups, making them much healthier than their purebred cousins. Even so, there is still a possibility that your Pitbull Poodle mix might suffer from some of the following conditions: Hip dysplasia — A malformed hip joint that makes it painful for the dog to walk. Ear infections — These are common in most dog breeds, especially those with floppy ears. Ear wax can build up and dirt gets stuck inside the ear canal. This provides a warm, moist environment for bacteria to thrive in, leading to infections. Heart disease — This one is always a cause for concern! There are several different types of heart disease, but Toy Poodles and Miniature Poodles are particularly prone to dilated cardiomyopathy the heart becomes enlarged, thin, and weak, and is unable to pump the blood properly. In Pitties, the main heart problem is aortic stenosis. Dogs with this condition have a narrow aorta, meaning that the heart has to work harder. It is treatable, but can lead to heart failure. Obesity — Extra weight puts strain on the heart and joints. It can also lead to diabetes and cancer. Obesity often happens in old age, when dogs are less active but still eating the same amount of food as they did when they were younger and fitter. It is always best to feed your dog the appropriate amount of food according to its age and activity level. The Pitbull Poodle mix has a lifespan of between 9 and 15 years. Why is there such a big difference? Small dogs generally live longer than big dogs, so the hybrids that use the Miniature and Toy Poodles will probably live longer. The larger Pitbulls, such as the American Pitbull Terrier and the American Bully, account for the lower end of the scale, as they can be pretty big dogs. These two breeds have a lifespan of between 8 and 12 years. So, how can you make sure that your Pit Boodle sticks around for at least 15 years? First, find a good breeder! As we mentioned above in the section about breeders and several times elsewhere! Second, you need to feed your pup good-quality dog food , only give it healthy treats, and make sure that it has plenty of exercise. You should also take it for regular check-ups at the vet, as this will help to identify any potential problems early. Nevertheless, you need to remember the general rule that the bigger the dog, the shorter its lifespan. Pitbull Poodle Mix Price Photo from: mylittlefurfamily This is a rare crossbreed, which may affect the price. All of these factors will affect the final price! This means that any price we suggest here will be a rough estimate based on the limited information available. This proves the point that many factors influence the price of puppies, but you should never be tempted to go for the cheapest option without thoroughly checking out the breeder. A pup that is sold at a bargain price may not be healthy, which is why the seller wants a quick sale. However, someone could try to sell you a puppy at a premium price to trick you into believing that it is of the best quality. Sadly, there are too many unscrupulous people out there. Shop around, do your homework, and keep your wits about you. Some people say it is, others disagree! To be fair, both may be right. It all depends on which particular breeds are involved and which genes are dominant in the offspring. In many cases, a Pit Boodle has a curly coat like the Poodle parent, which is famous for its hypoallergenic qualities. Then again, the pup may favor the Pitbull side, with its short, smooth coat type — although this is quite rare. We also need to keep in mind that hypoallergenic simply means that the dog is less likely to cause an allergic reaction than some other breeds. In Summary Photo from: dogsoffleashes Who would have thought that you could mix the Poodle and the Pitbull? But, is this the doggy friend of your dreams? Its appearance will vary depending on which size of Poodle and which Pitbull breed was used. It could be as small as 15 inches or as tall as 24 inches. It could weigh as little as 30 pounds or as much as 70 or even 80 pounds. This dog will need at least 45 minutes of exercise each day, as well as some quality playtime. It is great with kids, especially after being properly socialized. Your Pit Boodle will probably have a dense, smooth coat that could be black, blue, gray, fawn, silver, cream, brown, cafe-au-lait, or brindle. If you do find that it becomes too much for you, try using a professional groomer. This is a good idea once in a while anyway, as it keeps your dog looking in top condition. It sounds like an unlikely combination, but the Pitbull Poodle mix is already making waves, and it looks like it might become popular. Fans of traditional breeds are fearful that hybrids will make purebred dogs extinct. It has to be said that this is a real possibility in some cases, as trends and fashions change. The main issue here is that whatever breeds are available, they are healthy, loved, and cared for. Related Links:. Brush their teeth regularly even if chewable treats are given and take them to the vet from time to time to ensure that your health habits are checked and okay for your pitbull poodle mix. If you give your dog table food, chances are, it will develop illnesses brought about by human food. Opt to stick to dog food pellets, soft meat, etc. Bloating: this is a common thing among different breeds. Bloating leads to gastric dilatation-volvulus if not addressed immediately and may lead to death. Hip dysplasia: Poodles are prone to have joint dysplasia most commonly in the hip and pelvic area. This occurrence happens when joints pop out of the socket, causing immense pain for the hybrid. Pitbull Crossed With Poodle Food Requirements Make it a point to ensure and prioritize the type of food you allow your dog to eat because this will significantly affect its longevity of life and health status. Take note of the size and needs of each breed it came from so you may plan a specific diet for your hybrid. Treats are good for training as well but refrain from making it a daily habit to lessen weight gain. Make sure you choose snacks that have low caloric content. Take note of the nutrients needed to ensure a proper diet. Always choose foods that are rich in protein, as they are high energy dogs. Make sure to avoid typical dog allergens such as wheat, corn, and potatoes. Your dog might be prone to skin diseases as well, and its best to strictly follow feeding instructions. If you look hard enough, the market offers a lot of high-quality foods you can give your pitbull poodle mix. Instinct takes pride in improving the coat of any dog that stays on their dog food for a while. High-energy dogs will surely benefit from all the protein this brand gives. It also contains oat fiber for proper digestion, and dried cranberries, blueberries, and spinach as antioxidants. It includes chicken, fish, and whitefish meal. Antioxidants such as Vitamin E, beta carotene, fruits, and vegetables are incorporated to boost the immune system. Oatmeal, barley, brown rice, and rye are included to promote digestion and L-carnitine for fat burning. Their product has natural microorganisms to help aid digestion in line with the incorporation of lentils as a fiber source. Considering that your gorgeous mixed breed is a medium-size dog, you can offer them either the best dry dog food for small dogs or the best large breed dry dog food — it may surprise you to find out which parent they take their taste for food after! Whichever brand you settle on, make sure that it is only the best dry dog food kind as going for the worst dry dog food may have dire consequences on the overall health of your pooch. Pitbull Poodles Exercise Requirements Your boodle is a product of two very different breeds: one is highly active, and the other focuses more on the intellectual aspect so it would be best to choose equipment or toys that can exercise them physically, as well as train their minds and awaken their sensitivity. Make sure you schedule play time with your dogs, whether its walking or running or playing in the park to ensure that they have a healthy lifestyle. You can also incorporate exercise in your home. Try playing hide and seek or fetch in your backyard, anything to keep your dog going and panting. Physical and mental exercises are essential to avoid putting your boodle in an idle state, which can lead to depression, boredom, and destruction. Try your best to plan any form of activity that will keep your pups active physically and mentally. To improve your exercise regimen, here are some toys you can purchase: Canine Hardware Chuckit! Classic Launchers: This is perfect for the non-athletic, stay at home type of owners. This product is also ideal for the energetic side of your hybrid, without giving you the sore arm from repeatedly throwing the ball. FluffyPal Chew Toys For Puppies Small Dogs And Medium Dogs: This product is an all-in-one type because it can be a teething toy which can remove tartar, a potential favorite toy, and it also has a vanilla scent to counter any dog drool smell. Not only does it exercise your hybrid, but it also teaches it about rewards and positive outcomes when they follow a command. Hear Doggy! With the balanced need for exercise, you can choose to specify activities that will enhance their physical and mental abilities. Make sure you have enough space for them to run around and play. So this can be a bit of a challenge because you need to exercise both aspects. Pit bulls tend to exercise wanting the alpha position, which needs training that involves firmness, confidence, and a strong will. A poodle is an intelligent type and will be a bit challenging to train, so they need more patience and understanding. Always start training once you establish what you want and need for your pup. Train your puppies before reaching a year old, starting from simple commands until more difficult ones. Here are tips to make training easier for your boodle: Plan What You Want To Teach: To avoid confusion for your dog, make sure you have a plan as to what commands you want your dog to learn. Schedule Shorter Sessions: The reason for this is to have a higher attention span. If you think long sessions bore your hybrid, cut them down to at least 30 minutes to an hour to ensure, you have their full attention. Practice Positive Reinforcement: a poodle is an intelligent breed, and they remember when you praise them for doing something right. They tend to be shy and aggressive towards new people, which might be the case for your boodle. You can visit the vet and ask for tips, or you can bring them to the park until they familiarize themselves with different people and dogs as well. Potty Training: This is an essential type of training for almost all dogs. It saves you effort and money, and it also lessens the stress of accidentally stepping on unwanted stuff. Throughout history, pit bulls are known and recognized as dangerous and aggressive. On the other hand, poodles require mental stimulation and constant socialization. A mix of the two breeds will still require socialization training. Your pitbull poodle mix can be stubborn at times, but they are also easy to train. Make it a habit to remind family members that your dog needs to exercise, so that you can take turns as to who will take the dog out for a walk. Having a big space is ideal for the energetic side of your dog. COM Pitbull Poodle Mix temperament and personality The Pit Poodle is fiercely loyal and loving with his owners — especially if he has received love and care in a family environment. This mixed dog breed is also very alert and eager to learn, making them adequate watchdogs as well as great family pets. The Pitbull Poodle Mix is a very affectionate and fun-loving dog. They are active and strong, and they need daily exercise to release their vigor. This makes them excellent jogging companions for active owners. People with sedentary lifestyles will have to look for ways to drain the energy of this pup. Do Pitbull Poodle Mix make good family dogs? Yes, absolutely! Pitbull Poodle Mix do make excellent family dogs. Pitbull x Poodle equals a loving, active, and kid-friendly pet. They will play with kids every day and keep them entertained for hours. They also have high pain tolerance, which makes them resistant to the naughty antics of children. A puppy raised with love and care is never a danger to humans. Pitbull Poodle Mix training As the Poodle Pitbull mix is a very intelligent dog, you can train them easily as long as you are patient and understanding. It is vital to socialize them with other dogs at an early age; this will help them grow to appreciate the company of other pets. The Pitbull Poodle Mix has a prey drive and would chase small pets. Pitbull Poodle Mix exercise requirement The lack of physical and mental stimulation is the number one reason dogs lash out. To avoid this, make sure your Poodle Pitbull mix gets at least 45 minutes to an hour of exercise every day. Such a Boodle has a curly coat that collects loose fur and dander instead of letting it fall off. However, this type of coat is prone to tangles and mats so it needs daily brushing to stay clean, shiny, and tangle-free. A wooly Boodle will also need more frequent baths than most canines. The tight curls trap dirt, debris, loose hair, and other junk. A Boodle that takes after a Pitbull will have a smoother coat. This pup will be fine with a weekly brush and can go several weeks or months without a bath. Brush their teeth several times a week , and clean their ears to prevent excessive wax buildup. Do Pitbull Poodle Mixes shed? The Pitbull Poodle Mix hypoallergenic is a boon for those with allergies. If your pup inherits the Pitbull coat, expect them to be moderate shedders. However, even if your Boodle takes after his Poodle parent, they would still shed. The only difference is that the curly coat prevents loose hair from floating away, making it stick to their coat instead. Your Boodle would need daily brushing to get rid of the loose hair. You must make sure that your pup eats only what he needs considering his size, age, weight, and activity level. It is best to consult with a vet regarding how much food your Pit-Poodle should eat each day. Avoid feeding your Pitbull Poodle Mix table scraps, especially greasy food items and things that contain salt, sugars, and spices. Eating such items can cause toxicity and lead to long-term health problems like obesity and high cholesterol levels. Always feed your pup a natural canine diet. Eating a lot at once can cause bloat, which can be life-threatening. You can prevent this by breaking their daily meals into two. These are some diseases common to both parent breeds. Hip Dysplasia The standard Poodle and Pitbull Mix are heavy dogs; therefore, the resultant pups can be predisposed to hip dysplasia. None of these are life-threatening but may lead to blindness and require frequent visits to the vet. Obesity Obesity is a gateway disease to numerous other health problems. Overeating, lack of exercise, and indulging in fatty foods can lead to your Boodle putting on extra pounds. Excessive weight can lead to orthopedic issues, heart diseases, and diabetes. Pitbull Poodle Mix lifespan Most crossbreeds tend to live longer than purebred dogs do. In fact, if you get a healthy puppy from a good breeder, you can expect your Poodle Pitbull Mix to live for about 12 to 15 years. There are several pros and cons of breeding Pitbulls and Poodles together, some of which are: Pros.

Miscellany The "Critters" Pose Do the cats get along? I get that question quite often. If you were to drop in, here's what you'll often see, usually with doggie close by, too. This photo is several years old, when Nago was a lot lighter color Seal Point. His mother is Pica, who's on the right, behind Subi, the Blue Point, who's Nago's cousin, and the eldest. Now you see why pet shots are generally frowned upon, along with this too-chatty narrative! Those of you who have animals who share in your lives are well aware of the many times they just "fall into" cute poses like this. I grabbed the camera because of the symmetry of the three interlocking "C"-shapes they formed there on the couch that evening. That was a new pose on me. Only Nago, the youngest, got curious about my camera probing and looked up. The other two are quite unflappable. Nago's vivid blue eyes happened to catch the light just so. Here's Subi's Portrait, on the left, and to the right of it is Pica's Portrait. I took them with a blue paper backing when I was trying to come up with my parody of the legendary HMV logo, having a kitty look into a Grammy, for my proposed Catalyst Records, as mentioned on the Artwork Page. These ought more than satisfy all of you alleurophiles out there who share my love of Siamese Cats. Despite Subi's constant talking and clever attempts to get attention, he's a dear old pal, and this shot captures him in a very mellow mood. Pica has a wonderfully shaped lithe body that is shown to advantage in this portrait of a proud little cat. I used a few old photofloods and my Rollei SL66 to snap them and get them used to the idea of the photo session, before attempting a parody image. One time I walked in and this is what greeted me. I had a long roll of Escher's lovely geometric art on the table, still curled up as you see it, waiting to be hung on the long hallway upper wall. A Nago Nest. Lucky that the camera was still loaded, or I'd have missed it. A Siamese cat cannot resist sitting inside an open box or bag or walled-in area, like this one. Nago had discovered it while I was out for dinner that evening, and had set up shop here as you see. He remained in place for quite a while even after I'd taken his picture. Yes, that's a Russian nesting doll in the upper right corner, in front of the card from which the Sonic Seasonings cover image down below was taken. Heather Dog, in a portrait I took in March of '.Many of you have experienced this sadness, of losing a treasured pet. On September 25th of this year '96 I had to take this dear little doggie on her last voyage to the vet's. It was quite expected, she was almost 15, and had been losing her vision gradually cataracts , and similarly getting deaf, and even losing her sense of smell. But when she began falling, or getting splayed out on her tummy, limbs all stretched out helplessly, and having great difficulties in eating without splaying out, and similarly in walking, eliminating, or even trying to lie down chronic arthritis , what could be done? Her time had come. This dear little creature was perpetually sweet, loving and intelligent I counted a vocabulary of perhaps words that she clearly understood , as are most Soft coated Wheaten Terriers. And oh yes, very stubborn. But only we knew that. It became a universal theme for visitors to call or write back, "how are you, and how is Heather? Of course she made sure anyone who came into the loft was treated as the finest human being in the world. You know. Heather was my first dog, and I loved her without reservation. She was endearing, a true companion especially while working in the studio for hours alone. The cats are always up on top-- of the sofa, or chair or monitors, whereas Heather would station herself beside me, as closely as possible, even up on my feet and ankles. In the final few months she had difficulty in finding us, or the studio, and similar to the story about the final year of Galileo, her horizons had narrowed from the whole loft and parts of our neighborhood, to one room, one carpet, with walks and exercise around one table. But she was never ever really sick a day in her life, and was lucky to have the cats around, as they were genuine companions Subi howled like a coyote when he woke up to find her missing the next day. Since I work out of the loft, she always had us around, too. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was to take her for her final trip that afternoon, and remain with her, gently holding and stroking her as she faded away. I still keep "losing it", as when typing this out. I'm sure many of you understand the grief. For those who don't, why not just skip to the next section? Heather takes a nap. This is one of the last photos of her, as she no longer could lie with her rear limbs akimbo in a classic Wheaten manner. You can detect hints her graceful terrier shape, even under that shaggy beige lambs-wool-soft coat of hers, which we usually left rather long. It did make her look more like a Sheep Dog, but that also seemed to match her outgoing personality. Heather at play. This is an early shot of doggie, jumping off the steps of a rural house upstate where I was visiting friends Tom and Sharon. You can see their cute charcoal dog, Pepper, dashing along just in front and lower center of the photo. Heather loved to travel, and the dogs had a lot of fun whenever we could bring them together. This time it was in September of .Heather with me. Here's a final photo I have of me with "woof" for a 28 pound dog, she had a humongous bark , on her next to last day. If I look haggard, it's because I'd been crying. But she was happy to be cuddled, and certainly knew she was greatly loved. While the previous two weeks had not been kind to her, this day she seemed to regain a little of her former old self, still enthusiastic John Klett always called her: "Enthusadog". I filled the day with treats and extra little dog-gifts and other such silly stuff one does when about to part with an endearing pal of many experiences over many years. Farewell, dear friend. Piccola Cat "Peek" , in a typical personality pose I took it when she was almost 2. Late this April, only seven months after losing Heather, tiny Chocolate Point Pica decided that her time had come. What else to say when she decided to stop eating and then drinking, and curled up to sleep away her last strength? A strong minded cat in the best of times, it became quite a torture to try to force food and drink into her. The same with the medicines she needed for her continuing allergies and bronchi infections, mixed with lifelong athesma. The Littlest One would have none of it. In just over a week, early on April 26th, she died quietly as we were taking her to the vets. I had just returned on Friday from a grim necessary visit with my parents, mostly spent in doctor's offices but they are doing okay , and a close friend she loved was taking care of all the critters here. I got back to find Pica looking very sick and thin, with nearly no life left in her. But she had waited for me. I'm very grateful to have had that final 12 hours with her, tenderly stroking her on my lap, watching her respond gently, clearly recognizing my touch, my smells and my voice by then she was quite blind , and knowing she was safe and loved. Dear Subi and her son rested up close to her, sensing somehow that the situation was very grave both later had a hard time adjusting to her not being here any more -- cats often know more than we assume they do. Pica's final two years were spent in a chronic effort to breathe. She had come close to suffocating several times, but with quick response and medication, I had gotten her past each crisis. January through March were clear dry months, and she rallied during them, returning to some of her endearing old habits. Then with allergy season upon us the difficulties had begun again. Although we miss her dreadfully, I'm relieved her suffering is over, that her death was truly peaceful. I will spare you more emotional details, as it hurts very much to talk or write about it. Unlike Heather, I was less prepared this time, except in a general way. Rough one. That's why it took me a few weeks to add this to the site. As I speak about such matters above, this mention and additional photos are for those of you who understand the joy of sharing one's life with "fuzzy critters", and the grief we experience when their short lives are over. Pica kittenishly playing, taking a characteristically graceful, athletic jump from the top of a kitchen cabinet to her kitty pole. She and Subi were a lot of fun to watch as they grew up. A cat pole, which also is where they scratch their nails -- sparing the furniture a tip to other alleurophiles, but you must expose them to it early on , quickly becomes a special territory: for scrambling around and exercising, having a round of hide and seek, performing wild gymnastics, or just to get up high for a better look, especially when strangers arrive. Pica napping on one of her favorite spots, the cable TV box in the dinning area. This is one of the last good pictures I have of her she began to look sick in April. I took it at New Year's , when the loft was dimly lit, a small Xmas tree was lighted nearby, and everything seemed quiet with the world. Later on, I turned on the computer, and "Peek" figured this out, and soon insisted on being lifted to the top of one of the monitors, her very favorite toasty place to hang out and nap near me and all my work and sounds. Pace, sweet Pica.Nago patiently sits up in one of the few formal poses I have of him. He wasn't too happy about having his portrait taken, so I'd postponed doing this most of his life. Subi and Pica had been pretty good about it when I took theirs when they were both about three years old, and these are the pix you see of them above, against the blue paper roll. Finally I setup the camera and lights and backing and waited until Nago was quite still after a long nap. He was still a bit sleepy. Up on the table he went, "Just sit there! I'm glad to have this photo now. Classic Seal Point Siamese, the best description of this lovely portrait of Nago taken in September of '.He'd just began to show signs of sickness, and for the first time in his life was not interested much in eating. Of course you worry that something bad is going on inside. I grabbed the Rollei and took a couple of rolls that evening while he was reclining and cleaning himself. This was one of the best, perhaps it's even the best shot I have of my friend. The vet thought the slight lump he felt might be a cancer in the abdomen, but a sonogram suggested an enlarged spleen I still suspected cancer. In a week he was eating again, but I watched him closely from then on. In '98, when giving him one of the tummy rubs he haunted me to get, I felt something inside myself. This time the vet thought it was a cancer for sure. So in early May, he underwent surgery. It was cancer all right, of the kidney, a very large tumor. He'd been losing weight through the last few months. I didn't have all the time I wanted to keep an eye on him as the filmscore to Woundings was now in highest gear. But with a lot of TLC, and medicating him from then on both by pill and daily doses of Ringer's Lactate subdermally he minded the pills much more than the injection , he rallied once more surprisingly well. Began eating, and was extra demanding of affection. Fine by me. Several times in the first months of the Cat Trio would pose dourly like this the camera's strobe caught their super reflective retinas very well here! Note Walter Cronkite, expaining how angry he is at the myths perpertrated on a young generation by Stone's paranoid, contrived "JFK" polemic I agree -- letting Oswald off and sanctifying Garrison is the true perversion. In February the newest addition, Pandora "Pandy" , had joined the crew. Amusing, and I have several photos of them sitting just so. Subi got along with Pandy right away, but Nago, being shy, was slower to adjust. I kept her from him when I could, and there were few real hassles. Since Subi is so old, it was time to add to the clan, as I had not the courage of being with but one cat and then none finally. Overlapping, according to our breeder friends, is the way to do it. I'll get more pix of Pandy here, along with the other two critters, another Siamese, and a new puppy! It's always difficult to say good bye. After the surgery, Nago had about ten more weeks of mostly decent time. He purred often, sought me out a great deal, and spent days in bed with me when I was very sick much of the month of June in '.He always loved cuddling in bed, and I could hardly object to having this beloved companion with me. He even seemed healthier than I did for a while, was eating regularly, and showed no other symptoms. Then on a Saturday in July he suddenly refused one of the extra meals I was feeding him. The only thing I could get him to try was a dab of butter. I called the vet again. Told him I could palpate a further enlargement of a tumor in his abdomen. Not at all surprising. The Prednesone slowed the regrowth, but did not stop it. It was time to say our final good byes. This is the last photo I have of him with me. Subi was trying to clean him, Pandy was just curious. In three days dear Mr. Nago had slid down rapidly. It would have been cruel to delay any longer. Its rough on you, but the most merciful way to "pull the plug" is what I did. The first step is a strong sedative. So while still home Nago fell asleep, as I spoke to him quietly, stroking him tenderly. There was no added trauma. He was in his own spot, with his last experiences just three or four feet from where he had been born. Everything was calm and normal, like the habits of his lifetime. In five minutes he was asleep, and the awful labored breathing of the past three days became calm and easy. Ever so gently I laid him in his carrier, then walked him quickly to the vets office. He never knew any of it. The doctor felt the tumors. Very fast growing, he was now riddled with them. They use a somewhat larger dose of anesthesia than given for surgery, and the heart slows and stops. Nago's ordeal was over. I kissed him good bye a last few times, thanked this sensitive, dear heart of a vet, and went out into the bright afternoon daylight. July 22nd, the hottest day of the year here. My pal was no more. The last two deaths were no preparation for this one. Heather and Pica had long good lives, and plain wore out. Nagus did not. He died much younger than the others. He'd been cleaning himself and responding and finding his usual favorite spots just two days earlier. The doctor says there is usually some nausea in the late stages of this horrid disease, and that is probably why he rejected food suddenly. In four days he dwindled, and now was gone. I was angry at the disease many of you have your own experiences with cancer, and understand. Even now I've not gotten past grieving for this special, gentle soul, my Nago. You are missed, sweetheart, you are missed. And Subi turned 18 at the start of July '.That's kinda old for a cat, you know. Never expected that the first fuzzy to live here would also be the last of the original group to be still around, but there you are. And here's the old fella in a very recent shot as this is written , just a few weeks prior to his birthday this year. You have to look closely to see the signs of age in a kitty. Their fur hides any wrinkles or boniness. Here I note that Subi's wrists are somewhat weaker, and curve inward a bit. It's not a big change. He's experienced some arthritis, and walks with care and some discomfort. But he keeps at it in a way you'd admire in an elderly human, courageous and uncomplaining, still there after all these years. I dearly love this ol' critter, and try to make his twilight years as decent as I can. I find it amazing the closeness of the bond that can develop between "them and us. But the luckiest thing is to have both. When it comes to working, though, you'd be hard-pressed to find a much better companion than a snoozing critter like this on your lap or beside you, or up on a piece of warm equipment very nearby. One year later: Then a year after the above senior-citizen photo, is this quick portrait of a 19 year old Subito, warming himself on one of the computer monitors. Since some of you have kindly asked about the old guy, if he's still around, I'll let you see this one, too. The sad news is that a few months before this 19th birthday he was overtaken by a late developing case of macular degeneration, and is now quite blind. I have to run to help him out of cul de sacs all over the loft, as it's especially difficult to lose your vision so late in life. But he has slowly learned how to find his favorite spots. In fact, he's right now meowing out softly to me in the studio where I'm typing this caption. He just managed to jump up into my lap, not so easy with arthritis and the rest of it. Looks like I'll have to give him a bit of attention right away -- be back in a moment.Long stretch of cat. During cat shows it's common for judges to pick up a fuzzy contestant very much as I've picked up Subi here. Long ago he got quite used to it, all the cats did, and they don't mind one whit being made the focus of attention. For the Siamese breed in particular, a good judge looks for a long tubular body, wiry and muscular, without sag or fat or notable taper. In this respect even at 19 Subito would get high marks on body shape. Of course much of his body mass has been lost in the past few years, we all do tend to lose some as we get very old. This means he now does have more taper than he used to, rib cage compared with haunches. So this photo is not as fine an example as one taken some four or more years ago would have been. I just never thought to do it before this shot. It also happens to be, IMHO, a grand gesture and graceful pose, and it's kinda fun to watch a good cat respond proudly like this. A long good-bye, the most difficult in years, has finally happened. See the pencil sketch I drew of him sitting on my lap during his final evening, on the artwork page HERE. I've been dreading this even as it became more and more probable. In Subi had been diagnosed with a moderate case of renal failure. His kidneys, as with most older creatures, were losing their function, and would probably end his life soon, the vet explained. For a while he had to be hydrated, with some Ringer's Lactate injected under his skin every week. It always seemed to make him feel better, increased his appetite and disposition. Eventually he began drinking at his dish very often on his own, and simply refused to take any more of the injections without a real battle. Fine, it wasn't worth traumatizing the old feller, and as he continued to do rather well, that treatment was abandoned. Subi went blind in March of , a late case of macular degeneration which Pica had many years earlier. It was awful to watch this elegant, intelligent creature, with his increasing arthritis, have to learn in old age how to find his way around his home by sense of touch and smell alone. As with older people I've seen it with my parents, and I'll be getting there soon enough myself he was able to do fewer of the things he enjoyed most of his life. Yet there were compensations. He still sought out my lap constantly, was eating well, enjoying special treats, and showed great affection and constant awareness, right to the last week. His purr remained generous. Here you can see young Pandy cleaning the dear fuzzer just a couple of nights before he died. He seemed to enjoy her attention, probably bringing back memories of similar grooming help from Pica and Nago. I also gave him regular cat "sponge baths," and had twice the past week once when he got caught into a dusty spot. He loved getting a "blow-dry" the last month, with my hairdryer on low heat mmm.This Little Lord Fauntleroy of a cat had always been clean and neat, and so he was on his final few days. Subi had again found his way by feel into the bedroom, and for his final year slept every night beside me in bed, usually with his head under my arm, pressed up against my left side often with his head on my pillow, as here, his final morning. I'm a quiet sleeper, and this worked very well, and it was a great comfort to us both. I was able to put on hold any travel plans, to be here with him for the final year and a half. So it became obvious exactly when Subi suddenly reached the point where the simple pleasures of life were no longer enough. On May 12th he refused all food. His final meal taken voluntarily was some grilled swordfish I'd had for dinner on Monday, and saved him the best part, broken into small pieces. That was always a big treat, and became the last meal he would take. Here you can see him, under his own power, a brave, gaunt little figure inching his way out of the bedroom for a final time. He was still drinking a little, and suddenly wanted down from the bed to seek his water dish. I had taken a camera into the bedroom with us, and caught him feeling his way out to the kitchen area and the dish. I got out of bed and dressed quickly. This would be his final day, instead of allowing the now frail cat to starve to death days later. He had very slowly lost about half his weight during the final two years, from over 7 lbs. Subi's time had come. The critters have a wonderful vet, a truly compassionate person. He's gone through this with his own pets many times, and could advise from personal experience, the most merciful way to hasten the inevitable. Again a sleep inducing medication would be used for a first step, as for Nago. So this sweet old character with the pungent personality would spend his last few hours in his own home, among friends, without tension or incident, fear or trauma. I spread out a new thick bath towel onto the table. After one last tender time on my lap the two of us are together above , I took a couple of final closeup snapshots of him resting quietly in my lap. This is the last photo I have of him in a similar pose to that sketch I made the evening before. You can see that he's not sleeping, but just waiting for the inevitable, patiently and with dignity. Then I carefully carried him to the table, onto the soft towel, to give him a strong sedative. It took about 8 to 10 minutes to take effect. All the time I spoke to him, pet him all over, hummed to him, kissed him, his head pressed against my face, the usual homely and loving ritual we'd shared for years. He began to fall asleep, and I helped him lie down. A couple of minutes more to be sure he was deeply asleep, and then gently into the carrier. It turned out to have the very same small towel in it which Stephanie his breeder had given to me for Subi's original trip here, early November .Now it would cradle him for the final visit to the vets. I realize that I'm a sentimental old fool, but losing this beloved pet was particularly painful. Fortunately, there was none of the anger and rage I'd felt when Nago died too young to cancer. Subi had a wonderful, long, rich, lucky life, much better than most cats and certainly most humans! He was loved, by more people than just me, although I was his special pal. He got to travel many miles, and would take over the other homes he visited, proving how neat a bright, spirited Siamese can be to have around. Many notches on that old tail for friends made. But he's also both the first and last of the original generation of animal friends who lived here. And now that he's gone I feel years older and palpably diminished, trying to accept that I'll never have this empathetic connection, perhaps, ever again. Dear cat, dear friend, fare thee well. Pandora "Pandy" is another Chocolate Point Siamese, the same color-coordinated outfit that Piccola wore around here for over 15 years. When I first saw a Chocolate Point, I thought of an animal equivalent to something ephemeral and delicate, tiny nearly white "angels" with fur. They can be very striking to witness in person, and are still not so commonly seen as Sealpoints and Blue Points. Pandy was a tad old when she arrived here. Jeanne Singer, a fine composer and pianist I've known for nearly 20 years, is personally responsible for helping to bring Siamese lines back to the original dainty cats they can be when not diluted with the heavier set domestic shorthair and other breeds. Her Singa cattery name is properly well known within the cat fancy, and cats from her lines are found all over the world. She saved Pandy for me, as she thought she was unusually bright and attentive, and it was a wonderful choice. This scamp took over right away, and alternates between playing Ms. Independence and a demanding playmate. A lot of fun, no kidding! Pandy has a habit a bit like Nago once did: she steals into the studio here where I'm working, and reaches up on tip toe to tap me gently on the elbow. When I look down, I earn a mild ululation, and then a cat in my lap who want's attention. Then after some minutes of tummy rubbing, it's back down again, to sit on a warm monitor or nearby chair. She also loves to find "goodies" around the loft, and carry them off to her secret hiding places. Small screwdrivers and pliers, bits of string, wire and pencils have vanished mysteriously -- without a trace.After losing Nago to that damned cancer, there were only two critters left in the loft, dear old Subi, and new kitten, Pandora. It felt awful, a big change from the days when four fuzzers shared the premises. Since Pandy came from Jeanne's cattery, I thought it only fair to ask my other breeder friend, Donna Davis, if she had any male Sealpoint kittens, or if any litters were due soon. From this simple question came Charly, who you see when he first arrived, early September .He was 5 months old. Charly was rather old to be available for adoption having been born in April. But he was a "reject", from an unbelievably neurotic home in NJ, from people who truthfully didn't want an active kitten. All kinds of ridiculous stories were told, and Donna just asked them to return the little guy, and refunded the whole fee. Turned out this sweet, spirited kit had been abused, some really bad stuff went down, what can I say? He now ducked when anyone came near, attempted to pat him or skritch him in any way. Just four weeks had turned him into an insecure bundle of fear, a marked change from his early outgoing kittenhood. Donna gave him a couple of weeks of her best care, and he began to come around. She simply offered Charly to me if I would provide him with a good home he deserved after all the trauma. So he was mine for the asking, a short LI train trip to pick him up. He was immediately friendly when I met him, and has been a wonderful companion since he arrived here. Pandy and Charly have become very close friends, the same thing I'd seen with my previous cats, rather like Subi and Pica were many years back. Here's Charly at one year old. He's an unusually light colored Sealpoint, with a soft toned tawny body color, and "points" that are only now starting to approach the usual brown-black tone usually seen on Sealpoints. His tail is more "tweedpoint" than seal, but seems to be slowly darkening. When he's ON, you will generally count two of him, perhaps three, as he dashes from room to room, up the kitty pole, down and into the bathtub, then zips under the table. When he's OFF, you have an extremely affectionate warm pillow of plush velvet, who purrs easily, gently sniffs at your nose, and wants to remain as closeby as possible. Charly isn't perhaps the brightest of cats I've lived with, although he has certainly learned a lot from Pandora dammitt.With Pandy being so damn swift in the cat intellect department, the contrast is kinda pleasant. It takes all kinds, even in catdom. I used to find Pandy cuddled with Charly often, and Subi is often with one of them or the other, as they often help groom the "old bod" for him. Friendship, just a perfect blendship. More lately, they seem to prefer napping alone, as is mentioned below, but I wouldn't be surprised if THAT pattern also changed eventually.To the left you'll see the latest addition to the four-legged critters in the loft. Yes, it's a puppy, a cute, happy-go-lucky, floppy, loopy puppy. Almost every visitor falls in love with this Border Terrier. Her name is Brrittania, with the double-r there in honor of her mother, who had the name "Brree", being born on the coldest day of that year. Borders originate on the border of Scotland and England, so the name fits quite well. Miss Britty is quite a bit pushier than Heather was, although their terrier personalities are astonishingly similar. I thought a slightly smaller dog, from a breed not so ruined by trendiness as are Wheatons at least they've become so in the NE , might be more suitable as I'm getting older. This pup's about half the size of dear Heather, a real lap dog. She's stubborn and curious and friendly and full of energy and knows how to turn on the charm with every visitor. She also loves the new cats. If you have any doubt of that observation, take a look here, and see Charly driving Britty about as crazy as she's driving him. The active young duo actually wrestle together many times a day, an amiable plug for Interspecies Athletics when's the next Convention? Pandora often participates I think she picked it up by watching the others , although she'll never be the rough housing expert these two are when they "get it on! I was concerned at first, too, but you soon notice that they both enjoy it, and keep pestering the other for more good times. Heather always seemed eager to romp with the cats, too, who were much smaller than she was. The size disparity meant it never happened. But given the correct match of body weight and unflagging spirit displayed here, the novel exercise just developed spontaneously. Hey, long as no one gets hurt, it's their business! Subi's days of cat play are over, I must admit, so he generally declines any invitations to join the young'uns in tumble and chase. I have to yell at them when they try to coerce the slow movin' old guy, who just wants to watch and be near, see what's going on, and amble around slowly and creakily, into joining in a friendly competition. I call this snapshot: "Trio Stealth". The three youngest are often seen playing together, so this is not a unique snapshot. Britty's long red leash is usually much too much of a temptation for Miss Pandora to ignore. Whenever Britty strolls by with the leash "in tow", this is the very next thing you'll witness: Pandy about ready to pounce on the end of the long red moving snake. Charly is pretty good at it, too. It's like animal magnetism, although I thought that cats, like humans, were mostly dielectric.Of course I could be wrong. It might have something to do with static electricity, don't you think? Ever stroke a cat or pup on a dry winter's day? Bobbsey twins with old-timer. Often I come into the studio and find some new critter business in front of me, a surprise that's hard not to smile at. This time I saw that the younger cats had taken to sitting side-by-side on one of the computer monitors, like those old children's book illustrations of the Bobbsey Twins, or some such. My, but aren't they cute?! Take a pretty wicked heart not to smile about this friendly pose. I had to grab my camera, which fortunately was loaded. It's nice to discover that the old Subi cat was not being disturbed on the other monitor. Sometimes they bully him out of a good warm spot, and often I have to step in to restore fairness. They'll someday have first choice, but for now they must make do at times in sharing a warm spot. Pandy and Charly do get along very well, inseparable, really, so that's no hardship. Pandy's first sight of a pair of lobsters produced this amusing reaction: "Whatzzat?! I wondered if she'd even notice if I put her up on the counter, as some of the cats have been rather blase about these slow moving and slower-witted beasites, nothing at all resembling the silly scene in Woody Allen's "Annie Hall. Not often any of us get this treat, so she's not had many other opportunities like this. It'll be amusing to see if the next time produces any familiarity "oh, I see you're having those big bug things again! In the meantime, you might get a smile to see this candid shot. Curiosity can often have its downside. One evening well after dinner time I heard an abrupt loud scuffling sound in the kitchen area, a bonk and flurry of activity and something suddenly was flailing around. I had absent-mindedly left the plastic container for cat crunchies on the sideboard, and finally Pandy had discovered my gaffe, and was about to sneak an extra snack from the normally hidden treat-holder. She obviously found her way to pop the top open, and had stuck her small head well inside. Then she must have panicked, and tried to pull out in a hurry. Bad mistake, the lid of the container came off easier than her head could slip away, and so she was left wearing a heavy "necklace" several sizes too large for a small feline. The camera was loaded, so here's a shot of a disgruntled victim of curiosity. Then I helped the grateful silly cat to freedom from her humiliating trap: "Not funny! Where'd it go?! In a more recent snapshot, here's a new annoying habit Pandy has gotten into. For the time being I've had a new laser printer sitting on the floor of my studio, just in front of the 3-M 16 track tape machine. It's a nice high res printer, replacing the 12 year old original LW-NTX that finally is wearing out aren't we all.The Elite 21 has the neat ability to print on both sides of a sheet of paper, which saves quite a bit of money and space for all those sheets we aren't supposed to need in this "new paperless society" we inhabit. But the printer has a cute way of printing on both sides. First side A begins to come out of the slot, but immediately the paper is pulled back in, only to emerge some seconds later with side B also mysteriously printed upon. For an extremely intelligent, curious cat, that's just too much. Pandy saw the paper going back in, like a mouse retreating quickly into its hole in the wall, and sprang down from the monitor to see what this was all about. Now when she even hears the motor begin to wind up, there she goes, to watch the paper emerge, pull back, then come out again. It's irresistible, and this cute pose shows you a bit of the action. Now there's just this little problem of crushed and wrinkled paper printouts I frequently have to read from.This is a new one on me. When Charly sits on top of the new computer monitors, he often crosses his legs like this. The tops of these monitors are more tilted than any of the older ones were, so there may be a caution about rolling off when they're up there. Perhaps crossing one's feet like this makes a fuzzy critter feel more secure, less "rollable," when about to take a nice warm nap? This is the only place I even see him doing it. Let me look again, as both cats are up on top of the screens again as I'm typing this. Nope, different positions going on there right now. That's what snapshots are for, prove we didn't imagine the whole amusing thing.We are just good friends. The current critters certainly can "get it on" in the mutual aggression and play department, and it's not often I find them together in a heap like the older crew was so much of the time. But they're still good friends. Just let any one of them get into a fix, and call for help -- the others come running pronto! And during quiet times I'm often caught off guard with something like what you see here. This time it was "Miss Britty and Miss Pandora," enjoying each other's company on the carpet next to the middle sofa. I'd just been reading, and was about to head back into the studio. Fortunately a camera was near my elbow, so I caught it right away. It's a lot of comfort, especially in the current dangerously troubled world and country, to have them here. And as we get older we may find that small creatures do provide a great comfort in our lives, well worth the occasional slight inconvenience they may be. We still need our human friends, family and connections, but don't underestimate interspecies friendships, either! A rare moment together. The current "dynamic duo" worked out a rather competitive relationship when they first learned to deal with one another in the loft. I found Pandy cuddled up with dear old Subi regularly. But Charly never learned to cuddle with other cats, being from a very small litter and having been by himself for several early critical months. Which means that you just don't find him napping or sitting next to Pandy very often, even though he loves to cuddle with people just fine one of the "most spoiled cats" I've met, in that regard.Anyway, I'm generally surprised the few times each year when I discover the pair making nice-nice like this photo from early .They do love to romp together and chase one another, but just quietly sharing a toasty computer monitor? As I said, rare. I ran to grab the camera and snapped a few pix before they became self conscious, more interested in what I was doing, and jumped down. But not before this photographic proof that the "Bobbsey Twin" image a half-dozen photos above still happens at times, even without a diplomatic, tolerant Subi around to set a good example to the next generation.When the old Pioneer projection monitor passed away quietly in early , the critters didn't pay much attention to the new replacement HD Sony. That is, until the winter of .One night, when I was catching a film I'd missed in the theaters I think it was "Ice Age: The Meltdown" , Pandy happily ambled into the studio, no doubt to get some protracted attention from a "captive audience" that would be me. She suddenly froze in her tracks, staring upwards intently. A warm lap can wait. What IS that? Perhaps seeing moving animals vividly on a large screen provides the attraction "animal magnetism"? But this was nothing to take for granted -- it became a new interest for her reach out and touch someone. Since then, she almost always stops to check out any: cats, dogs, birds especially birds -- she LOVES to sit by the window and stare out at the big city pigeons , horses, frogs, prairie dogs, etcetera etcetera, on the screen, with bonus points when they're in High Def. I grabbed the small digital camera, this was too cute not to document even though it's much funnier in person, trust me. And so, you'll see here a curious, intelligent Siamese going head-to-head with a "gen-yoo-eine Mastodon" on screen. Immediately after she attempted, futilely, to reach out and touch another furry creature up there, she dropped down and darted around both sides, and from above, to the back of the monitor, trying to find another access way to reach this fascinating new animal, since some kind of "window" seemed to be "in the way", from the front. Simply a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e well it really WAS.I found it also hysterical, and had to contain my chuckles so that I wouldn't break her mood and lose the chance to catch her with a few decent snapshots. I've taken several similar shots since the first time it happened. This is still one of the best of them, from that first awakening. Well, what good is it to share your home with other sentient species if you can't enjoy one another's small quirks and foibles? Hope you agree. Charly turns ten. Yup, the years go flying by, for us and our much loved pets, too. Above you'll find several earlier snapshots of this classic, beautiful Siamese, starting from around the time he first arrived here. Now it's what, a decade gone by -- whoosh? Charly turned 10 in April '08, and this time I usually forget about such sentimental "trivia" I got the camera out to document this healthy, curious, affectionate seal-point Siamese he's pushing right up against my elbow while I'm trying to type this. Ain't he cute? Both he and Pandy are unusual in maintaining their light youthful body colors, even as mature adults. During the initial year I called Charly a "tweed-point", because his seal "points" were significantly flecked with light beige and white hairs; turns out to have been a good thing. He never did develop the usual mostly dark brown body color, as both previous sealpoints I lived with did Phunkalaro and Nago. Anyway, I remembered to give this constant companion a few treats for his birthday this year. While he was in the kitchen area anticipating something tasty, I first grabbed the camera, caught several good poses. He's sitting patiently rare for a cat and wondering why instead of giving him something to nibble on I'm messing with that damn camera again. But not to worry, click - click - click, I put the camera down, and he had his "reward" for posing so nicely. Only fair.No images, text, graphics or design may be reproduced without permission. All Rights Reserved. Top of the Page Photo Miscellany Here's something you've never seen before. It's called The Circon, short for: "Circular Controller". It has no sound of its own, although with the proper synthesizer patch it makes a marvelous Theremin. Unlike that earlier instrument, you don't hold your hands in free space. The pitch wand is an easy to move pointer arm that shows which note you're playing, with the exact center marked by a grey dot, so microtonal passages become possible. The left hand moves a much shorter arm which is spring loaded, to return up off when released. The further down, the louder and brighter the sound, in its usual configuration. Since you have physical references, you can repeat notes, and jump wide intervals, with complete accuracy. So it's a lot easier to play and play well! At least for me it is. It's a featured instrument on Tales of Heaven and Hell , where you can hear it to good effect on several of the selections. Here's the background on the Circon , if you're interested. Even if you've looked at this in the past, you might want to take another look again. By popular request here is the cover art on Sonic Seasonings. For those of you who don't already know, it's called: Waves at Matsushima a six-panel screen by Ogata Korin, early 18th century Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection Now if I both admit that I love this cover, too, and commend you for your good taste, is this logically self-serving? Rachel found this beautiful painting the original screens are about 5' tall to use as the album cover of our release, and it's gotten a lot of compliments since then. To read even more about it, check out our new Matsu Page. A small poster sized enlargement, about 2' x 3' of most of the screens was included with each double-LP set when it was originally released. I've been informed that these are now considered "collector's items," or some such trendiness. Early in I was fortunate enough to be invited on something I'd always wondered about, but never could afford to find out: a Caribbean Cruise. The opportunity arose when a college friend whose student film was my first scoring assignment, retired from a successful career as a film studio head. He and his wife wanted to celebrate with family and friends, and decided to look into contracting a small ship for having a real celebration on, as it traveled from Trinidad towards Curacao and Aruba, up to Puerto Rico, and the NE arc of islands over to Martinique. They invited different groups to share the experience with them, family the first week and a half, then three more segments for industry friends, business contacts, and chums from childhood and their many travels around the world. I was lucky to sneak into the final group of "miscellaneous" friends, and we shared the ship max of about 75 passengers for it's final 12 days, to Fort de France, Martinique. It will remain an indelible cherished memory in all of our minds, a really unique generous adventure with many shared experiences. It's worth a page of its own, but I have been timid about speaking out about something I had very little to do with, except to feel very grateful about. I suspect they might prefer it to remain a private matter, so however grateful, I'll mention no names here but you know who you are.Nonetheless I did want to share with you, already one year later, this lovely, highly saturated rainbow that I managed to photograph early on in the trip, during a late afternoon surprise shower. That's Saint John's below it. We all had to "sing for our supper" inasmuch as each of us was expected to prepare a half-hour "Salon", given during the evening hours after dinner. Fair enough. It was to be something important for each of us, a small slice of our lives, interests, hobbies, jobs, whatever we wished. For mine I chose to show some total eclipse images, discuss the fun of chasing them, and then play some of my music, giving each excerpt some behind the scenes information. As blind luck dictates, the most improbable coincidence of all occurred the evening of my "lecture". The ship happened to be in the best possible location for a lunar total eclipse, one I had completely forgotten about being such a solar eclipse "snob", no doubt.So just as my talk was to begin, so was totality. Amazing "serendipity. Unforgettable, truly. We watched the moon nearly vanish, then headed back down to the main lounge, where I gave my presentation, ending with the Coda of Seraphim then we headed off to bed. You know, for the rest of the trip, no one would believe me when I answered their questions on how I had managed to schedule a lunar eclipse to coincide with my description of total eclipses. Dumb luck??! Sometimes the truth is simply too plain and homely to be believable.Nancy Chessare was a wonderful audio engineer who worked in several recording engineers in NYC, from the late 50's until shortly before her untimely death to cancer in .She broke down the sexist barriers for the rest of us who have since followed, while proving over and over to be one of the very best. I met her when she was on the staff at Associated Recording Studios in the mid 60's, and was duly impressed by her skills with microphones, mixing, and tape editing, not to mention diplomacy with often neurotic artists and musicians. She always kept her cool, while making them look good, making the final recordings sound as effortless and polished as they were generally, in fact, not. Nancy was a good friend for many years, someone you could speak with about an amazingly wide range of topics, from the dully technical, or subtlely musical, to travel and cooking and philosophy. Here you see her from many years ago, when three of us went to the island of St. Thomas, the U. Virgin Islands we stayed in The Shibui, shown here, a Japanese-style series of tiny houses on a hill -- utterly charming! Somehow she also made her life look "easy", too, when it was not. At the end of , during an elegant memorial service put together by her friend of many years, Rachel Elkind-Tourre , and Rachel's husband Yves I learned more about Nancy than I had suspected. Her sister "spilled the beans. But she was too modest and too private to tell us very much about her background and abilities, a refreshing contrast to so many of today's ego-driven mini-minds and mini-talents, know what I mean? Turns out Nancy had been a serious pianist, classically trained and very polished, but had abandoned that profession to one less in the limelight. That explained a lot to us, how she was sought after for her canny abilities in assembling complex musical segments into a cohesive whole, for athletes and ice skaters competing in Olympic Games and the like. This was why she was so knowledgeable about the most arcane subjects of serious music. I really will miss this elegant, grace-filled friend, and wish she could have enjoyed more than a few months of deserved "play time" after her retirement in .Good-bye to a gentle, unforgettable friend! Lift Off! Since I don't live anywhere near Florida, I've missed the many opportunities of the fortunate residents of the area to witness the extraordinary events of our baby steps into space. And until we experience the angst of disaster which all great feats of exploration entail, it's too easy to delude ourselves into thinking these ambitious adventures are routine and matter of fact. Nothing of the kind. Apollo produced two nightmare, one claiming three lives, the other ended happily only after some swift intelligent minds figured out how to get the Apollo 13 crew back to Earth safely. We lost the Challenger in that risky launch in , lessons were learned, and just today, almost exactly 17 years later, the Columbia shuttle claimed seven more lives. Brave people, all, and we mourn their loss. Several books, like Wolfe's "The Right Stuff," describe the earlier courageous acts which opened the skies to human exploration, at the ultimate price for those who perished in the attempt. Many more were luckier and surived their steps right up to The Very Edge, and came back to regale us with their stories and experiences. So other younger minds were inspired, and the long journey continues, as it must. I'm not quite a full-fledged "space nut," but can come close to it. There's quite a collection of books, CD-ROMs, videos, posters, models, and other memorabilia dotted around the loft, from Russia's and America's space programs, and also Europe, Japan, India, and others to follow. One of my fondest memories stems from , a trip down to the Cape with Rachel taking a needed short break from By Request.This isn't the right place to describe the whole trip, but it is an idea webpage to show you two photos from that launch. The first one is as the smaller Saturn II-B lifts off of pad 39, where the shuttle would launch only a few years later I'm sorry I never was able to get to a Saturn V launch. We were set up on the Shuttle's landing strip, not quite finished at the time, as it had been turned into a temporary viewing site for many of us who made our reservations early. We brought some of the same equipment I've used at many total eclipse expeditions: the mm Nikkor, Rollei SL medium format camera, and Ken-Labs Gyro stabilizer it was very windy, that helped a lot , all mounted on a Celestron portable pier. Good heavy-duty stuff to capture this spectacle. The skies were deep azure, cloudfree, and only the rising heat waves from the ground during the first several seconds impaired any of the images we took that afternoon. One of the best shots is this one, around 15 seconds into launch, a vividly clear image from the days when we used to launch into space quite slowly, majestically, before zippy solid rockets were developed for the Shuttle. I'd found these two 11 x 14" prints from that summer only recently, and scanned and cleaned them, preparing to add them to this page. But in the course of other deadlines and the usual chaos around here, somehow they were set aside for the last several months. Well, today with emotions still very near the surface from our latest tragedy, I again found them. We must remember that these startling adventures are wrought with risk, a risk that these brave pioneers accept as part of their job. It's difficult to bear both sides in mind simultaneously as we continue to explore our next frontier. It is certain there will be more of both kinds of experiences as we push ahead, as mankind always has done. We now should pause, even tearfully, as we pay respects to our lost heroes -- those who generously bear the risks in championing a noble, and probably inevitable, part of our humanity, curiosity, and sense of wonder. With the release of my Beauty in the Beast album, and then Switched-On Bach and Tales of Heaven and Hell , I became known for my composing in, and arranging music with tunings other than the standard step equal tempered scale. The new enhanced-CD version of the first title, BitB, happens to include in the enhanced files on that CD a long article I wrote about the history and experiences of working with other tunings, shortly after creating the album. One of my great life disappointments, but then, you can't have everything you wish for. Even a dreamer must occasionally be practical! As with most notable "brainstorms", the idea itself isn't my own, but came from work done about a century before I composed the score to BitB, in England, the USA, and several other countries. But the essential form, and even the name: "generalized keyboard", is due to the pioneering efforts of R. Bosanquet, who lived in the UK. His most important published work on the topic, sadly forgotten today, is: "An Elementary Treatise on Musical Intervals and Temperament. I first learned of this work in the still available excellent Dover Publications reprint of Hermann Helmholtz's: " On Sensations of Tone " -- with critical appendixes by Alexander Ellis. If you look it up, you may also want to check out an excellent newer source of information on musical timbre: Arthur H. Benade's " Fundamentals of Musical Acoustics. Chief among these is a step Equal Tempered scale that this harmonium was tuned to. Others discovered the same temperament, too, but no one ventured into a practical use of this rich microtonal garden as much as he did. Even today there isn't anything really to compare with that early effort. And most new generalized keyboards, alas, design their keys more like the digits on a typewriter or computer keyboard, grouped tightly together why -- to save space? It took me years before I saw any photographs of the Bosanquet Harmonium which I've just learned is now in the collection of London's wonderous Science Museum , in South Kensington , and could grasp the eminently sensible instrument he devised to play what is a fairly intimidating collection of pitches and intervals. Above is the best color photograph I've been able to find. This cleaned and tweaked jpeg is posted here for those still curious souls who might be interested in a rich, neglected field. A webpage like this about photographs is not the place to describe the tuning, the keyboard or theory behind them. But it is a fascinating image even without an analysis. Note that all the keys sit much like the black keys on a piano, synth, or organ, and at about the same size and spacing. The octave is also roughly the standard span. Yes, there are MANY keys in each octave, divided into black and white, the same scheme as on a piano. And once you master any desired key, melody, or chord passage, you can transpose it into any of the other 52 keys in a flash -- the fingering remains exactly the same! That's the friendly tradeoff, there are a lot of keys to navigate although fewer than you'd guess at any one time , but from then on all musical keys are a snap to modulate through. Note that like the HP calculator described here , these are excellent colors even for those with color deficiencies. I'll add a drawing of my proposed version to the site so you can see it as well. Meanwhile, this is the instrument which best combined a choice theory of tunings with something a real musician could play. Bravo, Mr. Look V-e-r-y Closely.Now that flat panel LCD type computer displays have become popular, there's a nifty small scientific experiment just waiting to try out, once you know where to look for it. I'm referring to Haidinger's Brushes, a venerable, if generally overlooked, proof that our mammalian eyes have the ability to detect polarized light directly, with no further optical aid! It shouldn't come as that much of a surprise that we've retained a mild form of this sense-skill. Birds and many insects navigate with reference to the natural polarized light pattern in the daytime sky. We wonder how they can tell which way to head, where north is, and while there are other senses that come into play, an important one is the capacity to detect the degree and angle of the atmospherically scattered and polarized solar light. Since humans do not need or use the ability, it's never developed far, but remains latent in most of us. What's that, you don't believe me, never saw it with your own eyes? So thought I, until I'd I read about it years ago, and began checking it out for myself. Oh, it's there, all right, this is no urban legend or specious hoax. But the phenomenon is also very faint, nothing obvious to jump out at the viewer, or most of us would be well aware of it already. The suggestions I've read most often recommend that beginners first look up in a clear blue sky, at a region roughly at right angles to the sun's location. Early morning or late evening work best, when you can look up, either to the north or south, with the sun shining to one side of you. Then you tip or rock your head quickly from side to side while looking towards the same spot. Some people like to spin their whole bodies a bit, while keeping their eyes at the same aiming point. Anyway, I'm not going to go through the whole exercise here, as there's a much better new way to study the phenomenon, if you have a computer with a flat-panel display available. Makes things much easier for those learning about these color brushes for the first time. The computer screen obviously should be powered on, preferably showing an even flat gray or white surface a blank page is fine. Let's say you have a plain light grayish page opened out on an LCD display in front of you. The image just above again, click it for the larger version will show you what to look for next. Many people report that they first began to learn how to see the pattern using a pair of polarized sun glasses, or even better, a polarizing filter for their camera years ago I used a filter, too. In that case you look through it towards a blankly lighted neutral wall or surface, and quickly rotate the filter alternately: clockwise, counterclockwise, pausing a few seconds in between. But that won't work on the computer display which emits polarized light, as you may know , as the screen will merely shift from normal brightness down to nearly black, depending on the filter's angle. Instead, just use the same trick the sky gazers do, tip your head first to one side, pause briefly, then the other. With practice most people should see two hourglass shapes, one colored in a smudgy pastel yellow-ochre, the other in a lighter bluish-violet tint, the hourglasses sitting at right-angles to each other. The size and colors of the "apparition" are generally consistent, but the orientation changes, and may first appear rotated cw, then ccw, depending on which way you've moved. But in my "here's what to look for" image I've simply set the yellow axis to be vertical, the bluish companion horizontal. Some people say they see one color easier than the other, but most of us can learn to see both of them. It's a nice, ethereal, even "spooky" effect, seeing this color pattern just floating there briefly each time you regenerate it the retina then fatigues, which is why it fades away each time. Since the eye generates this shape directly, you can't simply photograph it even so, I'm including it in the Photos section, since this is a real optical effect, not a piece of artwork. But using Photoshop I created pretty close to what I see on my monitor, in shape, color, and contrast. If you examine this image from something like 18" away it should be about " square on your screen , the two subtle colored regions suggest what you ought look for. The overall hourglass lengths are about the size of the human fovea, which on the computer screen will be under an inch across. Note: If you wear glasses to correct for astigmatism or can borrow a pair , you don't have to tip your head. Just flick your eyes first from one side, then to the other if that doesn't work for certain eyeglass prescriptions, try going up and down, or at an angle, instead. In between the motions, by tipping or flicking your gaze, Haidinger's Brushes will be visible for about seconds before they fade. Once you remember what you're looking for, you'll detect them on your own with minimal head tip or eye shift. It may take awhile before you get the knack, or you may even be startled to see it immediately, if you're doing it all correctly. Just a few weeks ago one of you wrote to tell me you'd discovered you can see the brushes any time you stop to look for them on your computer screen, so I expect this idea to become more popular with time. There are quite a few good websites which describe the phenomenon well, I won't go into them here. Now that I know how to see the Haidinger's Brush shape, I often become aware of it faintly when not even trying to detect it. You may have even seen it before, and wondered what it was, a monitor or eye defect, or some weird illusion. Nope, something much more interesting than that is afoot. See if you can nail down the best way to see it, how screen and room brightness affects it, how rested or sleepy you are, and so on. Enjoy your experimenting! NYC-Henge Even though I've lived in Manhattan for most of my life, this topic simply never occurred to me before a science-minded friend pointed it out to me two years ago. Each year the street layout of this city provides a kind of modern midyear "stonehenge", with a regular rectilinear grid to mark sunrise and sunset moon versions, too. When another celestial mechanician friend, Leroy Doggett, worked at the U. Naval Observatory, he was part of a movement to establish a new hybrid field of Archeo-Astronomy, which is now a growing field. I recall trying to assist him a few times to find the earliest or latest moon crescent in the twilight sky. People with lower, less obstructed horizons do better than I can in the city on this. But one naked eye observation is rather fun, if completely trivial, and even from a city like this. And that's what you can see in the photo to the left click as usual for a large view. For a few weeks every late June and early July I love to see the sunset navigate dramatically down all west facing streets with great theatrical effect. And there happens to be a pair of dates each year with an exact lineup, lasting days each. Those occur in late May, and in mid July this year they fall on May 28th and July 15th. If the western horizon happens to be quite clear on those evenings, you can watch the solar disk set exactly down the middle of the streets. In fact, it IS a bit like stonehenge! Please pardon my hyperbole, as MOST cities with long, straight streets and tall buildings on each side have their similar "henge" alignments, for those who care. For Manhattan, most E-W streets angle at about 28 degrees NW of N, which matches the azimuth of the setting sun on the above dates they vary a little each year, due to the leap year correction factor, as do the exact Solstice and Equinox dates. I also ought point out that the photo here was taken right in front of the much-loved Flatiron Building, while looking due west along 23rd Street. This was the mid-July 11th "henge", and had I stepped out onto the exact median strip in the middle of Twenty-third, the disk would have lined-up a little better. Also, I was a couple of days early, but the rest of the evenings that week were cloudy, so this is my best shot. NYC-Henge It's not often I can add something so brand-new to the website as this follow-up image, taken this past evening. The recent index page shot of me with Pandy lounging over my shoulders was another such case, posted one day after it was taken. Anyway, this image is of the May 30th "henge" for .I tried on the 28th, but the traffic was too heavy to get an unobstructed shot during the critical minute. Two days later and here's a very decent "henge" photo. That's 14th Street, and I've just crossed from the north sidewalk as the light changed, giving me seconds to snap off a few shots, before scurrying to the opposite curb. You'll note we're right on the median strip this time, and fortunately, there are no trucks or other vehicles, nor even pedestrians to block the moment. The sky was even clearer than for the '05 attempt above last year we were clouded out all the best evenings. I did feel lucky this time, and a few clicks later and it was over. Fortunately a pair of "bracketing" frames came out just fine. They're composited together here to create a wider dynamic "HDR" view, very much like what I saw myself. Studio "Loft-Henge" Now for something not-quite "completely different. All the angles have to be Just So. I guess it doesn't take too much to capture my attention, but for no good reason, I think it's kind of a magical moment that it's so rare helps. When I completed the Wurly II Kurzweil setup, I noticed that on several evenings in late May and again in July those sunbeams very briefly swept over the new instrument. You can see what it looks like to the left. I ought explain that the studio is towards to rear of a long and relatively narrow space which faces east-west. The windows up in front look west, but it's quite an obstacle course for the narrow beam of direct sunlight to slip between many tall buildings outside, then in through the front windows, past walls and hallways, finally slipping through the studio doorway to reach all the way inside. It's a path of about 80 feet from front windows to the Wurly! With such a long baseline, the bright beam of light traces its path surprisingly quickly. If you stand still quietly you notice it slide along, which I've never seen on, say, a sundial, or even the shadow of a traffic light on the pavement. I caught five shots during May of last year of some of the best moments. Two were blurred from the rather slow shutter needed to capture the glow of bounce light in an otherwise darkened room. This was the best of the other three, quite well centered, too. Okay, now you're permitted to say it: "Big Deal! This one IS honestly "completely different. But up until early this year, all I had was my memories and a pencil sketch I had drawn in '02, to show my parents, and now you. I remembered seeing these back in Pawtucket RI , in the '50s, on the roofs of several textile? The drawing to the left is what I recall, of a particularly odd twin version, two units connected "in cascade", it now seems, all long gone. The next image is one of a few quick snapshots I took from the highway while passing through Bridgeport CT, on my way back from visiting with my elderly mom in RI. I had no idea any of these still existed, as the last time I can recall seeing one is in the late 60s, in the Pawtucket area. So my memory had not fooled me, looks pretty similar to the drawing. To a child growing up with an active imagination, those "smokestacks? And the pair joined together seemed to be having some silent conversation. In any case, I never completely forgot them. And when I showed my drawing to my mom and dad, they smiled as recognition dawned on their faces, too. We'd never asked anyone back then what these actually were used for. And until discovering a couple of them in Bridgeport, I assumed it was WAY too late to ask anyone who'd remember now. But that's exactly what I'm doing here. Consider this another informal puzzle challenge on our site. Any ideas? So what do we know? These large devices were located on factory roofs. Probably some kind of textile factories. The construction looks like they are hollow and have inner and outer jackets, a manifold. At first I thought: "heat exchangers. Okay, then how about some kind of air discharge filters, to keep tremendous amounts of fabric dust and lint from covering the neighborhood? That might work, a minimal environmental awareness for the time. At least that's my best guess. What's yours? And if you live in the area, CT or RI, you may have seen these before. BTW, this photo was taken from Interstate highway 95 at the end of January '07, just a bit west of the center of Bridgeport, looking north of the highway. Further info: If you know the Bridgeport area, HERE's a satellite view with my best estimate for the unusual "dust-filter chimney. Right now I wouldn't be surprised if a few other extant examples exist, a bit of history from a time when the USA still made things.Since posting the above visual conundrum I've received suggestions from two engineers the first week, and two more right after that. The first message came from Evan Bentz, Ph. John also sent me further info which backed up the idea. The two newest messages came from Jim Cook and Tom Johnson. Both sent me links which clearly show the same kind of devices, still in use after all these years, in many places besides New England. Pretty good qualifications from all of you and interesting, helpful letters, too , I'm impressed. Thank you all very sincerely for taking the time to send your comments and supportive links. So this IS a kind of dust collector. Actually, it's an industrial cyclonic dust filter. Google such words for many other examples. I had stumbled upon similar but smaller devices by accident when I first searched the web about this topic a few years ago, but felt too insecure about concluding this was it. Finally now with the help provided by these good people, I think it's safe to announce that this puzzle has been solved! Yeay, I'm pleased to put the speculations of decades aside at last! We had total piece of mind knowing our furry family had company and attention daily and over night. This allowed our pets to stay in their own home while we received daily texts and pictures of them. We were able to enjoy our vacation without any stress or worry. When we returned home our house was warm and clean, filled with happy animals and a sense of clam in the air. Such an amazing service provided by such amazing people!! Wendy stayed with my five year old terrier mix with a partially torn ACL and a knee brace for week and also managed to deal with several days without power due to a storm. I do not believe I could have handled it better than she did. I recommend wendy without qualification. Brava Wendy! It's obvious Wendy genuinely cares for animals. I was confident my dog was receiving the care and cuddles he needs. Thank you again Wendy! Wendy loved my dogs if they were her own- super cooperative to work with and we loved the photo updates she texted. Thanks so much!! Wendy stayed in our home and took care of our two dogs while we were away for 10 days. We were able to enjoy our vacation knowing that the dogs and our house were in such good hands. Wendy is professional, friendly, reliable, punctual, communicative, trustworthy, caring and respectful. We appreciated her text updates with photos of the dogs. We highly recommend Wendy for pet sitting. Wendy did a wonderful job with our two Great Danes. She was extremely caring and trustworthy. Both of our dogs loved her and we highly recommend her. She couldn't have been more wonderful with our ex large babies:. My family and I wanted a trainer to work with Cody one-on-one in our home since that is where we felt good behavior was most important. Wendy started helping us train our Labrador puppy, Cody, at about 12 weeks of age. Her methods were gentle and effective and after only 4 lessons with Wendy, we had an obedient, well-behaved puppy that not only respected the rules of the house, but also respected us as his pack leaders. When people meet Cody, we are constantly asked how he became such a well-behaved, obedient dog and we always give credit to Wendy. As a veterinarian, I continue to recommend her to all of my clients looking for gentle effective training for their puppies or adult dogs with behavioral issues. As soon as Wendy walked through our door you could tell she had the full respect and attention of our dog. She not only teaches the basic commands, but the psychology and behavior behind having a dog that is well adjusted and respects you as the leader of the pack. She does all this without the use of treats, shock collars, or other gimmicks. We now have a well behaved dog that is fun to have around and who we feel comfortable taking wherever we go. We rescued a 6 year old large breed dog, and found he has some behavior issues. Wendy helped us to see that his aggressive behaviors probably stem from fear. She gave us some great training techniques and leadership advice. He learned proper front door behavior immediately, her method is very effective. Some of his other behaviors are going to take more time and consistent training to correct, but he is definitely improving. We are glad that we chose to work with Wendy. We love Sarge, and decided to figure out how to help him. I started to do research about training and what we were doing wrong. After a few weeks I made appointments with a few people. Much to my surprise, I found Wendy. An Appointment was made she came over to our house, told us we were going to be training with Sarge to make us better pack leaders and in turn help our dog out. He has made a lot of progress. He knows where to sit when people knock on the door, the growling and excessive barking has stop. An important lesson that we learned as dog owners is that it is continuous work. Wendy was very instrumental in making sure Sarge is a happy dog. We called Wendy as a last resort, thinking our only alternative was to get rid of one of our dogs. Our story: We have 3 rescue dogs, a male and 2 females, that were adopted at different times. Training: The first thing we noticed about Wendy when entering the house was how she commanded control. She spent time teaching us dog psychology, diet and training techniques for our different needs. We diligently worked with our dogs and saw improvement very quickly. Fat pockets were disappearing, they were looking leaner, and just acting happier. Our dog with arthritis has pep in her step again, walking around our neighborhood no problem! It is a wonderful feeling being able to take the three dogs on a walk together with our infant in her stroller and enjoy the moment. We even get compliments from our neighbors at how well-behaved and trained our dogs are! She never rushed us to be done with the visit and really wanted to make sure we had exhausted all questions and felt completely satisfied with her training. She even scheduled us a bonus training visit to follow up with our progress with the 3 dogs. Thank you, Wendy! We love having our house back and our 4 legged babies getting along so well! I have a dog with serious issues. Wendy addressed those problems with behavioral strategies that showed me a different dog within two hours. I have hope again. I have a 14 month old pit bull, Khaleesi, and started having problems with her on walks such as lunging at people and dogs, also problems with door rushing, no recall at all and nipping. She walks at heal position and now we can walk past distractions such as barking dogs without chaos. Wendy is very thorough, she takes her time to make sure that we understood what being the pack leader means and does for dogs. Me and my family are enjoying seeing the positive progress and are looking forward to our next session with Wendy. I have a two-year-old German Shepherd, my main issues with shire were jumping, polling, barking, and excitement. Wendy explained why my dog acts the way she does, and she Wendy totally right! Shire changed right away, she is a very stubborn dog but she is extremely smart! Once I started doing what Wendy taught me I could tell right away that Shire understood! Scheduling with Wendy was a seriously desperate cry for help — please! Wendy showed up with tools and skills to train our dog. My mom was so sure that nothing would work but by the end of the class, she was hugging Wendy and asking her when we could have more lessons for our dog HAHA. Jett was undisciplined until our training with Wendy. Shortly after this, Jett got out as I was taking out the trash. He began to jog off and a motorcycle was barreling down our street. I thought, Oh no! Additionally, our Daisy dog now no longer lunges and barks at other dogs on walks. Wendy helped us regain our sanity in several other dog-related areas as well. I highly recommend her. We had babied our dog out of love for him but we were not being leaders — he was running the house. When our sweet dog began becoming aggressive, we became alarmed and knew we needed someone who was an expert in behavioral strategies. She helped us realize that we could still show our dog the love and affection while being the leader he needed. Wendy was patient and available for questions as we learned to trust the process and put in the consistency needed when she left. The results were amazing! The aggression is gone and he is more obedient than we ever thought he could be. We are planning to hire Wendy again for socialization out in the community because we know the amazing results she is able to help us achieve. We highly recommend her! If you are willing to put in the work when she leaves, you will see amazing results after the first lesson! I am amazed at how quickly he has learned to be obedient. Your techniques really do work and I would highly recommend anyone whose dog needs training give you a call. In just a couple lessons he is a different dog. Michelle Baker, Corona Posted to Yelp, July 18, I rescued my dog from SBC and after a while was having major behavioral problems, such as redirect aggression, sibling rivalry, and basic obedience. She had gotten into fights and I was so worried I would have to give her up. I decided to go with Wendy after doing extensive research and numerous interviews with multiple companies. I like her apprach and extensive knowledge of dog behavior. Shes not just a trainer. She is a behaviorist. Her style is direct, logical, and dog centered. She does not use any painful negative consequences, which I like. And that puts her a head above the rest. WithShe taught me how to communicate withmmy dog and become the alpha in a positive way. With her training, my dog just passed the Canine Good Citizen test!! And I have high hopes of fostering again soon. Worth every penny. We were able to schedule quickly and had our first 3 hour training today. She sure knows her stuff! I admit I was totally ignorant to the proper way to treat our dogs. Sarina M. Not sure who enjoyed it more, myself or my dog, but it was a fun experience for both of us and the change is unbelievable. We adopted our little Chihuahua mix a month ago from the corona shelter and while she was wonderful inside of our apartment, she was fearful outside, barking and lunging at other dogs as well as people. We saw an improvement day one and in the last 2 weeks we have seen a completely different dog, much more confident and calm. We have learned so much about how we need to behave and direct her as the pack leaders. Having Wendy train us was worth every cent! Although we also have a pug and 2 Chihuahuas, losing Abby left such a huge void in our lives, we replaced her with a 3 month old black lab puppy. My husband researched and found Wendy and scheduled an appointment. Our pug and chis were all three barkers. After our first session with Wendy yesterday morning,our new puppy was walking on a leash, sitting on command and waiting at the front door until we released her to go through. The other three dogs got to the point that they did not even bark when the doorbell rang. Even after Wendy left, we had several people in and out of the house and still had no problems. We could not be happier with Wendy. She is knowledgeable, loving to our fur babies, effective, and a great teacher. Two older dogs and a new puppy. The older two had a problem with barking whenever the doorbell rang or someone knocked at the front door. I could not let people into my home right away without getting my dogs out of the way first, because they would bark at my guests as they were coming in and my dogs would also jump on them. It was embarrassing to say the least. She showed me the tools I needed to correct my dogs. After the first session my dogs no longer are barking at the door, I can leave my front door wide open while I greet my guests and my dogs are nowhere in sight. I can also now walk them without lunging out at other dogs while we walk through our neighborhood. I feel so relieved in knowing that my dogs are better behaved now. I am a stress free doggie parent now. I look forward to working with Wendy on getting my 3 month old Dachshund Puppy trained as well. Thanks Wendy! Before that, she was just spoiled. Since then she had become insecure, anxious, developed separation anxiety, and barked excessively when anyone came to the door. She knew basic commands but was inconsistent and would constantly pull forward on the leash. We used to take our dogs everywhere but could no longer trust Bon Bon to behave. We called Wendy and literally after the first session, she was a new dog! Miraculously she also learned to stop barking and instead, sit in a designated place away from the door when someone rang the bell until she was released to greet the guest. That was a couple of months ago; we are now getting close to being ready for her to take her Canine Good Citizen test and after that, begin preparing for her to become a therapy dog. This weekend we are taking her with us to a hotel with confidence that she will be well behaved. We are so grateful to Wendy and highly recommend her! We just finished our second training and my dog Otis has done a complete .Before he would go absolutely mental on the leash. My other dog Ruxin was also very bad at coming when called and listening in general. Such a huge difference for both my dogs. Thanks again Wendy!!! I was so afraid they would fight again. Oh and her shoulder to lean on. Thank you Wendy!! I still have the fear, but Wendy is always there to help me get through it, whether on the phone or in person. She is always available to me. She teaches you the technique, then you do it right there!! She gave us detailed instructions on how to work with our pup on her separation anxiety. We could see the difference in our dog right away. She taught us how to be leaders so our dog feels safe, secure, and happy. We interviewed a few different other trainers but decided on Wendy due to her gentle yet assertive approach. It was, and still is extremely important to us to train our fur kid in a gentle, non-violent way. After some research we came across Wendy. We liked the fact that she had a life time experience as a dog trainer, would enable us to train our dog in a gentle way, and also that she would come to our house for the training sessions. This is important to understand: Wendy enables the dog owners to train their dogs properly, which — in our opinion — is the way it should be. My wife and I are highly recommending Wendy! She is an outstanding and fantastic dog trainer with a wonderful personality. Both, dog and dog owner will benefit from her experience. Within minutes she had him doing it AND had him doing all sorts of agility exercises! I recommend Wendy for any issues you may be having with your dog!! She understands training is just as much about the owner as it is the pet! But like a lot of doggies, he had a few discipline problems that we were just unable to work him through. Pack Leader Wendy Blanch to the rescue! She came to our home, worked with us on working with him, and now our doggie is heading in the right direction! He also waits patiently for his ball below picture. Wendy gave us so many little hints that helped us help Jasper. You could tell she honestly loves dogs and Jasper was quite eager to work with her. How did I hear about Wendy? Well Priceless Pets of course! Wendy works with rehabilitating many of their dogs to get them ready for adoption. If your doggie needs a helping hand in becoming a better family member, contact Pack Leader Wendy Blanch. Big or little problems, she can help you fix them! Now if only she could train my husband, Mike. My lb. The first lesson made a huge impact. He stopped charging the door when the doorbell rang, stopped licking the plates while I was loading the dishwasher, he was an unruly stubborn teenager. He now walks right next to me, comes when called, is controlled by my voice, not treats or clickers. He adores me and looks to me as his pack leader. Wendy is the best choice I have made in by far. Then I brought him home…he was a mess, nipping at and jumping all over me and my family, bucking like a bronco and dragging me along on our walks! I was in tears every day for the first 3 weeks until I got a referral from my vets office. After only 1 training session, the improvement in his behavior was amazing! I kept working with him and had several additional training sessions to correct some of his more stubborn issues huskies LOVE to pull! Within 3 months I was so thrilled with what Wendy and I had accomplished with him that I went and found him a little husky sister! I used the methods Wendy taught me with her from day one. Now, I have 2 well trained huskies that bring me joy every day! I can walk my dynamic duo together with confidence, and their behavior at home is exemplary! Wendy was great, giving me the tools and techniques to be able to enjoy my pups! When Wendy first came to our house she could not even start the orientation of the program because all three of our dogs were barking and jumping on the back door. All three are very hyper, but we knew with the right training they could be better under control. Even now our neighbors and our pool guy asked us how we got them to stop barking and we said Wendy Blanch. We now can get them to walk nicely and not worry about having to take one dog at a time outside. The other issue we had was with our Brown Lab Bailey. Now she waits to be invited in and she understands not to jump on us. She can swim now with us and it is great to have fun with them in the pool. Lastly, we have begun taking them to the dog park with Wendy and her cute dogs. They had a blast and we are looking forward to finding other dog parks to take them to and have our main goal to be able to take them off leash to the dog beach in Huntington. Thanks Wendy for everything. Our puppies appreciate it as well. We look forward to continuing working with you as do Bullet, Bella, and Bailey. My dog Penelope, a year-old Jack Russell, responded very well and I am being educated on how to be the pack leader of my home. A position I had allowed my naughty dog to assume over time. Wendy demonstrated excellent communication methods and the training material she left for me to review was an invaluable resource which solidified the reversal of pack leader from my dog to me! Thank You Wendy! This sounds silly but today he dropped a dryer sheet after only being asked to do so. Dryer sheets are his favorite thing to steal and run with. Thank you Wendy! Copy link Share Every day, Wendy Shan sits in front of a blank canvas and paints the same subject. Since she was eight years old, Wendy has been creating a new iteration of her pug-shih tzu cross, Lulu. She hopes to be able to help people see Lulu the way she does. She often draws Lulu with a bit of personality and some sass. They aren't just ordinary dog portraits to her. Wendy Shan's portrait of her dog Lulu. Supplied These are some of Wendy's portraits of her dog Lulu. A collage of portraits of Wendy Shan's dog Lulu. Supplied A pencil drawn portrait of a Wendy Shan's dog Lulu. Supplied Multiple painted portrait of a Wendy Shan's dog Lulu. Supplied Two drawn photos of dogs illustrated by Wendy Shan. Supplied Wendy grew up an only child, longing for someone to play with in a home full of adults. So when her parents brought Lulu home, she became more than just a household pet. She was family. Art allows Wendy to 'unleash creativity' Working on drawings and paintings gave Wendy a stillness she needed. She had a space to distract her from school and childhood anxieties. Most importantly, it was a world she had control over. If she wanted to draw green clouds, she could. It was up to Wendy to create the fantasy land of her choosing. Supplied Art has always been therapeutic for her because there are no set guidelines or expectations. It doesn't matter if she doesn't create a perfect painting or illustration. She has freedom to fail and try again. It was kind of just knowing that I was improving. She began to get more involved in her local community with council projects and advocacy. But she says sometimes young people, despite engaging in community events and advocacy, can be drowned out of the conversion. An expert says art is important for young people's growth and wellbeing. Supplied Expert says art important for mental health Robyn Ewing, who specialises in art education at the University of Sydney, says a relationship with the arts is integral to young people's development. How does this happen? While volunteering at a local shelter many years ago, these questions weighed heavy on my heart. The more time I spent there, the more I learned. And, to the shelter good animals go. I rescued my Rottweiler, Riley, from that very same shelter. And we did have that amazing life that I dreamed of. She was such an amazing dog it was hard to understand why she ended up there. Sadly, I had to say goodbye to Riley in , but the cycle of good dogs ending up in shelters continues. They just need someone to give them a chance and help them learn how to be the best they can be. So, began my journey to find a way to help people build better relationships with their pets. Because every pet deserves the life of Riley. There were animals to play with, and they accepted me unconditionally. As a teenager, I had the opportunity to raise two litters of puppies. I kept one pup from each litter for myself to train and show in obedience, and I excelled in doing so. Despite all the commotion of the working farm on which I lived, I could get my two dogs to focus on our training and respond to my cues. Doing well with them at home and in the show ring gave me a great sense of purpose, so I decided then that somehow I wanted to work with dogs for a living. Determined to pursue my passion, I majored in Animal Science in college, fully intending to pursue my dream to become a dog trainer. Well, I got side-tracked. Naysayers, negative thoughts, and logistics made me think that working with animals for a living was an absolute pipe-dream. But, for the next thirty years, I still held onto this belief that one day I would find a way to pursue my dream of working with dogs. It never left my mind. And that got me thinking, what if people had hope? What if they could learn how to communicate with pets? These thoughts took me back to that defining moment in elementary school. It occurred to me that the same thing can happen to dogs when they have a negative experience. They Shut Down. I help improve relationships and the quality of life for dogs and their people. I educate people on how dogs think, act and feel, and why they do what they do. I show clients how to develop a mutual respect between themselves and their dogs, and how to have fun while they work together. I also help people who are experiencing behavior issues with their cats. Wendy Morgan Reading to Dogs The boys who live here have had a tough family life and have usually fallen behind in their reading; this unique program gives them a chance to practice. So offering them the opportunity to read aloud to us dogs, gives them a chance to practice their reading skills. In addition to myself, there are also a couple of pugs and a French bulldog. But I am the only Golden Retriever. Each week we work with two boys. Each boy gets 30 minutes on his own with mom and me, in a room with beanbag chairs all over the floor. Or even just met. Sometimes there will be a new boy who is afraid of dogs, or one who is nervous to read. So I always win those boys over with some wags, a lick or two, and a gentle nudge. After a boy has selected a couple of books, I settle in to listen. As a result, their reading often gets better. They say that I help by giving a calming presence. And me? I just know I love being with each boy. Often, I give him a paw to hold while he reads, or put my head in his lap to give him a little extra love. Sometimes, a boy will want his own space, so I just lie nearby. Another may want to sit with Mom to get some help with the hard words. Or she may even read to him. I understand that — because Mom is the best! Happily, after the reading, Mom gives me some water and a snack, then loads me back into the car for the drive home. After all that fun, I am always ready for a long nap! Please submit the form below and be sure to include your phone number so we can follow up with a call! Thank you! And thank you for either nominating yourself or others. Together we can make great contributions to education!