All about my Dogs
Dasya(German Shepherd) and Lara (PaterJack)
Dasya, [her name is sand script for faithful companion].
She is a dog that puts here care for her carer before herself. She always tries to please and I can rarely fault her obedience and even then I can see how I or other obscurities have confused her. Her history of isolation form human contact (plus possibly her breeding line) has made her over sensitive and lacking in confidence. While at the kennels where she was breed the only new person she saw was the vet. The vet obviously had strong boots that were alarmingly noisy as s/he came up the open wooden staircase before filling the doorway and then grabbing hold of her and injecting her with her vaccination. She now considers the sound of people on a staircase or appearing as a stranger in an open doorway as a potential threat to her carers. When on her own these events do not provoke a protective response. She has very sensitive skin and she is generally fearful if she thinks she is going to get hurt. It has taken some considerable time and patience to get her to let me clean her ears which fortunately is rarely needed now. (both her ears were badly infected when I first got her, hence her aversion to loud noises. She is very good at wriggling and even now she might cry pitifully or yelp as if I have serious hurt her before I have even touched her ear. She genuinely seems very sensitive to pain and fearful of objects hitting her. However, her reaction has always been to run away in a panic she has never presented any form of defence. She healed well and recovered quickly from her spayed operation but I did stay with her sleeping on the floor beside her for three days so that she was confident it was safe to not move until she could do so without being stressed by pain or moving too far too soon.
Commands for Dasya
She has been very easy to train, however, she may be a little distracted from her present trained disposition if you don’t keep her close to you and take up the role as her pack leader. I have never given dogs treats or tips by hand as a reward as this can train them to feel they are in charge and to steal or snatch food from adults and children. Dasy lets other dogs take her food so will give Lara a rumble when she has food but it is a vain attempt from Dasy’s to pretend she will defend her food. In reality she never has followed through with any reaction Lara and others have walked in and taken whenever they have had a mind to do so. The same has been when other dogs usually little biting terriers have attacked. However, she did once stop a dog from attacking Lara but even then she did it without any risk of hurting the little dog. Some small or young dogs have screamed out just on the sight of Dasy being so big usually before she has even reached them. I just talk to her calmly explaining that she is too big and must leave Lara with the chance to make friends and play with the smaller dogs on her own. Some people are afraid of Dasy on sight and this does not help her to feel that you are safe with them. She always knows what people really are feeling inside and she has notably helped them to feel less defensive with their desire to control her. Her sensitivity also tells her if a person is demanding her attention for their own needs or desire to control or temporarily take charge of her without your approval.

Lara
Lara was very ill as a young pup due to liver failureher life-force was very weak. She was sick if she tried to eat anything and unable to keep her body warmth outside of sleeping in the plate warmer.
This liver condition is now recovered and she is fit and healthy but she still cannot manage any cow products in her food (beef meat or dairy) or chemical additives. Lara’s tummy gets large dark patches on the pink skin when her liver is struggling. At her best her tummy is all pink! When you see this you can feel very pleased. By the age of 3 and a half she was well recovered, fit and strongfor the first time in her lifedue to a very specialised diet.
Her sister, Sophie, had the same liver problem as Lara but not quite so bad. The family wanted me to have sophie so that she could get well and strong like Lara. They were truly amazed at Lara’s improved health and outstanding fitness. They had paid a lot to their vet to test sophieand try to find out why she was so sickly and under-sixed.
Important Lara is also allergic to shell fish.
Lara sits up and begs when she is asking me for something (not usually food, just things like can she come on your lap, sit withyou on the settee or can she go and snuggle under my duvet for a while in the morning. She asks for this privilege whether I am still in bed or already up! Small terriers seem to love getting under a duvet, which is why she has one of her own and a cover on her bed at night. I think it helps the terriers to relax and sleep better.
Lara loves every person and dog as if they were her own kith and kin. Most people and dogs enjoy her love for them and respond positively but she does jump up at people. I have seen her beg at a total stranger sitting on a bench. She seems to be insisting that this person needs a dose of love healing.
I NEVER leave a collar or harness on Lara when she is running free because, if it is loose, she losses it over the top of her head and if it is tight she might get it caught and trapped on a bramble or bush somewhere and this is very worrying when she wanders,tracking the rabbits etc., into places beyond my sight She is not a hunter, just very enthusiastic about her God given doggy life of scenting tracks and trails. The only time her kindly passion for everyone and everything wains is when she is asleep.

Dasya’s commands
Click of the fingers – means pay attention I want you to stop what you are doing and listen to me.
Flat hand held out in front of her – says wait and listen to what I want you to do e.g. stay in the car, wait where you are while I put on your collar, go off and do something else for a few minutes.
Come means return straight away to me. She usually comes at great speed. Also I use a simple mouth whistle when she is outside to recall her to me and in general calling her name means return and /or listen I am going to give you some further commands.
Gently and/or creep – means move slowly and carefully so that the other animal/s don’t get anxious about your presence.
Find/Fetch– I have introduced her to this word which means bring it to me but this is not established as a trained discipline. Similarly I use the word find to encourage her to seek and find a lost item dropped somewhere or indeed to hopefully find Lara!
Steady is used when she is too strong on the lead and if she does not respond well enough I stand still and refuse to go forward until she is calm and giving me her proper respect and attention.
Close– means I need you to beside me. If required I will then keep her close by temporarily taking hold of her collar and/or putting her on a lead.
I do not train German Shepherds to sit or jump on command. I prefer to use the word wait. This is to help them keep their hind quarters strong. When I did working trials training, German shepherds were not allowed to begin formal training until after their forth birthday because of their ongoing bone growth. Dasyalikes to jump when she is free, she has her own natural ability and grace. She will jump stiles but I don’t encourage her but she still chooses for herself to fly over logs fences or stiles when they are within a well known exercise area. [Dasy will need another year of good food and no excessively demanding exercise for her growing maturity of muscle and bone. She has not as yet managed to sit in the standard upright dog sit position. Hopefully this will come when she has stopped growing and built her muscles to a stronger disposition.
Down means lay down and it is accompanied with a downward flat hand signal.
Down stay – I say down and signal this position with my flat hand going down to the ground. This means stay where I have put you until I return to you and release you with a fuss, praise and a freedom hand signal which is also used when she is let off of her lead to go free or as her signal that she can come out of the car door.
Dasywill not come to you if she feels she is being excluded as a punishment, she will need you to go to her and give her permission and encouragement to re-join you as a family member in the home base.
General comments
Both dogs cry or lick you and generally make overtly demanding behaviour, when they want to go out to the toilet, often pacing to the door and then back to me. When Lara went off at your place Dasya was anxiously doing this behaviour to try and tell me that Lara had got stuck behind the fence. Dasya always comes to tell me if Lara is in some difficulty usually when she is shut on the wrong side of their run gate. When Lara is away playing happily Dasyadoes not get in any way anxious; she simply waits patiently and happily; staying around at home or regularly returning to me when we are out walking.
Both dogs like to have contact with things that have my scent on. Lara sleeps on the scented materials and Dasya carries them away to a favourite place. On the floor is their domain and therefore they believe! What ever is on the floor is there for their own amusement/comfort. Occasionally they may happily get into mischief in your domain if you do not hold good practical boundaries or if they feel especially bored. Fortunately their puppy play is normally only seen in their play with each other now they are old enough to be a bit sensible.
Both the dogs have worked alongside my healing work and shared passionately their own ability to help people clear disruptions that have created shadows over their natural good-heartedness. When introducing the dogs to new people or dogs at home the best way is to go straight out for a walk with them, even a casual stroll around the orchard should help a lot and will definitely be better than doing the initial introductions in the house.
FOOD suggestions.

Treats
They like wheat free pancakes made with anything available or an organic oat cake preferably with butter! Normal dog treats often contain gelatine and artificial additives which I really try to avoid. I will bring you an example of the natural chew sticks they like and presently get from time to time when I’m feeling rich and just wanting to spoil them. I think the raw carrot and swede also helps clear their teeth as well as clearing out their anal glands. Dogs need an extra sprinkling of sea salt on their food when the weather is hot. In very hot weather I have cooled Dasy with very cold water on her forehead.