Looking for spayed female companion/guard for 87 yr. old great grandma - Page 7

Oprah,

Looks like you were smoking something really powerful again. Jump off. you know nothing about me or who I am or what I do or do not do. Like you, I am entitled to post here and if someone, including you, doesn't like it, don't read it. In the meantime, get a life and do something constructive with yourself. Even though I am old, and disabled, I bet my schedule runs rings around yours, including taking classes, running a business, helping children, running a rescue, and yes, for those who find my experience useful, posting here. In a nutshell, go to hell. Apparently have nothing to contribute but to read the posts here and single out people and then be rude for no reason. You are an idiot and since you just joined, maybe you would rather go join somewhere else so you don't have to read what people post here who have a different outlook than do you.

You probably already held it too long because clearly your brain was affected. Maybe it would be a good thing for you to go to the bathroom.

I make good use of my time, not that I owe you any explanation.  You are an idiot. IF anyone is insecure it is you who come here with no other seeming motive but to attack me and sueincc for no good reason. But probably you don't have much to say and you do clearly have an ax to grind, but you are a coward so you try to make something up to attack on. Lame.

Well, I only wished that you lived in the UK.  Normally I wouldnt even consider this age person for a dog, but the home you are offering and the "Magic Grandma" that you say she is.... I agree with other postings that you have your head screwed on and know exactly how to handle the situation and what type of dog that you are looking for.  If you were here, I have the exact female for you.  What would she cost  Nothing at all if she were going to your grandma to live the good life.  she is 4 years old, a long coat, and would work competition without a doubt, but dont let anyone mess with her mammy.... She is spayed and hip scored.... and is the "stooge" here when we train to teach people on the obedience side..... however, she shares us with the others, and if your granny would locate to the UK !!!!!!!  -  well....... you never know......    Mo Lakin - Mascani

Don, my mother is will soon be 80, and she'd shoot you for suggesting she move off her little acreage!  (And me too!)  She can handle a gun pretty well.  She doesn't want one of my shepherds, though.  Too much hair, she says she's her own guard dog, makes housework easier to do, LOL.  Veronica

Hope you find a nice dog for your mother....lots of us old fogies have GSDs! My hubbie is 77 & I'm 52; we love walking our dogs, all 5 of them, all GSDs. Funny thing is, I've had my problems with injuries, but my 'elderly' husband never had any difficulty with any of our dogs. He is the alpha in our home, I'm next, then the pack. I wouldn't give my Mom one of our dogs, they are still young & still learning, but I wouldn't hesitate to give my Mom an older, settled dog, with the proper screening & instruction....except she's a cat person, & would rather use her 12 gauge! (Dogs don't fit on her motorcycle, either!) jackie harris

I have alot of respect for Hodie.

Life is just not black and white.  I was very disabled only a year ago, hardly able to care for myself and my affairs but down to my only lifeline, by 2 GSDs.  My father, after seeing me when he came in September himself called me a pathetic sight, but I had my 2 GSDs.  This month my Dad is turning 83 years of age.  During my illness, I raised puppies in my home out of my one in a million dog.  I also took my dog to NASS 2007, translated to fill in at NASS, and left my older baby Eischa as well as Galy's daughter with my Dad at home.  Dad was so proud to walk my old girl down our road.  It was a beautiful sight to see out of my kitchen window.

I think   life is not black or white but a whole lot of grey hues.  It would be wonderful for a retired dog to have a job to do. 

I don't think anyone would allow me under my own MO to allow me to adopt a dog.  How long will I live?  And who will take care of these precious charges?  As if I did not think of this great load of responsibility I was taking on.  Do not always presume the worse.  Sometimes the dogs wind up the winners in fullfilling their own destiny of being the best dog of that person's life. 

Maren

Sunshine- how are you feeling? I have thought of you frequently, wondering how you were doing. Very nice to hear from you! Best wishes to you, hope you are feeling well. jh

Without reading every single little post here......

There are "retired" GSD's out there that have been retrained as mobility dogs.  These dogs are used to help people of all ages keep their balance when walking, help get up out of chairs or out of bed.  My mom is about the same age and activity level.  The only reson she doesn't have a GSD is the covinents where she lives does not allow a dog over 15-inches tall.

Hey there, just a comment.

Ignoring all the "don't do it" types, who apparently have little faith in the breed.  They're well intentioned, but as stated, that doesn't mean it's impossible to have a great dog with a fragile person.

To the person who says the scum don't care about dogs - !!!!!  That's total bull.  Dogs are THE best deterrent out there.  A German Shepherd (generally) is BOTH a great ALARM system and a willing weapon.  Some only need to see you have a GS and they back away.

I did use the general term "dog", and I mean that too.  Most dogs are good alarm systems, and crooks hate that alone.  So, often, just a good alarm dog will deter the scum.

GS and others add the dimension of weaponry.  I like firearms, but they don't tell me a crook is coming.

In any case, why bother with a fully trained SchH-type dog?  Why not just find a nice solid "backyard" dog who has a fine guardian instinct, train her in solid obedience, and be done with it?  Again, all you need is a trustworthy dog who will scare people merely by her appearance and barking.

Speaking of elders - my wonderful Shana was just fine 1 day with a very old lady who didn't like dogs.  She was my sister's grandma-in-law, about 87 when we all vacationed up at our uncle/aunt's place with MIL and GMIL.  MIL and GMIL didn't like dogs as a rule.  We had to go out for errands and left my Shana alone with Gramma.  We came back and Gramma was going on about what a wonderful friend she had while we were gone.  These people were used to obnoxious dogs who jump all over you and furniture.  MIL's children's dogs (English Springer, Dachshund, etc) were more dangerous to them than this GS was.

I've lived alone since my husband died 3 1/2 years ago. I have a 70% hearing loss in one ear, and a 90% loss in the other. My GSD's are my security system. I trained my 75 lb. male rescue to alert me to the smoke alarm, door, kitchen timer and alarm clock, as I have very little useable hearing once I take my hearing aids out for the night.

The dogs also alert me to sounds they're not trained for, just by their behaviour. Sometimes they'll jump up and run out of the room because they hear something I don't. Of course, this prompts me to get up and investigate.

I couldn't tell you how much they mean to me in terms of peace of mind and companionship. My postie is so scared of my big male that I don't get my mail delivered if he's out in the backyard, because he comes and hangs his head over the gate right beside the stairs to the porch, and barks at anyone coming up my driveway. Yet, the littlest kid can come and give him a hug, and be totally safe.

I have trained them both NOT to jump up on people, and would not hesitate to introduce them to an elderly person under close supervision, as long as that person was okay with dogs.  (Neither is very high drive.)

All we have to share here in this thread is our experience, and, for what it's worth, that is mine.