tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-835969582971819600.post9207044926042381325..comments2019-01-22T08:20:16.950+00:00Comments on Tales from the Dark Side: Pushing ahead.Ian Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05355502271363701399noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-835969582971819600.post-71745337486565885722011-04-05T21:18:18.822+01:002011-04-05T21:18:18.822+01:00Thank you for your reply Ian, I really appreciate ...Thank you for your reply Ian, I really appreciate it, and have passed on your advice. Take care :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-835969582971819600.post-32069306516720286542011-04-04T11:12:21.430+01:002011-04-04T11:12:21.430+01:00Now then, this is also interesting I knew that She...Now then, this is also interesting I knew that Shepherds also had problems with their joints but not worse than Labs - I suppose each breed has issues - Renton worked fantastically yesterday I have to sayIan Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05355502271363701399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-835969582971819600.post-77779253100174184642011-04-04T08:56:28.320+01:002011-04-04T08:56:28.320+01:00That's quite funny about how Renton leans on p...That's quite funny about how Renton leans on people to push them out of the way. :-)<br /><br />I love Shepherds. We've stopped using them at my Guide Dog school in America because of their low pass rate. Oddly enough, the most Shepherds were dropped not for aggression and seperation anxiety but for hip dysplasia. That's one of the real drawbacks of Shepherds and Goldens; they get hip and elbow dysplasia more than labs do. But I so want to raise a Shepherd.Raiser Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15290705558126751663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-835969582971819600.post-50892122214960628782011-04-03T22:46:29.598+01:002011-04-03T22:46:29.598+01:00Its not particularly difficult going between breed...Its not particularly difficult going between breeds as the guide dog trainers are usually good at explaining the different characteristics of the different breeds and their psychology. Here in the UK there are quite a few cross lab shepherds in the system and by all accounts this has been really successful, getting the best from both worlds, the drive of the Shepherd and the socialbilty of the Labrador. I'm sorry to hear about your friends Shepherd becoming ill, my first shepherd also died young and it does take time to get over. Its best she doesn't wait too long before she gets a replacement.Ian Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05355502271363701399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-835969582971819600.post-42525162820211438322011-04-03T21:09:59.754+01:002011-04-03T21:09:59.754+01:00Hi Ian, thank you for such an interesting and hone...Hi Ian, thank you for such an interesting and honest blog. My close friend has a German Shepherd guide dog. Like you, she has found him to be fiercely loyal, intelligent, and (at times) stubborn! She also finds him to be an excellent bodyguard, and cannot imagine having any other breed guide her. Very sadly, he has just been diagnosed with cancer, and the outlook is not good. He is her first guide dog, so this is hitting her particularly hard. <br />As there is currently a countrywide shortage of German Shepherds, she may have to have a different breed, something she's dreading. How easy is it to manage the transition between two different breeds? Is there any advice you can give to help her get through this difficult time? Many thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-835969582971819600.post-78597712681513062772011-04-03T17:56:09.845+01:002011-04-03T17:56:09.845+01:00That's really interesting!
I'm very intere...That's really interesting!<br />I'm very interested in the characteristics of different breeds. I think I'd be too small to ever get a shepherd though!<br /><br />Well done on your documentary. I haven't seen it yet, and can't watch it on the I player in Ireland. If you ever can put a copy of it online, or even an mp3 that would be brilliant.<br />I'm only noticing that you got rid of the visual verification thing, which is why I never commented before.<br />JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10024951762128282021noreply@blogger.com