Recent content by Kaia Murphy

Wow… this photo is stunning. That calm, steady look in the middle of all that snow says everything about the breed. She looks so grounded and confident, like she owns the whole landscape. Also that pop of pink against the winter scene is perfect, accidental album/magazine cover material right there.

You’ve clearly lived a whole lifetime with dogs, not just alongside them, and the way each one found you (or chose you) really stayed with me. The moments you described, Cable finally trusting you, Sampson becoming glued to your side, and then Mia locking eyes with you when you weren’t even sure...

For those of you who work outside the home, what does your setup look like for your German Shepherd during the workday? Crate time, free roam, dog walker, daycare, split schedules? I’m trying to understand how people realistically balance work hours with a breed that needs structure, engagement...

This really put a lot into perspective for me. I didn’t realize how much the dam and sire could influence temperament in such noticeable ways, even within the same program. But it makes total sense. It definitely makes the “choose your breeder carefully” advice feel a lot more real. I also...

Wow, Zenya sounds like such an incredible partner that’s a full schedule for most people, let alone a dog! It’s amazing that she can go from serious service work all day to switching into “play with Dad” mode the second he gets home. I love hearing about dogs who just come alive with purpose...

simple yet effective 😂

Thank you!! I keep seeing people mention rope toys but wasn’t sure if they were actually a good idea for shepherd mouths. I’m still figuring out what’s “fun” vs “destroyed in 3 minutes.” Do you find they hold up pretty well? Or are they more of a supervised-only thing? I’m trying to build a...

Aww, that’s honestly so sweet. I’m still really new to GSDs, but the loyalty thing blows my mind every time. Even when we’re fumbling or learning as we go, they’re just all in for us.

Welcome!! Maliketh is gorgeous, that happy tongue-out face made my whole day. It’s amazing how he basically chose you first. I’m still pretty new to GSDs, so seeing you dive into PSA and Schutzhund with a rescue is super inspiring.

I just read a recent post about how much structure and stimulation WL GSDs need, and now I’m really curious (and a little intimidated 😅). For those of you with working line dogs, what does your actual day-to-day routine look like? How much training, exercise, and mental work do you do on a...

I’ll never understand how a German Shepherd can go from "elite working athlete" to "melting on the floor because you touched their paw" in 0.2 seconds.

This is honestly eye-opening, I knew WLs were a lot, but reading it laid out like this makes it feel like a whole lifestyle, not just “more exercise.” The mental work part especially surprised me… I always assumed physical exercise was the big piece. What does your daily working line schedule...

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Hi JBB! Welcome!!

Cold in the middle of spring? Now I’m curious, where are you located that the weather’s doing that? And yeah, ice cubes sound like the safer option until things warm up again. Some dogs really do treat ice like the greatest treasure ever.