Recent content by Malakai The Great

Finding the right German Shepherd breeder is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make, not just for your dog’s health and temperament, but for your peace of mind. The GSD is an incredible breed when bred with care, purpose, and understanding. Unfortunately, not all breeders follow...

Yeah, good question, I’ve found they digest pretty similarly, but I always do a slow transition if I’m swapping bags. The protein sources are close enough that it’s usually smooth, though Acana can be a bit richer for some dogs depending on the formula. For travel I usually stick to kibble...

Haha yeah… that sounds about right. Once they get a taste for the real work, there’s no going back to the soft stuff! Gotta love that confidence though, both hers and the decoy’s (at least before the bite). She’s looking awesome for just a year old. You can already see that serious drive...

Right now I’m feeding a mix: raw in the mornings, kibble at night. Raw is mostly beef, tripe, liver, and bone, with a bit of salmon oil and a scoop of pumpkin. For kibble I rotate between Orijen and Acana depending on what’s in stock. I’ve noticed the combo keeps muscle tone solid while still...

Haha that’s awesome, she’s clearly taking her job very seriously. Looks like she’s got that full commitment bite already! Gotta love that level of intensity at this stage. Sounds like she’s well on her way to needing the real sleeve soon!

Welcome, Tempest! Natasha sounds like quite the character, I think most of us can relate to the selective bursts of energy and “professional sleeper” lifestyle And hey, if you do start charging her rent, at least make her cover the cost of treats and toys! Glad to have you both here, looking...

All eyes on you

It’ll make way more sense in motion that way, keeps everything clean and fluid without the dog cutting across you. Definitely keep me posted on how it goes once you start working on it. I’d be curious to see how he picks it up and if you find any tricks that make the transition smoother.

Couldn’t agree more. It’s crazy how subtle it can be too. Sometimes it’s not even posture or tone, it’s the micro-tension in your breathing or the way you shift your weight before giving a cue. They pick up on it instantly. I’ve had sessions where everything technically looked fine on my end...

That’s going to be awesome to see, Murph. It’s wild how much the body cues matter once you start paying attention to them, sometimes it feels like they read your mind before you even move. That’s a solid list too. Love that you’re including both “bark” and “no bark”, that kind of control...

The command I use for switching sides is “side”, it cues the dog to move around behind me and end up on the opposite leg.

Lately I’ve been thinking about how much of what we see in our dogs actually starts with us. I’ve noticed on the days I’m calm, grounded, and not in a rush, my dog mirrors that. He moves slower, checks in more, settles faster. But if I’m distracted, tense, or even just thinking about what could...

Welcome, Tempest and Natasha! Love the dynamic already, sounds like she’s got the “selective energy” trait mastered. Classic shepherd move: full zoomies one minute, existential nap the next. Glad to have you both here, can’t wait to see more of your duo around the forum!

This is such a solid reflection. You’re describing that perfect balance between drive and composure, the hardest thing to teach, but the most rewarding when it clicks. The fact he can self-regulate after being told “enough” shows he’s really starting to internalize it. That part about your...

That look says “hand it over, human” . You can practically feel the intensity through the screen.