msumner

Well let me tell you, Annabelle can be quite the little (large) miss bully at times. Tessa and Annabelle have their moments. Annabelle is very jealous of Tessa and Tessa of her, so that does lead to little huffy's and puffy's. But due to all the training we have been doing it is easily controlled by one of our growls. But like you we still love them faults and all. Take care and may 2009 be your best year yet........Ronnie

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Australia
Hope all the fires have settled down in your area, our fire season will start soon.
And how is your little darling going? More progress with all the training you are doing?
Have a peacefull holiday season.....Ronnie

Just that sticky black junk that lands and adheres itself to everything! But we made it through another fire season. One would think we would put out the money the Fire experts warned us to, and avoid the amount of damage and devastation we have every year; but again; their advice is ignored. Hmmmmm

Sounds like you have done well with her.............Good for you...........She is lucky to have found a good home. It is amazing what some of these poor dogs have gone through.
I was never so much into training untill we got Annabelle, because she was balistic when we first got her and we thought maybe aggressive towards strangers. It turned out to be shy and timid, but still had to be dealt with. And when she first came into season, she tried to seriously kill Tessa......No other dog , just Tessa. So we became totally dependent on our trainer for help. You were lucky to have found someone too. Our trainer has about twent dogs and they all roam about in his compound loose. They are Rottweilers and American Staffs. And when your dog gets to a certain level you get to mix with his dogs. I just love it over there. It is so peaceful and just nothing happens. And all the dogs get along with his and the other dogs in the class. FUN!!!!
Anyway good to know you know where you are at, cheers Ronnie Taft
By the way are the fires over with and did you have any damage?

OH, That's right. Some people on Newf-L helped me through a nightmare puppy when I brought her home. Many told me to put her down; because she tore open my face several times; and had to get stitches. She came from a situation where she was used to fighting off her dad for food; and protecting her littermates. I was scarred up all over my hands and arms until just a few months ago. I really had to bring the hammer down on her. She had serious trust issues; and was used to being the BOSS. She is almost a different dog completely now; with the help of Cindy from Canada on Newf-L who became my daily NILIF instructor. Now; the only time she gets nasty with me is when she refuses to move; and I push her aside with my arm. If I take her down to the ground for growling or nipping at me for it; she goes all out with everything she has got. Every time; so I just control her
by standing up against and over her; and say down. She doesn't fight; but is very slow to obey. But she does obey. Not certain of another way without a battle.

Other than that; she obeys beautifully (finally).

Hi Michelle, I just read your post about "move". Does Storm really growl at you. If she does you need to get it under control whilst she is young. Do you go to any obedience training with her? I just find newfs grow into very large dogs and it is important to have good control over them. I have had newfs for over thirty years and I have also had some rescue newfs that needed rehabilitating, because they were out of control. Please do not take offense, but i am worried if she is snapping at you and "standing up" to you. Though I might have misread your post, as sometimes happens. Take care Ronnie

I hope that you are not near any of the fires that seem to be around your state.........We get horrible forrest fires here and i just hate reading about them anywhere, cheers Ronnie