Stella - for Gwen (& anyone else)

[MissEllie]

Sorry for the delay in posting a photo Gwen, as you can see Stella's doing great. - I love her to bits!

She still loves to chew anything in site but otherwise she's as good as gold apart from attracting dirt by the bucketload (good job I'm not house proud )

[Gwenoakes]

Oh, my! She has grown hasnt she? Just look at those eyes, butter wouldnt melt, bless her. LOL to the chewing, we were very lucky with Lexi she only chewed one thing which was the wooden bench outside and then only once, after me catching her doing it and a ticking off she never did it again.

Thank you so much for the piccie, I keep wondering how she/you all are doing.

I hope you are all well. I bet you are busy getting ready for Xmas with having little ones.

Take care

[wendy]

Yes she has grown hasn't she. Beautiful.

[jemberelli]

Oh what a cutie! Bet you have loads of fun with her. Hope all is well with you and yours

[MissEllie]

Thank you Gwen, Wendy and Jemma

[Mad Chick]

Awwwww.... she's got the cheekiest face

[Benny&Co]

Awww look at her, absolutely gorgeous xx

[aishakali]

She's beautiful Ellie! A real doggy dog (If you know what I mean )

[Linda S]

Aw Miss Ellie she's so gorgeous and looks very cheeky, theres no wonder you all adore her Lindaxx

[MissEllie]

You're right Lyn, she really is a doggy dog
Her coats really beginning to change colour from being black to brown (her mum was blondish) so at the moment she's all different shades which just makes her even more unique!
She's really well behaved although still sometimes she let's out a growl in the evenings if shes tired and the kids are trying to play with her. Does anyone else have this with their dogs? Not sure if I should be worried or not

[wendy]

A growl is a warning.....she doesn't want to play. So tell the children to leave her alone
Did I send you the dogs body language leaflet. ?
If not send me you email addy and I will send it for you

[MissEllie]

Thanks Wendy, I'm sure you did send me it with all the other info. I'll see if I can dig it back out and will pm you if I can't find it.
We've been telling the kids that's her way of telling them to leave her alone and they do but I was just a bit concerned in case it meant she may snap at them. Am I right in thinking we shouldn't tell her off for growling? My OH says we should tell her NO whenever she does

[wendy]

Well if you continue doing what the dog doesn't want....yes they will snap,
I don't think they should growl either. But you need to see what it is that is upsetting the dog and stop it. Not just telling her no, because someone is going to get bitten.
They are a living being and have genuine reasons for growling. It isn't just off the top of their head.
There is something she doesn't like/want.

[MissEllie]

Thanks Wendy and many thanks for resending the body language info.
The strange thing with Stella is she will choose to come and sit right by the kids and rest her head on their laps but still growl if they pat her. She doesn't display any of the other warnings such as ears back, crouching, crawling or turning away and the kids are all old enough to know not to pull ears/tails etc
I'll continue to keep a watchful eye and make sure the kids give her peace when she's tired, my OH was wondering if this is just her way of talking to us
Thanks very much for your advice, it's much appreciated.

[wendy]

Well maybe while she does that. Then she cannot put her head on their laps, she is very near their faces. So if they are on the floor, she will have to be in her bed or behind a baby gate or similar.
I would get her checked by a vet if the stroking is possibly causing her a problem.
A little training, lure and reward with the children doing the training, may help.