Update.....
 

Hi Pam,

Looking forward to an update on how you and DB are doing since his return from his family visit.

Also; the Red Dragon....Hope you are enjoying it on the piano.


Gerry

DB still very jet lagged & being stuck on an aircraft breathing filtered air has once again got a heavy cold (flu). Still can't face talking about what he witnessed back home. DB thinking to go back in 6 months (with me). Very upset he couldn't "connect" with his sister & even more worried about dad. Has raised the idea of us moving back there.
First day back to work today, there is new dog in the kennels who will come home Sunday or Monday. German Shepherd this time, 13 months old. The first DDdog (Lab 11 yrs) Alpha male will not be pleased. Fun times ahead trying to keep him safe!!

DB evidentially connected with brother/SIL and Dad very well. His departure seemed very emotional. Unfortunately it appears there was/is nothing he can do to help his sister and could be worrisome to his own recovery.

I think you might be quite right about "fun times ahead" taking on a young German Shepard with an 11 yr. old Lab. Good Luck. This might help take DB's mind in a different direction, at least for a while.


Gerry

New DDDog arriving tonight. A white German Shepherd & apparently much bigger than Lab DD no.3 who ironically towers over DD Labs no.1 & 2. DD no.2 is the smallest of them all.

Alpha DD no.1 rules the yard with an ice look & bark, his punishment is meted out swiftly if the others don't fall in line. Over the years we have had a number of other dogs who have been trialled and unfortunately not made the grade No.1 has always been one to watch, he looks so sweet & innocent but can turn in the blink of an eye. Not with people - never, but with dogs we've always got to be switched on and alert.

So today I'm readying the back & side yards so the animals can be segregated. DB tells me potential DD no.4 has had NO training at all & no clue over toiletting. Sad that people can get animals and just leave them, this poor animal has had only the 1 owner but been left to his own devices in a backyard & neglected so I'm hopeful for his sake he makes the grade. Often for these DDDogs this is their last chance. DDDog no.3 had 6 owners before us & we got him at only 8 months old. DD no.1 was 11 months old, he had been starved & badly beaten & DD no.2 was 14 months old, he had been hobbled, starved & beaten. I hate people sometimes ...
PS 381 days :)

Heheh. We have two labs, and the older female (see picture <--) is the alpha over the 2 year younger much larger male. She is the sweetest dog to us, but rules undisputed, and unchallenged. Even the cats respect and love her. She used to break up their fights with a single "woof".

Only the parrot refuses to see things her way, even though he weighs about 1/200th. In return, she ignores his existence, but loves hanging around the cage. Parrots are messy eaters, but clever as well. He actually throws food on the floor for her to chase. :D He even calls her by name, and tries to order her around ("sit!" "move over!" "basket!"), but luckily she is deaf now at 13 years old.

The interactions are a constant source of amusement.

Pamela, 381 days is a great achievement!

Your dogs sound interesting (can't say much more because I am a cat person ;)).

However it is good that they have people like you and DB to care for them :).

Haha - we gave 4 cats; Abyssinian, Manx, Russian Blue & a Black Russian. The Abyssinian, she is the house ruler including over the alpha male dog. All the dogs avoid her & she keeps the other cats in line. Fascinating to watch power plays, cracks me up sometimes. She loves to chat :) so as of tonight we now have 4 dogs & 4 cats.

The dogs are all working dogs, (2 retired now) my old girl (black lab) passed away in 2009 at 13. DB had already started working by then as a DDO so we knew we couldn't get another as a pet given we would keep the dogs after they retire - usually at about 8 yrs of age. DD no.3 got his defence medal in November & has about 2&1/2 yrs work left in him.

Watching Labs is better than people watching sometimes. They go from active n energetic to "feed me feed me" & then to sleep!! Love how the parrot feeds her & tries to boss her around. :)

The black dog has paid another visit accompanied by (at times) an overwhelming urge to drink. DB looking for "I" groups yesterday but unable to garner the energy to get off the bed or couch. His 2 days off spent horizontal. I'm hoping a combination of jet lag, flu & frustration with his sister is the trigger & it will soon pass. DB says he is not going to phone G anymore, her "poor poor me" attitude is depressing. He has an appointment with his psych on the 31st, it can't come soon enough. Strangely, even though he says he has an overwhelming urge to drink, I don't feel anxious over the statement. I hope I'm right to be so optimistic but for now, I think he has got this.
I looked at apps on iPads yesterday, I see there is a mood diary/ tracker for free (open to public) or $1.49 for private. Anyone think it's worthwhile me suggesting to DB he download it as a tool to help identify / manage depression triggers/ patterns? I don't want to wave a red flag at the raging bull.

Pamela, I keep a daily mood diary. In my case it is a highly-secure Word file on this laptop. Living with clinical depression, it helps me to keep an objective record of my thoughts and feelings.

That could also help DB as well - an iPad app might work for him. It is certainly worth suggesting.