@TimurShtatland - I don't know if you'll get this ping. Thank you for, well, everything you do for this site. Your well supported answers, your comments, everything. I'm pinging you just to let you know that my response to your recent comment is not, not, not an implied criticism. I just wanted to add a paper that the parent might not dismiss out of hand because of a scary title (anxiety causes denial in some people.)

I actually had to look a bit for a paper that didn't mention depression and suicide in the first paragraph!

@Stephie - I'm so sorry, I didn't get pinged for this! I was only too glad to see you were right there. nickxxxxx is something of a devil's advocate; he seems to like to stir controversy.

@anongoodnurse I noticed. And while I can usually live with it, I had to protect the user.

@Stephie He does it on multiple sites. It's a name I recognize whenever I see it. You're doing a really good job moderating the site; I hope that's needless to say.

@anongoodnurse Nevertheless always appreciated. People are happy to argue and criticize, hence praise is a rare treat. But you know that.

@Stephie Indeed, praise is all to rare for moderators. So I'll say it again, with one more detail that I hope will not insult: I think you're doing a really good job moderating the site, and quite a bit better than I did. That might be a low bar, though. ;) You've raised the bar on moderation on this site!!! (How's that?) :D

@anongoodnurse <blushing and beaming>

@Stephie Lol!!! Sincerely meant. :D

@anongoodnurse you put me in such a good mood, I was extra generous when shopping for dog treats. (Just payed, erm…) So a certain canine will indirectly benefit from your praise. He’s such a good dog when he’s “there”, and I hope and pray that we’ll get his nerves under control. Today I started teaching him to “indicate”. In less than ten minutes he had figured out that he needs to lay down facing the cup with the hidden treats.

I am still speechless. I know he’s fast, but that? Wow.

@Stephie Wow! What a super smart pupper (<3), and a good trick to teach him, too! It sounds like you're going to get there, waiting out his nerves.

We had one, omg, he was a terror. Chewed everything including things that I'd have thought were unchewable. And this is when the kids were young, and played with him a lot, so it should not be blamed on boredom. He was a yellow lab, sweet and smart-ish and funny, and he did so much damage that I wanted to re-home him, but my kids would protest loudly.

One day while they were playing outside, he ate their scooters down to bare metal: the handles, wheels, decorations, etc. Then he attacked the go-cart: he ate the seats. Not just chewed and spit... ate the seats. Also the foam off the roll-bar. My kids relented.

So I put an ad in the paper, and a young couple just married called and wanted him. I described Ivan. I described how destructive Ivan was. They asked if they could come see him. When they came, I showed them the scooters and the go-cart. They thought it, and he, was "so cute!" Off they went with Ivan and all his things, happy as clams.

!5 years later, they sent us a letter and a picture of old (no-longer-named-Ivan) with their kids. They told us what a great family dog he had been, and how wonderful he was with their kids. I thought, Will wonders never cease?

Maybe your dog will suddenly turn the corner, too. :)

Clearly you're doing a good job with your pup.

@anongoodnurse work helps him. And he has to work. Bane of the breed.

Hi Stephie! How did you earn that charming blurbird hat?

@anongoodnurse At least we are putting a lot of work into him.

@Stephie Yeah, GSD's need to work. It really does sound like you're doing a terrific job with him.

I raised Border Collies. They need to have a job, too. But herding tennis balls was just fine with them.

Cool!!!

Prettiest hat so far that I've seen!

Your mermaid crown isn’t so bad either!

I got very few hats this year, but that’s ok.

lol, it's cute, but can't compare, in looks or the effort it took to get it (upvoted comments.)

Has your family been well? Still avoiding Covid19,20,21&22?

@Stephie Same here. Not a problem for me, either.

Who could have possibly imagined??? FIFTH WAVE... My son the covid nurse got it again, maybe a month after the booster. Luckily, it was very mild, like for so many. Something to be very thankful for.

Take care!

@anongoodnurse Fingers crossed, knock on wood - no infections in the family.

We and my parents got the booster shots before Christmas, kids are scheduled for next week (yes, even without the official recommendation). Hubby’s side is not boostered yet, but that’s their choice, nothing we could influence.

Today the news reported that Omikron is the dominant variant in the state. Not surprised.