You might know this about me by now, but I like to know all about the way dogs think and about the way they learn. I read a lot about this, mainly science based books or papers.

Questions like "why does Evie 'talks' to me when she know she is going outside?" or "why is Jessie licking my hands when she is there to greet me?" I want to find answers to. Some questions are easy to answer and some need some more information before they can be answered.

The question if "dogs want to win?" came from my question why people like to attend dog shows. Partly this is because they like to win, they like the feeling that comes with winning. The 'rush' caused by the hormone dopamine.

However, their motivation is primarily driven by the desire for praise and attention from their owner, not a natural competitive instinct.

I do see this also within my pack, especially when playing find and fetch. They love to find and fetch the ball, because this way they are rewarded with my praise, attention and continuation of the game . It's so rewarding.

ps. after writing this blog I was thinking about what I have written on my home page "All our White Swiss Shepherds come from healthy European and champion bloodlines" and how the part of champion bloodlines doesn't sound right to me now. It are the handlers that are the 'champions', not the dogs. So as from now I leave this part out:-)))

Dogs bark—some more than others—but I’ve yet to meet a dog that doesn’t let out a bark or two! Their barking can tell us a lot, depending on the situation. Because there is a lot of misunderstanding over why dogs bark, I feel like it is time for me to explore the eight circumstances that can get those barks rolling!

Excitement (Let’s gooooooooo…)
Ah, the moments of pure joy! Every dog owner knows that delightful feeling when their pup gets super excited about something fun on the horizon, like a walk! You’ll see tails wagging, little paws dancing, and maybe even some happy barks mixed in with all that wiggle energy!

Alert (Something is happening)
This is often the surprise bark. At Sunnyside, we sometimes jump when a dog suddenly barks out of nowhere! They’ve caught onto something we can’t hear, alerting us and their furry friends. Although our ears might not be too fond of it, we appreciate their keen senses!

Warning (Stop right there)
This kind of bark has a deeper tone and is slower-paced. If you step a little closer, you’ll hear a bark that says, “Hey there, hold up!” It’s their way of telling you to think twice before moving forward.

Uncertain (I don’t know)
Sometimes this bark gets mixed up with warning barks. When a stranger approaches, many folks think the dog is being protective. However, it’s often just the pup feeling unsure about what’s happening! Along with a little paw lift, this bark is just their way of coping.

Attention (Hey, I’m here!!!)
This bark is a classic! My pups, Jessie and Mijne, have it down to an art. When they want my attention—be it for playtime, potty breaks, or just some love—they’ll let out a short, flat bark to grab my focus!

Go Away (Go, go, go)
This bark can be loud, high-pitched, and sometimes a bit fierce! It’s their way of saying to passersby, “Keep moving along!” Dogs often think this bark works because many times, the object of their barking makes a hasty exit. So the next time someone walks by, you can bet that bark is coming out again!

Disagree (You’re wrong)
Since welcoming Evie into our home, I’ve experienced her “talking” back whenever she disagrees with me. Whether it’s something I want her to do or not do, she expresses her feelings through barks. While the other dogs might stay quiet, Evie is not shy about sharing her thoughts!

Unload Tension (Pffff….bark)
This one might resonate with some of you! When there’s a lot of energy swirling around among the pack, a couple of pups might start barking just to release that energy. It can be excitement bubbling over, and barking becomes their way of letting it all out!

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons dogs bark! Once they realize that barking gets results, it can become quite the habit that’s tricky to unlearn.

Today Jessie, Evie and I visited Venture (pup litter A) and her family. Venture is 7 months now and she's a beauty, sweetie and my favorite. We had a great time visiting her. She has a wonderful home, she's happy and everybody loves her. Mama Jessie recognized her but was a little reserved. Evie needed a couple of minutes but she really connected with Venture. And Venture? She was one happy pup. Thank you Kerie & Eckard for having us and hopefully we'll meet again next year.

Once or twice a week I take the pack for a ride through town and surroundings. It's good for them, getting used being in the car with ample space to move, for when we are going on vacation for a couple of days. But they really do like it, because this way they see different things, people hear different noises.
Normally I have Evie and Jessie in the front, but Evie wanted to sit in the back and before I knew she already jumped in. So Jessie is my co pilot, Mijne is with the green collar, Evie next to him with the red collar. Mojo is behind me and behind all of them is Jane (hardly noticeable).

Dock diving lessons for Evie again, but to 'spice it a little bit up' for her we brought in the competition: Mojo!!!

Within no time Mojo was 'jumping' from the ramp and swimming to retrieve the ball. He enjoyed it so much and couldn't get enough!!! It was awesome to see his willingness to work and eagerness to retrieve his favorite toy, the squeaky ball!!!💪🥰

And Evie? She enjoyed his company and ran with Mojo to try to catch the ball. But no swimming for this baby girl today🙈 A well, maybe next time😁

Today we went with Evie for her first dock diving lesson. She was a little overwhelmed by all the new things she saw over there but within one hour she was in the ramp into the water and even swam one or two times to grab the ball. Of course I had to be there with her in the water, but I didn't mind the cool water. We had a lot of fun and next time we bring Mojo or Jessie for some more fun and some competition!!!

I don't do this normally but my friend and also breeder of WSS has a handsome 13 weeks old long coat puppy available. So if you don't want to wait to long and you have now the time to raise a wonderful puppy, please contact Jennifer Spencer for more information (wynterspiritkennels)