Hi Eileen and Pat,
We started taking the dogs to the dog park this summer. Yesterday we figured we would take pics just to show you how Brandy is getting along.
The last pic even shows that Brandy is tolerating strange men better, we never met the guy and he walked right up to her, stooped down and pet on her, she never even barked.
They like it there very much. We go about twice a week now. They are both very photogenic. Cotton knows this already and plays to any camera that is around.. notice the guy trying to take pics of his dogÖ Cotton just wouldnít get out of his lens.
www.netreach.net/~penland/edandvalerie/2007/1006/index.htm
Valerie & Ed

6-19-07

Hello all,
I figured it was time for a report on the ìbigî dog.

Brandy is doing very well and her and Cotton are ìbuddiesî. Cotton has learned how to be a real ìnoodgeî though. At times she just flaunts the fact that sheís the alpha. Brandy is so well behaved, but once in a while, she playfully taps on Cottonís shouldersÖ I think itís just to get a rise out of her. There is never any fighting or snarling. I think Brandy is respectful of Cotton and Cotton is that older sister that takes advantage sometimes.
The pic is Brandy on the font lawn. We really started taking them out more, around the block etc when it got warm. Once this month though, Cotton opened the back gate and they let themselves out. It was Brandyís bark that got our attention; it didnít come from the back. Brandy likes to lay by the front door when we are out there, so there she was. No, she didnít run away and they did have the opportunity.
She still loves the heck out of me, greets me after work like Iím God, but really doesnít listen to me unless sheís out front and donít have a leash on.. she listens to Ed but still barks at himÖ itís kinda funny, she barks the whole way there and then wants him to pet her, she licks his hand and doesnít let him stopÖ if he does she barks.
Surprisingly, she does not bark at other men, in fact she has tolerated many males so farÖ the hot tub electricians, the carpenter, my brothers, Edís son and father and the neighborsÖ she donít even bark at themÖ just Ed.
This month we noticed a change in her, for the betterÖ the only way I can explain itÖ she seems ìeasierî, like she loves us back. I think thatís a huge step and I was wondering if that was ever gonna happen.
Other things we learned over the past few monthsÖ
Brandy hates hoses, just the sight of them - we landscaped the back and well, a hose is the main tool for the gardens, an every day thing, she hides under the deck whenever it comes outÖ the good news, she no longer refuses to come back outÖ.
Brandy is scaredy-fraid of thunder and fireworks ñ the only time she went upstairs, ever. We stay with her if itís a short one, got the vet to give us sedatives for the forecasted bad ones and made a ìhidey-holeî for her in the hallway closet that she uses as she wishes. She runs under Edís computer sometimes so he can protect her. I had a dog that was scared of thunder before, but he was only 30 lbs., this is way different, she was knocking things over and stuff, I think we got this one under control ñ the hidey hole did it.
Brandy likes to dig big holes ñ we scolded her for the ones in the yard, but she excavated one under the deck beside the hot tub and we just let her have that oneÖ its her place if she wants shade. Lately though, she likes to lay out in the open in the shade ñ this is a new and good thing.
Brandy prefers to be inside ñ I think she likes it. Brandy likes to eat ñ and she will eat Cottonís food if Cotton doesnít finish (not really a problem)
Brandy is a very vocal dog, almost talks. Not all barking but vocalizing thingsÖ she got lots to say too.
Brandy is a big baby ñ cries easy and for nothing ñ manipulator, I swear, if you make a smoochie sound close to her ear, Niagara Falls! You donít even have to touch her!
Brandy watches TV and looks up at the sky (intelligence).

Things we still need to deal withÖ
Soon, Brandy will need a bath ñ since she doesnít climb the long steps up, this presents a dilemma, remember the hose thing? We think we will buy a pool (one of those hard plastic kiddie pools) and fill it with tepid to warm water and use buckets. If that donít work, weíll have to take her to a groomer or try sedation, but only if we have to ñ as a last ditch effort, I really donít like to give her the pills. Even during a bad storm the vet said two and after the first time, uh-uh, if we have to do it she only gets one. (We only had to give them twice so far).
Brandy has a very long and beautiful coat, we believe sheís a ìShilohî shepherd. She likes to be brushed, but never lets me finish, so I got to deal with shedding and doing it in spurtsÖ Iím still working on this.
In the end, things are falling into place nicely. Cotton has livened up a bit since Brandy came and I truly think she would miss her if she was gone. Brandy loves the shitsky out of Cotton. It took forever for Brandy to go out to the bathroom alone, she had to go with Cotton. Both are respectful of the bird (Sunny) ñ who at times lands on the floor and chases them under the tables just to make sure sheís still the boss. Brandy doesnít try to run (though she had one or two adventures) and now she stays around if unleashed out front. She walks nicely ñ best walking dog I ever had even.
We are planning to go on a trip in September and Edís sister (s) work at a kennel and will give them ìspecialî care. We will keep them together in one run at the kennel.
Thank you so much for giving Brandy to us. Sheís a loved member of the family. Mostly thank you for rescuing her. Sheís a sweetheart.
Valerie & Ed Penland

11-30-06
Brandy (previously known as Cindy), came to live with us on September 10th. We were told that she has a problem with men, but since Iíve been around German Shepherds for almost 40 years, that didnít bother me. Valerie and I both knew that because she was ìsent backî several times, that her chances of being adopted were slim. So, we figured weíd give her a try. Sheís turned out to be a wonderful dog. Yes, when I startle her, she barks and growls at me, but I know itís because sheís scared, so Iíll go up to her and pet her and let her sniff me so she knows who it is. Sheís put her head up so I rub her neck, and when I stop, sheíll bob her head to let me know sheís not done being pet yet. Weíre taking things slowly with her, to make sure she knows that everything is good here. Most days, sheíll keep to herself during the day, except of course if I am eating lunch, then sheís learned from Cotton how to put on her best begging face to make sure she gets part of it. Initially, she wanted to play with Cotton, but Cotton wanted no part of it, now Cotton initiates the play and theyíll play for about 10 seconds, then they go back to patrolling the yard. Sheís still getting to know who is and who isnít allowed out back, and sheíll bark at the next door neighbors. Sheís starting to realize that theyíre ok, but sometimes, she just canít control the bark. It just comes out. Then sheíll look at Cotton and because Cotton is at the fence with her tail wagging, Brandy will stop barking.

Taking her for a walk can be interesting. She has very good leash manners, except when Cotton is with us. Cotton is a snow dog, bred for pulling, so we know Cotton will pull, and Brandy figures sheíll help. Feeling the sheer power behind the two of them, Iíve joked that I need some kind of wagon to let them pull me around the block. They do work as a team when pulling, never going in different directions.

She has been really good with our cockatiel, Sunny. We can let the bird walk around on the floor with both dogs and everyone gets along well.

She gets very excited when Valerie gets home from work. She has a beautiful, long and thick tail and when she gets it going, even Cotton knows to stay out of the way of it. Once Valerie is home, Brandy comes over to me for some petting. I think itís kind of funny that she shows me how much she likes me only when Valerie is home. I think she knows I tell Valerie how she is when Iím here with the dogs and Brandy is trying to say that Iím wrong. Iím not sure if she ever learned word commands, but she does come when I whistle. Valerie tries whistling for her, and when she does, Brandy comes to me.

We found out who really is important to her when Cotton had some minor surgery. I took Cotton to the vet early in the morning, and after Valerie went to work, it was just the two of us in the house. She didnít come up to me, but she was never far away, regardless of where I went in the house. Valerie picked up Cotton on her way home from work and when they got home, Brandy was very excited to see Valerie. But, when Cotton came in the house, Brandy spent the next half hour not leaving Cottonís side. Cotton was still a bit woozy from the surgery and Brandy made sure that Cotton was still here and stayed a few feet away from her most of the evening.

Cotton is turning out to be a good teacher for Brandy, and Valerie and I are both glad we adopted Brandy while Cotton is here to teach her. We donít know what kind of life sheís had before Burlington County Animal Alliance rescued her, but we plan on making sure that whatever time she has left, will be happy times.