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“He’s fine! Just ignore him and let him sniff you.” Nero, everyone. Everyone, this is Nero! That’s usually what we have to tell new people that come over to the house, as his booming bark lets everyone in the neighborhood know that we have company. Nero is a 5 year old GSD and technically he isn’t mine, he’s my parent’s dog, except for when he’s naughty- then he’s my dog!
Nero loves to take your things and then play Keep Away, sometimes fulfilling the proud title of German Shredder! It drives me crazy in the moment but, when I see his tail wagging and I know that he’s just trying to play, my strict demeanor subsides and he gets me to smile 🙂
Of course I give in and play! … well, sometimes. While I know that giving in to Keep Away will only reinforce the behavior, Nero reminds me to get off my phone and get moving! In those brief moments where I’m upset that he grabbed another napkin, or a shoe, or whatever you happened to leave in your coat pocket, his playfulness reminds me not only to redirect his behavior, but also my own.