Die Hunde sind ein freundlicher Haufen, also sei auch Du freundlich mit den Hunden.

Podha ist ein polnischer Tatra-Hirtenhund. Er ist am längsten hier und sein Job ist, das Grundstück zu bewachen. Er wird nun alt und ist schon ein wenig blind und taub.

Er kann manchmal beim Spielen etwas übermütig werden und möchte deine Hand in sein Maul nehmen, wenn du das nicht magst, sag einfach “Nein” und nimm deine Hand an deinen Körper. Er spielt nur.

Wenn Du in Podha's Nähe kommst, während er schläft, stelle sicher, dass er dich bemerkt, indem du Geräusche machst oder seinen Namen rufst, damit du ihn nicht erschreckst. Wenn er aus irgend einem Grund agressiv ist, geh nicht näher. In diesem Fall nicht wegrennen, seinen Namen rufen und ihm sagen, dass alles in Ordnung ist: “Alles gut!”.

Er mag es, gebürstet und geknuddelt zu werden - das ist auch die beste Art, sich mit ihm anzufreunden. Besonders wenn du Angst vor ihm hast, solltest du uns sofort Bescheid sagen, damit wir Euch vorstellen und dir helfen können, deine Angst zu überwinden. Es ist auch gut, ihn zu streicheln und ihm zu sagen, dass er ein guter Junge ist.

Wenn du durch das Tor rausgehst, achte darauf, dass der Hund nicht mit dir hinausgeht und schließe das Tor richtig, bevor du weggehst. Er darf auch nicht ins Haus oder in irgendein Gebäude, das weiß er und wird auf dich hören, wenn du ihm sagst, dass er rausgehen soll.

Er hört auch auf folgende Kommandos:

• sitz
• platz
• raus
• warte
• nein

Wenn du dich mit dem Hund wohlfühlst und mit ihm spazierengehen möchtest:

1. immer Gert vorher fragen
2. immer an die Leine nehmen (das darf die lange Leine sein)
3. gehe Richtung Blandikow (damit vermeidest du 2 grosse Hunde, die in den anderen Richtungen wohnen)
4. auf dem Rückweg mag er es, im Bach zu schwimmen und zu trinken (das darf er auch ohne Leine)

Black ist eine Promenadenmischung irgendwo zwischen Labrador und Jagdhund. Er ist ein geretteter Streuner, freundlich zu Menschen, die er kennt, aber eher scheu bei neuen Personen.

Wenn ihr euch besser kennengelernt habt, wird er gern übermütig und springt an dir hoch, um dich zu begrüßen, wenn du das nicht magst, kannst du “nein” sagen. Er spielt nur.

Wenn er dich besser kennt, mag er es, gestreichelt und geknuddelt zu werden. Wenn er dich meidet, dann hat er noch Angst vor dir. Versuch nicht, die Freundschaft zu erzwingen, wenn er bereit ist, kommt er von sich aus zu dir. Wenn er schon freundlich ist, ist es gut, wenn du ihn streichelst und ihm sagst, was für ein guter Kerl er ist.

If you go out of the gate please make sure that the dog doesn't go out with you, ensure the gate is closed behind you properly before you walk away. He is not allowed in the house or in any of the buildings, he knows this and will respond accordingly when you tell him to go out.

Commands he responds to include:

• sit
• stay
• barra = out
• wait
• slowly
• walk (avoid this word in front of him unless you are actually taking him for a walk)
• no
• ersaq = get out of the way
• lie down

If you feel comfortable with the dog and would like to walk him:

1. always ask Aimee first
2. check that the harness is put on properly, ie the middle part should be in the middle if this isn't the case take the harness off and put it back on
3. always put him on the lead (can be the long lead)- the lead should be attached to the harness and not the collar
4. walk towards Blandikow (avoid 2 big dogs that are in the other directions)
5. he likes to swim or drink from the creek on the way back (here he can go without the lead)
6. he pulls, when he does that stop and tell him “no”, make sure you give him time to sniff the trees and pee etc. be patient

Moomoo is the youngest of the pack, he is very friendly and very playful. He is a cross breed of pointers probably involving a german shorthaired pointer. He is breed to be obedient, energetic and fast to hunt.

When you get to know him better he may be a little enthusiastic and jumps up to greet you, if you don't like this you can say “no”. He is only playing.

When he gets to know you better he likes to be petted and cuddled and he absolutely loves to run after anything that flies so throwing his ball around would make him happy. It's also good to stroke him and tell him what a good boy he is. He tends to feel the cold more because of his short fur, if you see him sitting on the chair cover him with a blanket.

If you go out of the gate please make sure that the dog doesn't go out with you, ensure the gate is closed behind you properly before you walk away. He is not allowed in the house or in any of the buildings, he knows this and will respond accordingly when you tell him to go out.

Commands he responds to include:

• sit
• stay
• barra = out
• wait
• slowly
• walk (avoid this word in front of him unless you are actually taking him for a walk)
• no
• ersaq = get out of the way

If you feel comfortable with the dog and would like to walk him:

1. always ask Aimee first
2. check that the harness is put on properly, ie the middle part should be in the middle if this isn't the case take the harness off and put it back on
3. doesn't need to on the lead but you should take it with you just in case you need to (can be the long lead)- the lead should be attached to the harness and not the collar! IMP
4. walk towards Blandikow (avoid 2 big dogs that are in the other directions)
5. he likes to swim or drink from the creek on the way back (here he can go without the lead)
6. he pulls, when he does that stop and tell him “no”, make sure you give him time to sniff the trees and pee etc. be patient

If there are 3 people willing to walk the dogs then you should know that Podha should go on the long lead and Black should go on short lead whilst Moomoo can go without the lead, all dogs pull, you need to be patient and strong. If they pull you have to stop and correct the behaviour.

Walk towards Blandikow (avoid 2 big dogs that are in the other directions), if you see other dogs on the way avoid contact and walk in the other direction. If you see deer also avoid as the dogs will want to chase after them.

In all cases if you walk in the forest please keep the dogs on the lead at all times as there is a fine for walking the dogs there without a lead.

When a car is coming stop and call the dogs next to you, wait until the car has passed and then you can start walking again.

Give the dogs enough time to sniff, poop and dig, they love that.

Very important: Every day exchange the water in the water buckets next to the staircase. In the summer fill up with fresh water from the tap room behind the chicken coop and in the winter from the hot water tap in the kitchen.

The dogs eat in the morning, make sure there is enough dry food in the dog bucket c. 2/3 full.

Mondays he has one can of wet food mixed with garlic pieces. Wednesday add an egg for each dog to the dry food including the egg shell.

The dog food is in the tap room behind the chicken coop.

If you would like to give the dogs a treat please do so as part of a training exercise ie ask the dogs to sit and lie down.

The treats are in the food containers.

Occasionally dogs fight (just like people), if you hear the dogs being aggressive and Franz and Aimee aren't around the safest way to break up the fight is to stay out of it.

If they start the aggressive behaviour around you move away from them.

Never get in between the dogs whilst they are fighting, it is dangerous and you will get bitten.

After the fight is over and everyone is friends again check the dogs for injury and administer first aid if needed. Sometimes they have small cuts, clean the wound and spray with antiseptic (this is in the first aid kit in the bathroom).

If the injury is more serious then a vet may need to be called, but this is unlikely.

Monitor the situation in case the fight is reignited. Most fights start quickly and end just as quick. If the dogs continue fighting on and off they may need to be separated but this should be the last resort. Always try to identify the cause of the fight, for example if they are fighting over one treat give them all one.