Silly Shepherds · About a 7-minute read
Some moments make you think: four weeks ago, I would never have believed this.
Odin. The big black dog with the presence of a god and a piece of rope for a leash. The dog who nearly went through a Labrador on day one.
This week, that same dog put a piece of kibble on the floor for our cat.
Just like that. All on his own. From his own bowl.
The cat swatted him on the nose. He ate the kibble himself. Then he walked away as if nothing had happened.
We caught it on video. But we’re holding on to that one for a little while. It deserves a proper moment.
More on that soon. Promise.
🐾 The Cat—a New Challenge
Day 25. For the past few weeks, we’ve been letting them see each other from a distance every day.
Odin on one side of the window. The cat on the windowsill.
No raised hackles. No barking. No puffed-up tail anymore.
Time for the next step.
We opened the door and let the cat into the living room. I quietly told Odin to take it easy.
And he did.
They sniffed each other. The cat settled under the table and gently tapped his muzzle a few times with her paw.
Not hard. No claws.
From that point on, things looked much friendlier. Odin followed her around for the rest of the day. The cat seemed entirely unimpressed and went to sleep at the top of her cat tree.
Then came the kibble.
Day 27. Odin took a piece from his bowl and placed it on the floor in front of her. He nudged toward it with his nose.
It looked for all the world like: That’s for you.
The cat: Swat.
Odin: ate it himself.
This is the same dog who was walking around with a rope for a leash four weeks ago.
🐾 Butter and Bowie—Still Not Ready for Everything
This week wasn’t all sunshine. We promised an honest diary, so here’s the other side.
Day 27. Bowie. A small dog Odin had never met before.
Bowie wanted no part of the encounter and started running.
That was the starting gun.
Odin seemed to think it was wonderful. Bowie was running for his life. Calling Odin back got us nowhere.
Another dog interrupted the chase. I didn’t.
That tells me plenty: when the excitement takes over, Odin is not ready for that kind of off-leash freedom.
Back on the leash. A pause. Time to settle and look for something we could get right.
Day 30 brought something similar, with a different beginning.
Odin spotted Butter in the distance. I called him back.
He came. Immediately.
I crouched down with a reward. Then he turned around and ran toward Butter anyway.
I was disappointed, and I showed it. He startled at my reaction and even whined while I was holding his collar.
At the time, I felt he was responding to my disappointment. But a whine cannot tell me exactly what a dog is feeling. My reaction, being held, and the excitement of the moment may all have played a part.
That was hard.
He is clearly paying attention to me. What I need to keep working on is making those moments calmer and clearer—and giving him freedom he can actually handle.
Coming back once is progress. Staying with me while another dog is nearby is still a skill we need to build.
🐾 What Else Happened This Week
Day 26 — Zara seems to be going through a bit of a slump. More withdrawn. Less alert. We suspect the changes following her heat cycle may be part of it, but we’re keeping an eye on her rather than assuming that explains everything.
Day 27 — A new T-shirt design in the shop. Every German Shepherd owner knows the feeling: a dog who follows you around all day, practically attached to your heels.
Odin is already doing it too.
Personal Space? Never Heard Of It—for everyone who knows exactly what we mean. 🐾
Day 28 — Celina’s birthday. We spent the morning at the dog field with Charlie and Garry.
For the first time, Odin changed direction before charging straight toward Charlie.
Small moment. Big sign.
Something is starting to sink in.
Day 29 — My daughter visited with my grandson, Julius.
Odin happily accepted a treat, but having visitors around still left him overstimulated. He needs time and space to get comfortable with people. We respect that, without assuming time alone will solve everything.
Day 30 — At the dog field, Odin had what looked like his first proper play session with a Weimaraner.
Back-and-forth play. A very different picture from the chase with Bowie.
That was lovely to see.
Day 31—today — Garry and Odin are getting along well now. Odin no longer keeps going out of his way to approach him.
Instead, the energy he wants to burn off is directed at Zara. I have to slow that down because roughhousing isn’t really her thing.
But eventually, they picked up a stick together.
And then they played.
That is progress.
🐾 Four Weeks In—What We’re Learning
Four weeks.
People often mention the 3-3-3 rule when a rescue dog moves into a new home: roughly three days to decompress, three weeks to begin settling in, and three months to feel more at home.
It’s a rough guide, not a timetable. Odin certainly hasn’t read it.
But by the end of week four, we can see everyday life beginning to take shape.
He still follows me around all day. When I go to the bathroom, he waits by the door.
In the evening, he lies beside me on his blanket.
And after a difficult moment, he often looks toward me or comes close. To me, it feels like he is checking in.
A look. A gentle touch. A quiet moment together.
I see a dog with plenty left to learn, who is beginning to settle into a home.
And the cat?
She’s asleep on her cat tree.
Completely unbothered.
She seems to have this whole arrangement figured out.
Want to see the video of Odin and the cat? It’s coming. Promise. Follow us on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook so you don’t miss it.
🐕 No Wikipedia. Just Us.
This isn’t a training guide. It’s our honest diary of a dog who deserves a second chance—and an owner who won’t give up. Week by week. Step by step.
