Sorry but I agree with Carolyn, Unconditional LOVE; Yes they have needs, but they can also "Read" us like a book, probably better than most human's can. I would hate to think of a world without our furbabies. The smiles and laughter they can bring to some stranger in a nursing home or school is "PRICELESS" Morgan and His Angels Precious, OFA Princess, CGC, TDI, GSDCA Health Award "RAW" fed, No Vaccinations --- On Sun, 12/28/08, sheila lieberman <dgshwpromo@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: sheila lieberman <dgshwpromo@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: depression and dogs To: "the list" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Sunday, December 28, 2008, 10:48 AM My dogs care when I am sad, to be sure. But they are also always looking for weakness in the leadership. They are not my friends, they are my charges. They come to me for their needs, not my needs. It is a sign of poor leadership on my part to see them as anything but wanting. However it is that very wanting that keeps me going. That need for me to do for them is the drug, not the dogs themselves. Unconditional Want, that is how I see it. If they don't have an itch, a need for grass, food or water, I don't see them doing much but waiting to need something. sheila --- On Sat, 12/27/08, Carolyn Martello <marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: Carolyn Martello <marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: depression and dogs To: dgshwpromo@xxxxxxxxx, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Kmgraphic2@xxxxxxx Date: Saturday, December 27, 2008, 10:28 PM A good dog ( ESPECIALLY a German Shepherd Dog ) always makes you laugh and keeps you busy if you are really enjoying your dog or dogs........and they are ALWAYS there with that same steady unconditional love just waiting to please you for just a pet and a praise! You don't have to explain anything to them........they know when you are sad and they know when they please you and you are happy. I've known this since I was a kid without any scientific studies ..........as Evan would say: "we don't need no stinkin' study to tell us that" ........we HAVE those dogs! <G> Carolyn marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.Marhaven.com ----- Original Message ----- From: sheila lieberman To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; Kmgraphic2@xxxxxxx Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 7:08 PM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: depression and dogs Doesn't that explain a lot? I have 4 dogs, hhhmmmmm sheila --- On Sat, 12/27/08, Kmgraphic2@xxxxxxx <Kmgraphic2@xxxxxxx> wrote: Date: Saturday, December 27, 2008, 9:24 PM Permission to crosspost: (thought you all might find this interesting) "1. Dogs More Effective Than Prozac Want to cut down on doctor visits and be more active? Get a dog! University of British Columbia professor and author Stanley Coren says dogs work better at reducing stress than the antidepressant Prozac. A recent study published in the journal “Psychosomatic Medicine” found that positive effects produced by dogs included several signs of reduced stress, including lowered blood pressure, slowed heart rate and more relaxed muscles. And those relaxing effects were attained much more rapidly than pills. Having a dog close by reduced stress in as little as five minutes, where prescription medications can take weeks before taking effect. “The data is absolutely unambiguous,” Coren told Canada.com. “This actually works better than having a loved one next to you.” Amazingly, research shows that dog owners visit their doctors less often and are more physically active than non-dog owners. And seniors who own dogs are four times less likely to be victims of depression. “It’s quite an amazing statistic,” said Coren, author of several books on how humans interact with dogs including “How to Speak Dog: Mastering the Art of Dog-Human Communication diane Diane Strasser Silstra German Shepherds<BR><BR><BR>**************<BR>One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)</HTML> ===========================================================================POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ =========================================================================== ===========================================================================POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ =========================================================================== ===========================================================================POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ =========================================================================== ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================