Man, if I wasn't so strapped for cash, I would commission you in a heart beat. But sadly, they would notice $30 missing XD

You're lines are awesome and you coloring is spot on. Very few artist can pull off such a wonderful mix of human and animal anatomy like you do. And I do love the color choice. Normally for me, when I mix unnatural colors with natural ones, I tend to go over board and the thing ends up looking like a rainbow. But you managed to pull if off nicely while still making the color pattern look so realistic even with the blue.

Aw, thanks so much for the in depth comment! I really, really appreciate them as they come few and far between ;;

Believe it or not, this only cost $10 n__n My design coms are always only $10, regardless of gender/species/feral/anthro. I leave them cheap because I enjoy them most and hope it encourages people to get those instead of my other ones LOL

Thank you ;; Sketching clean is some freak thing that just happens, but I'm glad it does. I don't see very many who combine them as I do; I just draw what's most aesthetically pleasing to /me/ but I'm so glad when other people enjoy it too n__n

I used to have that same problem! What I do is pick one 'pop' color, and if I want more than one color, I use another shade of the same. When people start combining flashy colors, it should be complementary ones or only one! It's when they clash that they come out looking like they fell in a crayola box Dx It takes patience and a bunch of practice to find schemes and approaches that work for you.

You're welcome. My mate started me on the trend of giving out in depth comments to show how much I love art. And it just kind of stuck XD

Really? Only $10? Oh my....now that is really tempting. This is another reason why I love your art and so badly want to commission you one day, your art is affordable. I can reasonably see buying several pieces from you and not brake my bank. Now don't get me wrong, I can see why some artist have high prices. Just, I don't see my self being able to buy from them anytime in my lifetime.

Wait...that's a sketch? Okay, you are my new art idol. I honestly don't know why more people don't combine them like that though. They are very aesthetically appealing. The lines and curves all flow together very nicely. I wish more people drew hoofed animals. It's a gem when I can find someone who can draw deer without a horse body style XD

*Has just seen the art world in a whole new light* Okay, I just had one of those moment where you suddenly realize the answer to all your problems was the simplest thing right in front of you. Defiantly need to practice that.

It's a good thing to have stick, lol. I used to try to leave a short paragraph, but then it seemed like no one bothered to read their comments/reply, and I thought, "Why take the time to tell them I like it if they won't even read it?" And I think that kind of swayed me into quitting. Now I only comment on close friends' art ;; Maybe you should rub off on me, lol.

Yep n__n! I hate when I see someone with my skill range charging like $50-100 for what I charge $10-20 for. I understand it takes years to hone to a level worth commissioning. Countless hours and trials and studying. As someone who draws, I totally get it. But what I don't get is that it's hard enough to make a living, let alone commission, and the least you can do is meet a commissioner half way. Mine are pretty low, to the point I struggle to make a living, but I do enjoy what I do and I like to be able to make people happy (:

Haha, my sketches are usually 20-30 mins. I don't draw and then revise, I just draw it, and what you see is the first draft. It's good in a sense, but in another way, it's so terrible! If I start something, it's the finished product as I go down cause I hate revising, so if I dislike the beginning, I trash it. It gets rid of a ton of pics that could have turned out well in the end e.e; I am too saddened that more people don't draw similar to me [as snobby as that may sound u__u] because it's hard to find anatomy I find pleasing to the eye, especially in a style also pleasing to me. Once in a while I'll really like one, but otherwise I really have to search.

Haha, glad I could be of help! Art has a way of making you think too much. The best thing is to just 'do' and learn from it, as hard as it is sometimes Dx

Same here. A lot of people don't really answer, or they do so with a simple five word sentence. But you learn to pick and choice who to spend all that time on. Mainly, I do if for either beginning artist who could use the encouragement, or people I can tell really love their art and want to share it more just pictures. General though, I just write these long comment for people who I have a feeling will appreciate them.

Yeah, I do have to say, you're the cheapest I've seen for you skill range. And as I stated before, I do understand why they charge so much...to a point. When an cartoon artist (not knocking the style, but really is doesn't take as much time as a realistic painting dose) charges $200 for a simple reference sheet, I start to wonder. Most of the commissioners out there are adults, collage kids or teens. Only the adults really have the money for that sort of thing, but even that's a small minority. It's nice to finally met an artist with such an open mind set.

Ah, I understand that. Yeah, my roommate used to be the same way. She still is, to a point. But I've been trying to brake her of it as a lot of her sketches are wonderful, it's just in the moment it's hard to tell. Though my problem is I keep a lot of pictures I should trash. I spend hours trying to fix a pictures only to have nothing to show for it in the end. But I'm kind of like that in real life too, I have a hard time getting rid of broken things cause I keep getting ideas with how to fix or reuse them XD

No, that doesn't sound snobbish at all. I think the reason it's so hard though is because not a lot of people draw those types of bodies or anatomy. Most artist who do those types of creatures often do a wide variety of other types, like wolves and horses for example, and thus their anatomy tends to be a bit generalized. That and most people I think have trouble breaking away from the crowd when there is so much influences to other animals and styles. I could give you over 100 different "how to draw wolves" sheets, but I have yet to find one for deer or boars.

Yeah, a lot of things seem to be like that. Kind of annoying XD And yes, "doing" sometimes is the hardest. More so because I'm away from my computer so much. I need to get back into the habit of sketching again XD

I am sure to reply to most every comment. I mean.. I don't get why people post to interact with a community and then do no interacting. The point is to throw it out there for others to enjoy and to help you improve. You can't improve if you don't bother looking from a watcher's pov [well, you can, but you know what I mean]. I think that's why I make close friends anyhow -- the people I am in contact with all the time because I know they appreciate the socializing and arting the way I do. We repeatedly go between each other commenting, and build a friendship, and also another person who is going to be there to crit and support you when you need it. I'd rather have a handful of close people than 1,000 watchers who never comment/fave/help. I have almost 200 watchers and am lucky to get a comment or two. That irks me too. What are 100 some people doing? Creepin' from the shadows all unhelpful like ;;

Sometimes I understand, too. There are some people worth paying that much for.. I just wouldn't be one of the people paying is all. After $40, no thank you. That is usually my breaking point, and to this day, I have never paid over $20 for a commission Dx While I charge overly cheap prices, usually people will add in an extra 'tip' anyhow. I've recently had a $50 tip, and also a commissioner who I quoted at $35 for their picture, and instead they paid me $200. I think that's another reason why I do it; karma. You draw 20 pictures at $10, and it comes back around and someone will surprise you with their generosity in return. I had over $1,500 in vet bills in 2011 for my labrador, who I ended up having to put down anyway, and the out-pour of love and support from commissioners was astonishing. It's things like that that keep me at low prices n___n

That's admirable, though! I rarely do that. Even with commissions I will just scrap the whole thing and start anew. Sometimes a picture is to the point where no matter how I adjust or edit, in my psyche, I just can't make myself accept it or like it. It's like I /have/ to start over in order to be satisfied. I wish I was the type of person who could keep at it until they were happy.

I see more hoofed creatures here than dA, but the thing that kills me is the quality of them. 80% of them, no offense intended, are rather poorly done imo. Or they're merged in an unrealistic or a non-aesthetically pleasing way. Sometimes it's not about realism to me, but just how it flows and how natural the style makes it look. Even then, like you said, it's so generalized and no one bothers with the little things. Like with this deer vs. a horse. Much fewer neck muscles. Smaller thighs, longer legs, smaller butt, smaller trapezius and back muscles. And yet people draw them all the same, just with a different head. Smh. A horse's head cannot sit on a thin neck. A human head weighs roughly 10 lbs. A horse head? Yeah, good luck having our muscles hold that up Dx

Try doing a sketch a day! Even just gesture sketches. I used to carry a binder and a pencil with me at /all/ times like a crazy art lady. School, home, in the car, to family, to a friend's. Then it became carrying my laptop and tablet at all times. Even if you have notes or something to gesture sketch or doodle, it really keeps your brain stretched and in the mind-set to work artistically. Then you don't get art blocks c: Art block is after all just a psychological block. A gesture sketch a day keeps the block away.

Same. Heck I thank for every favorite I get for the simple fact that someone liked my work enough to click that button. Exactly. I rather keep my 50 watchers forever then become one of those artist with 1000+ watchers and ignores them all. I like being able to remember which one of my watchers liked what, which one gave the really good post I loved, which one has a sick pet I should ask about, and which one had similar like in music. It's like friends, whats the point if you never talk to them or they talk to you? I once asked my humble little pool of 30 some odd watchers what they taught I need to work on most to better my art. Got only one response, and it was from my bf who lives with me >.>

Yeah, single commissions I wont pay more then $40 either. I would probably pay more if I'm buying a large grouping of pictures, say like two reference sheets and a digital piece. Something like that I can see. Aw, that's so sweet of them. And yes, karma is what people forget about. That and the grand scheme of things as far as money goes. I hear the argument a lot of "well I raised my prices so I will have less commissioners but will still get the same amount of money." But really, when say 100 people can pay $10 for a commission verse only 10 who can pay $30, it starts to add up. I just don't understand the arguments.

It has it's own curses too. I had a several images eating up space that will never be finished because there is no fixing them, and my house kind of looks like a pack rat lives here XD What I found that helps when I dislike a picture, is to leave it be. Don't touch it or anything. Leave it alone for a day or two. Then come back to it. Usually my head is clear by then and I can see the small little things that need to be fixed to make it work. Granted, I can understand that feeling too. A lot of things, I attach emotions I dislike to them and can't stand them until I get rid of them. It will never be right until it's deleted is how it feels.

None taken, I get what you mean. Somethings I can let go due to style. Other things...I just can't deal with it. Like the trend on DA for awhile there of lions with really long bodies and thin bodies/legs. No matter how nice the art was, it still looked like some horrible mutation that was half starved. I guess I have to say, the thing that always gets me is people are scared to put "meat" on what they are drawing. Dragons would not have whippet body styles. Horse do not have razor thin legs, and wolves do not look like a short coat German Shepard. I understand when people are just learning art (like me) and are trying to learn anatomy without going to school for it. But really, something just don't look right no matter how you work it. Oh and I almost chocked with laughter on my coffee reading that last line. The image in my head was priceless XD

I used to do that in school a lot. Every single piece of paper I got a hold of had at least a dozen sketches or more. Really need to heft around my giant sketch book again. And probably eraser all the old art I'm too shamed to look at XD
And that is my new favorite quote ^.^

I still have that happen to me at times. Usually I can always count on a few people to leave a comment if no one else. My two closest and most frequent commenters are Maxkhaos here and EclipsetheShadow@dA. Probably my two favorite people on all the internet, lol. A few other close people as well, though more through messaging than commenting on pieces.

It's different if it's multiple pieces like that, but for a single one, no way ;; I am not rich enough xD

Very true ;; I even have pieces eating up space. I make a point to delete things every month, and even then, I will have pics I hate so much but am emotionally attached to that are like.. 18 months old. /facepalm. So what I ask myself is 1) Am I ever going to post it? 2) Will I ever re-do it? 3) Is there a purpose? If all three are no's, I delete it no matter how much I don't want to.

Omg, totally feel you! I CANNOT stand that. Style is no excuse for not understanding anatomy. Some things are truly style and pleasing, but other things [like stick horses] are not style, they are lack of knowledge to me. There is tasteful and not, and those are some of those 'not'. Another thing that bothers me is dew claws on the hind legs of some breeds of dog, who do not naturally have them occurring. That's called an inbred specimen, good job person! Or when people give goats horse hooves. I want to beat my head off a desk. One thing that bothers me more than anything else: when people draw an extra joint above a dog's hind paw. A dog is not a horse. It doesn't have four joints in the leg. It has three. The bend at the paw is like a human's knuckles that bend only so much into the toes. It's not a pastern and then a toe's bend. I just want to smack everyone who ever does that and take away their pencils.

Get back into it! It really improves your work. That's how I started c:

Same. I can always count on at least two people who will comment and reply back. Well, I guess three now because you are actually still talking to me XD

Lol, same. Nor will I ever be that rich, I can tell you right now. I have plans for a farm, which equals being dirt poor for the rest of my life. But I love my life and wouldn't want more.

I need to remember those rules....Granted, by the time I'm thinking about deleting old pictures, my computer has to be wiped. So they are gone anyways, which helps me out a bunch. Most people (at least in my house) hate it when the computers get wiped. Me, I view it like a fresh start. Time to fill up my hard drive with more random pictures XD

*hides penciles* okay, now I do have to admit, I've done that. Still do from time to time too. Annoys the crap out of me. I studied pretty hard to learn horse anatomy when I first started horse seriously. But the problem came when I tried to expand out without really studying. Rule number one when trying to draw something, reference, reference, references. Still to this day, I keep finding my self doing that annoying joint thing with the hind legs. But that whole thing I fully admit is from lack of knowledge on my part and I full agree with that. I got a pile of references, and I'm still trying to gather up as many as I can. Because I don't want to be one of those artist know for their "style". I want to be an artist who is know for their realism. I can see my flaws and I want to explained from them.

Oh and the hind leg dew claw is from inbreeding? *looks at my dog who has it* Well, I know who your father was now...

Yes sir! XD Yeah, with my whole move thing coming up, I'm gonna have a lot of time on my hands. So drawing is going to be a major thing. Three day car rides are great for sketching XD

Rich isn't happiness. A big mansion is awfully lonely, you know :C I'd love a farm myself. I grew up with them in the family and have a lifetime of experience with them, but we struggle to feed ourselves let alone to get a farm u__u One can wish, though. I hope someday you do have one!

Ahaha, exactly XD It's a blessing in disguise, really. I hate it just because I've went through countless times to clean my inventory out, so I only have what I truly need/want. If I have to wipe the pc, it would ruin my mood forever ;;

When you're learning, that's understandable. Everyone makes mistakes in the beginning. It's when seasoned artists STILL do it. And then no one notices but me? I just want to give up, lol. I am sure I make plenty of anatomical mistakes, but the difference is I educate myself while trying to draw whatever it is I'm drawing and improve on. I am as educated as I can be in a short amount of time before I draw a new species. I used to draw canines (ferals), then I went to anthros as well, then I went to making up creatures, dabbled in people to improve general bipedal anatomy, then I tried all sorts of animals in anthro because I felt I had the human part down well enough. No one is perfect, we all make mistakes, but when it's out of ignorance is when it kills me u___u It's not hard to type a few letters and hit enter to find refs when in doubt. I have a folder of refs of useful knowledge in my hd just in case I ever need it. It's good to be prepared. One can never know enough.

Ahaha! It depends on the dog! Most dogs it is indeed from inbreeding. Some dogs, though [more the ones in mountainous regions and abroad] do have them naturally. There is also a breed [I believe a type of sheep dog, can't remember which breed off hand exactly] naturally has two! But a lot of times, most breeds should not. Shepherds, rotties, dobies, labs, look at the common breeds. They don't have hind dew claws. If they do, they really shouldn't, lol. My neighbor's dog had a mutt who had hind dew claws, too, though you could tell by her conformation she was from a terrible line ;;

You're so lucky if you can draw in the car. I can't even read in the car without feeling the need to eat my lunch twice, lol. Though the strangest thing, I can fly in a plane and read mags and not have an issue. 50 mph, wanna puke. 700 mph at 36,000 ft, nothing XD Be sure to draw tons and post it! I demand it!

I never liked big houses anyways, they always creep me out with how empty and echoy they were. XD

Thankfully, my family is disabled. It's a blessing and a curse. A blessing because we don't have to worry about food or medical bills. A curse though because we barely have enough money to pay the bills and the government wont do jack when we need help. But our farm dream is pretty simple, just a 5 or 7 acres plot of land with a few animals and an acre or two for a garden. We got the garden down pat, now it's just time to find someplace to settle down and start getting some chickens XD

Yeah, I can understand that. That's why I was grateful when DA got it's STASH system. Granted, doesn't help when my internet is out. But that's what the thumb drive is for XD

lol, yeah, when you are at a professional level, you should know these things XD I mean, it's very easy to find stock images everywhere so you can reference too. Heck, to this day I red line stock images just to practice where all the joints all. Never post it of course. But I understand what you mean. When a person draws nothing but canines and can't seem to get the joints right, that dose get very annoying. You would think they were have referenced at least once and realize what was wrong with their image.

Well, my room-mates right now is a pit/aussie. So, not sure where she gets it. And a dog we used to own was a purebred German Shepard that had dew claws on her hind legs. But she was a throwback because of her fur, so that was probably another reason too XD

Yeah, cars, buses, trains, I can sleep draw and what not in them. Never gotten sick from them. Which I'm thankful for, because I can't count the numbers of times I've been stuck in them for hours because of moves or road trips. But then again, I dislike planes. Just the noise and the bumping around they do sends me into a panic attack. So I stick to ground travel a lot XD And yes, I will try to post as much of my awesome little doddle as I can XD

I hear that. I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease last year and it very quickly went down hill. For a while I couldn't draw for more than 20 mins at a time, and that was even a struggle because the bacteria was eating at my nerves and my hands would shake. I have assistance now, and am going to look into disability, but even with assistance I struggle to make ends meet, hence why I've returned to art to try to help a little more. I hated my job and was at first thankful that I was found too unhealthy to return to work, but now I just miss being independent and doing what I wanted however I wanted. I can't even open a jar anymore, lol. I would starve without my man to open everything. /facepalm

I live with two pits myself, neither with hind dews, and I own a blue merle Aussie [who I keep at my mother's, he's too rambunctious and would scare the one pit to death], and he doesn't have dew claws at all. I believe his front dews were removed when his tail was docked though, which is pretty standard for the breed. Safety reasons. Aussies by nature shouldn't have hind dews, and their front dews are removed to keep their paws safe from snags while working. Mine's of show lineage, though, with the super long coat but he is super, super smart and carries a lot of undesirable herding instinct. Children + Diesel = no no. Even my fiance, who is about 5' 10" and 200 lbs, my dog will bite his heels [and butt, haha] and yip when he walks away. I think that's just a dominance issue that the two have to settle, though XD Diesel thinks everyone is beneath him but me.

My mom used to have a cattle dog/ German Shep and I don't think she had dew claws either. Though I was 5 when she was put down, so I don't remember much of her details.

Gosh you're so lucky. I used to have to take dramamine to reduce my motion sickness. Now I am better so long as I look out the window or sleep. If not, I am whiter than paper ;; Why do planes scare you? You know you're far more likely to die in a car crash than a plane, and yet you feel safer in a car xD I've been on four flights in my life, all by myself. I live on the east coast, flew myself out to San Diego, California when I was 18, and then back, and both had connecting flights. At first I was a bit nervous, but I had this really supportive, polite lawyer beside me and he flies every week for work. He told me what to expect and when we had turbulence [terrible! Horrible storm on my first flight] he reassured me it was normal. Ever since I never had a problem regardless of the shaking or noise. It reminds me of being in a bus, honestly, if you don't look out the window, especially at night. It's like a super long bus ride XD

My mother-in-law feels the same way. She had her back messed up really badly. So now she can't hardly walk or carry anything, though she still tries. She used to work as a hopper for a factory line and is a A type personality. She hates it now because she can't do anything hardly by her self and has to replie on others. But even now that she's supposte to be in a wheelchair, she will not use it in the house. Outside she dose because her legs give out if she walks more then ten feet. My Father-in-law, well, they don't know what's wrong with him, but food goes through him way too fast and causes him very bad pain to the point where he can't sit or stand for long. He's almost fully confined to his bed now. Thankfully, my mate and his sister aren't so bad when it comes to health, but they both have mental problems which makes it so they can't work. My man can hold a part-time job. But that's it. Not to mention the whole list of food allergies, but I degrees XD

That was always the thing I never got about people. They always seem to think that disabled people just sit around happily eating to their hearts content and are just too lazy to work. Almost every disabled person I have met HATES it. They just want to work and not live on the bare bones of what they can get. No one wants that kind of life.

lol, oh we used to have an aussie too. She herd EVERYONE. She wanted them all to be in the same room together and if they weren't she would run around your chairs until she got too tired to do it. Granted, when she got older, she just stopped and was continent to sleep in the hallway where she could hear everyone.

And yeah, sounds like a dominance thing. That or he just knows you will be herded without a fuss XD My guy's dog he use to have (she died last year), was a lab/german mix. Oh, that dog was a nightmare. She would bite(and I mean break skin), jump and thought she was the queen of everything she saw. It toke him five years of being in a consent dominance battle with her before she finally got the hint that he was in charge. That and her major dislike of being chained out in the thunder storm made her start to think about why she shouldn't bite the nice humans who can open doors XD

The plane thing I know is just one of those fears that has no reason behind it. But it's a work in progress. I mean, thunderstorms used to do the same thing to me. But then my guy started having me stand with him in the sun porch while a thunderstorm was going and holding me the whole time until I got over it. It's one of those thing I need to get over, but just have a hard time doing. But baby steps are the key to over coming a great many things XD

Aw, that's terrible ): It's a reality for Lyme, too. It's a spiral shaped bacteria that burrows its way into all of your tissues. It attacks the brain, the heart, organs, the nervous system. It's especially gotten my digestive system. A lot of foods are painful to digest, like pastas, and I have to avoid anything with hormones. I take 100,000,000 probiotic bacteria a day to help replace what my stomach can no longer create, but it's still tough. I'd hate to be bed ridden or unable to walk. Things seem bad enough now u__u Hopefully they figure out what is wrong with him so he can become more mobile.

Exactly! I was the sole provider before my Lyme. I was able to take care of my fiance and I, pay the bills, child support, all of it. The Lyme knocked me out of a job, and so he had to return to work. Honestly, the worst part of it is feeling worthless. Like I just sit around like a leach and watch everyone else live and enjoy their life. I feel unhelpful and unreliable. I feel like people resent me in the situation, even if they say they don't, because that's just how I feel about myself anymore. Art helped a bit, to provide somewhat for the little things, but even that is nothing compared to how well I was doing. It's like being kicked while you're down when people look down their nose at you. I always tell people, "Do you have Lyme?" "No." "Then go get it and then tell me how well you would do at work." You look normal from the outside, but that's just it. It's on the inside, eating you apart and rotting your insides. It's like being sick 24/7 with no relief, and your body is working overtime constantly to attempt to maintain a working level. People just don't get it u__u

Diesel was rehomed several times before I bought him out of a terrible living situation. He was 7 months old, had about a 2' chain to a stairwell, and only knew how to sit. I was the one who physically removed him and took him home, and then I solely worked with him for about a week to train basics. I think that's what really turned him from being dominant/bossy/a general bully into a sweetheart with me. He gets excited and jumps on people, but me he will jump in front of, and not on me. He has never bitten me, but has bitten my mother's arm enough to make her bleed and scar. He herds other people, and when they correct him, he barks back and goes all playful, often jumping and trying to bite their hips. When it's just me, he is an angel though. Sleeps with me, cuddles, loves to be pet, naps at the door to guard. I've trained him to high five, high ten, shake, other [to shake the other hand], roll over, lay down, play dead, bite [not to bite someone, but the air, like a warning and it's one of his favorites xD], bow, limp, gimme both [both paws on your lap and then he prays with his face between them]. He knows both the verbal commands and also hand signals. I'm the only one that works with him and it's made him 'my dog' really, though I bought him for my mom. Now he's her nightmare XD When she has trouble she calls me up to come out and fix him. For her he also cannot go on car rides. He chews and jumps around, and when tied so he can't climb up front, he paws and scratches and yips at everything. When he's in the car with me and my fiance, he just walks around in the back seat all chill, looking out the windows xD

Just remember it's unfounded. Positive reinforcement. They did a study a long time ago in a glass skyscraper, where they took children afraid of heights to the top and had them look over for cookies, and eventually they quit being scared. Twisted, but neat. Maybe if you ever need to travel, choose to fly and have something for yourself for a reward. For me, my first time flying gave me the beach and got me out of the horrid winter, so it was really no argument.

Wow, that's horrible. We can barely find food that doesn't have corn in it. Everyday, I'm just more and more grateful for the good health I was blessed with. Because I know, in just one short moment, I can lose it. They dislike it too, very much. Hense why she wont use the wheel chair and every Christmas gets up on the ladder when no one is around to decorate the tree. And my father always has to be out side for hours helping my guy fix the truck, lawnmower or what ever decided to brake that week. We are hopeful too, and have managed to get most of the pain under control thankfully.

Same. My mother and father in law both has good jobs. She was making something like 10 an hour and he was making somewhere double that. But then she got in a car wreck and it messed up her back. After that, they lost the house and had to move. Yes, it's like if you're not in a wheelchair or somehow look disable, they think you can go 9 to 5 and keep up the back breaking pace they want. My mother has more or less excepted being the way she is. The only thing she hates is that because of her back being messed up, it's messed up the flow to her brain and now she's starting to have very bad memory loss. It's a hard thing to go through. Something that a lot of people can not understand unless they've been through it or with someone the whole step of the way. But I'm glad you have your guy there with you along the way. It's always good to have a support system. That's pretty much my full time job right now, is being a support. And I wouldn't change my job. I love them. And when you love someone, you don't resent them for anything. You just wish you could help more, and feel almost as helpless as them.

Yeah, when ever a dog is recused from a bad situation, they remember. They remember very well who saved them and usually create a very strong bond with that person. That's why I always love shelter dogs. They are some of the most loyal and loving animals I've ever had the pleasure of owning. And dang your dog is smart. Ours right now are all new pups, so they're just learning new tricks. He sounds like a mom's boy though and very sweet. I always love it when the dogs sleep on my bed with me. All three of them, plus me squeezed on a little twin bed. I may be sore in the morning, but I just can't say no.

I finally got mine to "sit pretty" where she sits on her hind legs and hold up her two front paws in the air. Shaking is another matter with her, she usually ends up trying to rack my arm off XD She's a good girl though. A Shepard/whipet mix (and yes, her rib cage is messed up because of that breeding). And boy is she a nervous girl. But I understand why she's so much trouble. She's been through two homes in under the first year of her life. From her vet records (all i know about her past), she was a pound puppy who had kennel cough. She's had an operation done to her stomach for some reason and had two back morels removed. And the second house she went to, they were not nice people. She came with a harness on, and from the looks of how the muscles grew around it, I don't think they ever toke it off her. She was terrified to chew and every time she gets in trouble she ducks her head like we're going to smack her. Though we think she had parvo as a pup too, because she had a very mad battler problem where she leaks all the time and doesn't know when she's peeing. Plus, she just not growing up in the head like the other dogs. Oh, and heaven forbid you have to leave her alone for any length of time. She goes crazy.

Yes, mine is usually chocolate. Granted I use that for everything. But it works every time so why not? XD

It's good that everyone benefits from one another. That's one of the most important things for them -- to feel useful and helpful, especially since they had good jobs before hand. I was making minimum wage, but I live about a 5 min walk from where I worked, so I had no money in gas and I'm a penny pincher, so really it was a breeze to pay for everything and still have money left. I usually did side jobs too, like babysitting and farm work, and so we always had just enough. Now, I manage my man's money to help us get by, but even then sometimes we wonder how he's going to have gas for work. He drives 50 miles each way, and it definitely adds up.

Aw, that's so precious. I can't imagine sleeping with three in bed though. My labrador was enough for me on my twin bed, as I'm about 100 lbs and she was 80. And a bed hog. But she kept me warm through winter and something just so comforting about a big fluff ball with teeth in bed that puts me to sleep, lol. I couldn't sleep for the longest time after I had her put down. I'm sure your pups will be smart, too. They say they take after their owners, lol. Just lots of patience and one-on-one, any dog can learn. I don't really believe there's a such thing as a 'dumb' dog. If it can learn a schedule and what meal time is, it can learn tricks, too.

Poor thing ): It wouldn't be a stretch to say she was hit often, and with all of those medical problems and constant moving, it's no wonder she's terrified to be alone. A lot of whippets are anxious dogs, too. A lot of the thin breeds are as stereotypical as it is. A family friend rescues retired greyhounds and they're nervous too. I think people should have a permit to breed. It's so idiotic to combine them. The sound of it doesn't even make sense to me.

Diesel was rehomed I believe 3 times in his first 7 months, me being the fourth and last. He ducks especially if he's in trouble and you're holding an object. You even lift an arm with nothing in your hand, he will perk up to avoid being hit. He's a lot better though. He doesn't flinch with me, but I do smack his bum when I have to correct him over and over for the same thing. Usually, changing my tone will change his attitude though. He is for sure not a people-pleaser, and couldn't care less how you feel when he has his mind set on something. If he wants to do it, he believes he's going to do it. That's why he doesn't listen to anyone else. But when I yell at him, he knows there will be consequences. He'll be kenneled or he won't get his daily routine of a treat ball. He's a chowhound and will do anything for a treat. I weaned him off of them to just listening because I say so, but my mom hasn't. He can't be loose or he won't come back for her without one. I just whistle and he comes back. Sadly, I do love having a dog that only listens to me though. My lab was the same. It makes them feel a lot more 'yours' and a lot closer to me. When he listens, my mom tells me she hates me though, so I feel bad that she's frustrated too.

If it works, why change it? XD Mine is usually coffee or tea. I can't have stimulants [I also have Supraventricular Tachycardia, which means the electrical system in my heart rewires itself and will beat from 80 bpm to 200 for no reason]. If I ever want a reward, that's all I want. I tell myself when I finish a commission I can have some tea XD /epic fail

Yes, I hate how much gas eats into bills. More so with that long of a drive. My word, I don't know how we would get by if I had a job that far away.

Yeah, they are cute. Until I wake up face down on the floor or with my spine screaming out in pain. Then dogs get punted off the bed XD Yes, I love them for winter. The get cold because they are spoiled little short coats, so they come to me for warmth and well, I love the warmth too. My guy's dog already know five different words we use for food and how to spell them all. And we have to keep using more weird phases to ask each other when the last time he was out. Because he has this wonderful habit of acting like he has to go visit nature when really all he wants to do is dig. But he's a good boy. His head can easily lay on top of the counters, but he never takes food from their or our plates. No matter how long they are left out.

I think her's was an "accident". Where the owner was too dumb to watch their female in heat when ever she was outside and some wandering males came along. I use the term "males" because I found her siblings online in local pounds. It was easy to tell they where her siblings, but had another father then her. All the same whippet, brindle colors and all the same age. But, you think people would watch their females more closely. Heck, we've had females who weren't fixed and went into heats all the time. Not a single time did any of them get pregnant. And I've got male dogs who wonder around here. Them and my husky get into a peeing war when out pit was in heat.

Yeah, we're teaching my girl that jumping and biting gets you no where. Because if she wants something, she'll nip you for it. Nothing hard, but still not a good habit to have. So we fold our arms and turn our backs to her. She's learned pretty quick that unless she sits, she's not getting any attention. He's like such a sweetheart though, despite being so stubborn. I used the treat system to get the dogs in the bathtub when it was bath time. Would get a hotdog and throw it in the tub to get our husky in there (he HATES tubs). Slowly got him into jumping into the tub just by command. Now he tolerates it. And I can understand that feeling. My girl only calms down for me and my guys dog dose not like any one else touching him but me. It makes you feel so much more special and loved by them.

Hay, that's the best way to do it. I make my self a nice tall cup of epic coffee, with all the nice creamer and extra sugar. And then set it aside in the spot where I can see it. And I'm not allowed to have it until all my house chores are done. It helps to make it worth it XD

Aw, I had to do that with my Lab! She knew how to spell 'out', 'food,' 'eat,' and 'supper.' She was very clever, and so we just gave up on spelling things out and said them cause she knew anyhow. She knew when I said, "No more, all gone" it meant she was to get nothing else, or that talking about food didn't equate to her getting any. She quit perking up at the mention of nummies unless I asked if she 'wanted' any. Anything with 'want' meant she could have. She's one of the only dogs that you could talk to and not feel stupid because she genuinely understood a lot of what you said xD They say dogs have the understanding and mentality of a 5 year old, commonly. Of course some are more advanced or less advanced. She also wouldn't steal food. I could sit a plate on the floor, get up to go do whatever, come back, and none of it would be touched. She was trained not to eat until I told her she could, though. She also slept in my bed every night, but still waited until I told her 'up, up' to jump up because it was my territory and not a shared territory to her. She was super super smart ;;

What a cheeky dog. I think that's what dogs usually do the most; either pretend they haven't been out or haven't been fed. I fed the dog the other day, and then left my parents, but came back because my brother had forgotten something at the house. I see one of my parents out with him and I told them I hoped they hadn't fed him cause I already did. Well, apparently Diesel waited until I left to bark and whine like he hadn't been out or fed, to get fed twice. They're master con artists, I tell you xD

Aw, that's awesome. It's not often I see someone who actually does dog psychology. Diesel used to do that, and used to have this strange habit [I think insecurity caused it, kind of like him forcing himself on you] to put his paw on your lap. The second you sit, he glued his paw to you. I trained him to give me five, ten, and shake because it redirected his bad habit. Now he doesn't do it at all except on command. As long as you understand a dog's emotions and thought process, mostly anything is trainable.

Aw, I'd do that but by the time I'm done it would be cold and I wouldn't want it ;; I'm so particular. That's why I just tell myself, 'tea soon, coffee soon, tea soon' xD Motivation!

Lol, yeah outs know what "no more" means. Means get out of the kitchen and stop bugging mom, because you're not getting any more XD I agree, a lot of dogs are very smart. Heck, even our little "princess" (at leas she thinks she is) knows a lot of what you are saying. And you can tell by the way she looks at you. But she choices not to listen a lot of time. XD And I have to say, after all the dogs I've had, I have to agree most dogs are around the 5 year old range. They understand more then what people give them credit for. All our dogs knows when people put on shoes, they are leaving the house so it's time to ask to go out. Heck, our little princess is on a pill redundant, and she's alright right there sitting on the kitchen title waiting at the correct time every day. Even though she's deaf and blind in one eye. My baby girl, she and my guys dog are what we call our vacuums. When ever food falls on the ground, we let them clean it up. But only when we say "okay". And only they are allowed because they don't charge for it the moment it hits the ground. The other dogs, well, they start getting into their heads that what ever falls is there, and sometimes pills fall on the ground and that's the last thing we need the eating >.>

Yeah. They are all little kids I tell ya. If they think they can get things from one parent or a grandparent they will. I mean, my guy's dog hides behind me when ever he gets into trouble because I'm mom and he thinks I'll save him XD Our littlest dog who is on pills, learned that if she comes back a few minutes latter that I'll just give her an empty piece of bread. because I had thought with how old she was, that she forgetting she had already gotten a pill. She would even go and bug my parents until they ask me if she had gotten her pill yet or not. Toke us a few months to realize she was playing us just to get extra goodies XD

I agree. People don't take enough time to really get to know their dogs because they label them "untrainable". All dogs are thinks along the same lines people do. They want food, love and comfort. Pretty simple. But past events or just simple mind sets make it more complex. It toke us well over four months for my dog to finally calm down enough so that we could start working with her. And even then, toke us another three months to finally understand why she was always misbehaving. Some dogs need a gentle hand, and others need a strict one. They are in so many ways like kids. No one training method works on every dog. You have to know who your dog is first before you can understand them, and then start teaching them what you want.

lol, I'm one of those weird people who doesn't mind my coffee cold. Actually some days I prefer it cold, as I'm just too warm to want a hot cup of anything. Yes, motivation is key! It helps makes everything easier and less...chore like XD

Exactly. Lol

I absolutely adore the design. ^w^ Thank you very very much. :3 I may commission another one from you when I get the cash as a gift for my mate. Hehe.

I'm so glad you like him! n____n I'm usually always open; just be sure to ask or check for my status. For the next month or so I am closed to finish my other 5 coms u__u

I shall check first, don't worry. Hehe. I probably won't be able to get another until I make some adoptables or got some commissions or something myself. XD;

When I first saw all the dark, it shocked me, but in a good way. :3 I wouldn't have thought to do that on a deer design, and it looks absolutely stunning on him. Once again thank you~!

Haha, we are in the same boat. I wish I had the money to just throw around at people and help everyone out ;; But like everyone else, I am so poor, lol.

I originally tried it with the black and brown switched on the legs, but disliked it, and ended up really liking the majority of it black. People always color deer light anyhow, so half and half on him is kind of a happy medium c: As long as you're happy, I'm happy n__n

Yup yup. XD I like to help out when I can, but that usually isn't too often besides spreading word of someone needing help.

It is unusual for deer characters, which is why I think I like it more than I originally thought I was going to. x3

Like I said. Totally awesome.

Thanks Maxy ;; <33