How Did You Get Involved With GSDs?

[Dano]

I have been training dogs for 35 years and I am now 50. Every time I dealt with a GSD, I was amazed at the potential. My first GSD, a overgrown 120 lb. 4 yr. old obedience champ, was when I was 25 years old and when I was divorced, my ex. insisted that she needed, wanted, couldn't live without our GSD, Nadine. I said temporarily it would be ok since I moved into an apt. Two weeks later, she gave Nadine away to some guy with $250. She took out her anger and frustrations that she had for me, on Nadine. She knew I would take it hard and I did. I never recovered her. Since that time, I have had a few GSD's and I saw Nadine in every single one of them. I have owned and dealt with many breeds but none compare to the well bred GSD.

[clstanek]

I had a German Shepherd when i grew up as did my husband. We had a Golden Retriever for 10 years and he died from cancer and we had decided to get a german shepherd. They are great dogs.

[CertainlySpoiled]

To be perfectly honest with everyone I was always under the impression that GSD's where vicious, until in 2000 I met Del, my Fiance now, and he had a female GSD, her name was Bo (his young son named her) and she was so sweet (but like to nip, playingly so), and I instantly fell in LOVE with her, she was black and tan, sadly she passed away in 2004 of cancer. I lived in a small duplex and wasn't allowed to have a dog, but he & I ended up buying a house in the country and there was no way I was living here alone without a protective dog, so Elle became my first dog, she's part GSD and part Doborman. I really really wanted a full blood GSD, so we drove 900 miles to get the little GSD girl I was dreaming of, now she's almost 5 months old and we're all doing GREAT!!!! Sorry so long!

[eak0429]

Well I live alone with a 12yr old shih tzu and a cat. Thus we decided it might be a good idea to get something a bit bigger and younger since crime on campus where I go to college has increased this year. So we went to the pound to look at a lab who had already gotten a new home. Well we were walking around looking at different dogs and my dad noticed Megga who was laying their real alert with her ears sticking straight up while the rest of the dogs were barking. My dad had GSDs when he was in college and also noticed how pretty her ears stood up. So we took her outside to get to know her. She was so scared and was shaking. After a little bit she warmed up to us, and we just fell in love with her. Turned out a person who worked at the pound had to get rid of her and had just brought her in that day (how anyone who could do that who sees the dogs come and go to be put to sleep I don't know). Anyway we took Megga home. She was so scared of everything at first the car, the shih tzus, cat ect. Now she absolutely loves cats and the one that lives with me is her best furry friend. Was really scared that we would leave her at the dog park, but is finally enjoying that and it's so nice to see her socialize and play. We've had her for a month now and she's 10mos old. She really come out of her shell, and has had to test the limits a bit, but not nearly as much as our shih tzus did when they were little...infact not like Pugsley (the 12yr old) did until a few years ago.

[Hatterasser]

When I was still young (many eons ago) and lived at home with my parents, my younger brother brought home a GSD, a foundling. Named by bro Lothar, we called him Tar, and Tar grew up to be the best mannered, smartest dog I had ever seen. We had a collie at the time but Tar outshone him in every way...ahhh, the tales of brilliance I could tell about him.

I was offered a free GSD from a litter where both parents were show dogs. This poor baby wouldn't sell as he was oversize (even as a pup) and one ear flopped. I took him him on and named him the grand name of Chandor of Mindor Hill. Such a regal name for such a clown of a puppy. He was the happiest dog I've ever know. Tar (who had the manners of an English butler) trained him. I can still see the two of them walking across the lawn side by side until Channie's puppyness got the better of him and he would romp off, eventually falling over his own feet. Tar would sit and if he could have put his two paws across his chest he would have. He'd grunt in disapproval, Chan would scramble to his feet and run back to Tar's side, gazing up at him with an apologetic look. Then off they'd go again, side by side, in a gentlemanly fashion. *smiling at the memory*

I left home and moved to NYC, an apartment with no fields for Chan to run in. Although I took Chan to Staten Island via the ferry as often as possible where he could run and run, it was not enough. He took to running out the door when I got home from work and dashing off down the street. Actually, it took no time to find that he always went to the same place....a fire department a few blocks away, where he sat down next to their dalmation and watched the world go by until I came to retrieve him. The firemen loved him and kept an eye on him, knowing I'd arrive soon, out of breath. I felt so sad for my boy, who had grown up running through open fields, and I contacted a state trooper in the state I was from who had always said he'd take Chan in a NY minute if I ever gave him up. I gave Chan over to him with the agreement that if for any reason he couldn't keep him, he was to call me and give him back.

Bottom line, trooper moved, couldn't take dog, instead of calling me gave him to another trooper with 5 small children, who abused the dog unmercifully. When he nipped one of them, he was called by the 2nd trooper 'vicious' and thus began the long downslope of Chan's life. I finally tracked him down to a junk yard, where this beautiful AKC registered dog was chained on a 6' chain in the middle of a patch of dirt, his only shelter a fender of a truck. I asked the wife of the owner if I could go see him and was told they had to push his food and water (none of which I even saw) to him with a broom as no one would dare go near him. Chan? My Chan?

I went around the building and from behind a bush, I called out softly, "Chan. Channie." His ears came up. I stepped into his vision. His stood and his entire body began to wag. I walked to him and laughingly, ended up sitting in the dirt with this huge dog on my lap licking my face. I asked the woman if I could take him back and she talked about vet bills, etc. Poor Channie, his beautiful black fur matted and filthy, his eyes sooo sad and wondered what vet bills. I went home to my parents and talked to dad about my plan to rescue Chan. My dad, the sensible one, reminded me that I was 4 months pregnant and that if the dog really was viscious, did I want to take a chance on him with my child.

To make this long tale of woe short, I was afraid...and left him there. And here I am 40 years later, typing this as the tears run down my face. I have never forgiven myself for leaving him there. It would have been better to have taken him and put him down than to leave him where he was, abused, unloved and uncared for....a junkyard dog. As a result, I never allowed myself to bond with another animal (and our family had many tho' never have had another GSD ) since..................until Thor came into my life. Thor, the lonely, isolated, scrawny 11 month old puppy my daughter rescued and brought to me. He's been with me 3 years now and the incident (mentioned elsewhere in this site) where he bit a neighbor and I was so scared they would he take him from me proved to me how bonded I've become to him.

So I've rescued another GSD, Freya, and now have two. I feel that in some small way, somehow I'm making it up to Chan, who is probably the one serious regret I have in my long life. I love both my kids and they have warmed my heart again. Can't imagine how I have lived without GSD's for so long. *grinning*

Sorry if I've bored you all with this, and that it is so long, but it's the first time I've ever shared my story....it's been very cathartic. Thank you for bearing with me.

[Achielles UD]

I was young. I had just gotten married to my highschool sweetheart. I had previously taken home a poor neglected Great Pyrenees and had just started obedience training with her. We were doing great, well as far as jerk & praise can go for a pyr, but I wanted a dog that would do as good as the other dogs in my small training group. I went by the local pound, and there he was. Achielles. He was a scrawny 4 or 5 month old pup with one ear up and one ear floppy. The pound had him listed as a GSD/Lab puppy. Even when I inquired about the GSD puppy they said oh the lab mix?

So I brought him home. I didn't tell my new husband that I went to the pound and adopted him. I just told him I found him (I did! at the pound lol).

I started training him and he stole my heart from the first moment I saw him. Achielles went on to be my guinea pig in so many dog sports. He achieved his UD and was my Novice A dog to boot. He tried his heart out in Schutzhund before I knew what a good club was. He did everything I ever asked of him. He was loyal and the best friend anyone could have asked for.

He was with me and I believe that he knew, when my daughter Sarah died at only 3 months of age from an accident at home. I was showing him that day 100 miles away. That was the ONLY show he ever NQ'd at. He did so poorly, I truely believe he knew somehow what had happened at home, before I ever got the phone call. He was with me at the hospital then too. He was my rock in the years after her death also.

I have had several GSDs and fosters since then (and have 2 permanent family dogs and one foster) but Achielles dedication and devotion has made it so that I will never be without a GSD.

[Catu]

Hatteraser, your story is beautiful.

[tibvixie101]

Theres just something about them, it sets them apart from all the other breeds of dogs. when i think about my relationship with mya, i couldnt ask for more from her, shes my protector, my best friend, and my partner in crime (as the hubby thinks)

[Hatterasser]

Thank you, Lican....though it was difficult for me to write. So much about what a wonderful beautiful dog he was I barely touched on but I promise you, there was never a finer friend and companion. I know I'm not the only one who has suffered the loss of a well-loved dog ... and my heart goes out to all who have. Y'all know how I felt without the descriptions.

[onyx'girl]

You did the best you could do and it was not your fault. The people who have no heart are the ones to blame. The responsibility of breeding is huge, knowing thru an animals life, you should be there if it falls thru the cracks. I use to successfully breed parrots, raising these babies from the egg, hand-feeding every two hours, then them going to a home where I had no control...had to quit, too much emotional toil