Michigan Shovelhead!

fishernut · 01-25-2012, 09:24 PM

Hello all, from the U.P. of Michigan!

I have been lurking on this site for a while now (since just before I got my pup on Dec. 14th)--reading, reading, reading! This site is a goldmine of information, and I am so glad that I found all of you wise GSD people!

I am not a first time GSD owner, but it has been a long time (18 years or so!) since I've had a GSD puppy (our last dog was a rescue chocolate lab)--and darn it if I didn't conveniently "forget" how much of a handful and landshark they can be, LOL!

My pup Shovelhead (or Shovel for short) is now exactly 15 weeks old. I've been trying to socialize him as best as possible (although it's hard to take him outside to many populated places when it's snowy and the temps are in the negatives, and we don't have a lot of visitors here at the house), and have been teaching him his basics (sit, down, recall, etc) at home. He is a smart pup, and in my opinion incredibly handsome...

Alas, I live in a fairly rural area, and the closest puppy class, or obedience training (unless I go into Canada) is 2.5 hours away.

This site has been a great resource for me--any question I've had about Shovel's growth, development, training, behavior, etc has been covered at some point, somewhere on the forum.

A couple of pics:

Shovel at approx 7 weeks--I brought him home at just over 8:

Looking handsome yesterday:

Waiting patiently for the "OK" to have his treats (note the venison sausage on his paws

)

He is now in the crazy-ear stage. They were both up beautifully two days ago, but as of yesterday have decided they have a mind of their own!

.

juliejujubean · 01-25-2012, 09:28 PM

Welcome to the forum. Beautiful pup

. I love the crazy ear stage. I actually joke with my breeder saying my puppy is defective because her ears were up at 8.5 weeks when i got her so i did not get floppy ears! Enjoy it! I would!

ksotto333 · 01-25-2012, 09:38 PM

Your pup is so cute, they grow so fast....love the UP, heading back up again in May..

onyx'girl · 01-25-2012, 10:07 PM

Welcome from the LP! Shovel is adorable! I was on a mission trip in the Soo this summer...watching that traffic on the bridge would probably take you 2.5 hours to commute to train anyway?

CarrieJ · 01-26-2012, 02:35 AM

He's very handsome (even with the crazy ears stage) and love the name.

KZoppa · 01-26-2012, 02:51 AM

what a handsome guy!!! man all these pups who go through the wonky ears... i got shorted! lol. One minute the ears were down and the next they were up. Next puppy... haha.

welcome to the board.

Danielle609 · 01-26-2012, 06:00 AM

He is beautiful!! Welcome from a Troll (Grand Rapids). I have to admit...I missed the caption above the last picture at first, and I was about ready to ask what was wrong with his paws, I thought they looked scabbed LOL :-)

KaiLouie · 01-26-2012, 07:05 AM

Hi from the northern end of the LP! Such a cutie! I'm getting a pup in April and am having the same concerns due to being in a rural area. I the closest trainer I've found so far is 1.5 hours away. It's a vacation town though, so hopefully there will be something this summer...

glinny · 01-26-2012, 09:30 AM

Such a beautiful pup. My husband wants to know if you are a Harley rider?

1sttimeforgsd · 01-26-2012, 09:53 AM

Hello and Welcome to you and your handsome boy Shovel.

01-25-2012, 09:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
fishernut New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: U.P of MI Posts: 18	Michigan Shovelhead! Hello all, from the U.P. of Michigan! I have been lurking on this site for a while now (since just before I got my pup on Dec. 14th)--reading, reading, reading! This site is a goldmine of information, and I am so glad that I found all of you wise GSD people! I am not a first time GSD owner, but it has been a long time (18 years or so!) since I've had a GSD puppy (our last dog was a rescue chocolate lab)--and darn it if I didn't conveniently "forget" how much of a handful and landshark they can be, LOL! My pup Shovelhead (or Shovel for short) is now exactly 15 weeks old. I've been trying to socialize him as best as possible (although it's hard to take him outside to many populated places when it's snowy and the temps are in the negatives, and we don't have a lot of visitors here at the house), and have been teaching him his basics (sit, down, recall, etc) at home. He is a smart pup, and in my opinion incredibly handsome... Alas, I live in a fairly rural area, and the closest puppy class, or obedience training (unless I go into Canada) is 2.5 hours away. This site has been a great resource for me--any question I've had about Shovel's growth, development, training, behavior, etc has been covered at some point, somewhere on the forum. A couple of pics: Shovel at approx 7 weeks--I brought him home at just over 8: Looking handsome yesterday: Waiting patiently for the "OK" to have his treats (note the venison sausage on his paws) He is now in the crazy-ear stage. They were both up beautifully two days ago, but as of yesterday have decided they have a mind of their own! .

01-25-2012, 09:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
juliejujubean Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mississippi Posts: 824	Welcome to the forum. Beautiful pup . I love the crazy ear stage. I actually joke with my breeder saying my puppy is defective because her ears were up at 8.5 weeks when i got her so i did not get floppy ears! Enjoy it! I would! __________________ Diamond, Mar 19, 2011 Pictures

01-25-2012, 10:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,606	Welcome from the LP! Shovel is adorable! I was on a mission trip in the Soo this summer...watching that traffic on the bridge would probably take you 2.5 hours to commute to train anyway? __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-26-2012, 02:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
CarrieJ Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,428	He's very handsome (even with the crazy ears stage) and love the name. __________________ Alice Kramden Von Falconer B. 4/22/2007 Zoey the Weasel JRT X Yashmir old cat Franny MV cat RIP: Loki The Bullet Eating Wonder Dog 95--2007 Does this sig line make my rear look fat? There, happy Lauren?

01-26-2012, 02:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
KZoppa Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Maryland kinda missing CO Posts: 13,820	what a handsome guy!!! man all these pups who go through the wonky ears... i got shorted! lol. One minute the ears were down and the next they were up. Next puppy... haha. welcome to the board. __________________ The more people I meet and talk to,the more I love my dogs and their intelligence. www.krystalscollarcreations.weebly.com Riley GSD/BC 1/10/05 Zena GSD 6/1/03 Shasta GSD 5/5/10

01-25-2012, 09:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
ksotto333 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 277	Your pup is so cute, they grow so fast....love the UP, heading back up again in May..

01-26-2012, 06:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
Danielle609 Master Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Cascade, Michigan (GR) Posts: 532	He is beautiful!! Welcome from a Troll (Grand Rapids). I have to admit...I missed the caption above the last picture at first, and I was about ready to ask what was wrong with his paws, I thought they looked scabbed LOL :-) __________________ " If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them" Starting the search for my next family member! Danielle

01-26-2012, 07:05 AM	#8 (permalink)
KaiLouie Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Northern Lower Michigan Posts: 63	Hi from the northern end of the LP! Such a cutie! I'm getting a pup in April and am having the same concerns due to being in a rural area. I the closest trainer I've found so far is 1.5 hours away. It's a vacation town though, so hopefully there will be something this summer...

01-26-2012, 09:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
glinny Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Chaseburg, WI Posts: 105	Such a beautiful pup. My husband wants to know if you are a Harley rider?

01-26-2012, 09:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
1sttimeforgsd Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: West Virginia Posts: 4,897	Hello and Welcome to you and your handsome boy Shovel. __________________ karen, mom to: ace-gsd (bi-color) 6/14/2010 mandy-yellow lab 1/31/2009 baby-terrier mix 11/25/2000

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