Hello from new parents near Baltimore, MD

[DaveW]

Hello, just wanted to say that I love the site and it has been an invaluable resource for my wife and I as first-time GSD owners. We've done a lot of reading here and have learned a lot that has helped us in raising what I am sure is our first of many GSDs.

To give you a little background, we originally made a big mistake and decided (without having researched the issue) to get both a male and female from the same litter at 8 weeks old. We went through the first few weeks with them both and dealt with "littermate syndrome" and that's when we discovered this site. Still, we were eventually faced with the unfortunate realization that we were in over our heads.

Luckily, good friends of ours were looking for a puppy, and are previous GSD owners who also live nearby. We decided to offer one of our pups to them and we were then faced with the difficult decision of which one to hold on to. We spent two more weeks deciding, eventually choosing the male, because his personality seemed a slightly better match for us. They really like the female, too, so that worked out for everyone.

They are both wonderful dogs and the decision was a very difficult one. Had the female not been going to a familiar home, I'm not sure we would have been able to separate them, but I think we did what was best for both of them, and they still get to see one another, so everybody wins. I don't regret the initial decision to get both pups, because we learned a BIG lesson, and it helped us get to know them both for a while and decide which one fit our family best. They both have wonderful homes and are very happy. Needless to say, we will not be making that mistake again. I know there are plenty of people who are capable of raising littermates, but as first-time GSD owners we did not know what we were getting ourselves into!!

So, fast forward to present day, and our boy will be 1 year old on February 21st. His name is Reese, and he is a 95 lb. teddy bear. Aside from our two six-year-old cats (who are brothers, but that was a lot easier!!) he is our only other "child" at home. We are looking forward to many wonderful years and I am sure I will have lots of questions and stories to share!!

I will post a few pictures of him as soon as I can. I think I have a few with me on my laptop (I am away from home at the moment.)

[jocoyn]

Hello from a Baltimore (Parkville/Carney) native. Send me some crabcakes; you can't get decent down here!

Looking forward to hearing all about your dog. You made the right choice! Glad you realized it when you did and that your friends have the other dog and you can still see her etc.

[GSDAlphaMom]

Welcome and a big 'howdy' from Texas! Looking forward to seeing your boy!

[x0emiroxy0x]

It is so hard to give up a pup...kudos to you for making the right decision

[DaveW]

Thanks, everyone. Giving up an animal that I love is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I am so grateful that we had a friend nearby that is capable of giving her a loving home. Here's a few pictures I pulled from my phone there's a few with both of them when they were pups, so cute together (and they still are!!)

Reese at 8 weeks:






Reese and his sister, Zoey:




Reese at 11 months:


Reese just a few days ago, popping his head out of the sunroof of my Subaru. He loves this mild "winter" weather we're having here in MD:

[Mac's Mom]

Welcome to the forum. Reese is adorable.

[DaveW]

Originally Posted by jocoyn

Hello from a Baltimore (Parkville/Carney) native. Send me some crabcakes; you can't get decent down here!

Looking forward to hearing all about your dog. You made the right choice! Glad you realized it when you did and that your friends have the other dog and you can still see her etc.

Small world, Nancy. Both my parents are from Parkville. My mom grew up on Putty Hill Ave and my dad near Taylor Ave. My grandparents and one of my sisters still live down there. I've lived in Carroll County near Westminster since my parents moved out here years ago. It's definitely much more GSD-friendly. Reese has more yard than he knows what to do with!!

And I feel your pain about living away from Baltimore. My oldest sister lives in Charlotte, and cannot buy Utz crab chips at the store or get Old Bay on a sandwich at Subway. She hates the crabcakes, too. I always know what to bring her when I visit!!

[GSDBESTK9]

Hello from Frederick County!

[1sttimeforgsd]

Hello and Welcome to you and your handsome boy Reese, and thanks for sharing him with us. Both puppies were adorable as little ones.

[jocoyn]

Originally Posted by DaveW

Small world, Nancy. Both my parents are from Parkville. My mom grew up on Putty Hill Ave and my dad near Taylor Ave. !!

Very small world - We lived in post war housing between Harford, Old Harford, and Joppa (boundary)

My cousins (two retired Baltimore City Firefighters (each with their own business on the side), a Carpenter, and one who has her own business all moved out into the Country but my Uncle who just passed away lived down off of Harford south of the Northern Parkway. Rough City with a lot of character. When I was a kid you could go down to the waterfront and all through Hallentown? (sp) but then it got rough and then later they fixed up the Inner Harbor. Even as a kid I remember issues with street gangs only it was Italian and Irish etc.

I remembered Forthubers Liquors (for some reason) and a place on Joppa we used to get crabs and I would have to keep them from climbing out the bag on the way home . Have not had an Esskay hot dog for YEARS though.

Tell your sister to stop at a Publix if she comes over to Greenville SC, they do have the Utz chips including the crab chips.