Charleston, WV, Female, owner was evicted (adopted to rescue stories for updates pls)

[Daisy&Lucky's Mom]

You have made alot of road hours this weekend. Gabe is very lucky.I think she will come out of her shell and then you will see the GSD.

[Anja1Blue]

Originally Posted by Daisy&Lucky's Mom

You have made alot of road hours this weekend. Gabe is very lucky.I think she will come out of her shell and then you will see the GSD.

Exactly - plus she went through a spay surgery. That's an awful lot to happen in a short time........and she is probably very sore, that's major surgery. Is she on any kind of pain medication?
____________________________________________
Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

[marti]

Gabe. from the WV kill shelter is coming into her personality. She isn't afraid to be touched or petted now
She's gaining weight and looks lots better, almost the perfect house dog
She learned front yard property lines the first time I showed her and only once a few days later took two steps over the side. I said AGH! and she hasn't screwed up again.
She consistently goes 'out'. Only the first two days she had mistakes. I laid the law down and she 'got it'. The entire house is carpet except the kitchen.
She slept most of the first two days. Shelters are very stressful for them. She decided her bedroom is my walk-in closet just like all the GSDs before her. They all picked it but she won't lie on the soft shag rug in there. Just like Coops who refused to use a dog bed.

She finally has learned 'take it to the rug', when she gets treats that's the only place allowed to eat them. The shag rug by the back door that all 5 GSDs have used when first coming in from outside. It's "ON THE RUG!" and they hop to. Gabe wanted to eat her treat on the way to the rug. Today she made it all the way there first.

Coops actually learned to wipe his own feet! He pivoted on them one day and I told him ' GOOD wipe your feet!' those german guys sure learn fast!
He also learned to shake on command and to move away from everyone when coming in from swimming and shake. People were in awe of that one too. He would do anything if he knew what it was and 1-3x and he had it. I think the new GSD will learn just as fast.

Tomorrow I'm picking up a 1.5 yr old female, German working Line dog, half German, half Chez. I couldn't find one in a shelter. I came to the computer tonight to pick a name for her and got side-lined. Oh, well.She's an "I" litter.
Coops sold me on European GSDs. unbelievalby stable nerved, smart who could out think me at times. I'd stand there in awe with a grin on my face.

I'm reading 'Dogs of War' and that is why one dog is chosen over another with the same training. They can think outside of commands when situations require a different action.

Gabe wants to thank you all for 'finding' her. She's one of eight that survived the WV kill shelter over the holidays. There were some cute dogs there that didn't have a breed website to post them on. Gabe is one lucky dog to be a GSD and all her new friends rooting for her.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS!

[katieliz]

oh marti i'm so glad for gabe...but i am always so scared of two bitches together, probably because of my own personal experience with the totally unworkable hatred between my seragirl and my rescue jeni. sera is an alpha but she's an older girl, doesn't see well, but will go to the mat if given the chance with another female. jeni is a wiry little younger and much smaller girl who would probably not start anything but has no qualms about finishing it up...when i first rescued her she was jeni-take-a-ride, now she's known as jeni-from-the-hood. i permanently live by gate/crate/rotate, have built jeni and the c-monster their own room, have divided my yard into three completely fenced areas...it's a helluva responsibility. please don't be offended that i'd bring this up, sounds like you've had lots of gsd experience so you probably already know that "they don't call 'em bitches for nothing". just had to share my experience cause i'm a worrier. i think it's so wonderful what you've done for gabe, the shelter picture of her and her story was so heartbreaking. when i started doing rescue in '07, my dh saw a picture of jeni on one of my e-mails and came home with her without talking to me about it, but she's such a wonderful girl, and once a dog comes in my door they never leave until they go to the bridge (was a terrible foster failure the one time i tried it...lost the shepster to hemangio three years after my fostering him failed). thanks for listening to my worry/rant. wishing you a wonderful and safe new year too!!!

[Anja1Blue]

And a Happy New Year to you, Gabe and the rest of your pack!

I'm sure it will work out fine for you with 2 girls (though I've never done it) - but katieliz is right - they often need careful management.
_________________________________________
Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

[marti]

Gabe (Gabby) has filled out, her coat is now shiny. She is about 60# now up at least 10# from the WV Shelter. She gets the best of food & treats and it shows.
Every once in awhile she will 'speak' mostly when she's excited to get a treat. She and Brixa have to find their treats. Brixa is faster at everything so Gabby gets the advantage starting out.
Gabby is getting cataracts and misses a thrown ball sometimes. Her rear end is sore when she first gets up but meds in the morning help that.

Gabby and Brixa, the black GSD, both females, get along fine. Brixa wants to play harder than Gabby is able to. But she will back off when I tell her 'be good to Gabby'.
Brixa wishes she could have all the attention but doesn't push it.
Brixa is faster than lighting. A little head strong. A little skittish still. I think its her genes. She has no reason to be skittish anymore.

Gabby is very happy here and has become a perfect house dog. Not so good Brixa. Brixa needs to learn a 100% reliable come.
But both being females is no problem with them at all. Gabby was spayed before I adopted her probably by her prior owners, Brixa hasn't been yet.

Remember what I learned during this Rescue. If you want to save a dog but can't adopt just pay the adoption fee. That keeps them from being euthanized. Some of these shelters have such low fees I don't know how they stay in business...under $100 and many under $75.

Have a super great 2012! Gabby thanks you once more for bringing her to the attention of this group.