As I mentioned yesterday, I miss Willie greatly. As Bodie grows up, I regret that I don't have a chronicle of Willie's puppy days and only have a couple of pictures. So I decided that I would do it differently this time. I want to keep journal about Bodie and try and get a picture throughout all the stages of his life.
Also, I love German Shepherd Dogs. I have always loved German Shepherd Dogs. I have always wanted a German Shepherd Dog but growing up, my family never had one. The closest we ever got was a Belgian Sheepdog. He was a really good dog but I couldn't help but think "close but... ". I entered the military after high school and being gone so much, it wasn't right to have a dog. When I got out of the military, one of the first things I did was get a pet. However, the job I had required extremely long hours and once again I passed on having a dog. I got a cat instead. Not quite the same but she was pretty amazing. One of these days I will tell the story of my attack cat. :D
I got sick and tired of a job that required so many hours (no weekends and only three Sundays off in eleven months) with no real reward so I quit that job and moved back to the Pacific Northwest. It was finally time to get a dog! I looked around at local breeders for a German Shepherd but I ended up rescuing a Shetland Sheepdog. She was a very timid Sheltie. Well, actually she was extremely timid and submissive, and had a huge problem with submissive peeing. I couldn't call her name or even look at her without her peeing all over. I worked really hard with her, building her confidence and she ended up being a very good dog.
But because of her, I ended up being involved with Shelties for quite a while. The most I ever had at one time was seven Shelties and two cats. I did mainly obedience and a little agility. But I always felt that something wasn't right. The turning point for me was when I was out walking the trails with my dogs when I was accosted by some homeless guy. What did my Shelties do? Bark, like they did at everything? No - they turned tail and ran away! I took care of the situation by grabbing a branch and brandishing it around. The Shelties ended up running all the way back home! It was time to get a German Shepherd.
Now, don't get me wrong. I loved my Shelties and I still think Shelties are wonderful dogs but there was something missing. I wanted a German Shepherd Dog! And I finally got one: Willie. I thought he was perfect!!! He was a great obedience dog, he was good at tracking, and we even did agility. We tried schutzhund but he didn’t have the right personality for that.
A few years after getting Willie, a got a Pembroke Corgi, Georgie. He and Willie were great buddies. They did everything together. Unfortunately, Georgie had cancer and did not even make it to his second birthday.
As time passed, I had to put down my pets one at a time. My last cat made it until she was 17 years old. Willie made it to almost 16 years. I was without a pet until Bodie. I am amazed how right it feels to have a dog in the family again.
Also, I love German Shepherd Dogs. I have always loved German Shepherd Dogs. I have always wanted a German Shepherd Dog but growing up, my family never had one. The closest we ever got was a Belgian Sheepdog. He was a really good dog but I couldn't help but think "close but... ". I entered the military after high school and being gone so much, it wasn't right to have a dog. When I got out of the military, one of the first things I did was get a pet. However, the job I had required extremely long hours and once again I passed on having a dog. I got a cat instead. Not quite the same but she was pretty amazing. One of these days I will tell the story of my attack cat. :D
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| Heather, Kaki, Kumu, Willie and Georgie |
But because of her, I ended up being involved with Shelties for quite a while. The most I ever had at one time was seven Shelties and two cats. I did mainly obedience and a little agility. But I always felt that something wasn't right. The turning point for me was when I was out walking the trails with my dogs when I was accosted by some homeless guy. What did my Shelties do? Bark, like they did at everything? No - they turned tail and ran away! I took care of the situation by grabbing a branch and brandishing it around. The Shelties ended up running all the way back home! It was time to get a German Shepherd.
Now, don't get me wrong. I loved my Shelties and I still think Shelties are wonderful dogs but there was something missing. I wanted a German Shepherd Dog! And I finally got one: Willie. I thought he was perfect!!! He was a great obedience dog, he was good at tracking, and we even did agility. We tried schutzhund but he didn’t have the right personality for that.
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| Willie and Georgie |
As time passed, I had to put down my pets one at a time. My last cat made it until she was 17 years old. Willie made it to almost 16 years. I was without a pet until Bodie. I am amazed how right it feels to have a dog in the family again.
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