This is a placeholder text
Group text
by GSDtravels on 09 November 2011 - 20:11
J.C. I'd love to read your story, but your pics are too large and in order to read the story, I've got to go to the end of the pictures to hit the scroll bar. I'm not ready to do that for each line. If you could make your pictures a bit smaller, it will be easier to view!
by wanderer on 09 November 2011 - 20:11
For me it was Sela, my first German Shepherd. A female from police dog breeding. She came to me at 7 weeks toward the end of my first marriage and became my closest friend, my devoted and fierce protector and my guide through the toughest times of my life. She led me off a mountain when I had lost my way, both in reality and figuratively. She saved my life more than once. She would let small children sit on her head and pull at her ears, and she would protect me with her very life if it came to that. She died of natural causes just before her 12th birthday in 1987, and I am sure she knew then that she was leaving me where I was meant to be. She never won any trophies or ribbons in anything except in my heart. I have had many since her and none have meant the same to me although I have loved them all. These stories are not easy to tell because you always will shed a few tears in the telling, at least I do. This is the only picture I have of her. I treasure it.
by ggturner on 09 November 2011 - 22:11
What amazing stories that tug at my heart strings! Thank you for sharing!
My heart dog is my 3 1/2 yr old female gsd Greta. I've had her since she was 9 weeks old. She has HD but is in very good health and does not show any symptoms of HD. Greta is very smart. So smart that she has taught herself how to open doors and gates. She also learned how to ring a bell that hangs on our back door to let us know when she needs to go out. Sometimes I think she is able to read my mind. She has always followed me around and does not like to be far away from me. When I walk with her off of the leash, she circles around me constantly, and never wanders away from me. She will "move" our other 2 gsds by grabbing their collars with her teeth and pulling them in or out of the house. Or, she will move them away from me if she thinks they are bothering me. Once when I was cutting the grass, our now deceased airedale terrier, Ginger, was lying right in my path and would not get out of the way so Greta grabbed Ginger by the collar and pulled her out of the way. Greta also often helped Ginger get up in the mornings by grabbing Ginger's collar and pulling her up. Ginger was old and had arthritis. Greta is very protective and loyal. She thinks she is responsible for keeping everyone safe, including our cats. Here's my beautiful Greta:
.jpg)
My heart dog is my 3 1/2 yr old female gsd Greta. I've had her since she was 9 weeks old. She has HD but is in very good health and does not show any symptoms of HD. Greta is very smart. So smart that she has taught herself how to open doors and gates. She also learned how to ring a bell that hangs on our back door to let us know when she needs to go out. Sometimes I think she is able to read my mind. She has always followed me around and does not like to be far away from me. When I walk with her off of the leash, she circles around me constantly, and never wanders away from me. She will "move" our other 2 gsds by grabbing their collars with her teeth and pulling them in or out of the house. Or, she will move them away from me if she thinks they are bothering me. Once when I was cutting the grass, our now deceased airedale terrier, Ginger, was lying right in my path and would not get out of the way so Greta grabbed Ginger by the collar and pulled her out of the way. Greta also often helped Ginger get up in the mornings by grabbing Ginger's collar and pulling her up. Ginger was old and had arthritis. Greta is very protective and loyal. She thinks she is responsible for keeping everyone safe, including our cats. Here's my beautiful Greta:
by jc.carroll on 09 November 2011 - 23:11
GSDtravels, ah, must be due to the difference in out monitor sizes / resolution. They fit my screen perfectly, with no side-scrolling)
Such beautiful stories; such wonderful dogs!
Such beautiful stories; such wonderful dogs!
by GSDtravels on 10 November 2011 - 18:11
I agree, all beautiful stories! I changed my screen resolution and practically need a magnifying glass for the text, but it was worth the eye strain, LOL.
My very first dog was the best of all! I've told stories about him before, so won't bore you with it again, but he was intelligent, loyal, fierce, playful, watchful, etc.
Anyway, my second heart dog was the biggest surprise to me. Never liked little dogs and the smaller they were, the less I liked them. But, while working at a kennel in the early 80s, I came to know and love a frequent boarder, a Yorkshire Terrier, of all dogs, that was sweet, calm, friendly, etc., everything Yorkies usually AREN'T.
After some life changes and after having my first 3 GSDs, I found myself dogless, in a small duplex, with two young children and no room for a dog. My youngest pleaded for a puppy for Christmas and sadly, I told her it wasn't possible and not to expect it. A few weeks later I was talking to a woman who worked at the kennel I had and she told me that the breeder of the Yorkie I liked had a litter from the same parents and that temperament was stong in that particular pairing. I went to look and chose a little female, hoping it wasn't the mistake of a lifetime.
Her name was Hannah and the kids called her Hannah Banana, which soon became Hannah "B" and eventually morphed into just "Bee". She was a terror at first, even once climinbing up and peeing on my dining room table while I was outside! Training began and she acted like she had known it all along, to a point of smugness. I never had an issue with her after that. She adored the kids and pretty much did anything they asked of her, happily! They used to make her sit upright on a chair until she eventually couldn't hold it any longer and fall sideways in slow motion, you could see the laughter in her eyes. As the kids got older, I moved to a bigger place and she became my best little buddy. She had the bravery of a GSD packed into six pounds! She feared nothing! She'd climb anything, and also climb into anything. One Christmas I couldn't find her after cleaning up the mess from gifts. When I picked up the Battleship (which the kids were playin) box, she hopped out of it! I laughed for 10 minutes. She never had to be on lead, never left my side and was happy to just be were we were. She'd herd my neighbor's dog back home after it would escape. My next door neighbor had a fish tank that she would watch for hours. She'd go over and paw on their door and they'd put a chair in front of the tank so she had a front row seat. I'd have to call and tell them to send her home for dinner! My X was livid with the kids once and smacked my youngest daughter. She grabbed him by the leg and bit as hard as she could :)
Her heart stopped and she was brought back after having a reaction to anesthetic during minor surgery. She lived another 4 years (two months past her 11th birthday) but it was so hard watching her health decline. I had to have her put down when it was time and have missed her every day since.
I just recently moved back to the house where she spent the bulk of her life. I'm planning on burying her ashes in the back yard, near the wall where she hunted chipmunks. Her tiny collar is hanging, we're home.
My very first dog was the best of all! I've told stories about him before, so won't bore you with it again, but he was intelligent, loyal, fierce, playful, watchful, etc.
Anyway, my second heart dog was the biggest surprise to me. Never liked little dogs and the smaller they were, the less I liked them. But, while working at a kennel in the early 80s, I came to know and love a frequent boarder, a Yorkshire Terrier, of all dogs, that was sweet, calm, friendly, etc., everything Yorkies usually AREN'T.
After some life changes and after having my first 3 GSDs, I found myself dogless, in a small duplex, with two young children and no room for a dog. My youngest pleaded for a puppy for Christmas and sadly, I told her it wasn't possible and not to expect it. A few weeks later I was talking to a woman who worked at the kennel I had and she told me that the breeder of the Yorkie I liked had a litter from the same parents and that temperament was stong in that particular pairing. I went to look and chose a little female, hoping it wasn't the mistake of a lifetime.
Her name was Hannah and the kids called her Hannah Banana, which soon became Hannah "B" and eventually morphed into just "Bee". She was a terror at first, even once climinbing up and peeing on my dining room table while I was outside! Training began and she acted like she had known it all along, to a point of smugness. I never had an issue with her after that. She adored the kids and pretty much did anything they asked of her, happily! They used to make her sit upright on a chair until she eventually couldn't hold it any longer and fall sideways in slow motion, you could see the laughter in her eyes. As the kids got older, I moved to a bigger place and she became my best little buddy. She had the bravery of a GSD packed into six pounds! She feared nothing! She'd climb anything, and also climb into anything. One Christmas I couldn't find her after cleaning up the mess from gifts. When I picked up the Battleship (which the kids were playin) box, she hopped out of it! I laughed for 10 minutes. She never had to be on lead, never left my side and was happy to just be were we were. She'd herd my neighbor's dog back home after it would escape. My next door neighbor had a fish tank that she would watch for hours. She'd go over and paw on their door and they'd put a chair in front of the tank so she had a front row seat. I'd have to call and tell them to send her home for dinner! My X was livid with the kids once and smacked my youngest daughter. She grabbed him by the leg and bit as hard as she could :)
Her heart stopped and she was brought back after having a reaction to anesthetic during minor surgery. She lived another 4 years (two months past her 11th birthday) but it was so hard watching her health decline. I had to have her put down when it was time and have missed her every day since.
I just recently moved back to the house where she spent the bulk of her life. I'm planning on burying her ashes in the back yard, near the wall where she hunted chipmunks. Her tiny collar is hanging, we're home.
by GSDtravels on 10 November 2011 - 18:11
Forot to say that the incident with the anesthesia damaged her liver, which ultimately killed her.
by Sunsilver on 10 November 2011 - 19:11
I'm not a small dog person either, but know what? If I did get a small one, it would likely be a Yorkie! That's because years ago, we had the sweetest little Yorkie named Tiffany come into the vet's office for boarding on a regualar basis. We used to joke with the owner that we were going to kidnap her, we all loved her so much!
Great story, GSDtravels. The end nearly made me cry!
Great story, GSDtravels. The end nearly made me cry!
by GSDtravels on 10 November 2011 - 19:11
Be careful what you wish for Sunsilver! Because Bee was such a good dog, I got another Yorkie that WAS the biggest mistake of my life! She was a polar opposite... snippy, yippy, pain in the butt from the day I brought her home until the day she had to be put down at 14. She had a good life and I loved her, but the day after she was gone, I realized I didn't miss her, which was worse than being sad! She was just never any fun, ran off if given the opportunity, uncooperative about everything, nasty with the other dogs. You'd give them all a bone or toy and she'd gather them all up and guard them. If I was ever out and came home at night, I'd let all the dogs out and she'd run under the couch. No coaxing could get her outside. Then I'd go get washed up and ready for bed, come in to watch some TV and get all comfy and THEN, she'd come out from under the couch and continually yip until I let her out, just a royal pain. That's the only reason I don't think I'd get another, I think the vast majority are just like her and I'd be hard pressed to find another Bee.
by jc.carroll on 10 November 2011 - 21:11
Bee sounds like such an amazing little girl, especially defending your youngest! What courage and heart!
by Kalibeck on 11 November 2011 - 03:11
All such wonderful stories! How could you possibly keep a dry eye? I posted my stories on another thread, I've told them so many times here I'd risk boring you all to death!
I guess my Kali, really my husband's dog, is my heart dog, but I do love them all! And every time I visit with Wolf, I leave a little bit of my heart behind with him, too!
.jpg)
Kali
Wolf
jackie harris
I guess my Kali, really my husband's dog, is my heart dog, but I do love them all! And every time I visit with Wolf, I leave a little bit of my heart behind with him, too!
KaliWolfjackie harris
Contact information Disclaimer Privacy Statement Copyright Information Terms of Service Cookie policy ↑ Back to top