A novice owner here - Page 1

I worked in Golden Retriever rescue and foster for many years.  5 years ago my son, who was stationed with the air force in a small town in Texas, told me about this puppy.
This puppy was sold to a military person who had to rehome her shortly after getting her. The pup, named on AKC papers as Electra II, since named Honey, went from person to person for a roof over her head.
Her next stop was a texas pound, at 5 months of age. I could not let that happen.
My son told me her story and I told him, if you can get her up here to Minnesota, she'll have a forever home.

Ever since she's been here, she has been the light in my eyes. Quite a departure from a retriever and I had to do a lot of reading about the breed before and after she got here.

Her AKC papers have gone missing. I have some questions for the breeder about her lines.
Maybe someone here can help me out.
I have looked at many many photos of working line GSDs. She very very large. Hardly any back slope. Huge chest and hind quarters. Short hair. Black. A very pretty girl.

Around her throat area is a very dense coat almost like a lions mane. The hair is longer and thicker than the rest of her coat. The fur stands up unlike the rest of her coat. She almost looks like a wolf that just walked out of the forest.

Is this mane common? She also has a beautiful stance but unlike those shown at the dog shows, her's isn't a deep one.

My Vet answered some questions about her hips which are in good shape. I worry about them because even though she gets good exercise every day and isn't  fat, she's hitting the scale at #115.
Are any worries justified?
My Vet was thrilled to see her body shape develop as it did.

If someone can address the coat and size issue, I'd appreciate it.
I would dearly love to find her breeder if only for the chance to maybe find a puppy or a litter photograph with her in it.

Bobbie

do you have pictures you can upload?

it would allow us to more intelligently answer your questions.

Hello Bobbie, and welcome to GSD ownership.  My, you have one HUGE girl.  Are you sure she's a purebred?  Did she have papers at one time?  I have seen thicker hair around the neck but not as you describe as sticking up.  A bitch that size is really unheard of so I'm wondering if she isn't really a wolf hybrid?  If you could, why don't you post some pictures, may be helpful.  I'd say without a  pedigree it would pretty much be impossible to tell her breeding, although her size may be a clue.  She may carry traits of a particular line so you may be able to get close but I doubt you'll find the breeder.  If she was bred in Texas, YellowRose may be the one to ask, don't think much goes on in that state she's not aware of LOL and she's also very knowledgable about lines.

Anyway, no matter her ancestry, as long as she is healthy and you are happy with each other, that's really what matters in the end.  Best of luck.

I'll look thru my image gallery to find one that shows her entire body. I have a gorgeous full shot face one but that wouldn't help much.
As far as her being a PB GSD, I'm positive of that. She came with her AKC registration.

She was purchased from a GSD breeder in Abilene Texas. I've contacted a couple breeders with her common name- Electra II that the breeder designated for her. I would be very surprised if she came out of a casual breeders stock.
The SO was told by the breeder, that she would get very big.

Her hobby is herding a pack of Goldens in the field.

I became very interested in her lineage when we were up at our cabin. I was walking her and one of my "spuds" (Golden Retrievers); a couple walking a big black male literally ran after me asking...is she spayed? is she spayed?

Of all the dogs that have walked into this house, resident or foster, she is by far the most well-balanced and intelligent, canine I've ever seen.

I'll find a couple photos of her and hear what you can tell me.

Is there an icon for uploading - browse ?

Thanks

Above the box where you type your reply, there is a yellow icon with a mountain and moon, click it.  Upload from photobucket or a similar program is easiest.  Just copy the direct link and paste in the URL box.  Below, go to "width" and put 640 in the first box, the other will fill in automatically.  Then hit enter and your picture should appear.  You can also load pics from your computer to the server and load them that way but it hasn't worked for me in quite some time so I'm not sure.  YellowRose may know of the breeder you're talking about, I'll ask her.  If she has any information, I'll let you know. 

Thank you. I think a couple images are now in a mooonie folder here.  The avatar is a head shot of her taken this past fall.

I really appreciate all the effort you are going to in contacting yellowrose about Electra II or Honey as she is called.

In another thread I was reading a horror story about a person in Spain who purchased outright without visiting prior.

This doll baby came here after being driven 1200 miles with an almost total stranger; and pretty much unsocialized with people or other dogs. 5 months old.
I had 5 Goldens here at the time, 2 residents and 3 fosters.

We had an interesting time of it but...The Pack prevailed as I was sure it would.

One issue with rescues is, you never get the puppy photos. All I really want is a litter photo with her in it and to see photos of her sire and dame.
I'll probably have to tear the house apart to find her registration with the breeders name and address on it.

This photo was taken her first year here. Some perspective on the shot....that Golden behind her is a huge beast in her own right.


Last year at the creek. Not the most flattering shot. She's not one of those water loving GSDs.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22436751@N05/3407035185/" title="dogs at creek 2008 065 by nelsonbobbie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3413/3407035185_bd52465233_o.jpg" width="506" height="513" alt="dogs at creek 2008 065" /></a>

To funny, once you have a GSD as your friend, you are hooked for life...........
Welcome to the addiction..............

That last one didn't show up, so I copied and pasted the URL for you.

Wow, what a gorgeous beast! Look at that shine on her coat!  You're certainly feeding her right, and she doesn't look overweight. However, 115 lbs. is (in my experience) unheard of for a GSD bitch!

What does the Golden weigh, and how big is he?

She's a beautiful girl!  I did PM Yellow last night but she's usually out doing kennel work in the wee hours, I think she's part owl, LOL.  I'll let you know when she responds.