About me and my dogs:
I have shared my life with 4 German Shepherds so far, since the age of 12. Here, I will give you some info and an introduction. I can't wait to meet you all!
My name is Krystal. I am 24 years old, and have a 13 month old GSD pup named Ruger. I have been lucky to share my life with four great GSDs so far.
The first GSD I ever owned was Bear, who passed away this January at the age of eleven. He was my introduction to the breed, a very sweet natured, gentle dog. He showed me what a wonderful breed this truly can be with time, patience, and lots of love (and some grit!). He was my best friend, protector, and a teacher both for me, and later in life, for many puppies in the Puppy Obedience classes that I taught for a span of time. I could not have asked for a better introduction to the breed.
Then there came Diesel, who I got at four days old along with his brother Braeden, as rescues. I took care of them both until they were 12 weeks old when I adopted out Braeden. Diesel stayed in the family, going to live with my brother and his family, but I still spent many days during the summer taking him with me for romps. He is turning five this summer, and is my 4 year old nefew's best friend. He is the most willing GSD I have ever met, and would do anything I asked of him without hesitation, be it jumping over something that he didn't know what was on the other side, or leaping off of a dock to retrieve a tennis ball.
The third GSD I had the pleasure of knowing and half-owning (unofficially) was my (now ex) boyfriend's female GSD, Sadie. I met both Sadie and her owner when she was just eight and a half weeks old, and spent a very happy three years with the two of them. I put a lot of training into that little female brat, and all three of us are still very good friends. She turned four this April.
And last but definitely not least, is Ruger. He is the first GSD that I purchased (Bear having been purchased by my mom as "her" dog, but he bonded to me) on my own, with specific intent. I can honestly say he is not disappointing. He is stubborn, but also eager to please, playful, gentle, and happy. If he were human, Ruger would always be smiling. He does great with my 93 year old grandmother who lives with us, as well as my 12 year old cousin with Cerebral Palsy, who visits every weekend. When I got Ruger one of the things I wanted to do with him was get certified to be a Therapy dog, and I can say I think he comes by it naturally, because he is gentlest of all with them, and with small children that he meets. When he is near to them, he sits politely without me telling him to, or rolls onto his back for rubs and hugs. His best friend, since Bear's passing, is my 5 lbs kitten, Smudge.
If you made it through all this, thank you for your time and I look forward to learning more and meeting new friends here on the board!
On to the pics!
In order of arrival:
Bear (R.I.P 1998-2010)
Bear, when we first got him:
Around 6? mos old (yes, thats me):
Age 7:
And age 11:
And teaching Ruger the ropes, his first week home:
Diesel:
First day "home" w/ brother Braeden (Diesel is facing the camera):
Around ten weeks:
Around 2 years old:
Nothing more recent, sorry guys!
Sadie-girl @ 6 mos:
And last year:
And last but not least, my current little trouble maker, Ruger!!
At 5 mos. old, when I met him at the breeder's:
Ruger's first day home (around 5.5mos old):
On a walk *Note: The area is fully fenced in*:
After the walk:
Ruger's first "real" snow @ 8 mos old:
Observing:
He LOVES it!
Aftermath:
And taken 02/15/10, a day before he turned 10 mos :
His "wolf" impression:
"Ma, whatcha doin' down there?"
*CRAZY PUPPY EYE!!!* He was having a blast with the tennis ball...
And now, 25.5" at the shoulder and around 80lbs:
