Big Footsteps to Fill

[JESSE1]

Back in August I had to put down our nearly eleven year old German Shepherd male due to liver failure. Beautiful black and tan, gentle, bold and funny, Billy was an exceptional friend. We've had German Shepherds since my parents bought our first male in the '50's. We still had two wonderful boys, Thomas and Taylor but I wanted to go ahead and get another puppy. The breeder I use had a litter born in late August and I picked up Matthew last week at nine weeks old. Both parents have their championships and have been OFA certified on hips and elbows. I'll be showing Matthew in conformation classes next year and he will be started in obedience.

 

[RobertN]

My wife and I are GSD fans; I have been around them since I was a kid years ago.

Isn't the lady that has the Rin Tin Tin breeding lines there in Texas?

 

[creekbend]

Sincere condolences in regards to the passing of "Billy". Beautiful dogs. Thanks for posting.

 

[TCJatko]

Beautiful dogs. A handsome bunch on the bed. I'v loaded up on rescue mutts but always have liked GSDs.

 

[JESSE1]

My wife and I are GSD fans; I have been around them since I was a kid years ago.

Isn't the lady that has the Rin Tin Tin breeding lines there in Texas?

I believe she is in Texas. I read the Rin Tin Tin book, very interesting how many dogs there were.

 

[JESSE1]

German Shepherds are a very special breed. They are a family dog; you are their pack. They usually don't take kindly to strangers but respond well to anyone they were raised up with. Super smart. I have kennels on the patio to keep the dogs in when service people have to come and work on the house, otherwise the dogs stay primarily in the house.

 

[RobertN]

I read that book too. I found the original Braveheart interesting too; big GSD... Also interesting that Rin Tin Tin 1 was silver/black.

I believe she is in Texas. I read the Rin Tin Tin book, very interesting how many dogs there were.

 

[RobertN]

Our rescue GSD, "Xena" on the beach near Bodega Bay, Ca.

 

[dave1949]

Nice dogs. Sorry you lost Billy, puppy breath is the cure for that sadness.

Was there a known cause behind the liver failure?

 

[JESSE1]

Liver failure is common for older dogs. Usually it's going to be either liver or kidney failure that will kill them. We did blood tests early in the summer and it showed elevated enzyme levels that we started treating. At the end he stopped eating and his gums turned brown. At that point I wasn't going to let him suffer. He was 10 years 8 months old, too young. We had hoped he would last to at least 12yrs.

 

[Bob77064]

The mixed shepherd on the left is one I had taken in as a stray years ago.

 

[JESSE1]

Here were the photos I wanted to post of Billy in his prime.

 

[JESSE1]

Matthew is growing fast. I took him to the Vet a few days ago and he weighs 29lbs. Gained 11 lbs in three weeks, twelve weeks old now. He's marked up a lot like Billy was at this age. The other boys, Thomas and Taylor, have really taken to him. Matthew thinks he's as big as they are so I have to keep him on a leash when they play. We'll be starting obedience training in a few months.

 

[Bob77064]

Matthew is growing fast. I took him to the Vet a few days ago and he weighs 29lbs. Gained 11 lbs in three weeks, twelve weeks old now. He's marked up a lot like Billy was at this age. The other boys, Thomas and Taylor, have really taken to him. Matthew thinks he's as big as they are so I have to keep him on a leash when they play. We'll be starting obedience training in a few months.

Those are good looking boys.

 

[LJH]

My heartfelt condolences on loosing Billy. They rip a big ol' hole outta your life when the leave, don't they?

Your (not-so) little Matthew is sure a cutie, I love that stage where their ears are out of proportion to their heads and seem to have a life of their own, LOL!

I love all dogs, but especially the working and guarding breeds; shepherds, mastiffs, border collies, etc. We've had all of those and more at one time or another, all rescues except for our Cane Corso. All at the Bridge now. The last to leave was our sweet, blind & deaf Anatolian, Sissy. I don't care what any preacher has to say, if there are no animals in Heaven I want nothing to do with the place.

 

[Ken73]

My condolences on Billy - I had to put down my 16 year old black cat - Dillon - a few months ago. My boy Luger (GSD) misses chasing him around the house! Nixie (the lab) misses him too.

These little fuzzballs really work their ways into your heart..

 

[JESSE1]

You have some happy, contented dogs there! They deserve to be treated well considering the pleasure they give us.

 

[JESSE1]

Matthew is growing fast. I took him to the vet last Friday for his last set of shots and he weighed 39#'s. Hard to get him to hold still for a picture.