My old buddy Rhett, he died a while back but was my sidekick for about 14 years. In the later years he didn't go as much as he once did but that was because he had hip dysphasia and couldn’t get in and out of the truck. He was content to just lay by the back door and bark at the squirrels that came on the porch to get a drink. He died peacefully in his sleep, the doctor said most likely from a heart attack.
At 65 pounds Rhett was small for a German Shepard but he had more heart than any I have ever seen. He was gentle as a lamb with kids and most people, but would eat someone’s butt up if told to do so or if they breeched the boundary of his domain; he even got along with the old black barn cat.
I acquired a puppy as his replacement, one of the most beautiful GS I have ever seen. He was 30 pounds at 13 weeks old, smart as a tack, I lost him to parvo after two weeks. I am looking for another one, not just any dog will do, there will have to be that special feeling before I bring one home. But this has been put on the back burner for a while, I recently had a stress test and was told at the time that I was in excellent shape for a man my age, well this past Monday I had a call from the doctor, there was something abnormal and it looks like I could have another date with the surgeon, my first by-pass was almost twenty years ago so I guess I’m due.
We also have a minature poodle and minature Schnauzer they are lap dogs and have traveled the USA in the motorhome. They were both adopted from the pound, the poodle in 9 years oild and smart as can be, the Schnauzer is 12, she is a good watch dog, but mostly just a pet.
If the Man upstairs see fit, I will have another German Shepard companion before too long.
