I have always wanted a German Shepherd since I can remember.  I don’t know what actually started my fascination with the breed; I just know I always wanted one.  When I was a child, I dreamed of having a strong, noble, and loyal German Shepherd that would always be by my side, my best friend.  My parents did not share this dream, however, so I grew up with books about German Shepherds, but no dog.  Once grown, reality set in and I was aware that I did not have the time, money, or place to get such a dog, so while I did eventually adopt a dog, Carmina, the German Shepherd dream was put aside.

 

In 2010 I bought a cute house in Dallas with a great yard without taking the neighborhood enough into account.  My father rekindled my long time German Shepherd dream by suggesting I go get a big dog of some sort.  My adopted dog was big, but 12 years old already at that time, and my two Papillons, despite what they may believe, don’t intimidate anything.  With the excuse of “needing” another dog, I went about looking for the dog I always wanted, a German Shepherd.

 

A friend of mine suggested that I check with a dog trainer who also bred Shepherds.  She just happened to have a litter of puppies that were 8 weeks old and ready to go.  When I went to visit them the first time, they were just one big pile of black fuzz with teeth…and one stuck in the water bucket.  Lizzie.

 

I went back to pick her up a week later, after I had convinced myself that I was up to the challenge.  I was working from home, so I definitely had the time.  So the next weekend, Lizzie came home.  It was three years ago this month.  She was a big goofball from day one.

Getting in trouble with Carmina and the Papillons was her main pastime, along

with turning the kitchen into a giant puppy slip and slide.  Her fascination with water bowls didn’t stay on the farm where she came from.

 

I was determined to socialize her as much as possible, so I took her everywhere.  Home Depot, Petsmart, countless restaurant patios, friends houses, shopping areas, wineries.  Everywhere.

 

We had a lot of fun…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we had many puppy adventures.

 

 

Then, when she was four months old, in the middle of the night during a violent storm, someone tried to break into my house.  That, was terrifying, and the last straw.  My dad came the next day and packed me and we all moved back to my hometown, Tyler, Texas.

 

In Tyler, we didn’t have as much opportunity to go out into the city, but we had a wonderful obedience club.  I started Lizzie in her first obedience class….to follow.