Heidi
GSRNE #143
Adopted in May 2003  

Heidi has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She was much loved and will not be forgotten. 

Here is an update GSRNE received shortly after she was adopted and it tells the story of a very sweet girl. 

Heidi lived her first 10 years with her former mom, who adored her. But she became ill and kept Heidi kenneled outside for the last couple of years. That evidently included some time out in the bitter cold – her ear tips looked like they were recovering from some frostbite when we first saw her.

Heidi was the only dog we interviewed through GSRNE and it was clear to us at our first visit that she was an exact fit for us. We sought a dog with a calm, sensitive personality that we could make a deep connection to. After just a short time at home with us, we knew that’s what we had.

Heidi has big, honest eyes that communicate exactly what she’s feeling. She has a shiny, silky coat with coloring that draws praise from a passers-by. Despite her years, she is spry and fit with only some gray on her muzzle to betray her age.

Early on, we took her to obedience class. She was the oldest student there. She was clueless at first, quite rusty with most obedience concepts. But her memory was quickly refreshed and by the final session, was the star pupil.

Heidi’s favorite thing is food. She has a keen appetite and scarfs down her meals as fast as we put the kibble in her bowl. She obeys any sequence of commands to get a treat, too.

Her second favorite thing is going for a walk. We walk a couple of miles together every morning and evening. She eagerly waits at the door waiting for us to get ready. On cold, icy nights, there is a lot of gear involved. We install booties on her feet and clip on her leash. Then we don our winter wear plus flashlight, reflective vest, radio headset and a poop bag stuffed in a pocket. Once we finally step out, Heidi holds her tail high and her snout low, leading the way from one olfactory interest to the next.

Among Heidi’s least favorite things is a car ride. She hasn’t the stomach for it. A ride on a full stomach is a sure way to empty it. With this in mind, she is reluctant to climb into the back seat for a trip. But with an adjusted meal schedule and some Dramamine, she has accompanied us on a number of adventures. She has set paw at sea level on the beach and far above at the top of Mt. Washington.

Heidi sleeps next to our bed on her cushion. If we stay up too late, she’ll be the first to bed. If we don’t come to join her soon, she comes back out to remind us that it’s time to sleep. She sleeps soundly all night and usually wakes up at first light to go outside. If we go back to snooze after she comes in, she waits patiently for a short time, then she begins to prod us to get up for breakfast. She starts out with some soft whines and, if we don’t rise, she builds to a delightful series of yodels.

She enjoys playing with her toys. She keeps them all in a basket. When the mood strikes, she goes to the basket and rummages around for the right one. She loves to entertain herself with her squeaky plush toy, tossing it into the air and across the room. Her tennis ball is also one of her favorites, which she likes to bounce on the floor or bring over for a toss – or trade for a nice belly or butt rub.

Heidi has a tender, sweet soul. We are deeply in love with her.

Luke
GSRNE #298
2008 – 6/12/2018   

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Password: Luke

We lost Luke to Hemangiosarcoma. This terrible cancer hits suddenly and has no chance of a cure. Enduring his loss has been very difficult for us and our children. We are still struggling to process the loss of our boy.
We want to thank the GSRNE for allowing us to adopt such a wonderful dog. He was a perfect addition to our family and we will look back on the 8 years he was with us with nothing but fondness.

Adopted: July 10, 2010

Biography:

July 10th marked the one year anniversary of our adopting Luke and we wanted to give everyone an update on how he is doing. To put it plainly, Luke is just a great dog. Over the past year he has thrived in his new environment and has become a cherished member of our family. As time has passed his true personality has steadily shone through, and today he is the happy, confident boy we all thought he could be when we first met him.

A vital part of keeping Luke on the right path after his rescue was enrolling him in obedience school after we adopted him. It was an eight week course that covered all essential commands as well as leash training. It was a great opportunity to reinforce the training Luke received from GSRNE, as well as to further his socialization with other dogs. He responded very well to the exercises and was praised by the instructor on multiple occasions (no small feat considering the stern disposition of the instructor!).

Outside of the classroom we have done our best to keep Luke on a daily schedule consisting of feedings, rest, and lots of exercise. We discovered soon after taking Luke home that he is the ultimate beach bum, and we’ve spent many a Saturday and Sunday playing and exploring in the sand and surf. Once we tire him out, he’s very content to dig a hole in a shaded area and nap while listening to the waves.

Last fall we found a dog park nearby that Luke thoroughly enjoys. It is not a traditional fenced in area, but a system of trails that circle a large lake. It gives him plenty of opportunity to explore the woods, play with other dogs, and cool off in the water.

During the week Luke enjoys neighborhood jogs in the morning and playing backyard fetch in the evening. By the end of the day he is usually worn out and it is pretty comical to watch him put himself to bed on a night when we lose track of time while watching TV. He looks up at us as if to say, “Don’t you know what time it is?”, and then gets up and puts himself in his crate. Needless to say he has become a creature of habit, and it definitely suits him.

On April 3rd we celebrated the birth of our first child, Jack. When we first found out that Erin was pregnant, we were a bit nervous about how such a major change would affect Luke. We researched methods to prepare dogs for the arrival of a newborn and spent several months working with him in various ways in order to make the transition as easy as possible. We strove to minimize any changes in Luke’s normal routine. The end result has been incredibly successful. Luke has been wonderful with Jack and has shown no jealousy, aggression or animosity toward him. In the beginning we kept their introductions brief, but over time we’ve been able to allow longer interactions. Luke enjoys giving Jack a quick sniff followed by a lick or two, and he sees it as his duty to lie close by anytime the baby is on a play matt or in his ExerSaucer. It will be interesting to see how he reacts when Jack begins crawling!

Sampson
GSRNE #310
Adopted on February 21, 2011 

Sampson has crossed the bridge and is now playing soccer, his favorite pastime, with those who greeted him there. See below for Sampson’s note to GSRNE about his adoption and the happy times he had. 

Dear Friends at GSRNE, 

Well, it’s been almost five months since I’ve found my new home. I’ve been pretty darn busy, but I thought I’d take a few minutes break from my duties of squirrel watching and keeping track of my people to let all my friends out there know how I’m doing.

I went to my new home on February 21, 2011. I have to admit, I’m much more relaxed now and settled in, but those first few days I was pretty darn anxious. My foster family was so good to me and took such good care of me that it was pretty hard to leave. I even had to part from my good pal, Blossom, a sweet German Shepherd girl whom I just loved to romp and wrestle with everyday. I’m not bragging, but she was pretty bummed when I left… just saying.

When my new family came to pick me up, I was nervous, confused, and excited all at the same time. I was quite anxious during the long drive to my new home, getting up every few minutes and whining. I even got to show off my big voice when we stopped at a rest area, and I saw another pal in the parking lot. Geez, I just wanted to say hi! I quieted down once we got on the road again. My new dad tried to sing to me – to calm me down I think. Singing lessons might be in order.

I finally settled down a bit and then… we arrived! I didn’t know it was my new house yet, but of course I had to explore everything completely. Lots of new smells! At the same time, I had to keep my new people in my sights at all times – not an easy task. My foster family called me the “Velcro” dog and I think my new family understands why. Ok, so I like to be around my people. I am a German Shepherd, you know. Just doing my job.

That first week especially, my new crate really helped me relax and feel safe. Luckily my foster family (they’re so thoughtful!) sent along my favorite bed, along with my favorite soccer ball. I had my familiar smells mixed in with all the new ones. That first week was filled with new smells and experiences. Lots of walks, of course – I may be seven, but I’m still a very active guy! I’m also very social and everywhere I go I like to meet new people and dog pals. I’m working hard on not yelling when I meet pups on my walks but, geez, I just want to play. My folks are very impressed with how I get along with people and dogs of all shapes and sizes. I’m quite the gentleman. When it comes to squirrels, however, all bets are off.

But soccer is my favorite pastime. Give me my favorite soccer ball, and I will insist you come out to the backyard and play with me. If you let me, I will play until I drop, so my folks have to call it quits when they think I’m tired. (Personally, I think they just get tired and won’t admit it.) I have an endearing habit of dropping the soccer ball right at their feet and just staring at it, willing them to feel guilty enough to pick it up and throw it just one more time.

During those first weeks, I met lots of new people and went to all sorts of new places. I got to go along one day to visit friends for brunch at their house. I was very well behaved. There were all sorts of people, including very little ones, who all loved me, of course. One liked to touch my ears gently and then run away screaming! I had a great time.

As time went on, I was getting more and more relaxed. I could even be by myself sometimes, although when my folks came back I would let them know pretty loudly that I was displeased. I can be a bit vocal sometimes with my barking and whining (I call it singing). I’m working on vocalizing my displeasure a bit more quietly and for a much shorter time frame. The sacrifices a pup has to make. It’s a tough life.

When my folks returned to work from vacation, I had to get used to being by myself for a little bit most days. I got introduced to my new pal, Pam, who stops by in the middle of the day when my folks are at work to walk and play with me. I really enjoy her visits! I’m even getting better at not barking too much when she comes to see me. My folks say that when I get a bit quieter, I can come to work with them sometimes. It’s tough, but it gives me something to work for. You know us shepherds. We love to work!

Over the next weeks and months, I got more and more relaxed and settled in. I still miss my pal Blossom and my foster family, but I hope to go back to visit and resume our friendly wrestling matches soon. Blossom might even come and visit me and I can show off my new digs (no pun intended…really, I don’t dig!).

Now, life is great. I love to go on my walks with my folks around town and in the woods nearby. Around town, everybody says hi to me and pets me. I get lots of attention. The guys at the gas station at the corner always have biscuits ready for me. Little kids stop to pet me and admire my beautiful coat. My tail muscles get a good workout from all that wagging.

Recently, I had two chances to see a whole bunch of my friends and well-wishers at German Shepherd Rescue. I went to the Auction where, I have to admit, I got a little full of myself showing off for the crowd. I felt a little embarrassed when I met the nice man whose car seat I chewed up when I first came to GSRNE! I was a bit anxious way back then. Trust me; I gave up that kind of thing. I think he accepted my apology. It’s amazing what a lick and a tail wag will do.

I also got to go to the annual GSRNE Picnic where I met loads more of my friends – both the human and canine variety. My folks were pretty impressed with how well I handled myself around all those dogs. I’ve come a long way. A little barking and that was that. Maybe I will be able to go into work with my folks sooner than I thought!

My pop’s a fourth-grade teacher, and I finally got to meet some of his students at the end of the school year recently. They loved me of course! I also made a very good impression on the principal so hopefully I can visit them next year as well! I’ve spent some time at my mom’s work also, and I’m getting better and better there as well. That’s good, because I love spending lots of time with my people, and they love spending it with me, naturally.

So there you have it. Life is pretty darn good now, thanks to GSRNE. When I first came to them, I was in pretty rough shape. They fixed me up, put me with an amazing foster family, and now I finally have a family and a home of my own! Hopefully, you will be able to see from the expression on my face in the pictures I’m sending along how thankful I am to everyone involved with GSRNE. I am one happy pup. Thanks! My folks say they are pretty darn happy as well and feel pretty lucky to have found me. Thanks from them as well!

See you all soon!

Love,
Samson

Cutter
GSRNE #306
2003 – 7/02/2017  

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Password: Cutter

We are so saddened to hear that Cutter crossed the Bridge on July 2nd, at almost 14 years of age, after fighting a long and valiant battle with degenerative myelopathy. Cutter had many fears when the Vissers first took him in, and with their love, he conquered them all. RIP, dear boy.

Here is Cutter’s story:

We entered the local pet store and he paused at the entrance to savor the many smells. He couldn’t believe there were so many! Bunnies, reptiles, dog food, treats, other people’s dogs’ scents; he just stood with his nose in the air, taking it all in. So excited he could hardly contain himself, he began to wag while trying to look and smell in every direction, head swiveling, as we walked forward between a delightful aisle of smoked rawhide on one side and the delectable odors of pet beds on the other.

We moved along, straight down the center, pausing for good sniffs every few feet. After inspecting most of the store, I began to encourage him towards our ultimate destination, the dog food aisle. But the marketing people weren’t fools, and before we got very far we had run a gamut of different kinds of toys in bins, on shelves, and on hang clips conveniently sited at his head height. He finally couldn’t help himself, sat down in front of a clip of cheap plastic reproductions of Sponge Bob, and began to alternately lick them and bark, excited over all the possibilities. By now he was dancing in place, looking at me, back at the toys, back at me expectantly, woofing quietly all the while. When we moved along the aisle, he stopped at the next set of toys and started in all over again, adding whirling in circles in case I hadn’t gotten the idea that these were really GOOD toys, mom!

Did I have a little puppy on the end of that leash? Sounds it, doesn’t it? No, I had Cutter, GSRNE #306. He’s 8 years old, 100 lbs when in good weight, and we aren’t sure he’d ever seen a toy until we got him last year. He came to us as a foster in October 2009 after spending months in a shelter in NH after his owner died. Cutter had issues about everything and default behaviors whenever things didn’t go his way, tearing up crates when confined, as well as chasing cats and chickens. He didn’t know how to walk on a lead and would hit the end of it running with all his 100 lbs. The first few days he was here, several times a day, he would panic, run into the bedroom and climb on furniture to get to windows to try to claw his way out. We began keeping him on a long line after losing a few lamps, whereupon he would climb the furniture in the living room and claw at the solid paneled wall. We finally figured out that the trigger for that behavior was the noise of the refrigerator opening. We’ll never know what caused that one! Most dogs think the fridge is the source of all goodness.

Cutter found it very hard to trust. He couldn’t handle people touching him (think checking for ticks) or looking directly at him (think training a dog to focus on you). It was difficult dealing with him, but every now and then he’d look at me hopefully, as though he wanted to be friends but didn’t know how. Or he’d quietly move over to Glenn and lean up against him if he thought no one was paying attention. The signs were visible – there was a good dog in there. We tried to let him know he was safe and that we loved him, but sometimes love isn’t enough for a frightened, independent minded GSD.

Rally Obedience is BIG fun!

Cutter spent weeks tethered to me in the house and on a 20 foot long line outside of it. Once, the second week he was here, he flatly refused to go into the hated crate no matter the inducement. I put his long line on, ran it through the wires in the back of the crate, applied light pressure, and waited. Every time the pressure of him pulling away eased up, even a touch, I’d praise him and offer treats (which he was too stressed to take at that time). 45 minutes later, he was safely in the crate and I was exhausted.

Fast forward to the present (March 2011). After more than a year and a lot of training, the good dog inside is coming out and he is such a very good boy. We don’t know if he didn’t get much socialization or if his owner thought it was ok for him to act like that, but we know he had a hard time trusting people. He was always pretty sure if something good happened he would have to fight for it to keep from losing it. When Cutter finally did begin to trust us, things moved along quickly, and he now listens, sleeps where he is asked without argument, goes to dog training class and interacts (mostly) politely with the other dogs, and even allows chickens to roost on his back (with a long-suffering expression on his face).

The cat issue has been resolved. (unless they are running, outdoors – cats shouldn’t run if they don’t want to be chased, says Cutter).

He continues to allow more and more liberties; we groom and bathe him without argument now and can check for ticks at will, all things that were not on his “ok to do” list when he arrived. It had become clear after several months that he wouldn’t be a good candidate to move on to yet another household, so we applied to adopt him and were accepted. His training continues as does his large contribution to our lives. He is a joy and a delight every day despite the challenges he can still provide us with.

I’ve learned more from Cutter than I have from any of the dozens of other dogs I’ve trained, fostered, or had permanently. I’ve learned to have more patience than I thought was possible for me, to enjoy and appreciate baby steps in improvement, and to love unconditionally. Once trust is earned, German Shepherds already know how to love like nobody’s business, and Cutter is no exception. He just needed the structure, time, and love from us to let him show it. Taking him to the pet store now is a gift because he is confident enough to ask for things and has self-control enough to not just take them; he can now show me how happy he is to be there. And yes, if he’s polite he often does get a new toy while we are there.

We wouldn’t swap our “problem child” for anything in the world.

Carol & Glenn Visser

Roman
GSRNE #148
Adopted in 2003  

Roman didn’t have a great start in life but his final years were spent with a loving family. Rest in peace dear Roman.  A story of his beginnings and happier times follows. 

Roman was found wandering in Boston several years ago-he was in poor condition as the result of living on the streets for some time. He was cared for at the Boston Animal Rescue League before being fostered by GSRNE. Since he was discovered to have separation anxiety, he was medicated for that condition. He also disliked being touched or spoken to sharply.

My sister’s family had been looking for a companion for their young GSD, Rhea, who was despondent over my nephew’s leaving for college and so adopted him through GSRNE. Roman and Rhea became best buddies. I got to know Roman and play with him; he and Rhea visited our home and walked in our woods many times.

Roman’s anxiety improved and one day he and Rhea escaped from their yard, and in their exuberance and living up to their shepherding names, decided to try and herd some of the neighbor’s sheep. Fortunately no one was hurt in the process, but a complaint was made which caused the animal control officer to contact them. In the best interest of everyone, it was decided that Roman would have to go. This was very upsetting to all of us, especially because it meant that it would be another transition for Roman. GSRNE was contacted; fortunately for all, we were approved to adopt him about five years ago.

He arrived with a metal crate with bars that I don’t think King Kong could break! He was glued to me at first, but has gotten better. He did like to get into things on the counter and took down the Levolor drapes when he first came, but he began to blend in, submissive as he is, with our two other shepherds. He’s a wonderful marshmallow of a dog-never pulls on leash, does not jump on people, only gives a “woof” to alert. He has cheered elderly people in nursing homes and comforted our elderly shepherd during her acupuncture treatments. He’s a handsome dog and has made many “people friends” on his walks in the neighborhood. He’s been to beginner and rally obedience classes and earned a CGC.

When Roman became an “only dog” here, we came home with another shepherd pup, “Chips”. She dragged him around by the jowls, took all his toys, and basically “took over.” He became her “parent”: whenever he spotted her being “naughty”, he would come over and stand in front of me so that I would go and see what she was up to. Now he considers Chips his girlfriend.

We’ve tried to make up for whatever pain and mistreatment he may have received, but he still is a subdued dog and is uncomfortable when strangers pet him in certain places. Apparently he never learned to play with a ball but does enjoy getting brushed and going for walks. We’re able to leave him alone in the kitchen/family room without problems or medication. He’s getting gray in the muzzle now, but we hope we still will have him with us for some time yet for there is a special love between us now.

By Barbara and Kurt Koppetsch

Dozer (was Blitz)
GSRNE #255

~2008 – 4/2018
Adopted on March 7, 2009

We wanted to let you know that Dozer (GSRNE #255) passed away a couple of weeks ago. One day he was normal and healthy and happy living his normal life, the next day he was lethargic and not eating. After the second day of this we brought him to our vet, who then referred us to an emergency hospital. He was in pretty rough shape by the time we got there, and it turns out the likely cause was hemangiosarcoma, which is common in German Shepherds.

This illness was sudden and shocking for our family and we are so sad he is no longer with us. Since we adopted Dozer 9 years ago, we have also had 3 children, 2 girls and a boy, now ages 7, 5 and 3. Dozer was so sweet and gentle with all three kids and they absolutely loved him. In fact, Dozer had a special bond with out 3 year old son who would play tug of war or throw Dozer’s favorite toy for him for hours. His favorite thing was just being with his family and having us all together. When we would go on hikes Dozer would always prefer we all walk together, and if I would walk ahead with one of the kids, he would go back and forth between each group checking on all of us. Dozer also went to the groomer every 6 weeks and he was always well behaved and patient. He loved coming home and showing off his newly shampooed and brushed out coat and enjoyed the extra attention he got from all of us as we fawned over him.

We are glad to have found the GSRNE and that it brought us to having such a kind and amazing dog like Dozer

Here is one of our favorite pictures of our son “reading” a story to Dozer.

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We adopted our first dog, a female German Shepherd, in the spring of 2006. We found her on the website of a local animal shelter. She was a beautiful sable GSD, despite being far too thin. The shelter told us she was “very shy but warmed up quickly.” The best they could tell us about her former home life was that she was tied up outside all alone for most of the time. We filled out the adoption application for her even though we were told there were already two applications in for her. Then, just as we were saying goodbye, she rolled on her back and let me scratch her belly. Clearly she chose us, and an hour later we got a call saying that she was ours. We changed her name from “Princess” to Pixie and soon discovered that she was more than just a little shy. She was terrified of almost all new situations and had never been properly socialized with humans or other dogs. We started her off with a private dog training class so she wouldn’t be too overwhelmed with other dogs. Though it was difficult at first, she eventually did well and from there we moved on to a Level 2 group training class where we worked very hard with her on doggie socialization.

During that first year with Pixie as we were learning about GSDs, we came across the GSRNE’s website. We loved checking the website and seeing the dogs available for adoption and reading their stories. We decided to get involved in the foster program because we wanted to be able to help dogs who were in a similar situation to Pixie’s before we got her. We knew firsthand the effects that improper care had on her. Also, we thought it would be a good experience for Pixie to learn from and socialize with other dogs. Our first foster dog, Max, was wonderful and was just the calm, confident dog Pixie needed to be around. We went back and forth on whether or not to adopt him, but finally decided to let him go so that we could continue fostering. It was a hard decision, but we’ve since learned it was the right one. Our second foster dog, Xago, was a bit more challenging. Given his high energy level we had to introduce him to Pixie very slowly, but eventually they did very well together.

Finally we fostered Dozer (formerly Blitz). Dozer came to GSRNE as an owner surrender along with Cyrus and Dadamine. The owner was ill and couldn’t consistently care for the dogs. As a result they spent most of their time in the owner’s backyard. Dozer respected Pixie’s boundaries and had no interest at all in challenging her as the dominant dog. He just wanted to be part
of a family, and he has been officially part of our family since we adopted him in March of this year.

Dozer is friendly and playful and absolutely LOVES meeting humans and dogs alike. He is happy to have a home where he is involved in all the activities. We have taken him on trips to visit family where he is happy to greet everyone, especially children. My young niece and nephew (ages 6 and 8) loved playing fetch with him. He could not have been happier to get that kind of attention! Dozer’s favorite activity by far is going on walks and hikes. The second we get the leash out, he is bouncing around the house hardly able tocontain his excitement. He is a great walker on leash and proudly trots around the park as if he is showing off his new family. What we are most happy about is Dozer’s interaction with Pixie. He is such a nice boy that Pixie accepted him almost immediately. They are very playful with each other and sometimes even rowdy as they run around the house chasing each other at full speed. Often Dozer has a toy in his mouth, and as he’s running and bouncing around the house, the toy flies out of his mouth onto out-of-reach places. We have found toys on top of counters, bookshelves and even the refrigerator.

He LOVES his toys.

After a good play session Dozer and Pixie settle down for a nap together, often on the same doggie bed even though they each have their own.

Dozer also seems to look up to his older sister and has learned many of his obedience commands from her. He has already completed his Level 1 obedience and thoroughly impressed the instructor with what a quick learner he is. Lately he has been going to drop-in training classes along with Pixie as he gets ready for Level 2! What’s really great about Dozer is his balance between playfulness and calmness. Around the house he loves taking naps on one of the several dog beds we have for him and Pixie. Usually he will gather up three or four toys, take them to his bed and lie down. He’ll alternate between chewing each toy before he falls asleep, using one as a pillow. He has such great personality.

Though we were sad we could not foster anymore, we know we made the right decision and that Dozer was meant to be part of our family. Pixie strongly agrees! We have noticed changes in her since Dozer has been around. She used to bark nonstop and get upset when new people came into the house, but now that she sees Dozer greet new people and be friendly, she is much calmer. We are all happy to have Dozer in our life and grateful that he is part of our family.

Jonathan Scamman and Kelly Best