He Had It All!
We found a German Shepherd kennel in northern Vermont where the owners placed just as much emphasis on temperament as beauty. We put our order in early since the puppies were spoken for before they were born. We were called to pick out our puppy when he was 4 weeks old.
Although there were 12 in the litter we had decided on a male. Seven males were brought in and laid on a blanket as alike as peas in a pod. This was not going to be easy. We made our choice and then came back 2 weeks later and took him home.
Max is front left
Once again Sam had a companion. This time it was a youngster he could teach. It soon became obvious as the student quickly grew to more than twice the size of the teacher that the job would be brief. Max was trained to the "crate method" and much to my joy it proved to be a splendid tool. Max loved his crate. It was his den and a place of refuge. We fed him there, he slept there and he would drag his empty feed bowl in there.
Max at 9 1/2 weeks in his den.
In six weeks we had a thoroughly house-broken dog. He grew to be a beauty with a wonderful temperament. At eighteen months he was a sweetheart. Then, the unexpected.
The Accident
Max was always suspicious of the plumber so when he came to the house one afternoon I put Max on a leash and took him into the living room. Shortly, thinking the man had gone, I started down the steps into the family room with Max still on the leash. Max heard a noise. The plumber was still in the house. Max made a dash down the steps pulling me after him. Result: one broken right heel. Mine. It soon became evident that my husband could not cope with an incapacitated wife and an energetic year and a half old shepherd. A phone call to the breeder turned up a family that knew shepherds. They arrived with check in hand and loved Max at first sight. Max left without so much as a backward glance. He did very well in his new home.
Again Sammy was alone but not for long.
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