What was your first impression of your dog?

[SizzleDog]

With Ronin, it was a "love at first sight" kind of thing. I was at the breeder's house, and Ronin had just been seized from a bad home. He was skinny, dirty... I looked out into the pens and saw him - fell in love instantly - and decided he was coming home with me. And I informed his breeder of that fact over dinner. She told me I didn't want him, I disagreed, we argued about it for awhile but in the end I won.
A photo of him from that day... WHAT was I thinking??? LOL!

Ada was one of two puppies in her litter that were left, and I didn't like the other one - rounder face, tiny ears, piggy eyes, very little white on her... so Ada was our pick!

Kaylee... I knew before I saw her that she'd be coming home with me. NRA and I were visiting the breeder and she asked us if we wanted to go to Missouri with her to pick up a 12 month old bitch that was being returned for not being good enough in the show ring... we agreed to go with her. On the way down to Missouri, I got this funny feeling that this little puppy bitch would be mine. We had breakfast with the former owner, then we went out to the van to see the bitch - out hopped this petite little black girl, very aloof. (Not fearful, just didn't think any of us were worth her time!) Again, I informed the breeder that I'd be taking her home. Here's a photo of her the day we brought her back from Missouri.

With Revy's litter, I knew from the 2-day-old photos which one I liked... the darkest tricolor, the "rebel" of the litter. Once I found out - at 6 weeks - that she had a blue eye, I tentatively asked the breeder (this wasn't a breeder I could just TELL what I was going to do!) if I could have the dark tri with the blue eye. Thankfully she said yes, and I got to bring home the "rebel" I'd fallen love with from this photo:

 

[PlottMom]

My first thought upon MEETING any of my dogs? "oh. she's... cute... and sweet..." except Autumn, where it was more of an "OMFG SHE'S SO EFFING CUTE!!!!!!!"

Honestly I wasn't really smitten with ANY of them right off the bat. I'm still not sure how I feel about Rage, I found out tonight... while I watched her on the garmin BLATANTLY IGNORING ME until I had to drive around the range to go get her, I realized part of me was OK with leaving out there until someone called...

 

[Toller_08]

Keira: We didn't want Keira. Not at all. We visited all of the puppies very often and regularly, and she was always the one sleeping, or doing something by herself, and was just really independent. She wasn't a major people dog like the rest of the puppies, and she really didn't care to play with her littermates except on the rare occassion. She was super sweet, but we always had to seek her out for cuddles, since she preferred to be off on her own little adventures. We ended up with her, only because she was the only girl in the litter who had a temperament that wouldn't clash with Dance. The other girls were too pushy and demanding, and had a more dominant/confident sort of temperament, which would have been a disaster with Dance. It took me a really long time to bond with Keira. She was so difficult. She's the only puppy I've ever known, who when you made kissy noises or tried to be interesting in anyway at all, would just sit and look at you like you were garbage, lol. I like puppies who engage and get excited and enjoy pleasing you... Keira was none of the above. She acted like royalty, was super independent, and really snooty. To be honest, we shouldn't have gotten any puppy from that litter. We should have waited for a puppy that 1) would not only mesh well with Dance, but 2) would also have the exact right tempermant for us. But alas... we ended up with Keira, and can't imagine not having her now. She's a great dog... still the independent snooty girl she's always been, but we're used to it and as much as she can still be frustrating at times, she absolutely makes up for it in other ways.

I don't have any Keira baby pictures on the computer anymore of when I first met her and she was still with her breeder, but here's the little trouble maker not too many days after we had her home, looking all sweet and innocent, LOL.

Dance: Well, that was a mistake in the grand scheme of things. I was having an incredibly difficult time trying to find a breeder willing to sell me a puppy at 16yrs old, eventhough I showed lots of responsibility, and my parents totally backed me up. They came up with a million reasons why I couldn't have one of their dogs. Either the breeder thought I was too young, or the breed wasn't right for me, or it was too much of a risk to place a Toller in a home with a Doberman, or I didn't totally agree with their thoughts on upbringing, etc. And then when I did find one who would sell to me, I didn't agree with the way the puppies were raised, or they weren't willing to ship (which I can understand). Then I came across Dance, whose breeder appeared to be wonderful in all aspects on paper. Dance was the only puppy left in the litter, and I kind of jumped into getting her. I knew she wasn't in the greatest of shape (was undersocialized, coat wasn't in the greatest condition, runny eyes, threw up icky sludge stuff within 10 minutes of leaving her breeder... among other things), but I loved her regardless. There was something about her that just said "she's mine". I knew she had to be mine. And I have no idea why even, as I honestly didn't even find her very cute at the time, lol. And eventhough I'd never buy a puppy under the same circumstance again, I can't imagine life without Dance. She means so much to me. But now I know better for next time at least, and am searching hard to find the perfect breeder for me next time around. I will make sure I do it right from here on in, whether my next dog is a Toller or not.

Dance the first night home, after a much needed bath (I have loads more from that night, but I can't find them right now):

And about a week or so after coming home:

Ripley: We didn't want another dog, but I'd been helping to raise Ripley and his littermates since they were 3 days old, and got to know all of the puppies really well. I'd been offered a puppy in lieu of being paid (as she would have paid me the same amount as he'd have cost), but it was up to my family and I what I wanted to do. I'd always said if we ever got a Doberman, it would have to be red. Well, it didn't really work out that way (ended up with Winston and Keira first - both black), and the chance to have a red dog was extremely tempting. But it would have to be the exact right dog, because I wasn't going to add another dog to our family unless it was definitely the right one, regardless of colour. And over the weeks, I fell in love with Ripley. He was playful, engaging, personable, pleasing, easy to get along with, confident but not pushy, and just full of himself. He was always with me too (more than the other puppies), which was odd, and I really liked that. We bonded really closely over all of those weeks, and I couldn't imagine parting with him. He was everything I could have ever hoped for in a puppy, and he totally stood out temperament wise above all the rest for me. I loved him from the very beginning.

Ripley, the first night I met him, and one of his very first photos:

The day after coming home:

 

[Hillside]

With Saga, I had gone to meet up with Sizzle in a town that was midway between the two cities that we lived in. Since Ronin doesn't like other boys and Django spastically loves all other dogs, I asked her if she would bring Ronin AND Ilsa down if I left Django at home.

As I was headed home, I took a different route than I normally would have taken and made a pit stop at the local pound/rescue. At the time I had been considering a couple different breeds, most of whom would have been like finding a needle in a haystack in this area. I walked into the the adoptions door and before I could even open the door to go back where the dogs were, I saw Saga in the first kennel. I made the mistake of asking to meet her and knew it was all over the second we were in the room together. She was super mouthy and would not stop jumping all over me. She didn't respond to her name, which at the time was Shiloh. She did however, IMMEDIATELY respond to Saga.

All that was left to was for me to convince Ryan we needed another dog. It was a bit rough since he never liked Dobermans and thought they were "ghetto" (which is why I wasn't looking for a Dobe in the first place, even though I have always loved them.) but once he met her, he was totally won over. Surprisingly, the dog intro didn't go as well as I had thought it would. Mr. ZOMG!!!!!IT'SANOTHERDOG!!!!!!!!MUST PLAYNAO!!! was actually pretty indifferent towards her, though it was still good enough for us to bring her home.

 

[Equinox]

Disappointment.

Oh, the excitement was there. I was beyond thrilled and giddy with happiness. I was in love with the face, and thought he was adorable. But my very first impression of him was "he's the wrong color. And not the cute fuzzy pup I saw through the pictures, that pup with a sense of humor."

I wanted a rich black and red saddle back, and got a black and tan blanket. I looked forward to the silly ear stage, and his were almost up. I wanted fun, goofy, attentive, but loving and affectionate. I saw an independent, **** and vinegar, 'couldn't care less about you' pup. He was ever so well behaved, but the personality, the spark... I didn't see what I wanted. I imagined myself looking at him and knowing he'd be my dog, and that we'd click instantly. Didn't happen. He didn't want to be held, didn't want belly rubs or anyone petting him, and spent the car ride trying to chew through his bag of food.

Everyone was impressed with him, including me. I couldn't believe how quickly he caught on to commands, how food motivated he was, and how easily he took to potty training and to his crate. No crying, no whining, and I could count the number of accidents he's had on one hand.

But still, I was a bit bummed. I wanted that instant bond. The only thing he did was bite fingers, hope for treats, and explore his surroundings. He didn't lick people, didn't look for pets and cuddles... my sister actually said "he's a really sad dog" because of just how rarely he got excited. But he wasn't sad, he just approached everything with a "business like" manner, for lack of a better term. He was serious about most the things he did, and pissy about everything else. Very goal oriented, but his goals were his own.

There was NO doubt that I had everything I asked for. Just not what I expected. He's my first dog and my first puppy. I didn't realize I had to earn that respect first. We bonded in time. And not in a few days, or weeks. It must have taken months. I loved him, certainly. I loved him, adored him, and took pride in him. Eventually, that funny, doofy, loving dog in Trent really showed through. I realized how much fun it was working with him, and he's growing up to be much more people oriented than he once was.

It took a while, but we really did click. It took me too long to really see the good in him, the amazing aspects that others would kill for in a dog, because I had to see through the biting, the barking, and the energy, and especially my own fantasies about dog ownership. So many of Trent's characteristics I did not understand before, I now value. If I could get a carbon copy of him (wouldn't mind a higher drive dog, though!), I would in a heart beat. And now the darker coated German Shepherds are my favorite.

At the breeders, right up in the front

The only pup looking at the camera, naturally

First few days home

 

[Bailey08]

I love these stories!

I had the puppy "bug," but was trying to resist. I had unsuccessfully fostered a puppymill rescue and was considering trying to foster again (an easier dog this time). I'd decided I wanted to foster a black dog since they had a harder time being adopted.

Anyway, I volunteered for a rescue that pulls dogs from animal control in the rural part of the state and brings them up to the city to be adopted. There were sooo many puppies, it was really sad. Anyway, I loved Bailey's litter -- they were tiny, and such babies still that they generally slept and woke up occasionally to play with each other. (So freaking cute. But they kind of got ignored 'cause they were sleepers.) One (a yellow) had already been adopted, and left in the crate was my bubs, a slightly smaller sister that looked just like him, and a larger sister who was very dark brown. I visited them constantly (in between mopping and cleaning out cages) and, at one point, when there was a break, I took B out of his crate. I picked him because I thought I wanted a boy and his personality seemed to fall somewhere between his bigger, bossy sister, and his smaller, more reticent sister. He was so sweet and snuggly and I just walked around with him and ignored the dirty floors. At one point, a family was playing with his smaller sister in an ex pen and I decided to do the same with B. He turned into a little puppy wild child and ran around like crazy -- really fun. The family started to look interested in my boy, so I immediately asked the rescue director if I could foster Bailey (since I wasn't "supposed" to adopt). They said that he wasn't eligible to be fostered and suggested another dog. I said, no, I'd adopt him. And that was it.

I felt absolutely horrible, though, because his bigger sister was left (the family took his little sister) and she was crying at being left alone. They asked me to foster her until they had another adoption event, but my condo building was really strict about dogs so I said I couldn't. It would probably have been a disaster if inexperienced me had taken home 2 puppies, but I kind of wish I'd been able to. Bailey is so perfect and it would be fun for him to have a sis.

Anyway, he was an insane puppy. Screamed in puppy class when it wasn't playtime. He was a little shark and my hands were covered in bite marks. I loved him and was glad I'd adopted him, but it was a few months before we really bonded. Now he's my world and I don't know what I'd do without him. <3

A pic from his first night home:

 

[Snark]

Love reading these stories and especially love the photos!

Patch: When I first saw Patch, she was walking down the middle of the road by our property. Sis and I had just bought the land and were working on the weekends, fencing the perimeter. I said hi, she looked at me and kept walking so I figured she knew where she was going. Ten minutes later, she was back, sitting a little ways away, watching us.

I squatted down and tried calling her; after a lot of hesitation and worried looks, she finally came within reach. I got a hand on her and the next thing I knew, she was in my lap, 'talking' hysterically. I petted her for awhile, then walked to the truck and she stayed right next to me, dancing along with her tail wagging - how could I leave her? So, we took her home and she was my constant companion for nearly eighteen years. She never stopped talking, either.

Patch was pretty much full grown when we found her and under the kitchen table was her favorite 'cave'.

Sam: Four years after we found Patch, my mother called to say Patch was in the paper as Pet of the Week (local humane society's adopt a pet strategy). Looked at the paper, and sure enough, the featured dog was a male who was strikingly similar to Patch. His name was Sam, which was funny because my dad, who has never, in his life, called any of our animals by their given names, always called Patch, 'Sammie'.

We went to look at Sam and found out a collector had had him for 4 years in a trailer with a bunch of other dogs, about 10 miles from our property. He was untrained, unsocialized, and hadn't been neutered (until the humane society got hold of him). We brought Patch with us and Sam was fine with her when we introduced them, although we soon discovered she was the ONLY dog he got along with so well. (He had DR issues and a very high prey drive - could NOT trust him around kittens). Despite that, he was a good dog - loved all people (unlike Patch, who was a social snob and only liked dog people) and was our dedicated motion detector and rodent hunter.

Patch and Sam (on the right) chilling on the future feed room floor of our barn.

I have this photo hanging on the wall. It looks like Patch is eyeing Sam and thinking he's a total doofus.

This is getting to be a novel... Emily: My neighbor took in a dumped Rottie, who had a litter a couple of weeks later. Neighbor was looking for homes for the pups and, always wanting a rottie, I took the smallest female because Sam had definite problems with male dogs. Of course, Sam didn't like Emily either but Patch decided, once Emily was big enough, she was a pretty good playmate. They were best friends their entire lives. Emily became my velcro dog and it really sucked when she died unexpectedly at age 8 from a heart attack. I still miss her whooo-whooo welcome home greeting.

Well, lunch is over, back to work...