Happy Endings from GSRAW

Nov 2009 Update:

Gage is a wonderful dog, to say the least. He has the best sense of how to adjust his behavior based on the context of the space he's in and the person or animal he's interacting with of any dog I've ever known. He has very high social intelligence, as well as the problem solving intelligence I associate with GSDs. Gage is gentle but playful with Teddy, gentle with Stanley, as avoidant as possible with Frankie, sweetly affectionate with Theresa and alternately fawning, playful (in a rough and tumble way), affectionate and occasionally, cautiously assertive, for example when the water bowl is empty, with me.

Although Theresa is really probably the ultimate authority in our household, Gage treats me as the king of the castle, perhaps because I walk him and feed him. He has bonded to me more quickly and completely than I ever imagined possible for a middle-aged dog. Although he went through a phase in which he had mild separation anxiety, with lots of whining and pacing, when I would leave, he seems resigned to my periodic 4 to 8 hour absences and simply goes into more alert watch dog mode when I am gone.

Perhaps our favorite thing about Gage is that he is so very attached to little Teddy. He watches over Teddy when he strays into parts of the house Gage is not accustomed to seeing him, especially near the front or back door. He has tried to get Teddy to play with him for months and finally in the past few weeks Teddy has taken to playing tug of war with Gage or rolling balls to him. Gage doesn't exactly let Teddy win, but he gently let's it be a 'contest' before he triumphantly takes the object of tug from Teddy and brings it to me. Both of them get a kick out of the little games which happen most days.

Overall, Gage has indeed been a wonder dog. He's everything we wanted in a dog and more, in that he is goofier, more playful, more soft-eyed and cuddly and a more attentive (okay, sometimes over-attentive) watchdog than we could have imagined upon first meeting him or even the first few weeks of getting to know him.

I've attached a pic from earlier today showing him with Teddy.

Thanks again for fostering him in that transitional time in his life.

Paul, Theresa and Teddy

Gage

Nov 2009 Update: Gage is a wonderful dog, to say the least. He has the best sense of how to adjust his behavior based on the context of the space he's in and the person or animal he's interacting with of any dog I've ever known. He has very high social intelligence, as well as the problem solving intelligence I associate with GSDs. Gage is gentle but playful with Teddy, gentle with Stanley, as avoidant as possible with Frankie, sweetly affectionate with Theresa and alternately fawning, playful (in a rough and tumble way), affectionate and occasionally, cautiously assertive, for example when the water bowl is empty, with me. Although Theresa is really probably the ultimate authority in our household, Gage treats me as the king of the castle, perhaps because I walk him and feed him. He has bonded to me more quickly and completely than I ever imagined possible for a middle-aged dog. Although he went through a phase in which he had mild separation anxiety, with lots of whining and pacing, when I would leave, he seems resigned to my periodic 4 to 8 hour absences and simply goes into more alert watch dog mode when I am gone. Perhaps our favorite thing about Gage is that he is so very attached to little Teddy. He watches over Teddy when he strays into parts of the house Gage is not accustomed to seeing him, especially near the front or back door. He has tried to get Teddy to play with him for months and finally in the past few weeks Teddy has taken to playing tug of war with Gage or rolling balls to him. Gage doesn't exactly let Teddy win, but he gently let's it be a 'contest' before he triumphantly takes the object of tug from Teddy and brings it to me. Both of them get a kick out of the little games which happen most days. Overall, Gage has indeed been a wonder dog. He's everything we wanted in a dog and more, in that he is goofier, more playful, more soft-eyed and cuddly and a more attentive (okay, sometimes over-attentive) watchdog than we could have imagined upon first meeting him or even the first few weeks of getting to know him. I've attached a pic from earlier today showing him with Teddy. Thanks again for fostering him in that transitional time in his life. Paul, Theresa and Teddy

			German Shepherd Rescue Alliance of Wisconsin