So, youve got to hear this story about when we first got our German Shepherd, Max. He came to us after Id spent a month learning the ropes as a dog trainer. Max was a three-year-old working dog, and already, hed been through three different owners. Originally, he was supposed to be sent off to some checkpoint or other, but in the end, they handed him over to me, the newbie. For whatever reason, nobody wanted to keep himhe just wouldnt listen to commands, always doing his own thing. The thought even crossed peoples minds to just leave him in the kennels and only let him out when absolutely necessary. But seeing as both me and my husband have loads of family who know their way around dogs, we thought, Why not? Well figure it out!
At the start, though, feeding him was a whole eventId actually use a snow shovel just to put his bowl in the pen, thats how wary I was. But its funny how a dogs tough exterior can melt. Max really warmed up! A year on, he was unrecognisable.
One day, when our youngest was about 18 months old, I was out in the back garden clearing up all the junk after winter had finally cleared off. Our daughter was at nursery, so it was just me and the little one. Picture this: our son is toddling about over the soggy flowerbeds, and Max is right there with him, keeping an eye out. As soon as the little one stumbled, Max would gently pick him up by the back of his coat, just like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Now, my husband doesnt really drink, but his boss was retiring, so the wine was flowing like there was no tomorrow. My husband decided to stay behind to make sure everything was alright and to look after his boss. It gets to about 11 at night, and there I am sitting on the porch trying (and failing) to call him. Im panicking, imagining him trying to cross the river in that state and falling in. I was just about to dash off to look for him when I saw the gate swing open. In comes Max with my husband, slack as a sack of spuds, basically being dragged along on the lead, half asleep. Max had walked him right up to the porch, and when my husband flopped onto the sofa, Max plonked himself down next to me and just gave me this look. I swear, if dogs could roll their eyes the sarcasm in his eyes was unreal. And to this day, I still wind my husband up about how our dog had to carry him home.
