I had to laugh when I saw Ben unlock his iPad.  The puppy pictures are his wallpaper.  And I laughed, not because it funny, but I laughed because these are pictures of MY DOG.

Yes, we are one of those families where ever member has their own dog.  Ben has a min-Aussie named Maggie.  She is an older sister (from the litter before) to Lou, my wife’s dog who I posted about days ago.

My dog however, is supposed to be MY DOG.  She just turned two, and is a German Shepherd named Abigail.  Her registered name is Engelback vom Gizewski, as Engelbach is German for AngelCreek, which was our, and is, our AKC kennel name as we bred Golden Retrievers for many years.

Abbey started her training in 2016 for protection work.  We wanted to train her just like a police dog, or at least I did.  Her trainer was tragically killed shortly after her first 6 weeks away in late 2016, and we had her fixed and gave up having her trained professionally.  In fact, I began training her as a personal support dog, as I have enough personal issues to support my own fleet of dogs, and she has enough of the protection work to make us all feel more than safe.  We would probably have to ask her to “let go” of a dangerous bad guy if we wanted to shoot them.  So we probably do not need any more bite work.

But I still have problems with my family and how they deal with MY DOG.  When Scotty has been home I found him laughing with a big German Shepherd on his chest wagging her tail and pinning him to the ground.  When Steph is home, they run together, and are frequent nappers on the couch upon which the dog is not allowed.  My wife, one whose feet Abbey sleeps every night when she does not abandon me for Ben, calls her “my baby,” meaning her baby, not mine.  And when I complain to Ben, who is 10 going on 30, he just says, “well dad, she really is more of a family dog.”

But despite her pseudo-loyalty to all of them, I know in my heart she is MY DOG.  When I need her, she is there.  When I handle her she responds well to every command.  (She is trained to me in a different language).  When neighborhood kids or our friends are over, she instinctively knows who is who, who belongs and who does not.  She is a bit confused by all the squirrels, but they know the fence and tease her mercilessly.  Most of all however, I love her, and she helps me everyday.

When our last Golden, Viper, passed late in 2015, I just could not get another Golden.  I love them, and they still are my passion, but I would have just cried all the time.  Often when we would show Goldens I would see German Shepherds.  They, and their handlers, left a lasting impression upon me.  I did not want a show dog, as the German Shepherd for show is a little different than the type you would train like a police dog.  I also wanted to have her keep me active.  I have gotten a whole lot more than I bargained for.

German Shepherds are used as police dogs and for protection, because they think.  One book I read, written by the head trainer of military dogs in WWII, said with training these dogs can make correct decisions, even in the absence of a command.  After all, a military dog’s handler may not be able to talk due to safety or injury. I love this about her, but it sometimes is hard having a dog that is smarter than you.  I still do not want to trade.

And why?  Because Abbey is MY DOG.  She has everyone thinking she is theirs too, but I know different.  She is MY DOG, ever on the prowl for squirrels and the sworn enemy of the yellow sprinkler.

I love her, and I am blessed to have her in my life.

Tommy+