Almost a year earlier...

Almost a year earlier...May 30th to be exact...my husband and I brought home a skinny, scared, urine soaked German Shepheard. This dog was a sad sight to see. This is the beginning of her story. 

     While pcs'ing to Hawaii with my husband my father, who at the time was watching my Chocolate Lab during his quarantine, feel in love. After agreeing that my father could keep Buck, I decided it was time to go looking for another member to the family. Knowing that there are plenty of dogs needing a home without going to a breeder, I began looking into shelters. None of which had a dog that really spoke to me. After that I began taking alternate routes to find the one. Craigslist, Petfinder.com, and places like that. After a few days of searching tirelessly, I found a post on Craigslist for a German Shepherd. The listing asked for serious inquiries only and experienced owners. Having grown up with dogs all my life and many people comment on my nack for teaching them, I decided to contact the owner. After many back and forth emails via my android cell phone we finally met up with the owners. Me a jumble of nerves riding with my husband in a borrowed truck, we found their house. The owners were so nice and very concerned about the well being of their baby. They were having to get rid of her because their children were crazy allergic to pet dander and the doctor bills were piling up. They explained that they were keeping her in the garage so that the kids were not being exposed to the pet hair. Nothing too crazy about that right? I didn't think so either until they went into their garage to get her so that we could meet. There in the middle of their garage sat a medium sized wire kennel trying it's damnedest to contain a LARGE fully grown German Shepherd. This is when the first yellow flag was thrown.They opened the kennel and out exploded a huge furry and peeing hair ball. *Second yellow flag* After catching the crazed dog they locked her in a tiny back yard only a yard or two wide, they told me that this is where their "beloved" dog was kept when not shunned to the garage. We continued talking to the family reassuring them that she would have a forever home and be treated like a member of the family. After twenty or so minutes we were loading up our new baby, reluctantly cramming her back into her tiny pin(as crazy as she had acted in the garage I was afraid she'd jump out of the truck and hurt herself). When we finally made it back home, I immediately put a collar and leash on her and we walked for a good two-three hours. This was a double edged sword, Voda *her new name* learned to trust and respect me on our walk; however, every one of her pads split open from being urine soaked. *Yellow flag number three!!* Poor poor Voda. We struggled with walks for days after that bandage covered paws and all. I had bought plenty of toys and a kennel the correct size for her the day we brought her home; the sad thing was the poor dog had no clue how to play with her toys. I'd give her a tug rope or a treat filled kong and she would just stare at it. WHAT?! What kind of family pet does not know how to play?

     That was almost 12 months ago. Today Voda is well on her way to becoming a well rounded dog.
She still has her issues. She gets overly excited around dogs and most people, but I am very proud of the amount of obstacles we have overcome. No more submissive or excited pee. No more split paws. We actually are up to running 3.5 miles now! And best of all she knows how to play!!! Of all the jewelry my husband has ever given me, Voda is my most prized possession. MY DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH!