Josie
Josie is a regal dog. And an intimidating one.
German Shepherds have reputations, you see. If you walk one down the sidewalk, other walkers will cross the street to avoid you. If you have people come work in your house, their fear and apprehension is palpable at first bark and confirmed at first glimpse of your German Shepherd. Even many vets will have the same wide eye reaction stemming from a visceral fear of the dogs’ angular features, powerful stance, and unapologetic confidence.
When my husband wanted a German Shepherd, I was gravely opposed.
I’m a lab girl, a golden girl, a spaniel girl. Really, ANY sort of dog girl other than a shepherd girl. But I had picked our first dog and now that she had crossed the rainbow bridge, it was time to make good on my long ago promise: “You can pick the next dog.” I knew it was coming. Having a German Shepherd was a childhood dream of my husbands.
How would I love such a pointy dog? Such a smart dog? A black and oh-so-brown dog? A scary dog? Maybe even an aggressive dog? Could I love the type of dog known for Military duty? Police work? Drug busts? Taking arms off of bad guys with one simple word? I had a lot of fears to reckon with, and swallow. Like it or not, I was about to have one of these beasts.
Josie is now 8.
Her bark has put countless neighbors on notice and her stature has put just as many visitors on very high alert.
We have adopted 1 mutt that Josie tolerates, but does not at all need.
We have left 3 vets; one who told us that we didn’t have the experience for a dog such as Josie, another who blurted out she doesn’t like Shepherds, and one more with sweaty scrubs and unblinking eyes who told us that in order to get an ear swab collected, Josie would need to be tranquilized.
(For the record, Josie’s new vet feeds her baby food in a tiny jar and is able to swab, poke, and stick like nobody’s biz.)
We have fostered 29 dogs. They are from bad places and have unthinkable stories. They have bad manners, bad habits, and are covered in ticks, fleas, and poop. Josie doesn’t care. She shares her house. She shares her bed. She shares her water bowl, her mutt sister, and her parents. She shows the dogs the door to outside, the grass, the yard, the proper place to piddle, the proper place to roll in the dirt on worms, and the very exact way to beg for treats when you go back inside, when asked to do so by the humans.
In her 8 years Josie has not hurt a person or a dog, nor has she shown any inkling to do so. I must admit that I now like how so many stop in their tracks and rethink their steps, simply because of her Shepherd exterior. I like that I can walk with Josie and feel safe from strangers—both human and dog alike. I like that people who have never bothered to know Josie still cower from her, because it helps solidify that they will never be my people. I like that Josie has been a companion to so many animals needing a friend. I like that she loves turkey and pea baby food in a tiny glass jar. I like that when there is thunder she wants to cuddle with her people, and I like that she takes treats from a hand as gently as a rain drop falls on a blade of grass.
From Josie:
If you judge a dog by their cover you will miss all of the specialness inside of them.