[Greg]

As most know, I lost my dog Tommy (III) a few weeks ago. It was tough for myself, my wife and our other dog Duskin.

About a week ago I started looking around for a new "Tommy IV". After a constant Internet search of the shelters here in Washington, I came across "Buddy", a 1 year old male German Shepherd. He had been neglected, sent to a shelter for 2 months and was going to be sent to Washington State University for "research". A rescue group got him out and he was sent to a foster family not far from me.

I contacted the family and they said he was still available for adaption, so I will be going tomorrow afternoon to meet him. I sure hope it works out and I will be able to bring him home. Wish me luck.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/Tommy/Goodlargeshotofbuddy.jpg">

 

[Michael]

I hope that "Tommy (IV)" works out for you. A one year German Shephard might be a hand full with the energy that they have but can turn out to be a wonderful companion in the end. Just remember that 2nd hand dog 1st class love and affection for the family. I know our newest companion Rocky a Springer-Brittany mix has been a wonderful addition to our home, absolutely no accidents since we got him since April. Well Rocky is saying to me he needs his treat.

 

[guest]

nice greg... you crack me up man.... Tommy 3 now tommy 4... thats awesome.. you always name your dog the same names!! so whats duskin? is he the 1st or 2nd or what?? :furious: :furious:



im glad you guys found a nice dog and in case i have not mentioned... i think its admirable to rescue a dog...

good luck to you and T-4

 

[Live Oak]

Greg, congratulations on the new pup. Shepards make for good home and watch dogs. Very territorial. I am sure you will be very happy with him. The tough part is getting them trained and through that destructive puppy stage of chewing on everything and crapping in the house. Hope he brings you good memories and happy experiences.

 

[DeereBob]

Greg,
You didn't mention that there was another pooch in the household. By all means, it needs a buddy and it sounds like you found a potentially good one. Hope Tommy IV will get along with your incumbent dog. Our 2-year-old Great Pyr mix adopted our Corgi just like it was her own pup when we got him 10 months ago. Two dogs that get along that well are a lot more fun than just one. Hope that's what it will be for you. Congrats on the new set of paws.

 

[Greg]

Thanks everyone. I go to get him at 1:00, another hour.

SJ,

Back in '70 I was stationed with the Japanese Air Force at an isolated remote Radar/Nav site on the west coast of Japan. 300 JASDF guys and 8 Americans. We would go to the town across the channel to "raise some hell" and that's where I met a great family that had a small restaurant/bar. "Charlie" was the owner and a pheasant hunter. He took me hunting in the high mountains where the snow was thigh deep in winter. Charlie's dog Koro was an English Setter and a great hunter.

When my 1 year tour was up, I was going back to the States and get my discharge, Charlie asked me why not come back and live with him, his wife, 3 sons and Grandma. He said if I did he would give me my pick of Koro's upcoming litter. I thought to my self, why not? I got out in March and was back at Charlie's home in September. The pup I chose was the only black and white of the bunch.

At the time I got him, the rock opera "Tommy", by The Who, had come. I love the theme song so I named my dog "Tommy". That's how the tradition got started. All "my" dogs since have been male hunting/pack dogs and named Tommy. My wife's dogs, were a St. Bernard named Brandy and now Duskin. Duskin is the name of a company in Japan that started out selling dust mops. As you can see, the name fits...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/Tommy/5Duskinonfloor.jpg">

This is Tommy III high 5ing it...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/Tommy/2TommygivingaHigh5.jpg">

Chief,

Thanks. Tommy is about 1yr old now so, hopefully, he is over the really rambunctious period.

DeereBob, thanks.

Duskin has been really lonely since Tommy III passed away. They were great friends and tug of war combatants.. :furious:

Well, off to pick up my son.

 

[guest]

great story greg.. im glad you got another companion...

i suppose you could get those LL Bean dog beds with the monogram names on them.. and never have to change them... :furious: :furious:

good luck to tommy 4 and good memories of tommies 3,2 & 1


sj

 

[Chipmaker]

A GSD has thr ability to watch a person n their day to day activities and then learn the ways. They then seem to think along the same lines, and always seem to be one step ahead in what your going to do. I swear my GSD can read my mind. She kows my every move. She has been the best darn dog I have ever had, and I have had quite a few of them in my life so far......intellegent as all get out, and loyal as can be. You got to keep em busy though, even if its just chasing a ball, or else a GSD will find some work on its own to do. Mine likes to clean out the pond of sticks and limbs. She will get out in the water and walk around and feel limbs and roots, and try and stick yher head under to pick them up, and if she can't she sort of straddles it and starts back shuffling with her legs working it up into shallower water and on the bank. She has made quite a few piles of roots etc for me already, but now I have watter lilly plants planted so she is sort of restricted from working in the pond until later this year.

Lots of luck with your new found buddy, I am sure your gonna enjoy him.

 

[MowHoward2210]

Good luck with Tommy IV, Greg. He is very fortunate to get a second chance and a great home like his predecessor.

 

[Live Oak]

Greg, your dog Tommy III is looks identical to my buddy Fritz. They could be dog brothers! The likeness is amazing. Here is a picture of Koon Dog. She was killed (hit by a car this Spring)


<img src="http://www.tractorforum.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=55131">

 

[Live Oak]

I don't have any good pictures of Fritz but he looks identical to Tommy III. I will have to take some pictures of him.

 

[Deerehunter]

In my lifetime thus far, I have had 4 or 5 dogs killed by cars. Really sucks. But not as bad as having to put one down. My father's dog was a Shepard mix and a very smart dog. When my dad retired, he worked parttime at a warehouse just down the road from where we live. He would take his dog, Timber as he called him, but everyone else just called him Tim, with him when he went to work, which he walked to. Tim always walked on his left side and would often brush against his leg if my dad got too close to the white line as if to keep him out of the road. Before my dad passed away, he had a hard time getting off the couch from a sitting position. He would call Tim over to him, turn him around, hold his collar and say, "Ok Tim." Tim would start walking away pulling my father up off the couch. When my dad passed away, I had to keep an eye on Tim for he would wander away from time to time. I guess he was looking for my dad. He never went far though, usually to the warehouse where my dad worked or the house next to it. Had to go a number of times to the house to get him. The kind people would keep him in their barn till I got home and got the message left on the answering machine. Having to put him down was one of the hardest things to do. For one he was the only living thing left that was a link to my dad.

I wish you all the best with your new family member Greg :thumbsup:

 

[memmurphy]

Did you get him?

Hope it worked out. Our Springer came from a foster home. She had grown more rambunctious than expected for the previous young owners with a small child and ended up with the humane society. She was about a year old. She was a little jumpy and shy at first but soon become accustom to the new surroundings. Should I decide to get another dog, I would definately go that route again.


Mark

 

[Greg]

Well, here he is.....all 1 year and 48lbs of him.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/Tommy/6a3731e6.jpg">

Out in the yard.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/Tommy/Tommylayingdownneargarden.jpg">

Nap time.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/Tommy/Tommysleepingoncouch.jpg">

He is really gentle but has one heck of a bark when it wants. He spent most of the day "mapping out" his territory and then napping. Duskin, his older sister, is not happy about the situation at all.

 

[MowHoward2210]

Fine looking dog, Greg. Looks like he's adjusting well. I'm sure the other one will, too.

 

[memmurphy]

Looks like he has been there all along. Congrats on the new son. :thumbsup:

Mark

 

[Greg]

SJ,

Drives the dog license guys crazy. Tommy gets older, then younger, then older...

Chipmaker,

This will be my first "pure" GSD as T3 was a GS/Golden Lab mix. I have never been a big fan of GSD but T3 was such a loyal and smart dog, I'm looking forward to seeing how T4 turns out. Hopefully he won't be as big. T3 weighed 100 but he had the big lab neck, chest and rear end.

Thanks, Mow.

Chief,

Sorry about Koon Dog. Look forward to seeing some pics of Fritz.

Deerehunter,

Wonderful story. Sure hurts to have to put them to sleep, even without the link to Dad. Must have been real hard.

Mark,

Yeah, rescue/adaption is the only way to go. So many great dogs out there just waiting.....

 

[guest]

greg congrats.. really he looks like he's settled right in.. on the couch already..
deerhunter.. i gotta say that was a about as sad a story as you can hear.. and a very nice story also.. . if you believe in heaven or whatever... you would think that your fathers got his old buddy tim by his side now...


sj
again greg good like with T4