[quote=“Skyrison”]
good on you for rescuing him! people who mistreat, abuse or neglect animals are scum!
you have a kind soul 
good on you![/quote]
Kind of you to say sky but I wasn’t really looking for a dog due to my health. Especially not a large, extremely strong, highly reactive dog like Bruce.
After I made an inquiry out of idle curiosity, German Shepherd [GSD] rescue bombarded me with emails and phone calls so in the end, just to shut them the fuck up I agreed to view Bruce with the intention of explaining he was too much dog for my present state of health.
Then his story was slowly revealed. Initially I was told he had bitten someone who viewed him for adoption [At the time I thought ‘Fucking wonderful’]
As it turned out he’d bitten all three potential adopters. All three required their wounds stitched at the local A&E [ER]
Bruce was all alone, kennelled away from all other dogs. He’d been in the care of GSD rescue for six months.
It was obvious that he needed someone with experience who lived alone.
His history and situation was so sad that I couldn’t walk away. Despite the atrocious abuse he was not cowed. He’s a confident boy who learned to be independent and took crap from no one {fair enough I say} He was one serious dog who never wagged his tail with any enthusiasm.
Bruce had no training and had zero socialisation. He had not ever been taken for a walk in public.
So I agreed to foster him, do obedience training and socialise him to prepare him for a forever home.
When we first went into public he tried to attack every passerby. He didn’t fuck around, straight for the throat or mens groins as I hung onto his harness.
He appeared psychotic.
Although Bruce has been the easiest dog to train, he tested me for several months [GSDs are a breed that will test for dominance]
Not in an aggressive way - dogs aren’t stupid, they only need be told the once so I became rather good at stare outs and standing like a statue while he ‘thought about it’ [At times it was hard not to laugh, watching his expression as he slowly realised he was not going to ‘win’]
At night he’d hide in the shadows in the backyard when I called him inside after his toilet break. When he ignored me I’d start growling softly not wanting to disturb my neighbours]
Then after many months I earned his full trust when Bruce decided that I was worthy of being the alpha and he’s been totally obedient ever since.
At night I click my tongue and he comes running.
It’s totally strange at all the little things that brought us together. In actual fact I believe that those in spirit [Angels and my beautiful Rotti boy in-particular] organised it. It’s easy for me to see that I needed a reason to want to stick around a while longer.
Did I say foster? Yeah right. We have totally bonded and he totally trusts me and my hands. [He’s not once shown me aggression nor has he ever cowered from misinterpreting my actions]
Under the aggression he’s a rather sweet natured fella - when I’m in pain or sick he gets rather concerned and sticks to me like glue.
Bruce is a fine companion and excellent security. He’s my boy now and not going anywhere.
Just realised how long this post is. Later today I’ll start a pet thread. When I do, would you mind moving this post?
Here’s a couple of pics - first one is Bruce two years ago at the rescue kennels.
This is about a year old. Bruce is at ‘sit and stay’ waiting for my command to have at it; his first lambs head.
He’s not sure what it is but he knows it’s going to be delicious.
Never in my life have I seen a dog eat an entire lambs head in one sitting because it takes so much effort.
It took him over four hours but he ate the lot. Teeth. Skull. Not a scrap left, lol.
Having been fed nothing but kibble his whole life, he loves his raw diet. When he smelt his dinner in my hand, he’d zoom a lap of the backyard he was so excited. Now he jumps about and does a dance as we head to where he eats. [though he still does a zoomie lap when he sees he’s getting a salmon head for dinner] He’s the least fussiest eater - ox liver/kidney/green tripe/heart/lung are also favourites.
He’s given his food, raw meaty bones, offal and the fish heads, straight from the freezer because that forces him to chew.
whether it’s a chimpanzee, a spider or a dog.
