Things I Wasn't Told

I saw the pictures. Cute pictures, many pictures, of adorable black and tan balls of fluff posted all over Facebook by one of my friends. Well my Yorkie is a blue and tan 4 lb, 6 year old, ball of fluff. Easy enough I thought.

Ha! It was a trap! All of that cuteness, along with my need for protection, got the best of me and I became the proud, but so very naive mommy of a beautiful 8 week old German Shepherd. I've had big dogs all of my life, not a problem, I've got this. Labs, I had Labs, huge difference I found out.

Even at 8 weeks old the turbulent tornado that I fell in love with was much more strong, willful, and curious, than any animal I've ever owned. I had no idea how smart these wonderful dogs are, I had not idea how challenging they are, I had no idea I would not be raising a "puppy," but rather an entire herd all bound into one sweet faced baby. Here are a few of the surprises.

She's about 4.5 months old and weighs around 50 pounds. She has not one malicious, mean, vicious, bone in her entire Clydesdale sized body.

Here are a few ways my life has changed:

• I will never again be able to go to the bathroom, or shower, alone. 
• Every dish is licked clean after I put it in the dishwasher as I ready the next. 
• I have one sock left of every pair I own. 
• I have to use a very complicated strategy when I open the refrigerator.
• When I open the dryer I just have to get used to the fact there will be a huge, black, curious, head shoved all the way in attempting to find a wash cloth, sock, or dryer sheet. 
• Digging. I have holes in my yard that were dug in mere seconds that could hold an entire sumo wrestling team.
• I'm thankful I have Saltillo tile floors that muddy, wet, paw prints can easily be removed from. 
• My couch seems to be a mere vaporous entity. She appears to just walk over it, no jumping, no hopping, just stepping. 
• I now know why so many German Shepherds are named "Shadow."
• The UPS man looks at her and runs the other way, she looks at the chickens behind the yard and runs the other way. 
• Her paws are large enough to be mistaken for bear claws at a bakery.
• Five foot tree limbs are only play toys. 
• I don't think that with all of my kids and grandchildren I ever had as many toys in my floor as I now do. 
• Anything on the counters is fair game. 
• It's kinda freaky to have my entire face licked in one swoop of a tongue while I sleep.
• I've never had a dog that's ever been so happy to see me. I'm her person and she's my baby. 
• I've never seen such loyalty in a furry friend. 
• Her eyes can melt the hardest of hearts. 
• I love her, she loves me, we're a team. 
• She's Karma, the charismatic, canine!