New dog!
 

Seems I have an affinity for all things German. Currently have no German cars, but with this new addition will have had only German dogs for 10 years.

Since Chance the dog (Weimaraner) died on new year's eve 06, we've been missing having a pooch around, and now that we're on the lake it seemed a good time to give another needy dog a home.

Buster (Upland Buster, formally) is a purebred German Wirehaired Pointer. I found him at a shelter in Rhode Island. He came with full 5 generation pedigree, stud registry listing (although he's now been neutered) and some records from his first four years. He came from South Carolina originally, but he's got a coat built for new england.

So far he's very sweet - he will come, sit, stay, get in the back (of the jeep), go lay down... no barking or destruction or bad behavior... and that's just after one day of positive reinforcement. I'll start introducing a crate tonight.

My friends always marvel at my rapport with pets; hopefully the dog whispering ways will not fail me with Buster!

Congrats on the new addition !! We have always had a kitty, but I have always wanted a dog for a buddy I can take to work with me and go on my Sunday rides in the SL. There is responsibility to having a dog,,, almost as much as having a child, and don't really know if I am ready for that. I envy you though,,, enjoy the pooch.:D

WOW Nice find (for both of you)!

Very good looking dog! I grew up with the German Shorthaired Pointers. My parents still have one and my brother has two.

They look identical to the wirehaired ones just....well, obvioulsy shorter hair!

Cool dog ... my brother-in-law has a German Shorthaired Pointer ... beautiful dog but a bit of a jumper and a licker for me. He's a young dog though, and will probably grow out of his squirminess. Very, very smart.

I'm more of a cat lover, and a closet little-yippy-dog lover (Pomeranians always put a smile on my face, and Chihuahuas), but I can see why people fall for some of the hunting breeds ... very athletic and intelligent.

Good luck and great to hear you chose to get a dog from a shelter. My cat was a "castaway," too. He's the best cat I've ever had, better than anything I think a breeder could possibly offer. Many of the best cats and dogs (and horses!) I know were rescues.

He's sweeet!! Just today, I meet one of those dogs!! He gave me a sweet little kiss, and followed me around my customers house....:D

An early spring swim... in Massachusetts
 

I have been taking Buster to a field nearby my house which has a lake next to it and is surrounded by woods. People let their dogs frolic with each other in the field. Buster typically just wants to chase his Kong or a ball or stick or whatever else I decide to throw.

Over the past few days it's reached the mid 40s to low 50s here, so the lake thawed somewhat, and then we had 40 mph winds that blew the ice away from the shore. However, there was and is still ice over 1/2 of the lake.

Apparently Buster is familiar with the water, as he made a bee-line for the lake as soon as I released him from his leash. He wouldn't come out. It was incredible- two other dogs went in to their ankles (dog ankles?) and promptly evacuated, but he swam and swam and swam, chasing a ball (that he found floating! and brought to me) and wanting to retrieve anything from the water. When I finally got him to come out of the lake, he shook a few times and acted as though the freezing water and cold wind was nothing. I'm glad I decided to get a dog with a heavier coat than the Weimaraner I formerly had (who would have been shivering for an hour). This guy has webbed feet and a double coat built for just this job.

Being as it is that I live on a lake (my lake is frozen still), I think I got the right dog! He was so excited.

Yeah you did!!!!!...........:D ........What a sweet Dog!!!

Sweet! :)

Cool dog! :cool:

I've hunted with quite a few GSP's over the years and I'm pretty sure most of them are smarter than I am.

I can put down my lantern now. I've found an honest man.

Why bother with the lantern?

I know what you mean. I love my MB, my Glock (I know, not quite from the Father Land, but close enough), my two Rottweilers and my German Shepherd dog.

You know, the old story, (was it Diogenes?) who went through the streets of (some city in Greece) centuries ago saying he was looking for an honest man.