Her beginnings are unknown to those of us who love her. Presumably, someone decided to purchase a German Shepherd bitch pup. They took her through housebreaking, taught her some (very) basic obedience (or perhaps, "tricks".) But something happened, and they'd had enough.
Maybe they changed residences, and she was no longer welcome. Maybe she snapped at a child, even (not intentionally) drawing blood. Maybe they grew tired of the tumbleweeds of shedded hair. Maybe they couldn't take her unlimited 'play' drive, her commitment to her toys.
Regardless of the cause, we know the result. They drove to an animal shelter in Naperville, Illinois, tied her to a lamp post outside, and drove off.
Unfortunately, we don't know who that loser was. I feel bad for anyone who has a situation where they feel they have to give up a member of their family - two, or four legged. But to have done it in this way...
Fortunately for the German Shepherd bitch, the nice people at ADOPT shelter found her. She was soon adopted, and brought into what seems to have been a nice home.
Unfortunately, medical issues arose in that home, and the bitch was again returned to ADOPT - this time though, in the light of day, with explanations and good wishes for the pup.
This time around, she was adopted by a family - dad, mom and four kids. They all ready owned a Cocker Spaniel, but he was so slow and lazy that they'd nicknamed him "Lumpy." (Lumpy has since been diagnosed with thyroid problems, and is a much more active and happy Spaniel.) The on-line ad for the German Shepherd called her "May" (which the family learned was "short for Mayhem") and thoroughly and accurately described her "play drive." But the family adopted her anyway, and re-named her Sasha.
Sasha did fine over the next few years - a typical family dog, frequently ignored, though never treated badly. The marriage was not as healthy as Sasha, and at the start of last year, the husband was asked to move from the home (I will avoid editorializing on this, beyond saying: while I did time in a psych ward, I have no doubts that the 'wife' could use such a visit even more than I ever did or will.)
I met the gentleman as the marriage continued to destruct (after the separation), and we began to live together last April. In May, he received a (not infrequent, hatefilled) phone message from his 'wife'. In this, she threatened to return Sasha to the shelter. (Ok, I said I wouldn't editorialize, so I won't, but I will note that the 'wife' has not had a full time job in a long time, but she does run her own business - taking care of other people's dogs.)
[Just finished editorializing in my head.]
(Photo of Sasha, mid-yawn. Seemed appropriate here.)
I said no, Sasha was not being sent back, and now my friend and I own Sasha. I hoped to be able to train her on my own, and probably could have with either more forcefulness or more support from my boyfriend (who is not unsupportive, he simply remained fairly clueless about the process), so we signed up for classes.
The cool thing was that I was able to find local classes (at a doggie daycare), being taught by a woman who started teaching dog obedience with me about a decade ago, at a local Park District. The classes were/are different, though - while we used positive reinforcement, we also use correction collars ("choke" collars) and used a combination of correction (of inappropriate behavior) and praise. In these classes only leather buckle collars, "haltis" (or gentle leaders) would be accepted, and we would "click" (clickers) and give food treats to reward good behavior, and ignore bad behavior.
It's slow, and sometimes a bit tedious. And when she's pulling me across the ring to get to her daddy, sometimes it seems there will never be enough hot dog in the world to correct that. But, it gets a little better each week. Over the past 8 weeks, we completed "Family Obedience Dog I". This week, we will begin "Family Obedience Dog II." Hopefully toward the end of that, she'll (we'll) earn her "CGC" (Canine Good Citizen.) After completing the basic obedience classes, we will move into "Rally Obedience," and hopefully prepare for shows in the fall or winter months.
For now, it's just nice to be able to take her out on a leash and go for a walk where I don't feel like I'm being dragged, or used as ballast. It's even nicer when I am able to change direction without surprising her (because she actually pays attention to me, much of the time), or when she taps my hand (hotdog?) with her nose, so I know she's Right Where She Should be.
And that is: on my left side, at heel - and not tied to a light pole outside an animal shelter.