Meet Roxy, my SURPRISE birthday present!

[cocoa'smom]

I've never posted pictures, before, so hopefully this will work. On Saturday, my family went out to buy what I thought was a new faucet for our guest bathroom (that's what I asked for for my birthday - lame, I know!). Instead, they brought home this adorable German Shepherd puppy! Our dog, Cocoa, died in May and while I was planning to get a new dog at some point, I wasn't totally ready quite yet! I had a German Shepherd in college and have always wanted another one, but for my next dog, I thought I'd get something smaller (Cocoa was a 90+ pound chocolate lab), something maybe older & already housetrained, and something that didn't shed much. I guess I only had those thoughts in my head and never said it out loud, because I now have a 9 week old puppy that is NOT housetrained and will shed alot! But, I LOVE her and am so excited (now that I've gotten over the shock!). Her name is Roxy and she's a cutie!

http://images1f.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp9%3A%3A%3Evq%3D32%3B7%3E%3B%3B7%3E%3 B76%3EWSNRCG%3D32%3A69%3B5%3A65335vq0mrj

http://images1e.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp99%3A%3Evq%3D32%3B7%3E%3B%3B7%3E%3B7 6%3EWSNRCG%3D32%3A69%3B%3B248335vq0mrj

http://images1e.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp995%3Evq%3D32%3B7%3E%3B%3B7%3E%3B76% 3EWSNRCG%3D32%3A69%3B%3B249335vq0mrj

[sneezles]

She's precious and I love the name (we had a Roxie...lab/greyhound mix).

[Kate B]

Precious is right -- what a cutie! Congratulations!

I, too, lost my black lab/german shepherd mix (Shelby) in May and struggle with my readiness for another dog as well.

Enjoy her!

Kate

[cocoa'smom]

Does anyone know how I can get the pictures to post bigger? I have the pictures on Shutterfly and copied the URL from there.

[Beth]

She's a cutie, and German Shepards are great dogs. Now all her training will come from you and you won't have to undo any mistakes or quirks. It's a little more effort up front, but worth it in the long run. And you get to be her hero -- that can make a difference too. Doesn't always work with an older dog.

And much more huggable than a faucet! ;) :)

(I can't help you with the shedding issue -- that they do, but I hope she'll love brushing. :D)

Happy Birthday!

[KristiB]

Roxy is adorable! Congrats on the new family member!

[SusanMac]

Congrats! What a wonderful surprise! We used to have a GSD too. I think they are absolutely the most adorable puppies. You have to post updates when her huge ears stand up :-)

And, no, I don't know how to get the photos bigger. I think it's a Shutterfly thing. I can see them just fine, though

[bobmark226]

Congratulations to the new mom! What a wonderful surprise! Good luck with puppy issues. As you know I'm going through them myself here.

I think you're posting the URL from the small album photo. If you double click on that to open the one that's something like 3" x 4", you can then copy that URL and it will work just fine. I know it works, because I use Shutterfly and do that. HTH!

Bob

[TieKitty]

What a great addition to your family! Roxy is adorable. You may not have been ready for a new puppy, but I bet in no time you will wonder how you ever got along without her.:)

[kathyann]

You have to post updates when her huge ears stand up :-)

Congrats, and what a cutie!!! And I second the request for floppy ear pictures- nothing cuter than that stage with a gsd (of course, lots of pics are welcome between now and then as well!!) I hope she's settling in well- puppies are so much work, but so worth it in the end.

[TKay]

Adorable! Oh, she is absolutely beautiful. Congratulations. I gotta say, when you lose a beloved pet, you probably don't ever feel really ready for another one. But when they come, they really do help you heal. Roxy's not a replacement, but she will be great to have around, I'm sure. Enjoy! Oh, and regarding the puppy issues, they do go quickly. Our pup is already a year old and I can't believe how fast time has marched on. She is completely house trained and only chews up the occasional human toy. :p

[cocoa'smom]

Congratulations to the new mom! What a wonderful surprise! Good luck with puppy issues. As you know I'm going through them myself here.

I think you're posting the URL from the small album photo. If you double click on that to open the one that's something like 3" x 4", you can then copy that URL and it will work just fine. I know it works, because I use Shutterfly and do that. HTH!

Bob

Thanks, Bob. Actually I was mistaken - it was Snapfish, not Shutterfly. Let's see if this works: I opened up the picture and copied the URL. It worked better - the picture is pretty big, though. Is there a way to get a medium sized picture?

http://images1f.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp9%3A%3A%3Enu%3D32%3B7%3E%3B%3B7%3E%3 B76%3EWSNRCG%3D32%3A69%3B5%3A67335nu0mrj

[pharmarepgirl]

Roxie is totally adorable! Enjoy her! Thanks for sharing the pics!

[Shugness]

man is she cute or what?! ADORABLE! :)

[LakeMartinGal]

What a sweet looking puppy!:D I'm sure she'll help you heal from your loss. And she is smaller.... to start, anyway!:p

[bobmark226]

Thanks, Bob. Actually I was mistaken - it was Snapfish, not Shutterfly. Let's see if this works: I opened up the picture and copied the URL. It worked better - the picture is pretty big, though. Is there a way to get a medium sized picture?

When you upload the picture into snapfish, there's an option to choose the size you want! I forget what the preset one is, but when you look it, you'll see that it's selected. Just go down a size or two. I wish I could answer more specifically, but I only used it for gardenweb and it's been a long time since I did so. Maybe someone else will come along with a more detailed answer.

BTW, how did they spring the puppy on you? You must have felt like a kid at Christmas again!

Bob

[donleyk]

Too sweet! Congrats on the addition.

[wallycat]

Can they get any cuter??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ADORE baby-animals!!!

[Angelsfan]

SO. CUTE. :D:D

Happy birthday!

-Heather

[Gumbeaux]

That's a beautiful dog!

[Laurielee]

Roxy is too darn cute! What a nice birthday present, thanks for sharing


Laurie

[VALERIEA234]

What a sweetheart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cocoa'smom]

When you upload the picture into snapfish, there's an option to choose the size you want! I forget what the preset one is, but when you look it, you'll see that it's selected. Just go down a size or two. I wish I could answer more specifically, but I only used it for gardenweb and it's been a long time since I did so. Maybe someone else will come along with a more detailed answer.

BTW, how did they spring the puppy on you? You must have felt like a kid at Christmas again!

Bob

Well, the faucet in our guest bath has been broken for months. It comes off in your hand if you don't hold it right - kind of embarrassing for guests. I've been asking my DH to try to fix or replace it for quite awhile. Meanwhile, about a month ago I was watching Dogs 101 on Animal Planet and they had a segment on German Shepherds - I must have gone on about how much I like them. Also whenever I see dogs out or on TV I always exclaim how cute they are. But, my DH and I have also agreed that this is not the right time to get a dog, financially, and we often mention how nice it actually is not to have the responsibility right now. So...in light of those conversations, I did NOT expect a dog. The week before my birthday, DH had been bugging me to go on the Home Depot website and pick out a faucet. I kept putting it off, so that morning, he asked again. I said I would just go to Home Depot with him and pick it out. He said that he and my son were going to go and had other errands to do. I thought that maybe they were going to get me some slippers that I'd been needing (I sound really boring, don't I!). My DD was home from school and said she was going to study with a friend. They were all gone a long time and I was surprised that they were missing the start of the Georgia/Florida game. I was upstairs cleaning and organizing my junk room when they came home and called me to come down to see if I liked the faucet. I said I was busy and would be down in a few minutes. They said, just come down now - so I did and there was the puppy with a big red bow on her collar! I was shocked - I think my heart stopped! My kids had the biggest smiles on their faces - they looked so happy! They had been planning it for a couple of weeks and had gone out looking at a few breeders. They'd picked Roxy out the week before and had gone back to pick her up that morning. It's kind of nice that the whole family is so into her. I was the primary caretaker of Cocoa, but with this dog, my kids and DH are much more involved, which is nice for me. So....since you asked, that's the kind of long story about how they surprised me with a puppy :D

[LakeMartinGal]

That is really cool! I love it when someone (else) gets surprised!;)

[bobmark226]

Your story wasn't too long and I can only imagine the look on your face, not to mention the kids! I'm sure it's something that you're always going to remember.

As the most recent puppy owner here (I think!?), as several others have said, there will be moments you wonder how you got yourself into this, but I promised you'll be smiling a lot more. Good luck! :)

Bob

[SusanMac]

That's a fantastic story! I'm really impressed they could actually pick a breeder, pick out a puppy, and get her home w/out you suspecting anything. Nice job!

(and I'd bet that bow on her neck didn't last long at all!)

[armel]

How exciting!

I also have a puppy. We can commiserate on puppy training!! When they are good, they are very very good, but when they are not . . . it is usually my fault. :D

[stefania4]

She's beautiful!

"Dogs named Roxy are lots of fun, very devoted to their people, and should always get canned food and their choice of Animal Planet shows" - my dog Roxy

[Jessnc]

I just love puppies! What a wonderful surprise. Puppies are a lot of work but they are so precious. Enjoy your gift, she is adorable!

[fldivegirl]

What a cutie, congrats on your new addition and good luck with house training!

[cocoa'smom]

Congrats! What a wonderful surprise! We used to have a GSD too. I think they are absolutely the most adorable puppies. You have to post updates when her huge ears stand up :-)


One of her ears stood up last night. She looks big in this picture, but she's still just a tiny thing. I can hold her in one hand. She's been sleeping through the night in her crate which is wonderful - she's already gotten used to it. This morning she got behind the TV and pulled all the cables out. Guess we really can't leave her unattended at all!


http://images1e.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp996%3Enu%3D32%3B7%3E%3B%3B7%3E%3B76% 3EWSNRCG%3D32%3A7686474335nu0mrj

http://images1f.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp936%3Enu%3D32%3B7%3E%3B%3B7%3E%3B76% 3EWSNRCG%3D32%3A767%3A383335nu0mrj

[bobmark226]

She's been sleeping through the night in her crate which is wonderful - she's already gotten used to it. This morning she got behind the TV and pulled all the cables out. Guess we really can't leave her unattended at all!


She's so cute, but you're right, she looks like a big girl!

Sleeps well in crate, pulls TV cables out? Sounds like deja vu. :(

But they get better. I rarely left Selma alone and free, but she gets longer stretches now, at five months, without being crated and there's no mischief. Of course, I just found her with my Polarfleece top on the floor, working on getting into the treats pocket! Can't blame her for that, though, can I?

Bob

[kathyann]

I just found her with my Polarfleece top on the floor, working on getting into the treats pocket! Can't blame her for that, though, can I?


LOL- After getting 4 dogs through the puppy stage, I can't count the number of PF tops I have with chewed out pockets..... you would think I'd learn, but I never do!!!

[leightx]

LOL- After getting 4 dogs through the puppy stage, I can't count the number of PF tops I have with chewed out pockets..... you would think I'd learn, but I never do!!!

You and Bob must have some sort of magical dog hair repellent polar fleece - I've all but given up on the stuff since I usually look like I'm wearing part fleece / part dog, due to all the dog hair that gets stuck to the jacket. :o

Love the one ear standing up - she's just beautiful! :)

[cherylopal]

Of course, I just found her with my Polarfleece top on the floor, working on getting into the treats pocket! Can't blame her for that, though, can I?

Bob

Roxy is adorable!! I just want to snuggle and get some puppy kisses and feel those soft puupy paws!

Bob- how is Selma??

Indy was 4 1/2 when we adopted him although we call the first few months his puppyhood- he got into mischief only twice- once similar to Bob's story. DH was packing for a work trip and was taking cereal bars for breakfast. He packed up his suitcase the night before and took it into the guest room. He then went down to the family room to watch tv. Remember he's never had a dog. I get back home from being out and ask where Indy is- DH doesnt' know- well, Indy had gone up two flights of stairs, opened the lid and then chewed through the mesh liner inside get to the cereal bars. He ate all 6 of the bars but not the wrappers (tg). DH still uses that suitcase so we remember this story every time he pulls it out to pack.

The only other thing he did was to eat DH's chapstick which we didn't realize until a few days later.

[LakeMartinGal]

That one-ear-up photo is adorable!

[kathyann]

You and Bob must have some sort of magical dog hair repellent polar fleece - I've all but given up on the stuff since I usually look like I'm wearing part fleece / part dog, due to all the dog hair that gets stuck to the jacket. :o


Not sure what Bob's secret is, but I just walk around "furry" a lot!! Color selection for camouflage does seem to help though- and a tumble in the dryer removes an amazing amount of fur, as evidenced by the very full lint trap most times!

LOVE the ear-up, ear-down look!!! :D

[pointerhaven]

Oh the wonderful smell of puppy breath. Enjoy! and Congratulations.

[Gracie]

She looks big in this picture, but she's still just a tiny thing. I can hold her in one hand.

She is beyond adorable! You must take and post a photo of her in your hands. You'll want to see the comparison - especially when she gets big and you can't imagine she was ever small enough for you to be able to hold her that way.

I'd love to see how small she is, too! ;)

[SusanMac]

LOVE the ears photo! Thx for posting. too cute. When ours were that way, our neighbors called him Batman