I often think back to simpler days when I was a child.  My love for the German Shepherd Dog came early in life.

When I was 5 years old, my family was very fortunate to acquire a 5 year old retired police dog, due to the Washington State Patrol dropping their canine program.  “Rex” was a dark red sable, about 105lbs and lived to be 19 years of age.  In his later years, though gray muzzled, a little deaf and stiff in the morning, he would not miss being at my side for my daily routine of riding.

Like everyone on a farm, “Rex” had his assigned chores.  It was his job to get all the chickens back in the cook and the livestock in the barn. 

“Rex” was the baby-sitter, the family watch dog and protector.  He also took it upon himself to keep any stray dogs, cats and raccoons out of the yard.  When my father accidentally left a pan of grease on the stove and the kitchen caught fire, “Rex” was there to warn us, perhaps in doing so, saving all our lives.

Most of all, “Rex” was my best friend.

Due to a traumatic auto accident when I was 2, I had almost 300 stitches on my face and head.  It is amazing how time and plastic surgery can melt the scars away, but as a child, I was very self conscious.  I would come home from school crying due to other kids calling me names and “Rex” was always there to lick the tears away which always made me laugh.  I took “Rex” everywhere with me and the other kids would come and kids would come and talk to me so they could pet my beautiful big red dog.  “Rex” taught me about friendship, devotion, trust and even self confidence.  I always felt safe with “Rex” by my side.

He made a wonderful babysitter, for he was truly a guardian angel of children.  Both of our parents worked which occasionally left us at home by ourselves.  As I was the oldest of 3 girls, I was always left in charge but there was no doubt who was really in charge.  “Rex” would not allow strangers out of their car or, in the house if our parents were not home.  I remember times when the neighbors would borrow “Rex” for an afternoon or evening to sit with the children if a babysitter could not be found.  He would walk with us the mile to the school and then find his way back home.  As we got older, we began taking the bus into town for school.  “Rex” would wait at the bus stop until all the children had caught their bus before heading back home.   Everyone knew the children were safe with “Rex” on duty.

Mom would send him to come check on us or if she wanted us to come home, he would stand and bark at us, leading us back to the house.

When I think back on this gentle dog who could turn into someone’s nightmare if he thought we were in Danger, I wonder if it could really be true that a dog could do all these things.  But he did.

Once when we got home late from camping, Dad opened the house and sent “Rex” to check it out as he always did.  It was a routine which “Rex” enjoyed, running from room to room to make sure everything was okay.  To our surprise, “Rex” started snarling and growling from my Parents room.  Dad went to see what the problem was.  “Rex” was sitting in front of a man who was cowering the corner of the bedroom.  The man’s shirt was shredded and he had tears in his eyes. “Rex” had made an impression and he sat calmly waiting for the police to arrive.

I cannot tell you if “Rex” was conformationally correct, but there was no doubt that he was mentally correct.  He gave me more than I could ever ask of any dog or any friend as well as my love for the German Shepherd Dog, which has stayed deep within my heart.  It may be more than coincidence that my foundation bitch was also a dark red sable.

It has been more than 20 years since I lost “Rex”.  I look at my beautiful dogs in the backyard and try not to compare.  I know that my dogs are only capable of doing for me what I ask of them and take the time to teach them.  If all I ask of them is to run around the show ring, then, that is what they will give me.  When I reminisce about “Rex” and the impressions he made on everyone who had the chance to meet him, I realize what the German Shepherd Dog is capable of learning.  I remember what they are able to give back, the quality time each dog deserves and the opportunities I may be missing by not capitalizing on the devotion they so desire to give.

I also stop, remember and realize that my show dog, can also be my dear friend.

Pamela J O’Dell

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