This is a group hello and our story, from a new member...

On July the 4th my fiancee and I were fortunate enough to be found by a GSP pup...she wandered outta the woods and into our lives. We knew not what she was (besides a dog lol) until Libbi's first vet appointment. At that time we found out that she was about 4 months old and a GSP! I have much experience with beagles (house and hunting dogs) and my last little girl that fell asleep forever this past spring (Nikki my Rhodesian Ridgeback, 1992-2008, RIP) but must confess that I thought Libbi was a Lab/mix and I knew nothing about this breed upon finding out what to call her. Anyway, fast forward a little over a month and here I am diving into all the info I can find about my new little girl. She is all liver with a white chest and white ticked socks. She was skin and bones upon her arrival and had obviously been on the run for a long, long time. She knew nothing about houses, crates, eating/drinking from a bowl, no commands, and her hunting instinct was highly developed and on display at all times. She had a gut full of worms that has since been remedied, still hunts fireflys, crickets, moles, voles and anything else that moves or that she smells or hears and her pointing instinct is intact and she trails everything all the time (including our three cats). I live in a rural area and can imagine that she escaped from someone's farm or breeding operation (perhaps). The only things they did do for her was abuse her (as evident by her automatic aversion to a raised hand which she is slowly becoming accustomed to) and did not dock her tail. We advertised about finding her via many different media and places but never got a response regarding her (which we are now very happy about).

I am very glad to have found this forum and look forward to sharing any insight I may have (not likely though after reading some of the knowledgable posts here) and posting many questions.

Merry meet,

Relic_hunter

Welcome!  And congrats!  I'm making you an honorary GSP Rescue volunteer!  If I can help with the transition in any way, let me know!  Lisa 

No, no, no...WE are lucky that Libbi found us...at least that is the way we are beginning to feel. My fiancee used to tell her that she was very lucky to wander into our yard but we both now feel that, despite Libbi's many faults (which are slowly being worked out of her), WE are the most fortunate ones now. I wasn't really ready to have another girl just yet but the fact that Libbi found her way into our lives has really helped the healing process.

I only have one pic here at work but must confess to not knowing how to post it (I'm kind of a newbie to the forum thing)...If anyone can point me in the direction of a brief tutorial I would be most gracious and willing to put up pix of the infamous Libbi.

I believe in fate. She found you because you needed her and she needed you. Bless you for cherishing her!

Thank you very much, Lisa...when do I get my ID card.

Seriously though, I didn't know what to expect when joining a forum and this initial experience proves it was the right move.

I just might take you up on the assistance offer as I have many, many questions.

Jerry

Lucky you! We loved having a puppy last summer -- it was amazing how much these guys learn (and grow) and how quickly they do it. If Libby still has her puppy teeth, bear with it ... it will get better.

The thing I have learned about GSPs over the last 18 months is that they are unwaveringly devoted, super smart, wrapped up in a furry goofball package. Enjoy Libby!

Joce

welcome to the forum.

to post a pic, you can try to use the image icon but that never works for me. instead I do the following:

host your picture on an image hosting site (photobucket, imageshack, etc)

once you have hosted your pic the site will generally give you an option to get codes for forums, you can copy and paste this code to post your pic or you can just put in the url and wrap it with image tags.

You can also resize the pictures when you host them.

So here's a picture of my dog Michigan, quote the post and you should be able to see how the image tags work:

Just drop me an email or PM me!  But I'm here to tell you there are ALOT of very experienced GSP folks here, so it may be good for you to post and let everyone chime in!  If you send me your address, I'll get your Rescue info out soonest!  You have no idea what you are in for however, tehe. 

Thanks for the responses and the help with posting images...I'm gonna try right now. This is the only one I have here at work today and its of low quality on a cell phone but I will post more another day!

What's in Daddy's Pocket?

Welcome!!! I think someone was looking out for you and Libbi.  GSPs are wonderful dogs and loyal friends.  As others have said that are SMART and learn quickly.  Their goal in life is to be with their person at all times, the closer the better.  Some even call them velcro dogs.  There is a reason.  They will love you with all their heart and ask very little of you in return.  I makes me so angry to think that someone could have been mean to this baby.  I am so glad you found each other.  Good luck and if you have any questions....just post.

This one is the brother and sister...Riggo and Libbi...her eyes are not quite as yellow as they look, more hazel/light brown.

I think she is part lab.  The fur on her ears is a bit scruffy long.  But who cares, she is cute as they get, and she found you guys!  Welcome again!  PS:  I promise not to make you work parades in Wisconsin, that would be a haul for you guys!  But I cannot promise you rescue may not need a favor here and there!   

I would guess she was out in the sun a whole lot as a baby - her ears have that "gold" tone that my Hemi gets when he is obsessively in the pool as much as possible in the summer - pretending to be a duck.

Glad you have her! She's a pretty girl.

and p.s. that tongue is most definitely GSP