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CHEYENNE Cheyenne at the 2008 MAGSR reunion
Day #2 after surgery:
Quiet Waters trip:
Cheyenne working hard at her training class!
Chey's favorite sleeping position :-)
"Scoot over Tejada and give me some room!"
Look at that girl go!!
"Come on Tejada, let's get those squirrels!"
"Peek-a-boo!"
"Maybe if I take all the bark off, they'll come out..."
Playing with Tejada.
Major and Cheyenne playing! :)
DESCRIPTION: Cheyenne is an owner surrender to a local shelter and ran out of time waiting for someone to adopt her. She is a sweet girl who is out-going and friendly. She is good with other dogs and was kenneled with a couple at the shelter but is a typical GSD so is no push over. Update: "Calling all ball players, stick-tuggers, walking partners and homes with boxes of toys...it is spring time and I am ready to play!" Cheyenne's shelter paperwork may say that she is 5 years old, but you would never believe it. This girl has lots of energy and LOVES to play! She's just like a kid, she loves all of her toys, particularly the soft ones that she can disfigure, but the ultimate game Cheyenne likes to play is fetch. She would gladly give up her right paw for a ball or a stick that you are willing to throw for her...inside, outside...it doesn't really matter. She will play ball anytime, anywhere. Smart doesn't even cover it with this girl, she's super smart. She's so smart that when someone new comes around she will pretend that she doesn't "know" her obedience commands and will see what all she might be able to get away with :-) Cheyenne will gladly sit/down to have her ball thrown, she downs before eating, she sits at doorways and even when getting her leash on and off. We are currently working on "stay", but its going to take some more work on her foster mom's part to get this one perfected. Cheyenne is completely housebroken and is crate trained as well, but because she's so well behaved inside, she only spent her first week here in a crate. Otherwise she free roams all day while I am at work and has never destroyed anything. What she does like to do while I am gone is sneak up on the sofa and look out the window to keep an eye on the neighborhood for me :-) Cheyenne loves other dogs, she can play rough if her partner is willing to do the same, or she can be contented to play on her own as well. I think Cheyenne would definitely benefit from having another canine around to keep her company, or if not, frequent trips to the dog park or play dates with a neighborhood dog. She's a very social little girl and welcomes everyone and anyone to my home. At this point she has not shown a protective/territorial side, rather she greets strangers with tail wags and kisses :-) Cheyenne has a TON of personality and a lot of love to give, but she also needs to be handled with a firm hand and given discipline. Cheyenne's biggest issue is her anxiety in new situations. Obviously bringing her into my home as a foster was a new situation and it took a bit of adjustment, firmness and routine to get her settled in and a degree of such should be expected with any new dog. She is much better now, and I was able to find harmony with her by working with her on obedience, giving her plenty of exercise, and providing as much routine as possible, her new family is going to have to be prepared to do the same. I think she would do best with an experienced GSD owner, someone who is well versed in how wonderful this breed is and is willing to continue to work with her beyond what she has learned here. She's been known to test my patience a time or two or three (all of which has been anxiety related), but the more I work with her, the better things get. Cheyenne is everything the true GSD lover is looking for and more!! Update: Cheyenne is loved by all, she really is. Even my dad always says when he visits "this dog is being seriously overlooked, I can't believe someone hasn't grabbed her up yet!" And he couldn't be more right, there is not a place that I have taken Chey that someone hasn't commented on how sweet or how beautiful she is. She spent a week with another MAGSR foster while I was out of town and all he kept saying was "she's so sweet!". Cheyenne is 100% pure love, she does put on that territorial GSD bark now when someone strange gets near the house, but little do they know, she will just melt once you enter. Some of my favorite moments with Cheyenne are when I'm working on something and I'll glance over and see her staring at me. When I smile and say something soft to her, she gets that loving look in her eyes and gives me a few tail thumps on the floor and goes back to resting :-) Chey's biggest issue is her transitional/new situation anxiety, but even that has improved since she has been here. I feel it can be improved even further with quality obedience training and a loving family that gives her the reassurance and time she needs to adjust. Cheyenne is a great dog and I honestly have no idea while she is still with the rescue. She is everything a GSD is supposed to be and more. Now to even mention how absolutely gorgeous she is! Update: There are many updates in the world of Cheyenne these days! First off, we started obedience training and the trainer is absolutely in love with her...I mean, who wouldn't be! She's super smart, but even more than that she is super driven! When Cheyenne wants to do something she puts forth 200% effort and really goes above and beyond. Of course, this means that proper obedience is necessary to be able to handle her and that is why we started class :-) She is picking up everything very quickly and prances at a heel like the happy girl that she is. She's absolutely magnificent to watch in action. Additionally, we have also discovered that Chey is suffering from hip dysplaysia as well. While she doesn't let it stop her when she's in her "go mode", it is evident when she is laying around the house after a hard day at play or training that she is in some pain. Please don't let that stop you from asking to meet this wonderful girl. She's an absolute gem and a real pleasure to be around. She can brighten anyone's day. Chey just wants a home to call her own and a family that will love her with everything they've got. Medical Update: Cheyenne has been moved to the commitments page because she will be having total hip replacement surgery on her left hip on October 11th. Please keep her in your thoughts during this difficult time. We are hoping for a successful surgery and a quick recovery, although the projected outlook is about 3 months. Thank you to all who donate to MAGSR, it is through your generosity that Cheyenne is able to have surgery and to be relieved of the pain in which she is currently in. Check back after 10/11 for post surgery updates. Update 11/20: Cheyenne had her 2nd recheck appointment today and...we received GREAT news!! After all the trials and tribulations throughout her recovery, her new hip looks great! The prosthetic is in place just as it should be and she is putting her weight on the new hip and using it a great deal. We will spend the next 2 weeks on her current restrictions and then start adding more and more activity until her 12 week recheck at the beginning of the new year. If all goes well after at that recheck, all activity restrictions will be lifted and Cheyenne should be ready to go to her new home! She is happy as ever (although seriously upset about not being able to go on our long walks, play ball in the backyard or jump on the furniture) and is using her new hip like it is going out of style :-) So today was a great day in the world of Cheyenne and we hope that she will continue her progress. I know she can't wait to get out back and play ball again...her all time favorite past time! I also just posted some pictures from about 6 weeks ago. The first set was Chey's last "day of fun" before her surgery at the Quiet Waters Dog beach...she's not afraid of the water! The second set is the day she came home from her surgery. As you can see, she looked pretty miserable, but I can assure you, she's feeling MUCH better now! Chey sends tail wags and kisses to all who helped make this surgery possible :-)
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