I am Lana, a 1 year old German Shepherd.
I did not have the best start in my life, but am lucky that I found my mum and dad.
My first weeks in my life are a bit fuzzy and I cannot remember much.
The first five months were rather sad from what I can remember. My previous owners did not really know how to handle me, so I ended up in their basement. Only from time to time I was allowed to come out, but mainly to serve as a punching ball for the small kid living in the house. When my parents arrived I could hardly walk as my muscles were weakened. I was literally crawling over the floor to meet them.
Since then:
I was lucky that my mum and dad decided that they wanted to take me home and a new chapter began. However, my past did not leave me unaffected; I am easily overwhelmed and
overexcited. As a result I do not always behave at my best. For example when someone is coming to the house it can happen that I hold the persons arm with my snout. I always realise it and do not leave any marks, but I know it is not polite. Sometimes it feels that I cannot stop barking at raindrops, the neighbour's cat, a bird which passes the window. And then cars! What can I say, as soon as I see one I feel the urge to jump into it. My mum and dad have real difficulties to hold me at these moments. Sometimes I wonder what happened during the first months in my life that I am so frantic and cannot control myself.
But with the efforts and love from my mum and dad things are improving. For example I am recently starting to enjoy being touched by my mum and dad, I manage to calm down quicker after being overexcited, I can let go and relax for brief moments which I show with deep exhales and sighs. I know it is still a long way until I reach my balance, but every day I take a little step in the right direction ...
I am so glad that I found my mum and dad. They are helping me to work on my issues and despite my flaws they love me very much.