female | 5 yrs old | strays | german shepherd
Introducing Sheila, an ethereal-looking beauty with a soft, gentle exterior...
and a not so soft interior. Her heart is as cold as ice, and she has no sympathy
for anyone - especially youths. Sheila was once a very much loved family pet,
three time champion in agility and obedience, and was about to be trained
for show... when one day she got a taste of freedom.
She mingled with strays and liked it. They led her on adventures only a lapdog
with wanderlust could dream of. And when she was seized and returned to
her family.... She had become jaded. Too soon was she returned to her cushy
home life, which paled in comparison to the thrills she got after escaping
the backyard for the first time.
Unable to cope with being cooped up all the time, kept on a leash at all times
when out on walks and at the dog park, Sheila began to act up. She wanted
her way, and she would get it - one way or another. At first it was minor
things - climbing the furniture, ignoring commands... but it didn't take long
before she became destructive and intimidated her owners. They called
professionals, desperate for advice on how to regain their control. They said
"it's simple, just show her who is in charge and don't let her get away with
anything, not once". And when they would come in to demonstrate, Sheila
would perform with grace and dignity - the perfectly compliant and loyal
family companion.
But the very moment the trainer left and her owners tried all of the techniques,
Sheila was back at it with her stubbornness and disobedience. It only took one
episode of acting up before her owners were frustrated enough to take out their
anger on her. They shouted at her, which did nothing but anger her in turn. And
when they went to grab her by the scruff, she bit down. Hard.
Still clinging to her owner's arm, he managed to get her out the front door. And
before he had any time at all to tell her to go, she relinquished her grip...
and ran.
And this time, nobody went after her.
Personality
Plain and simple, Sheila is an ice queen. After having escaped from
her life in captivity, she spent a lot of time on her own. Being nomadic
by nature she found herself in a variety of situations, some she never
fathomed she would end up in (and not in the happy-go-lucky 'never in
my wildest dreams' way). She finds it very difficult to trust strangers -
not so unexpectedly, considering the aforementioned situations - and is
quite defensive of her privacy and her territory. She will not hesitate to
set another dog back in his or her place, and she has a low tolerance for
boisterous puppies - or any puppies really. She is the type who will not
hesitate to snap at a youngster should it cross the very thin line she has drawn.
Despite this, it is very easy for her to put on a charismatic front - she can
be very charming and sweet when she wants to be. Usually, however, only
when there is something in it for her. She is not easily pleased by others.
But there are exceptions to the rule. If the right dog comes along, she might
let down her barricaded walls and thaw her numb, cold heart.
