Getting Involved with the GSD Welfare Fund

This article was first published in my local village magazine - The Heron (https://theheron.info/) and continues from an earlier article about how I came to adopt Wellington in the first place. You can read that article here - https://gsdwelfare.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-broken-dog-for-broken-man.html

It's ok Dad - I've got this!

Getting Involved with the GSD Welfare Fund 

I recently wrote an article about my challenges with mental health and how by  finally accepting that I couldn’t fix it on my own, led me to a more positive path. With this new foundation, and working from home becoming a more permanent option, I was able to adopt Wellington. He's elevated my appreciation for life to something approaching contentment, and also caused a number of changes to my day-today living. 

Some were relatively minor changes (walking a bit more), others more dramatic (drinking a lot less), and all generated a combinatorial effect to losing some weight, and becoming a tiny bit fitter. It’s not a miraculous transformation, and I’m far from a healthy specimen, but more than the physical improvements - I do feel a sense of being less at odds with the world.  

As the months passed, I also witnessed noticeable behavioural changes with Wellie. He’d never played with toys, and he still doesn’t grasp what they’re for. The only exception was his blue and white squeaky ball, and that remains true even now - well over a year later. He’ll only chase and collect that specific ball. Thankfully he will still chase a ball that looks exactly the same, so at £6 per ball I’m collecting a stash of them – just in case. 

Slowly we built trust, and from there, our bond between man and house-wolf formed. This resulted in his increased confidence, which proved to be a double edged sword. On the positive side he now approached me if he wanted a fuss, and we no longer experienced any accidents at night. He also opened himself up more to other people (although he does still like to bark at the cleaner! But also is now quite content to lay down next to her.) – that was helped along by being food motivated, and the generosity of people in giving him treats!  

On the flip side, he proved to be very reactive to other dogs. Considering his history, this isn't a great surprise, but still required us to work together to try and find some resolution. 

When he encountered another dog, you could see him working himself into an agitated state, ready to fight. It's interesting that if he's surprised (say disturbed in his sleep) his first instinct is often flight, but if he sees the threat coming he prepares to fight.

He has improved over the months, and I can generally talk him through an encounter before he works himself up. In fact, in recent weeks he's encountered several dogs without switching into combat mode. Naturally I continue to keep and eye on him and try to spot any other dogs before he does, just so I'm prepared.

This is one of the reasons dogs should always be walked on a lead in the village; your dog might be well trained and obey recalls promptly. Wellie doesn’t. He lived in a filthy compound with many other GSDs like him, and having to compete against them for food – a portion of ear missing is testament to at least one fight that went physical. He also doesn’t know play signals, or other socialising rituals most dogs have the luxury of growing up with.  

It's also part of the reason you shouldn't just try and stroke a dog - especially when first meeting them. Even 'normal' dogs can find this uncomfortable, but those that are hand shy (especially if from abuse) can trigger a fight or flight response. On many occasions I had to tell people not to try and stroke him, and so many times was told that it was okay - they knew dogs. I don't doubt that, but you don't know this dog and if he bites you, it's him that pays the price, and not the idiot person who shoved his hand in the dog's face.

The Look I receive if I disturb his slumber 

Wellie is the first rescue dog I’ve taken in, and so I’m still learning too. I kept in close touch with the charity that rescued him, drawing on their greater experience and knowledge to guide me. As I did so, I discovered more about his past, and those of some of the other dogs. I also witnessed how busy they were, and also noticed that their online presence could be developed further to help them achieving their mission to rescue, care for, and rehome German Shepherds. So I stepped forward to help the team, and was later invited to join the governing committee.   

We’re currently facing the biggest challenge since the German Shepherd Dog Welfare Fund’s founding in 1975. A large part of this was the lockdown. When it started, an irresponsible celebrity declared on social media that the lockdown was an ideal time to get a dog. As the lockdowns phased out, so were many of the newly acquired dogs. This is compounded by the fact that despite dog walking being one of the few activities you were permitted to do outside, far too many of these dogs were not properly socialised. In too many cases this means they cannot be rehomed. 

Unlike some rescues we won’t put a dog down simply because it can’t be rehomed. Of course, this adds to the strain we operate under. GSD Welfare Fund receives no public funding, and is reliant on public donations. We are all volunteers. If you can help in any way, either by donating money, or volunteering, or would like to learn more about our work, then visit our website:   http://www.gsdwelfarefund.co.uk/  

Michael Brookes