A letter to Moped's new family

To: Moped’s new family From: His first mom and dad


Here is a bit of history on Moped:

Moped was born in Peyton, CO on June 18, 2006. There were ten puppies in his litter. His breeders, Kathy and Rick, are a really nice couple. They let us come out and visit Moped when he was only six weeks old and they let us bring Skooter out to meet Moped. The first time we saw Moped was at Kathy and Rick’s ranch in Peyton. It wasn’t easy to pick him out because all the puppies were so cute. But it wasn’t long before Moped picked us out. He walked his cute little puppy legs right up to David. That was it. We knew he would be our boy. We had already picked his name out so we started calling him Moped. Kathy would use his name over the next two weeks so he would get used to it. He was named Moped because we already had another GSP named Skooter (Skooter, Moped, you get it!). I chose Moped’s AKC name: Samantha’s Prince of the Pines (Skooter’s AKC name is Samantha’s Prince of the Prairie).

We visited Moped twice before we picked him up when he was a day shy of being eight weeks old. Skooter came out once. They got along great. Skooter seemed to love Moped right away. We were living in Colorado Springs when we got Moped. He was very playful and full of energy when he wasn’t sleeping. He loved playing with Skooter. They would play fight all the time. Moped was always a stocky boy. He had huge paws even as a puppy. He grew and grew and grew. And he and Skooter got along great.

We were blessed that Kathy had given us some pictures of Moped in his first eight weeks. And we had the picture of the first time that David ever held Moped. So in August of 2006 we added eight week old Moped to the family. Skooter loved him. They got along really well. Skooter seemed like such a big boy now compared to the new puppy, but Skooter still had a lot of puppy left in him.

Things went well for quite a while. But soon the dogs were showing some behavior problems: aggressive chewing and whining. They were bored. They weren't getting enough exercise and it was showing in their new behaviors. We realized that keeping the dogs with us might not be the best thing for them. They needed a home that had more activity and a higher energy level. We started considering what was best for the dogs, not what was best for us. I decided to give it one more try and brought the dogs for a behavior evaluation at All Breed Rescue and Training. They were awesome in the evaluation. Very good boys. But the evaluator could see that they were bored. So we put them in obedience classes and a home program. There were lots of toys and chews and project toys (like the tug a jug and kongs) to keep them busy but Moped had become wild running around the house and jumping on the furniture. They both would play fight the majority of the time that they were out of their kennels. They were indeed bored. I put Moped in Doggy Day Care a couple days a week. He loved, loved, loved being around all the other dogs. I would get to watch him on the Doggy Day Care’s web cam. I could see him having a great time.

I already had the surrender form from Rocky Mountain GSP Rescue. I had already considered surrendering them. And in March, even though they were in the middle of training and Moped was in Day Care, I realized that I was just postponing the inevitable. These dogs needed more than we could give them. So I made the hardest decision I've ever had to make and surrendered the dogs to the Rescue.

It was a beautiful Sunday. We gathered all their stuff and crated them down to Penrose, CO. I didn't want to let them go. I wanted to be selfish. But I knew it was best for them to have a chance to be re-homed with a more appropriate family. Leaving them at the Rescue was difficult. However, it was made easier by Moped jumping in with all four paws and getting to know the other dogs. Moped loves being around other dogs.

Moped is so happy go lucky and thrilled wherever he is. I checked in on them a few times in the first week and was told by the Rescue owner that they were doing just great. And he wasn't bored anymore. He had other dogs to play with and he was out of his kennel all day.

I hope that Moped is as loved in his new home as much as he is loved by me. He will be nine months old on March 18, 2006. I hope he is in his forever home by the time he is ten months old. This is just the beginning of Moped’s story. He has a long life to look forward to. I hope I can keep tabs on him as he grows and matures. I don't ever want to lose touch with him. He is my boy.

If there is anything else you’d like to know about Moped, please feel free to contact us or check out Moped’s blog.