Gonzo's story is not as good as most of these!. . When I was 13, I wanted a GSD. I had wanted a GSD for the longest time, from a breeder in Chico that I had met. I wanted to do competitive Obedience (now, after going to trials and really reading up on it, I am SO not interested in it ). . I also wanted a pup to keep our Rottie company in his last few months. my Dad wanted another Border Collie, so he talked to one of the foster for BC rescue that we knew. She said they had no dogs under 2 years at that time, but there was a breeder that they knew that was looking to adopt out a young dog. So we drove all the way to Elk Grove, and immediately I met Gonzo's sire, who was a really handsome (albeit dirty and skinny) fluffy Border Collie named Waldo. Then Gonzo came running up from inside of a horse corral, he was all fluffy and leggy and adorrable and I fell in love with him!! They also had a 1 year-old dog they were trying to "get rid of" that was still left from a previous litter these people were not good breeders, their dogs just roamed around, never had indoor time or individual attention and were generally just disposable. I wish I would've really told them that I didn't agree with anything they were doing and they should stop breeding (my Dad told them something like that!). They gave us Gonzo for very little money and didn't ask a lot of questions. . they told us a lot of excuses for giving him up, but my guess is that they just had too many unwanted dogs (there are tons of strays and excess dogs in this area). I know for a fact that this breeder is still breeding and selling pups, and probably dumping others off at the pound

Gonzo was so sweet, even though he wasn't well trained or socialized. . he cried all the way home in the car, and he probably had never ridden in one before. His original name was Blue, so I just decided to name him Gonzo (which I hated by a few months later, and tried to change it, but it just grew on everyone ). He always loved other dogs and just wanted to make people happy, even though he still has a scared and uneasy nature that is due to lack of socialization when he was young.