Misty: My Black German Shepherd and Our Unbreakable Bond

Misty came into my life in the most unexpected way. I found her when she was about a year old, just after I got my first two German Shepherds, Missy and Maggie. Funny enough, they’re all the same age, give or take a month. When I first met Misty, her name was Quinn—but that name didn’t fit her at all.

We picked her up in Brighton, where her previous owner was in a rush to get things done. He left so quickly that we were left alone with Misty, trying to coax her into the Jeep. But Misty was scared, and before we knew it, she bolted! We spent the next half hour chasing her around the house, trying to get her into the car. Finally, we got her in, and once we hit the road, something special happened. I looked into the rearview mirror, and there she was—staring at me with those deep, soulful eyes. It was in that moment I knew her name wasn’t Quinn; it was Misty. Little did I know that look meant she had already chosen me as her human.

At the time, Misty weighed about 75 pounds, but she quickly grew to a solid 110 pounds of pure, gentle giant. She’s not overweight, just huge—a big girl with a heart to match. The guy we got her from said that due to a divorce, he couldn’t care for her anymore. But once she met me, I think she knew she was home.

When we brought her back, she was introduced to her new sisters, Missy and Maggie. Let me tell you, having dogs named Missy and Misty is confusing! But the three of them got along wonderfully. I was a little nervous that Misty, being a year old already, might have some bad habits. But she turned out to be one of the best dogs I’ve ever had. She follows me everywhere and waits patiently for me at the door whenever I’m outside.

My wife was a bit scared of Misty at first—who wouldn’t be, with her looking like a 110-pound wolf, all black and intimidating? But once Misty worked her magic, it didn’t take long for my wife to fall in love with her too. Misty is nothing but a big teddy bear, not the scary wolf she appears to be. She gets along swimmingly with our smaller dogs and is always gentle—except when it’s dinner time. Then, she might get a little growly, but it’s never anything serious.

There’s a deep bond between us, one like I’ve never had with any other dog. Sometimes I catch her looking at me, and I look back, and without words, we both just know how much we love each other. Misty has come a long way from that scared dog who was afraid to get into the Jeep. Now, she walks up to it with excitement, ready for the ride ahead with her sisters, Maggie and Missy. Every night before bed, she looks at me, and I know it’s belly rub time. She always loves that.

Despite her size, Misty still thinks she’s a little lap dog and will try to climb into my lap, all 110 pounds of her! She’s got a few loves in life: chewing marrow bones, playing football, riding in the Jeep, and, of course, eating! She’s protective, too. I remember one time we were out walking on a trail, and some sketchy guy approached us. Misty wouldn’t let him near me—she’s always got my back.

Misty is now 7 years old, and while I dread the thought of her getting older, I cherish every moment we have together. We have a bond like no other, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love having a black German Shepherd—people often ask if she’s a “real” German Shepherd, and I proudly say, “Yes, she most certainly is!”

For now, I’m just grateful for every Jeep ride, every football game, and every quiet moment with my beautiful Misty.