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| Name: |
Kiyo
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Age: |
Four years old
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| Gender: |
Male |
Breed: |
Dog
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| Home: |
Ohio, USA |
I have always wanted a German Shepherd and I was looking for one to adopt. My mom found this listing for a German Shepherd mixed puppy on a rescue site and we decided to go meet the little guy. I saw him and it was love at first sight. We sat down together with his foster mom and got to know each other. I touched his paws, did a little pull on his ears, poked his nose and he didn't care one bit. This was exciting for me because after all that I knew our personalities would match. So we adopted him. He came with the name Max but after a week I noticed he did not respond at all to Max. So I started making sounds of different letters to see how he reacted to them. Apparently the "K" sound was the key, then I would say different names that began with K. He responded very well to a name of Japanese origin, Kiyo, meaning quiet child. Thus, Kiyo is his name, and he doesn't bark unless someone new is at the door or he needs outside so it suited him too!
Kiyo is easily distracted by anything that moves. I took him out to the back yard one day and let him loose to run and play. He ended up batting and bouncing on bugs that would fly past him like a fox but constantly switching which bug he was after. It is a hoot when he starts that up every Spring.
I was so very curious about what breeds were in him. So, I had his DNA tested. I was expecting Corgi, Collie, and German Shepherd mix. But then I got the test back and was flabbergasted. Turns out the two most predominant breeds in him are a tiny American Eskimo and a large Leonberger along with a few other toy breeds and some herding breeds. None of which was a Corgi, Collie or German Shepherd.
It's so cute that most people who meet Kiyo think he is still a growing puppy but he is around 60lbs and is fully grown still magically he looks like a puppy. Maybe it's the ears!
Kiyo's favorite games are chase where I try to catch him but never actually do, and keep away where we take turning keeping a stick or frisbee away from each other. He's not very interested in play fetch and he refuses to play tug of war. His favorite toys are a duck plushy, a fake fox pelt, a bouncy ball and the cat's toys. His favorite treats are carrots and freeze dried beef. His favorite pass times are taking a walk and laying on the couch with anyone in the family including the cats if they will let him. He doesn't like to swim even though he can, which is kinda sad for me, because I wish he would swim with me.
I love Kiyo so much. We do almost everything together. He is such a good dog and picks up on things fast. I would not trade him for the world. He helps me more then I help him and I know it. He helps me through depressive episodes and panic attacks seemingly just from instincts. During a depressive episode, he will demand I take him outside by barking and running around the house and won't take no for an answer. During a panic attack he will lay with me and put slight pressure on my chest with his head. I never taught him any of that. You know that bumper stick that you'll see on cars that say "who rescued who?" Well, Kiyo most definitely rescued me.
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