This is Belgium, the rescue golden retriever - German shepherd mix! He is about nine years old, and he's been part of the family for almost three years. His hillbilly nickname is Belly Bob.
He had a pretty rough life before he found his forever home. He is epileptic and has a hard time with impulse control, possibly because of severe head trauma that he endured in the past. At one point he was beaten with a blunt object and apparently left for dead in the woods up in northern Arizona. Somehow he picked himself up and survived in the forest for over 8 months, through the winter, before being found by hikers.
He bounced between a few more homes after that because they couldn't handle his emotional issues or physical strength. Me, I guess I just don't mind occasionally being dragged down a hillside after a pigeon...
Now he lives a quiet life with lots of walks, treats, toys, belly rubs, and naps on the couch. He's one of the smartest dogs I've ever had and knows many useful commands, but he's also incredibly headstrong and only obeys when he feels like it. Lucky for me, he
usually feels like it! I think he had to look out for himself for so long that he's forever accustomed to making his own decisions.
His favorite food is anything stolen. His hobbies include hiding gobs of cooked spaghetti under pillows, barking at golf carts, listening in on phone conversations, chasing the ducks, opening dog-proof containers, crushing people by sitting on them (he weighs 80 pounds) and making friends with every dog he meets, big or small. Sometimes he likes to try on shirts while everyone praises his beauty.