I had decided to get myself a dog for my birthday. My family had dogs growing up, but this was my first dog. Zeph was the first one I saw and he stole my heart.
He's a beautiful do, a tricolor shepherd mix with blue eyes, a bob tail and white tipping. There is a hint of merling in the saddle pattern on his back. That, the blue eyes, and his general conformation make the best guess of his mix as German Shepherd/Australian Shepherd.
My understanding is that he had been adopted out more than once, but kept escaping and getting returned because he was a handful. At nearly 60lbs, with little training and way too much energy at 1 year old, I can understand how he was a bit much to handle. After I got him home, I found out he had broken teeth and ripped out nails by the roots fighting to get out of his cage.
Seven years later, he's still a handful, but a fun one. He'll always be an "obedience is optional" kind of dog, and his fun loving joie de vive seems undiminished. I frequently overhear people telling him that he can come home with them anytime.
Flyball and Agility are giving him some channels for that energy, but his true love is flying in the air after a frisbee or ball. He is magnificent.
You can see other designs featuring this dog in "dog sticking out tongue", "inflatodog", and others. He's a common theme.
