HotShot, the Beastly One!

by Andrea
(Prescott, AZ )

I live in Prescott, AZ, where on July 30 we lost 19 Hotshot Firefighters in a huge wildfire. I knew half the crew and when my purebred GSD came to me on the day of their memorial service (he was 8 weeks old), I knew that HotShot was the only fitting name for him.

He was a chunky little pup with HUGE ears and paws. In October, he weighed in at 54 lbs. Last night at a vet visit his weight registered at 74.2 lbs (he is now 6.5 months old) and he is 26" at the shoulder, prompting the vet to ask if I am sure about his age. When I answered affirmatively, the vet called him a beastly one.

HotShot has more energy that I have ever seen in a dog (and I've always had dogs, and quite a few GSDs). He hikes and camps with me, plays all day long, loves the dog park, and very rarely gets really worn out. At 10 weeks old he went on a 2.5 mile hike up the mountain and down the other side...and walked the whole thing. When we got home he slept for 15 minutes and was ready to do it again. :)

He eats approx. 8 cups of Pedigree dry puppy formula every day, and at lunch I mix in a pouch of Pedigree little champions wet food with his dry chow. HotShot is playful, mischievous, full of love, and well socialized. He goes everywhere with me and has since he was a tiny pup.

He is without a doubt one of the best dogs I've ever had.