The most special German Shepherd in the world

I groomed a 14-year-old German Shepherd once. He was so gentle and regal. I loved being around him, he had this look in his tired, crusty eyes like he's seen everything there is to life.

I had a boxer that developed GM. My vet told me that I kept him alive longer than he has ever seen, almost for 2 years. I did have to express his bladder and bowels. I carried him every day to his favourite places and even travelled with him. When it became hard for him to breathe I had to make the hardest decision at that moment of my life. He was an amazing dog and because of him I started rescuing and then developed my own unique school of behavioural understanding k9s. Since then, 25 years and thousands of dogs have been rehabilitated through my school with the worst behavioural cases, including dogs rescued from fighting rings. RIP Moby, I’ll see you at the rainbow bridge 🌈

I had a German Shepherd who developed hip dysplasia when she was around 9. By the time she was 10 she needed a sling to walk, like what you showed Gaston walking with at the beginning of the video. That said, it didn't negatively affect her quality of life—she actually started showing a more sassy and happy personality, because she knew we would dance attendance on her the second she barked for it, and she relished in that extra attention. She died in her sleep of old age, after eating a full dinner and giving us all the business the whole day ❤

We are now caring for my daughter's 12 year old German Shepherd, since she had to move and could no longer keep her. She still comes to see her several times per week. I feel privileged to be able to make her senior years as happy and comfortable as possible. She, in turn, has made it her duty in life to watch over and "protect" me to the best of her ability. Her body is old, but that great heart is as big and strong as ever!

No one licks like Gaston No one's sheds like Gaston No one's fur as incredibly thick as Gaston's :D <3

My 13 year old long hair German shepherd crossed the rainbow bridge a few months ago, suffering from Degenerative Myelopathy from the age of 9. This video hits close to home for me, so I thank you for taking care of this beautiful boy.

Gaston is the very picture of what a German Shepherd should look like. His coat is absolutely stunning and his bearing regal. Once he realized Vanessa wasn’t hurting him and was making him feel better, he really leaned into the grooming. Such a wonderful old boy. I’m devastated that he has a disease that will rob him of his regal bearing and dignity, and that it could have been prevented. Thank you, Vanessa, for giving this old boy some dignity back by treating him with kindness and compassion. And thank you to his foster for being willing to help him throughout the end of his debilitating disease. You are heroes. ❤❤❤

If that's not enough to break your heart and make you want to cry, you're not human. He was such a good boy, just looking around, curious. I'm glad to hear that the disease doesn't cause pain. I wish him a comfortable life and thank you for taking such good care of him.

Vanessa - thank you for showing so much compassion towards this sweet old man! We all deserve to be treated well, even an old junk yard dog. I love and respect what you do. ❤

Gaston is a sweeheart and its sad he suffers from degenerative myopathy that will eventually take his life. This is exactly the picture people have of a German Shepherd! They’re loving, loyal and devoted to a fault. Gaston took his groom with stride! 😊

I had a German Shepherd who was 15 years old when she was diagnosed with bone cancer. She was my best friend, and she was such a sweet, loving, and protective dog. ❤ prayers to this gorgeous boy.

I love how you work with the rescues and treat them with such compassion. Also how you always educate us about the health issues with dog and the importance of ethical breeders. ❤

I cried thru this entire video. We lost our 14 1/2 year old German Shepherd 3 weeks ago. He was the best, he tolerated me but loved my wife and kids. I could go to work or town and know my family was safe. Rest in peace Reptar, i love you.

Gaston's condition is so sad, but it warms my heart to see folks give him such loving care. I am a HUGE proponent of fostering elderly and terminal animals! They deserve just as much love and attention! Thank You Gaston's owners and Vanessa for all you do! ♥🐶👍

The poor creature took the whole groom like a champion ❤️ i think he eventually understood that he would be more comfortable with the groom done. Both his foster family and Vanessa have so much kindness and compassion, it's heartwarming to see ❤❤

Our girl got diagnosed with DM maybe 8 months ago and it's been a rather unsteady ride as we approach the end, the comfort of seeing the love you give this sweet boy is wonderful ❤

Lets all commend the adopters who have stepped up and made the moral and ethical decision to love and support this gentleman in his final years. Thanks, Vanessa, for your continued education for the general dog loving public and those thinking of making a german shepherd a part of their family. Your channel is such a positive addition to the YouTube channel. God bless ya.....

So sad. Thank you for making him more comfortable before he leaves to puppy heaven

Oh man I teared up watching this whole thing. He's such a beautiful creature. He must've felt the best he's ever felt after you were done with him.

What you said about Gaston's mobility not giving him any pain brought back some memories. My vet said the same about my beloved Black Lab x New Zealand Beardie Huntaway, who had a similar problem that first showed itself when she was 12 (thank God for 12 years of health🙏). Rather than this boy's Degenerative Myelopathy, she had Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy (GOLPP), which has a similar outcome of the worsening back end, but which generally starts with the larynx (voice box) getting 'flabby', which is like a pair or curtains gradually closing in the airway. The first you know is the higher-pitched bark and the chronic coughing, gagging and throat-clearing, and the dog struggles to pant sufficiently on hot days or after only a little exertion, even though previously fit and not overweight. Then it progresses to the back paws ... first you notice the dog avoids sitting for her treats when you ask, despite usually being so obedient ... then that it's difficult to go up and down stairs. Next, you wonder why there are strange thin pale patches of 'dried chewing gum' stuck to the back paw pads which won't wash off ... until the vet takes a look and says that's what happens to the pads when a dog in the early stages of mobility issues walks on rough hard surfaces like pavements/sidewalks and is imperceptibly scuffing the pads as they go. I bought her some wonderful Neo Paws dog bootees for her back feet so that she could scuff the thick soles of those instead! These also helped enormously by keeping her paws in the correct position later on, when they began to 'knuckle over'. In the house I laid yoga mats on the hard flooring in between the rugs to stop her weakening hind legs from slipping and splaying like a baby fawn on ice. By the age of almost 13 she had a life-saving "tie-back" operation where one side of the larynx 'curtain' is literally tied back, so providing a clearer airway. No more swimming, though, and no more crunchy food in case of crumbs flying down the open airway into the lungs and causing pneumonia - a common risk after tie-back surgery. But at least she could breathe easier; her tongue was no longer turning blue through lack of oxygen after the gentlest of walks (she loved her walks). This gave her over 2 more years of life, until the hind-end issues took over and she couldn't walk without the use of a belly-band and was beginning to be semi-incontinent (which distressed her more than it did me). Other 'old dog issues' such as deafness and visual impairment (nuclear sclerosis) had set in during her 14th year. I let her go at the ripe old age of 15 1/4 - my first dog and my best friend in all the world. A long life for a dog of 33kg/73lb (the size of a Golden Retriever), but still not long enough. That is supposed to be us in my profile picture - I'll never stop missing her.