09/27/2025
On December 1, 2018, my dad and I drove out to Amish country to meet a German Shepherd puppy we’d seen online. I’d been fighting a heavy season of depression, and he thought caring for another living being might help me. I actually asked for a Frenchie, but puppies were $3k then, and my dad is in love with German Shepherds, so that’s what we were getting.
We walked into the horse barn and 8–10 GSD puppies ran towards us. I had my eye on the spunky female, the biggest of the litter, Veronica. Then I noticed a little male tucked into a haystack in the corner, skinny, shivering, and smelling like straight up horse s**t. He was the runt. I pulled him out of the haystack. He looked at me, climbed into my coat with zero hesitation, and chose me. So we took him home. His litter name was Vlad…somehow he became Sultan. Little ol me had ZERO experience with dogs, let alone a stubborn, leaky, working line GSD.
I had no idea then how much this dog would change my life.
Sultan turns 7 today: seven years of adventures, endless vacuuming, and chaotic car rides. He’s been with me through the best days and the absolute worst, and I don’t know that I’d be here without him. He’s a “young senior” now, and his body is starting to show it. Sometimes I’m overwhelmed by the thought that he may have more yesterdays than tomorrows and our time together is ending sooner than later. Dogs never live long enough, but they do something better: they live completely in the moment. I hope he knows I am trying to make every single day his best day.
Happy birthday, Sultan…aka Sulty, Stinky Butt, Stink Stink, Sulty Baby, Sultan Vladimir, or Big Whiny Baby Boo Boo. You are truly the soul dog of a lifetime. I am eternally grateful my dad brought you into my life. You’ll never know how much you’ve done for me.
Credit ~ Respected Owner
