I am a 1-1/2 year old German Shepherd and my name is Schatzi. Everyone who knows me, loves me. And I love them, too. Even the mail carrier and the UPS man love me. I've never so much as barked at them.

The first time I visited a dog park, when I was 5 months old, someone commented that I am very confident. THAT I am. Nothing really bothers me, not even fireworks on the 4th of July. My person won't let me near cats--she thinks I might hurt them, but I just want to sniff them. I have a family of fish living in a pond in our yard--some koi, some gold fish and one bubble-eyed goldfish, my favorite. I don't bother them, but sometimes my ball goes in their pond and I'm not allowed to get it out by myself. I love living in Santa Monica because there are lots of dog parks here where I can run off-leash and really stretch my legs. The only thing I don't like about living here are the rats that seem to inhabit all of Santa Monica. They come out in the evening and go along the fences and in the shrubbery. They don't eat garbage--they are, after all, healthy California rats. They come in my yard and eat the oranges and tangerines that fall from the trees. And when I see them I go beserk and try to chase them away, as my persons don't particularly enjoy having them around. Have to go play with my ball now. Arf-wiedersehen!