Phoebe was a german shepherd/australian shephered that was adopted at 4 1/2 months old from the Humane Society as a companion dog to our other pet "Samson" that was also just adopted from the pound.  He was an akita mix and we wanted a female to grow up with him, since we both worked all day and wanted them to be together.  Samson died earlier and so it was just Phoebe for a few more years.  The Humane Society said she must have been abused before we adopted her because of her behavior, but you really would have never known it.  The smartest dog I'll ever know, she was grace personfied, fun, loving, never a day's trouble.  She will be missed terribly.