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Post by dolphie on Oct 6, 2009 12:16:00 GMT -5
Thank you Turk!
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Post by dolphie on Oct 6, 2009 12:29:52 GMT -5
As a child, we grew up with German Shepherds as our pets. (GSD=German Shepherd Dogs)
These were the real GSDs not to be confused with today's Americanized GSDs.
We had one in particular: Jiggs The smartest dog that ever lived.
He was a great watchdog and a great friend. He could tell many a story if he was not one for keeping secrets.
That poor dog wore so many outfits - I am sure he was humiliated at times (he was superdog, he was whomever we needed in our playacting games).
We went through the Columbus Day storm in Bandon, Oregon. That storm took off rooftops, blew down fences and more.
Our home fared well, our fence did not.
We were located near a road that experienced some traffic - yet not a huge amount of traffic.
My brother was a toddler. He wanted to wander out to where our cousin was standing. Jiggs, being a good shepherd, circled his body around my brother and between him and the road.
My brother was so agitated at that darn dog! He pounded on him and tried to get around Jiggs.
Well, after a bit, Jiggs took my brother by the seat of his britches and gently pulled him to the ground. That surprised my brother and gave me time to grab my brother and get him to the backyard.
Another time, a burglar struck. He had broken the window pane on the door and was putting his hand in to unlock the door handle. I was at home babysitting my siblings with Jiggs by my side. Jiggs went out the window and after the potential intruder. I heard a ton of cussing then a yelp as a car screeched off.
Jiggs came back to the house limping. I brought him in and - like most kids - just tonned the attention on him.
Days to a week later, when a friend was staying with me as I babysat, I would go check on the kids and Jiggs would follow me. When he was where I could not see him - he would walk on all 4s - as soon as I turned around, he was holding one paw up - injured of course *rolls eyes* - and look up at me.
My friend told me what he was doing and I did not believe it - until I finally busted him holding up the wrong paw.
Typical male - anything for more attention!
One day we were playing in the house and Jiggs stood up straight then keeled over, dead. The stupid neighbors had poisoned him. They had tossed stuff into our yard. That picture remains in my mind.
He was more than a great dog... he was the best!
Now, my brother has a dog: Shadow. Shadow is my hairy nephew and he is at the level of Jiggs.
Incredibly intelligent and a character.
Thus - this thread will have stories and pictures of Shadow.
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Post by Turk on Oct 6, 2009 21:31:04 GMT -5
Our family dog a 14 year old yellow lab still regards herself as a pup. She has been in top notch health all her life and a hard charger. It is interesting my family has always been very competitive and our dog is no different. For my birthday all my kids were in town we all played Scrabble you think WWIII just began, the dog sat and barked at us.
Well to make a long story short, I, my 3 oldest and the dog went hiking in the Eastern Sierra, I slipped on an ice field and free fell for 270 feet and bounced another 30 feet over boulders. Our dog almost two years old at the time blew out the ligaments in both her back legs trying to reach me, broke ribs and her front leg. When rescue arrived the dog got her own stretcher. I amazingly fared much better, only 50 stitches and numerous bruises.
We all went back on the same hike the following year including Lundy and dared the mountain
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Post by Jack on Oct 6, 2009 21:58:05 GMT -5
This is a pretty close replica of what my wife calls her "Granddog". His name is "Norman" and he has the sweetest disposition of any dog I've ever known. He's just a tad under 100 lbs. and loves to play. Just don't let him drop one of his "toys" on your foot. He's dark as midnight and I've only heard him bark once - it was an incredibly deep sound that was reminiscent of similar sounds from horror movies.
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Post by dolphie on Oct 6, 2009 21:59:29 GMT -5
Our family dog a 14 year old yellow lab still regards herself as a pup. She has been in top notch health all her life and a hard charger. It is interesting my family has always been very competitive and our dog is no different. For my birthday all my kids were in town we all played Scrabble you think WWIII just began, the dog sat and barked at us. Well to make a long story short, I, my 3 oldest and the dog went hiking in the Eastern Sierra, I slipped on an ice field and free fell for 270 feet and bounced another 30 feet over boulders. Our dog almost two years old at the time blew out the ligaments in both her back legs trying to reach me, broke ribs and her front leg. When rescue arrived the dog got her own stretcher. I amazingly fared much better, only 50 stitches and numerous bruises. We all went back on the same hike the following year including Lundy and dared the mountain Now, that sounds like something Shadow would do! He is extremely athletic and helpful.
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Post by dolphie on Oct 6, 2009 22:00:49 GMT -5
This is a pretty close replica of what my wife calls her "Granddog". His name is "Norman" and he has the sweetest disposition of any dog I've ever known. He's just a tad under 100 lbs. and loves to play. Just don't let him drop one of his "toys" on your foot. He's dark as midnight and I've only heard him bark once - it was an incredibly deep sound that was reminiscent of similar sounds from horror movies. He is GORGEOUS! What a sweet face! Makes you just want to go up and hug him! I love that she calls him her Granddog. LOL Like my hairy nephew.
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Post by jdredd on Oct 6, 2009 23:51:25 GMT -5
"One day we were playing in the house and Jiggs stood up straight then keeled over, dead. The stupid neighbors had poisoned him. They had tossed stuff into our yard. That picture remains in my mind. "
Sounds like the neighbors were much more than just stupid.
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Post by dolphie on Oct 7, 2009 0:23:22 GMT -5
"One day we were playing in the house and Jiggs stood up straight then keeled over, dead. The stupid neighbors had poisoned him. They had tossed stuff into our yard. That picture remains in my mind. " Sounds like the neighbors were much more than just stupid. Yes, they were more than just stupid. They were a mean lot. Nice on the surface, nasty underneath. We could not prove it... but we had caught them trying to toss foodstuffs into our yard in the past. Either way - we knew.
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Post by Turk on Oct 7, 2009 1:00:07 GMT -5
Taken 7 years ago our youngest son and the family dog.
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Post by dolphie on Oct 7, 2009 1:11:31 GMT -5
Turk,
That is too much fun.
It reminds me of growing up in Oregon.
And how down home all American are those pictures: A boy with his dog hanging out and having fun!
Wow!
Is that part of the pond you built or is that another place?
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Post by Turk on Oct 7, 2009 10:13:42 GMT -5
Turk, That is too much fun. It reminds me of growing up in Oregon. And how down home all American are those pictures: A boy with his dog hanging out and having fun! Wow! Is that part of the pond you built or is that another place? it is the pond. The two slept together until our youngest moved out, now the dog wants to sleep between the wife and I. The wife doesn't mind grrrrrrr
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Post by dolphie on Oct 7, 2009 10:35:13 GMT -5
it is the pond. The two slept together until our youngest moved out, now the dog wants to sleep between the wife and I. The wife doesn't mind grrrrrrrhahahaha I was just sipping - 1st sip at that - my morning tea when I read that. I still would like your posts to have a warning label that flashes: wet monitor alert! That pond is so awesome! What a way to create a lifestyle.
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Post by dolphie on Oct 7, 2009 15:20:38 GMT -5
Shadow
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Post by dolphie on Oct 7, 2009 15:32:33 GMT -5
Shadow's mom and dad were both service dogs and from them there are some great service dogs throughout Oregon, etc.
Shadow's lineage is from the Bodo limb of the GSD tree. These are known to be more like the original GSDs than many GSDs today. (GSD = German Shepherd Dog)
The GSD, although they excel in many areas, are not so much specialists like retrievers, etc. They excel in many areas.
They are protectors, herders, search/rescue, tracking, etc. They were bred for their intelligence and athleticism.
In America - the breeders and AKC focused more on the herding and less on the balanced nature of the dogs. They bred for a slanting back (which hurts the front shoulders and lends towards hip dysplasia).
GSDs are stealthy. You do not hear them barking a lot... they will observe you then take you down. They are not known for going for the throat as much as shouldering you to the ground and grabbing arms, etc.
The breeders Shadow came from are bringing back the healthy lineage of the GSDs. The ones like what we grew up with. We were fortunate to find these breeders and that they sold Shadow to us. Most of their dogs go into NARC, K9, search/rescue, tracking, service.
Shadow naturally is a great scent, tracking, search dog. He LOVES LOVES LOVES water and has taught many a lab to swim.
When my brother is overseas, he stays with this lady (Grandma Peggy) who has macular degeneration and is nearly blind. She is in her upper 80s, nearly 90. She is from one of the foundational families of the Sacramento area and still owns property. One of her properties is currently managed by a management company. When she raised the rent on the apts - the renters ignored the management company and went directly to her house and threatened her. A nearly blind, 80+ year woman. What creeps!
She now has Shadow with her frequently. Shadow places himself between Grandma Peggy and the doorway - letting the person at the door know she is one of his protectees. For some reason - they have been kinder with her.
Shadow has instinctively figured out when Peggy needs something and what that something might be. He will guide her to whatever she needs to do. He LOVES helping her.
When my brother comes to get him - he will show my brother what he has been able to help Peggy with, then he will look at my brother with that look that says: Lookie what I did! Aren't I such a good boy!
Shadow is 125lbs and solid muscle. He is extremely gentle, is great with little ones, can play with ankle biters and also play with large dogs. He knows how to measure the amount of energy he puts into whomever/whatever he is playing with such that he does not hurt the little ones and yet he keeps the larger ones on track.
We are looking for a female that is good natured and with good breeding to help with the Bodo lineage. The females are the ones who are important when it comes to the socialization of the puppies. Once we have a well raised, sweet solid bred female, we will have a litter for our family - then we will begin to have Shadow take part in stabilizing the breed. (mostly for working dogs)
The breeder we worked with trains K9s and trains the handlers of the K9s. He thinks as we do. Observe the personality of the puppy. You can tell if a puppy would fare well as a K9 or better as a guide dog or better as a NARC or ... search/rescue or tracking. If you force a puppy that is more NARC, search/rescue/tracking into being a K9 (like some trainers and agencies do) you will wind up with a problem animal that is not the best for the handler, the police nor for the public.
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Post by IrishMike on Oct 7, 2009 18:46:53 GMT -5
Taken 7 years ago our youngest son and the family dog. Reminds me of my youth enjoying Redding,Ca.That was a great place to live between 5-8 years old,I learned what to many green apples will do to you.
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