Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
I have not posted in almost a month.I am hoping to be able to post on more frequent basis.Well, we returned and have recovered from our fabulous Yellowstone trip.Were we did nine hikes out of 11 days in Yellowstone.Our shortest hike was 3.5 miles and our longest 7.5 miles with most in the 5 mile range.These were not flat strolls, but up and down the mountain hikes at approximately 7,500 to 8,500 feet elevation.We returned very fit and very tired!
Bison Calve and Mom
Mountain Pass Trail Called the Picnic Trail
A badger on the Lost Lake Trail that Was Determined Not to Let Us Pass
An Antelope on Another Mountain Pass Trail
A Very Rare Close Encounter With A Rocky Mountain Sheep Ewe
Upon our return, I had grass two to three feet high, which took me a week to mow because both mowers decided to repeatedly breakdown.This week, the start of July, we will be spending time grooming and heart worming all our dogs. Being the July 4 weekend we are also filled with boards, which are customer’s dogs that we are kenneling while customers are on vacation.These are some of my excuses for not posting, but as promised, I will post more frequently.
We did miss our dogs in Yellowstone and many times while hiking, we wished that Grand Champion Kodi could have been with us.However, given that there are wolves and grizzly bears in Yellowstone, it is far too dangerous for the wildlife and dogs to have them come into contact. Even Service dogs in Yellowstone are limited to parking lots and hotels.
We have a wonderful new litter that will be ready to go home July 13, 2013.This is both young parents first litter, but they have produced solid temperaments and big healthy puppies.The dam Heidelberg’s Carlie is from Champion Oliver and the Sire Heidelberg’s Texoma is from Grand Champion Heidelberg’s Kodi.Crossing Grand Champion Kodi with Champion Oliver lines has proved to be a good breeding and match. Look for these puppies to be posted with pricing on our web page sometime after July 6, 20013.We are currently accepting deposits on this litter.
Sandy, Our Volunteer Holding a Male Puppy From the Carlie and Texoma Litter
Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds
Named years ago by an employee, the disaster twins, get along well because Paige their mom is a great mother figure and keeps them inline. They absolutely hate being separated and protest even temporary separations of only moments. They are infamous for their silly antics in their kennel. One of their favorite activities is a multi-part game that happens when they are let out of their kennel daily. They start with Yasmin at the lead running around the kennels at least 2 to 3 times at full speed with Yoyo closely behind, and Paige just keeping up enough to see the action. Every time Yoyo thinks she is getting close to catching her sister she will pull a fast one and cut in-between the kennels or change directions. Paige by this point has stopped and will catch her by waiting, or will change the action altogether depending on her mood by come over and lick whoever let them out.
The other part to this funny little game is Paige is smart and agile enough to sneak away from her daughters and run to the front of the house where she will open the door and come in to say a quick, “Hi,” to everyone before running back outside to catch back up with her daughters before they even know she is gone.
These three girls are in constant motion when let out of their kennel to play, and are non-stop fun to have out.
This post has been written by Spencer. Thank you for looking.
My mom’s service dog is well known to the family as he goes on most functions with us.. Kodi like Kay is also a Grand Champion, but even cooler he can tell when my mom’s sugar is starting to fluctuate to a critical level and needs attention. He will alert her by pawing at her and winning until she checks her sugar. Amazingly my mom has only had a problem with her sugar and that was when Kodi was not there to warn her. He has become a very important part of our lives, and the family.
Kodi is amazingly smart, at 4 ½ years old he not only can open all the doors in the house, but he knows to stand at the open door waiting for someone to approve his entry. He has a great sense for knowing when we need to play with him and will take off running and bounding at seemingly randomly times, but always when a break is needed. Just the other day I decided to walk with him to survey the changes after a rainstorm here at my parents’ house. We walked the long way around the pond and as we got closer he knew where we were and very uncharacteristically ran out ahead about 20 yards to the top of the dam waiting on me to get there. As soon as I got there it was on, full sprint around the pond right on the edge of the new water line splashing everywhere just having a great and very fast time, I could not get my camera out fast enough.
Later the next day I thought he would enjoy the pond again so I walked down there with him this time straight to the dock. We sat and looked around for a moment and then it was time to play. He when to back to the bank and then straight to the edge of the water and splashed it with is paw very enthusiastically, and I decided to sit on the edge of the dock and do the same. This was just too much excitement for him as he could not see how he could get to the water from on the dock, so he mimicked my kicking of the water with his front paws in the air a few times. And then he got this look in his eye, he was off full sprint around the pond on the edge of the water again. This time I was able to catch the end of it on video.
Kodi is one that loves attention and especially loves my mom, just the other day I think more due to missing her he jumped into bed with me during a thunderstorm only during the storm. Typically with my mom around he will sleep right through them, but I think with her gone to Yellowstone he didn’t want to feel alone.
Kodi has never looked better in my opinion he is filling out and looking very ‘beastly’, he should not be done filling out until he is closer to 5 or 5 ½ so I am looking forward to see how muscular he gets. Kodi is the grandson to Bismarck and should look very great in his later years. Bismarck could have been mistaken for a body building dog, and was the first dog my mom found to be able to sense when her sugar needed attention by licking her until she would take care of it.
This post has been written by Spencer. Thank you for looking.
I would like to take a moment and tell you about one of our Grand Champions CH. Heidelberg’s Oklahoma Natashac known as Kay. Just over a week ago she was found by me in the play yard with what appeared to be bloat, and was quickly rushed to the vet’s office. Even though she was in extreme pain she was happy to be around me and wagged her tail even during some of the times she was crying. Fortunately Dr. Harvey was able to do surgery and remove the blockage in Kay’s intestines. Little did I know what I was in for as she came to recover, Kay however knows exactly what she wants.
The first thing that my dad and I figured out was that Kay did not like being put in crate where she could not see people. It did not matter if you were in the room with her she wants to be able to see part of your body at all times. Simply moving her crate solved this barking in protest problem, but only during the first few days of recovery. As Kay has gotten better she has shown herself to be a very unique character. Typically when she would see me as I arrived at my parents she would jump and spin in the air barking to say, “Hello”, which is how I was able to spot that she was in distress, so easily.
What I did not realize is what a ham she is. Since I am watching my parents’ house and business I have had extra time to spend with her. Kay has always been one to prance around happily, she moves so beautifully that it obvious why she was easy to finish and get her grand championship. It is amazing to me how much spunk she has even when she is in pain, but even more amazing is all the little things I have not noticed before. See as Kay has got to feeling better she has been able to manipulate me more and more. Now it is not good enough to see me, she must be in the room with me, and it is not good enough that I take her out to potty and watch her, I must walk with her the whole way. She has been attached to my hip for the last several days and it has been great fun.
Kay loves to over run, and loves to lead so when you are walking with her she is a few steps in front of you prancing as if she is floating on a cloud and when you stop she knows that you have because she is carefully watching, but instead of stopping with you she prances directly in front of you as if to say, “Here I am, I’m so glad you got to see me!” It nearly doesn’t matter the circumstance Kay is going to find a way to dance herself right in front of you and look up with her big eyes and then give a big smile. She absolutely loves being the center of attention!
Right now she is very skinny as she is recovering and she has found the best place to lay while I write this is under my feet where she can keep a close eye on me to make sure I will keep a close eye on her.
This post has been written by Spencer. Thank you for looking.
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
Traveling with your German Shepherd Dog can be easy and enjoyable when you and your dog are prepared for the trip.German Shepherd Dog, puppies or adults can be extremely sensitive to the water that they drink.Water from different areas contain different chemicals and hardness, and can cause your German Shepherd Dog to get diarrhea.Therefore, it is well worth the effort to travel with water from your house for your German Shepherd Dog.An alternative to this is to purchase distilled water.When we are traveling to dog shows, we may have as many as eight adult dogs in our van.This many dogs makes it impossible to carry enough water from home for a four or five day trip.We have found that the dogs do well on distilled water and they never get runny stools from the water.
Enjoying a Break while on the Road
I discovered this years ago while at a dog show with seven German Shepherd Dogs in West Texas where the local water was high in sulfur.I as well as all seven German shepherds had upset stomachs.I purchased distilled water and everyone got well within one day.Also, if your German Shepherd Dog does develop runny stools while traveling, four or five table spoons of Dannon plain white yogurt added to their food will calm their upset stomachs.
Traveling with your German Shepherd Dog’s food is easy with a little planning and preparation.I recommend bagging daily rations of dry-food in Ziploc baggies.This way you will not run out of food before your travels are done and you are not hauling extra food.You also can precook carrots and eggs and place these in Tupperware and keep them cool in a small doggie ice chest along with your yogurt and canned meet.Vitamins and cod liver oil also be premeasured and placed in smaller containers so you are not carrying extra while on your trip.We prefer to feed canned salmon or mackerel when traveling.One 15 ounce should be enough for 5 days.Be sure to bring a food bowl; we prefer stainless steel because it is durable and very easy to clean in a hotel sink. Also, you should bring a pail that you can hang onto the side of their crate for them to drink from.
Taking Time to Explore While on a Travel Break
Where does your German Shepherd dog ride while in the vehicle?For adult shepherds the front or back seat may suffice.If your dog is not crated, please use a dog seat-belt.This will protect you as well as your German shepherd Dog if you have a car accident.Even a minor fender bender can propel your unsecured dog into or through the windshield or into the back of your head killing you and your dog.For traveling with German Shepherd Dog puppies, I recommend a crate that is just large enough that they can stand up and comfortably turn around in.The crate should be secured to the vehicle so that it cannot become a projectile in case of an accident.
If you are staying overnight in hotels, you should bring a crate that you can place your dog in while he is in the hotel room, especially if you leave to go to eat and leave the German Shepherd Dog behind.This is because if hotel staff opens the door, they will not be greeted by a German Shepherd Dog and possibly let your dog out of the room when they leave the door open while running away.This happened to one of our customers while at a dog show in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Finally do not forget to bring a couple of your German Shepherd Dog’s favorite toys.Traveling is stressful to your dog and having a couple of their favorite toys in evening will allow them to unwind while you watch television to unwind. Enjoy your travels with your German Shepherd Dog and be safe on the road.
Grand Champion, Champion Heidelberg’s Kodiak v Qeridad Ready for Another Road Trip
Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds
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