German Shepherd Dogs (Start of a New Training Class)

German Shepherd Dogs (Start of a New Training Class)

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

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Hi Everyone,

This is a quick post today to remind and encourage everyone about the start of our new Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Basic Obedience Class at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 10:30 am. There is no charge for this class and all breeds and ages are invited.  The only requirement is that your dogs must be up to date on all their vaccinations.

We concluded our summer training session in August with several owners and dogs passing the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen Class.  Since the conclusion of that class AKC has announced a new advanced level for Canine Good Citizen.  With the introduction of AKC Community Canine, the AKC’s CGC program now provides a comprehensive three- level training program for dogs and their owners. Beginning with AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, progressing to Canine Good Citizen and now to AKC Community Canine, the CGC program trains dogs through all stages of life to be well behaved in society.  We are excited about the new program and will match our training class exercises to meet the qualifications of this advanced level of training.

We Cannot Wait to go to School

We Cannot Wait to go to School

We look forwards to seeing new faces and old friends.  Please make it out for our free training.  The more participants that we have makes for a better class and training opportunities for all.

AKC Community Canine expands on CGC skills and lays the beginning foundation for obedience, rally and therapy dog work.  Many of you with young dogs are planning on moving through to bigger and better things for your puppy, and we thank you for allowing us to be a part of this journey.

Slow School is Open

Slow School is Open

Please continue to check out our web page as we post updates on available litters: https://kgsd.inventivehorizons.com/PuppiesForSale.htm.   We have several wonderful puppies that we are accepting deposits on, and these puppies will be ready to go to their new homes on September 9, 2011.

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion.   Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

German Shepherd Dogs (Start of a New Training Class)

German Shepherd Dog (Another Heidelberg Hero Story)

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

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 Hi Everyone,

I am so sorry that I have been so sporadic on these posts.  Ever since mid-June it seems that I have lost control of my time since I have been unbelievably busy.  However, with summer ending and all the associated chores, I am hopeful I will have a little more time to share with you my stories and knowledge of the wonderful German Shepherd Dog.  To make up for my tardiness I have a true and inspiring story for you today.

A Male Heidelberg Puppy that is currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

A Male Heidelberg Puppy that is currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

A longtime friend and Heidelberg German Shepherd Dog owner, John had his life saved by his beloved male Heidelberg, but not in a way you would ever expect.   John is a Heidelberg dog collector and has gotten into breeding and showing Heidelberg German Shepherd Dogs, but while over the years John has had several Heidelberg’s, he had his favorite male, Gunner  that went everywhere with John.  Gunner was approximately five-years-old and had already finished his Championship and was John’s prize stud dog.

Heidelberg Puppies that are currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

Heidelberg Puppies that are currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

One day John came home and Gunner immediately came to John and rather than giving John the regular greeting of sitting and waiting for John to lean over so Gunner could give him a kiss, Gunner immediately stuck his nose in John’s calf and started licking.  John thought maybe that he had brushed up against a girl that was in-season and did not think too much of the calf licking.  However, Gunner was persistent in licking John’s calf so much so that John took a shower so Gunner would stop.   Gunner did not stop.  This went on for a week, and so much so that Gunner got scolded and put outside several days.

Heidelberg Puppies that are currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

Heidelberg Puppies that are currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

John thought Gunner had developed some kind of personality problem and was upset that his prize stud dog and companion had become Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) over John’s leg.  While deciding what he was going to do with Gunner, John had the television on and a program came on about how European Doctors were using dogs to detect cancer.

A Male Heidelberg Puppy that is currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

A Male Heidelberg Puppy that is currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

John scheduled an appointment with his doctor, and he found that John had under-the-skin melanoma in the calf.  Almost anyone that has under-the-skin melanoma by the time they feel sick and seek medical help they usually die five days later because, by this time, it has spread throughout the entire body and is the brain and the lungs.

A Male Heidelberg Puppy that is currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

A Male Heidelberg Puppy that is currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

John had major surgery on his calf to remove the cancer and for two years had undergone chemo treatments.  He is finally cancer free.  Needless to say, Gunner was even elevated to a higher status in John’s house and while ten-years-old now, Gunner is still doing well.

A Female Heidelberg Puppy that is currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels

A Female Heidelberg Puppy that is currently Available at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels    

Please continue to check out our web page as we post updates on available litters: https://kgsd.inventivehorizons.com/PuppiesForSale.htm.   We have several wonderful puppies that we are accepting deposits on, and these puppies will be ready to go to their new homes on September 9, 2011.

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion.   Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

German Shepherd Dogs (Start of a New Training Class)

German Shepherd Dogs (Reflections on Last Year’s Wildfires)

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Hi Everyone,

Tomorrow, I will return to discussing our young German Shepherd Dogs and the future of Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels, but for today I cannot allow the month of August to pass without discussing a small miracle on our behalf and a horrible tragedy to over 400 families in the Mannford, Oklahoma area. 

Last year on Thursday August 2, 2012 a fire was started nine miles South of Mannford, OK when Billy Cloud threw his lit cigarette down on the ground just outside his trailer.  The summer of 2012 brought most of the Midwest including Oklahoma a continuation of severe drought that started in 2011 with record high temperatures of 110 degrees to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Fires Burning Toward Keystone German shepherds & Kennels

The lit cigarette ignited a wildfire that burnt over 90 square miles and burned down over 400 homes.  Throughout August 2 and 3, 2012 the wildfires raged several miles from us at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels.  On August 4, 2012 my wife and I had lunch in Mannford and had a false since of safety against the fires since they raged so far away.   Upon returning to home and the kennels, the wind shifted and the fires started burning straight toward us.  Late that afternoon we lost electric and could see the fires approaching us.  Roads in and out of our area had been closed, and while we had several wonderful clients and friends offer to come out to pick up our dogs and then drive them to safety, they were not allowed in.  We were ordered to evacuate, but we would not leave our dogs so we stayed to fight the fires.  We thought that we could save our kennels and house by manning several water hoses around our property.  However, as the fire approach, we lost all water pressure.  The Creek County Rural Water District water well pumps went out just as the fires approached our property.  Without water we became very concerned for our own safety as well as the safety of our dogs.

Fires at 5:30 PM approaching Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels Property

Fires at 5:30 PM approaching Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels Property

At the time that we had lost water pressure a small fire truck came roaring up our driveway and told us that they only had 5-minutes of water and that they would not be able to save our house.  He pointed to the woodlot that was 100-yards away from our house and said once the fire gets into the canopy of the trees the heat would be so intense that our house would just explode into flames.  The firemen yelled for us to let loose the dogs from their kennels and to get ready to jump in the pond to save our lives.  The fireman said they would be in the pond right behind us.

I was never so proud of my German Shepherd Dogs, as we let them out of their kennels, they remained calm and none of their normal squabbles or barking took place.  They all knew that the situation was serious and they all stayed around but out-of-our-way.  With the gates open they would be able to escape and return after the fire had passed.  

At this time the smoke had grown thick with very little visibility.  While only about 5:30 PM, it appeared to be twilight just after sunset.  After burning down our neighbors’ houses, the fires jumped Highway 48 and started raging up our property.  I will never forget standing in the driveway watching the fireman raise his helmet and start scratching his head.  The fires had hit our forest and then began to die down and go out.  The fireman was befuddled because for three days he had watch these fires hit woodlots and then just roar out-of-control.

I yelled down to the fireman that I had burnt my property earlier that year in March, burning all the leaves and fallen branches on our twenty-acres.  He said that controlled burn had saved our home and kennels because the fires did not have the fuel to reach the forest canopy.  We returned the dogs to their kennels, and watched the fires burn around while burning more of our neighbors’ homes. 

Fire As It Burned Down Our Neighbor's House and Approached Our Woodlot before Dying Down

Fire As It Burned Down Our Neighbor’s House and Approached Our Woodlot before Dying Down

We were saved from the fires, but due to loss of power, we did lose over 2,000 pounds of frozen venison meat for our dogs, most of the contents of our refrigerators, all four-corner fence posts, and suffered two-weeks without power with record high temperatures of 110 degrees and above.  The Water District did restore water service on the 5th of August so we only had to haul potable water one day.

We were spared by providence because I was led to burn my property, which I had not done in about three years.  Due to the senseless act of a drunk thousands of people suffered the loss of everything that they owned, and while no human life was lost several animals and even a customers Heidelberg German Shepherd Dog perished in the fires of 2012.  Even though I am an experienced ecologist and have been trained in fire management and prescribed burning methods, I learned given the severe environmental conditions that we experienced in 2012 that wildfires can become extremely dangerous and unpredictable.  I would most likely move our dogs much sooner and not stay if ordered to evacuate if ever faced with similar circumstances.

Please continue to check out our web page as we post updates on this litter and future available litters: https://kgsd.inventivehorizons.com/PuppiesForSale.htm.   We currently have Walker, a male puppy left.  Walker is a wonderful highly intelligent and a very quick learner.  Walker will be perfect for a family looking for an obedient and loyal companion that will provide home protection.  Families with existing pets such as dogs and cats will be a good fit for Walker.  Walker is very sociable.  Remember that we do ship puppies.

 Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion.   Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

German Shepherd Dogs (Start of a New Training Class)

German Shepherd Dog Female Available

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

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 Hi Everyone,

Germane to yesterday’s discussion, we had a beautiful, just turned one-year-old intact female returned to us due to a family crisis.  Heidelberg’s Mia Yasminp, born July 12, 2012 is a Grand Champion, Champion Heidelberg’s Kodiak v Queridad OFA Excellent daughter.  Mia is a long-coat with perfect structure and will be large at a lean weight of 85 pounds.

Grand Champion Heidelberg's Kodi, Mia's Dad

Grand Champion Heidelberg’s Kodi, Mia’s Dad

We have Mia offered up for sale at the low price of $1,526.00, which includes the cost for her tattoo.  She will be sold with full registration and no contract, and she is breedable quality. 

Heidelberg's Mia Yasminp

Heidelberg’s Mia Yasminp

Mia is fully trained in obedience and house trained.  She will not fowl your house or chew on your furniture.  She does not have any separation anxiety issues.   Mia needs to go to an Alpha owner because she is highly intelligent and exhibits alpha tendencies.  She will be fine with cats and other large breed dogs.  However, due to her alpha personality, she will not be good for homes with small breeds such as terriers that will challenge her dominance. 

Heidelberg's Mia Yasminp

Heidelberg’s Mia Yasminp

In addition, she should not go to a home with a weak owner or she will manipulate this person with her high intelligence imposing her will taking advantage of  the weaker human.   Mia is high drive and very playful so she would be good for an active family that jogs or go on walks on regular bases. 

Mia will be protective and will bite someone that tries to break into your home or that attacks a family member.  However, Mia loves kids and people and will readily accept anyone that you invite into your home.  Therefore, she will not be a liability or a concern for the new owner.  Below are current pictures of Mia at 12-months-of-age:

Heidelberg's Mia Yasminp

Heidelberg’s Mia Yasminp

Heidelberg's Mia Yasminp

Heidelberg’s Mia Yasminp

Heidelberg's Mia Yasminp

Heidelberg’s Mia Yasminp

 

 

If you are interested in seeing Mia, please call me at (918) 261-4729. Please continue to check out our web page as we post updates on this litter and future available litters: https://kgsd.inventivehorizons.com/PuppiesForSale.htm.   Remember that we do ship puppies.

 Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion.   Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

Conformation Titles

Conformation Titles

Exploring the vast Prairie at Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Exploring the vast Prairie at Washita National Wildlife Refuge


We at Keystone emphasize placing conformation titles on most of our breeding stock.  Attached is a pedigree from Grand Champion Champion (GrCh. Ch.) Oklahoma Natashac (Kay).  All the names in red or blue are Champions.  This pedigree represents a very typical pedigree from our kennel.

Ch. Kay Pedigree cropped full size

It is very expensive and competitive to win the title Champion on a shepherd.  The better the dog, the less expenses towards the title.  Kay finished in three weekends and cost us relatively nothing to finish her Championship title.

Nevertheless, there is no better proving ground for breeding stock than the conformation ring for shepherds.  For the most part, only the best shepherds in country ever obtain the AKC Championship title.  A Championship title requires a solid temperament, a beautiful shepherd, and correct, graceful movement.

As for the European or import shepherds most could never obtain a conformation title because they do not move correctly and are ugly.  They have short choppy gaits with no extension.  Therefore, they would struggle as a true herding dog because they would tire quickly if required to move across long distances.  It always amazes me how critical most European or import breeders are of conformation dogs, yet my shepherds could readily achieve a schutzhund title 3, but their dogs could never become an AKC Champion.

While the conformation ring is not perfect, it provides, the potential puppy purchaser the best starting place to find the next member of their family, which was and still remains the purpose of AKC Championship titles, thus as the proving ground for breeding stock.

Please send me your questions and I promise to provide with my opinion.

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

Conformation Titles

Welcome to our new Shepherd Blog

Exploring the vast Prairie at Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Exploring the vast Prairie at Washita National Wildlife Refuge

I will decide upon at least one daily topic unless there are questions concerning other areas:

To open, I thought I would explain our pricing, which on several blogs has been criticized as being too cheap or low in price to be selling the quality of shepherd that we provide at Keystone.  We are cognizant about keeping our costs down so that we can provide a world class shepherd to the average family.  Our competitors charge much more, but we try to price our better puppies between $850.00 to $1,200.00.  While it is becoming harder to keep these prices at this current level, we are committed to being as fair as possible in our prices.

On the other side, we have people that are use to seeing puppies in the paper for as little as $100.00 and they wonder why we charge so much. To raise top quality animals it takes a lot of money to do it right.  Just the direct costs in raising a puppy to the age of 10 weeks can cost as much as $500.00 per puppy, this includes the basics such as food, cleaning, supplies, veterinarian expenses, shots, worming, etc.  In addition, this includes labor for cleaning, training and socialization, etc.

The same shepherd lines that we are selling for $1,200.00 are going for $2,400.00 to $5,000.00 in the Houston, Texas area. In Oklahoma, the shepherd like other animals are being sold for less than in other regions of the country.  For example, several people in this state make a living purchasing top quality horses and driving them to California where they sell them for as much as ten times for what they sell for here.  Nobody ever said Californians are the sharpest nuts in the can.  Excuse me for mixing metaphors and for my attempt at humor.

Please post a comment, telling me how wrong, right or off-base I am. Post a question and I will provide my opinion.

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds