Julie

 

Hi Everyone -

Thank you all for your words of compassion and stories about Haus.  It's never easy for any of us to loose one of our dogs no matter how many we have or how many we have lost.  But it is also very important to remember that part of life is death.  We are born, we live and we die, dog or human.  What's most important is what we do in the in between---that is what defines us...

Where Haus is concerned I know he lived his life to the fullest, he was a great mentor in many respects not only to George and I, but to the testament of what living is all about.   There were more than a few people he touched that had previously been leery of the breed, which included several children who were just so afraid of all dogs but  that learned "it's okay"  through having this big ominous dog rush up to greet them with nothing but love and compassion and pure joy.  Haus truly loved children.  He gave his whole heart and soul to us and for that we miss him and we are sorry for ourselves but we also know we did what was right for him.

Onward...

Gina & George

I heard from several people from our GSD extended family, here ares some of the new year reports:


I had a really nice phone call from Fred W. , he is doing really well and so his Sole.  Fred adopted Sole (Ky x Mandy) within days of his wife's death.  He wasn't sure it was the right thing to do but his daughter Clara insisted.  Fred had been married for 54 years.  Clara knew a dog wouldn't replace her mother but it would give her father something to take care of.  Clara is a very smart woman. Fred absolutely loves Sole and Sole has completely taken to Fred. 


Below is a picture of Broker (Ghandi x Evita) taken over the Christmas holiday.  Broker is owned by Becky H. in Muskegon.  I really miss the Broker-girl.  She was a handful but it seems those dogs that are less then perfect always mange to be your favorites, why is that? Becky has done a great job with Broker and Broker totally loves Becky.

 

Haus (Omar x Sarafina) was the King of the Goldens at Brier Golden Retrievers.  In other words he was the token GSD amongst 15 Golden Retrievers.  He had the BEST life and was loved to pieces by Gina and George.  These are some of the last photos taken of Hoss with his Golden family. 

We went to a rally match today in East Lansing.  I signed up twice.  The first run wasn't bad, but there were some mistakes, probably b/c I was nervous (the signs were APDT and there were a few that we never learned for AKC novice).  They were also having a horse-shoeing seminar in the same building, so there was constant noise of horses spooking, pounding on metal, a mouse was running in and out along the wall, and there was this strong burning smell.  For our second run, I tried to pretend it was a real trial (ditched the treat pouch) and we did really good, just a few slow sits and out of positions.  I asked what the AKC score would have been and the judge said about 93.  Woohoo!  I will TAKE a 93! Yeah it was only a match, but five months ago I'd never even heard of "rally"!  Here is a pic of us practicing something (leave dog, call to heel, I think):

He's gone, but he will never be forgotten.  It was very peaceful, he was a good boy right to the end, he went into a down with one command and rolled over on his side as to say okay mom I know and I don't want this to be hard for you.  Without even a sigh he just went, peacefully with what seemed to be no regret.  He trusted me that this was right...

This is how we will remember him:

Gina and George

Can herd sheep.  I am of course talking about Jeannie, not Laura, who is the same age as me, 29.   Jeannie is being tested for herding instinct at 8 years of age.