|
Ali’s Father Quosh vom Drei Birkenzwinger SchH 3 Kkl 1 ‘a’ ‘Z’ (Imp Gmy) CDX AD JD Excellent Merit |
|
Fond Memories |
|
The Life of Riley |
|
Schafheide The Emperor (Riley) Breed Survey Class 1 A Z CD Excellent 25 July 1992 – 4.45pm 5 Jan 2004
Sire: Ch Iniff Vagrant A Z CDX TD Excellent Select - Australian Sieger National Gold Medallist Dam: Ch Schafheide Sinner A Z CD Excellent Best in Trial winner
|
Yesterday I said goodbye to my best friendEleven short years filled with sharing and love
He made friends with many, many people. Great friends with a few. He had the ability to heal people in need. Me for one, but many others too. He was a beautiful dog, but didn’t like the dark side. He could sense people, see right inside their souls.
He was a gentle companion, but could turn into the most ferocious guard. When his pack is not full he would lie all day in the front yard Just waiting for his pack to return. Intact. Complete. Life’s sweet.
He could wait…..sometimes for months. Whenever I came home, I would get the same Dignified but joyous welcome. Formal guard duty over. Relax. Lie right next to me. Never completely relax. One eye kept slightly ajar. I move. He moves. Never very far. That’s the way it is. We’re best mates you see.
He was a well-mannered gentle boy – a credit to his kind. Unconditional love both difficult and rewarding. Long walks through the bush or better still the beach. The best treat. Just him and me together
His whole life was devoted to pleasing. He was so mild mannered that he could be wounded by the slightest of raised voice. This proved difficult sometimes with his older terrier sister being ticked off for her many misdemeanours. She doesn’t care. She has her own mind about how things should be and that’s the way it is. She continues about her business. She will miss him. The prince looks mortified. What can I do to please? I’m a good boy aren’t I ? ……..
You sure are.
Goodbye best mate
Philip |
|
Breeders of Excellence |
|
Schafheide German Shepherds |
|
Schafheide Topaz ‘A’ CD
12 March 1988—14 January 2003 |
|
Topaz came to live with us at a very stressful time in our lives—after our home had been burgled! She came on loan to start with, while we waited for our puppy to grow. She came with the most confident, beautiful character, already trained in Obedience and Agility. She settled in very well, I think trips to the pantry may have had something to do with that, and quickly became a much loved member of our family and teacher of the puppy. She made sure the puppy knew who was boss and he never forgot, even when she reached very old age and became very frail.
It was decided to take Topaz back to Obedience as a way for me to learn dog handling and Trialling. Our first test came only a few weeks after we began obedience classes. She passes the 3b grading test with flying colours. The judge commented that she was not confident that the handler knew what she was doing, but the dog certainly did! We continued on in Grade 4 with passes of 175, 186 and 193.
The time was right to try Trialling. As Topaz already had her C.D. title we began in Open Class and achieved many wins. Here are some of the highlights of these trials. The first time I realised how special she was when we were competing at E.S.D.C. There were about 7 dogs in the out-of-sight Sit Stay exercise, with the handlers in the Club-house, when some hoon with nothing better to do drove past making his car back-fire loudly and repeatedly. All the dogs ran off except Topaz, who sat there a lone figure without batting an eyelid while people rushed everywhere trying to catch the others.
In another trial at the same ground and again in the Stays, the weather was bad and very windy. A flying newspaper wrapped itself around Topaz’s face but still she did not move!
I think the funniest episode happened at a G.S.D.C.T. trial held at New Norfolk. We had reached the Retrieve on Flat exercise, on the Judges orders I threw the dumb-bell and sent Topaz to fetch, at the same time a greedy seagull tried to pick up the dumb-bell. “That’s mine!” said Topaz as she retrieved and returned immediately to sit in front as if nothing unusual had happened at all.
Topaz got on very well with all the dogs in our extended family. She only needed to tell them once and she had their undying respect and devotion. This reminds me of another funny episode. My daughter had brought her German Shepherd puppy to visit and was preparing his lunch. She took her eyes off the tin of Puppy Pal for only a second, but that was all the time Topaz needed to grab that can and disappear behind the couch and eat the contents. We saw nothing and it took us quite a while to work out what had happened.. Not long after this episode we returned home from one of our family dog walks. “What’s that dirty mark on the carpet?” someone said. I followed the mark to find Topaz hiding behind the lounge room door with the dirtiest tennis ball you have ever seen. She must have hidden it in her mouth for goodness knows how long knowing she’s not allowed ball that small. She still holds the record for Kiss Biscuit eating in our family—5 in 3 seconds!
I almost forgot the Milkman story. We had a new milkman who was very friendly and enjoyed a chat. He called around one evening when John was out. Not wanting to offend him I said “Sorry I can’t invite you in because one of the dogs is inside”. He glanced through the door and saw Topaz on the chair. “That’s fine”, he said, and it was, until the next week when he called around and John was at home this time. “Come in.” John said. Topaz was in the chair again, she lifter her head and gave him a grin, a wag of the tail and went back to sleep.
Topaz always enjoyed watching me decorate the Christmas tree and never touched a thing except for one orange silk ball. She managed to get that off the tree at least once every Christmas. That ball is faded now and the silk has frayed but I still put it on the tree each year and remember Topaz.
Thank you Helen and Barry Blinstrub for such a wonderful gift.
Loved and remembered by John, Denise and family and especially Ron the puppy who grew to be her closest companion. |
|
Schafheide Grey Ghost
20 July 1994—22 August 2006 at 7pm |
|
It is with a heavy heart and tears welling in the eyes that I have to inform you that last night at 7.15 p.m. our great friend and protector left us. After a long battle with typical large dog problems, he was unable to sustain a decent level of mobility, comfort or dignity and painful as it was, we had to let him go. He's left a large hole in our lives and I still have to clean out his stuff, empty his water bowls, pick up his ball (he was always leaving it lying around), roll up his leads and collars and re-plant a couple of shrubs that he demolished recently. The place won't be the same without him. Still, you get them, love them and watch them grow, then you have to let them go. They depend on you for everything. Everything. And you give them your all. Why? Because you love them. They are part of your family. Letting go hurts but you still have to do it. It probably hurts most because it's YOUR decision not theirs. They cannot tell you how they feel, you have to guess. You do the best you can and you know it's going to hurt at the end. And then you go and do it all over again. Go figure. It will be easy to remember the old fella as I'll probably be picking dog hairs off my clothes for years! We are having him cremated and then we're going to scatter him in a field at Austins Ferry where he used to chase rabbits on our evening walks. Now he can run all day. |
|
A steadfast friend and loyal guardian who gave far more than he ever received in return. |
|
Australian Champion Iniff Primaa Donna AZ BS Cl 1 Excellent Select 3 Oct 1997—7 Nov 2007
“Memory comes with cunning hands Stays, and paints your face for me” Henry Kendell
Much loved Helen & Barry |
|
Schafheide Pirate 2006—2008 |
|
To Helen & Barry Blinstrub
Here are a few photos of Jack before and after he got sick. All the time Jack was sick (which was the last 6 mths), not once did his temperament change—he always had a beautiful nature. He always love playing with people, children and other dogs. He has left a large hole in our lives. Jack only had a short life but he `gave his all and asked for nothing in return only love. We buried Jack in the back yard where he used to like to lay in the shade under the lemon tree.
Yours faithfully Brett |
