NEWS & EVENTS!
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Be sure to scan down to the bottom for the most up-to-date info!!
HINT - You can click on any picture to enlarge it!
March 31 '09 - WE'RE HAVING PUPPIES!  4 so far - 3 girls and a boy!  Keep sending the good vibes!

4:45PM - Well I think we're done (hopefully).  9 puppies altogether. 3 males, 6 females, 4 all black, 5 black
& tan.  Mom and kids are doing fine.  The next 48 hours are crucial so don't stop sending those vibes just
yet!  I've been up for over 40 hours so far and still don't have a bed in the schedule.  Too many other
things to do yet!  I'll fill you in on the details tomorrow.
Only part way through and already tired...
A few of the little fur balls.  
They weigh in at about a pound
each.
Mom having a well deserved
rest while the pups stay warm
on a special heating pad.
April 1 '09 - April Fool's Day.  I guess I qualify as a fool.  Only fools think they can outwit Mother Nature.  
Even though I tried my hardest, Mother Nature took one of her puppies back.  Little Miss Purple has returned
to where she came from.  We battled all night long with lactated ringers, antibiotics, and using the incubator
but to no avail.  I HATE this part of my job.  Why is a puppy conceived, grown and delivered only to die in the
first 24 hours of its life?  I HATE this part of my job!!  It's times like this that I just want to quit what I'm
doing.  It's too hard on my heart.  It's too hard to look at Indy searching for days, looking for a lost puppy.  It's
just too hard...

...but, I have to force myself to look ahead.  To what the survivors will accomplish in their lifetimes.  Some
will be service partners, some will be family partners but partners they all will be.  Whether they keep out an
intruder or find a lost child, they all have a special job to do.  And that's why I do what I do.  I'm so proud of
all the dogs that I have produced.  All doing their jobs with no expectations of grandeur or glory.  Just living
their lives to please us.  Their partners.  That's why I do what I do.
April 2 '09 - First off, I want to thank all the people who sent me condolences for the loss of Miss Purple.  It
means a lot to me that I have the support of so many people.  Some of you have my puppies, some of you are
waiting for puppies and some of you I don't even know.  People who watch my website because they believe
in what I'm doing.  It all means a lot to me.  Thank you everyone for your support.  You have no idea how
much I appreciate it.

So, now, where to start?  At the beginning I guess.  March 30th was a long day for me.  I don't usually get
tired in the middle of the day but the 30th was an exception.  All day, every day, I'm doing something.  I don't
cleaning, training...  and occasionally on the computer (like now).  That is a typical day for me.  By 3:00PM I
was exhausted and I didn't even have a good reason for it.  I remember thinking to myself, "I bet " Indy goes
into labour tonight".  "Maybe I should go have a nap."  Yeah right, like I have time for a nap!  So, I pushed
through it.  And yes, sure enough at 9:00PM Indy went into the first stage of labour.  I stayed up with her all
night waiting for the first puppy to arrive.  And nothing!  Hours and hours of panting, whining, lying down then
getting up, lying down then getting up.  And nothing!  By 7:00AM there were still no signs of puppies and I
was getting worried.  So, what do you do when you're worried?  Wake the vet!  Good old Kurt!  (not that he's
old!)  Just that he's the best vet ever!  Kurt wasn't on call, but he has previously given me his cell phone
number in case I needed him.  What a sweetie!  Once I talked to him, my anxiety level went back to normal.  
I had never had one of my girls take this long to deliver her first pup.  I had visions of... well, just let's say,
horror!  After talking to Kurt, I could relax and let nature take it's course.  He said "just be patient".  So I
was.  At 10:45AM on March 31st Miss Light Pink was born!  Almost 13 hours later!  All I can say is "Thank
God for Kurt!"  
Kurt doing a vet check of my 07 litter.  (Playtime came first, then the vet check!)
After Miss Light Pink was born, they came fast and furious!  The birth times were 10:45, 11:10, 11:20, 11:25,
12:30, 12:35, 12:38, 1:30 & 1:45.  Nine pups in 3 hours!  That's a record for me.  I've had times when there
were 6 hours between pups!  I certainly was busy once we started!  Each pup needs to be dried off, have the
umbilical cord tied, cut and disinfected, collared, weighed and recorded.  That takes about ten minutes.  If
you have a look at the times, you can see I was a little RUSHED at times!

Here is the info with collar colour, markings, weight and sex.

Light Pink - Black -  1lb 2.0 oz - Female
Dark Pink - Black - 1lb 2.8 oz - Female
Blue - Black - 1lb 3.8 oz - Male  (at this point I was thinking the whole litter might be all blacks!)
Purple - Black & Tan - 13.7 oz - Female
Red - Black & Tan - 1lb 2.3oz - Male
Orange - Black & Tan - 1lb 0.8oz - Female
Green - Black & Tan - 1.b 0.2oz - Female
Maroon - Black - 1lb 2.5oz - Female
Black - Black & Tan - 1lb 4.3oz Male
I am happy and sorry to say that all pups have been sold.  I know some of you are very disappointed you
didn't get a pup.  For that I am very sorry.  You must realize that some of these new owners have waited for
almost a year to get their puppy.  The new owners are Jesse Martini, Stacy Parker, Amanda Lesko, Olivia
Nickelfork, Terrel Roberts, Heather Aicken, George Kimble, and Mike Mendelson.

The next litter is expected in September.  It will be a Diesel/Isis litter.  I have 3 pups sold from that litter so if
you want to get on the waiting list for an Isis/Diesel pup, you need to do that right away.   I need a $300
non-refundable deposit.  The $300 is refunded to you if I can not supply you with a puppy (e.g. not enough
pups).  It is not refundable if you change your mind.  
On a different note, I'm pleased to say that Liesel (my SPCA rescue dog) has been adopted!  She flies off to
Whitehorse to be the k9 partner for David & Catherine and their two teenage sons!  I believe she will be a
great dog for them.  Full of life and energy enough to keep up with two teenagers & Catherine!  
Congratulations to all of you!
April 7 '09 - The pups are a week and a day old already!  Their eyes and ears are still closed but they are
getting around the whelping box fairly well now.  They have pretty well double their weight since birth and
are weighing in around 2 pounds.  They sure do grow quickly!  Still, it's hard to believe that these cute little
fur balls will weigh in at over 100 pounds.  The males that is.  They should average around 110 pounds and
the females around 85.   Certainly big enough to warn off intruders or help steady their disabled partner!  
I've already started the Service Dog Puppy Program.  Imagine teaching before they have all their senses!  
What a remarkable program!  And it produces remarkable dogs!  

I've just started an Indy/Merlin puppy album on
Webshots.  There's a few pictures and a couple of short
videos.  Notice the warming box picture on the first day, then compare the size of the pups in the short
video a week later.  You can really see the size difference!  Let me know what you think!
April 14 '09 - Wow!  I can't believe a whole week has gone by this fast!  What a change in the puppies since
last week.  Their eyes and ears are open now and they "talk" a lot!  They are getting around on wobbly legs
and will soon be getting over the sides of the whelping box.  I'm hoping for another week in the box but I'm
kinda thinking "not!"  All the pups are doing well.  As usual, there are a few of the "big moose" types and a
few of the more "demure" types but all are healthy and give Indy a run for her money.  They no longer fit
into the warming box.  That's where I used to put them when I was cleaning the whelping box but they spill
over the sides now.  They have graduated to filling up TWO laundry hampers now.  It's the only way I can
keep them from wandering off while I clean.  Indy continuously goes back and forth between each basket
checking to make sure everybody is doing OK.  Each one weight 3+ pounds now!

Indy's such a good Mom!  I've been helping her by giving them a little formula twice a day.  It is made with
fresh liver water, evaporated milk, raw natural yogurt, egg yolks, mayonnaise, goat's milk, corn syrup and
baby vitamins.  It is quite a thick formula so it really fills the pups up and gives Indy a break.  Feeding 8
puppies is a lot of work!  I feed them first thing in the morning and in the late afternoon.  I let Indy take the
night shift now!  Up until a few days ago, I was getting up 2-4 times a night, just to make sure they were all
warm and healthy and giving them a little more nourishment.  Once they reach 3 weeks old, they are able to
regulate their own temperatures and monitoring as closely won't be necessary.  I only get up once or twice
a night now and I don't feed through the night anymore.

Now that the pups are two weeks old, we are pretty well out of the danger period for survival.    Everyone
who has put a deposit down on the pups needs to please send me the next payment installment.  This
payment is $500CDN with the balance owing when you pick up the pup.  You can either mail me a cheque or
send an email money transfer to
k9trainer@dogwhisperer.ca  Either way is fine.  

I will be taking some pictures later today so will try and get them up tomorrow.  I hope everyone had a
wonderful Easter!
Above is Ms Green at 2 weeks old.  Like human children, they eyes are blue when they are born.  They will
change over a few weeks to dark amber or brown.  

I'm having trouble getting all the pictures to upload due to my lousy rural internet connection.  Click on the
above picture to take you to the webshots album.  If you don't see any new pictures, come back and try
again later.  I'll keep working at it until I'm successful!
Take a look at this great shot!  Thanks C & S for sending
it!  This beautiful child will have a protector for life!  A
true Guardian Angel!
April 16  '09 - I've finally added some pictures that I took last week.  It's the first "portraits" of each
individual pup.  You can see how fast they change by comparing the pictures that I posted yesterday.  And
next week will be another big change.  At three weeks, they can start eating "gruel".  At first it will be a
mixture of their formula and soaked puppy kibble.  They will be getting Royal Canin large breed puppy food
as I believe that is the best kibble for them.  As they get older, they will also be getting some raw so
people can decide whether they want their dog on a raw diet or on kibble.  Raw is good as long as you do
all your homework.  It is critical that all the ingredients are put in in the correct amounts.  It is not just
giving your dog a pound of hamburger!  They need bone meal for calcium, salmon oil for omega 3, etc. etc.  
There is a lot of work that goes into feeding raw.  If you take the time to do it right, you will have a healthy
dog.  If you don't take the time, you will have a very UNHEALTHY dog.  The balance of ingredients is
crucial!  So, if you have the time, feed raw, if you don't have the time or inclination, feed
Royal Canin!
April 20 '09 -   I just got back from a 2 hour lunch with one of my dog owners.  She and her dog attended a 6
week course on dog training which included obedience, tracking, protection, therapy work, drug location
and a few other things I can't remember.  Apparently the dog excelled in several areas.  (I wasn't
surprised).  I'm proud of both of them for achieving the level of training they did. CONGRATULATIONS on a
job well done!

The pups had an exciting weekend.  Two major events occurred.  The first was they graduated out of the
whelping box and into the room.  This is a huge step because now they have to figure out how to walk on
lino as well as blankets.  Heck!  Just last week they could hardly walk at all!  It's amazing how quickly
they learn!  The other major event was they have started on "solid" food.  At this point it is anything but
solid.  More like pea soup than anything else.  They get covered in it from head to toe.  The walk through it,
they sit in it, they just don't have any concept that it is food at the beginning.  All they know is they have to
suck on something to get food.  So, my job is to cover my fingers with "soup" and let them suck my fingers
until they get a liking for the taste of soup.  That's where they are at at this point in time.  They are starting
to like the taste but are not associating the bowl with their food.  It will take several days of total chaos
until they figure out food also comes from bowls.  Talk about a mess!  I've posted a few pictures so you can
see what I deal with FOUR TIMES A DAY!  And you wonder what I do all day??
Below is what I call "REALLY" early crate training!
Look at how big they are getting!
April 23 '09 - It was a big day for the little Dudes and Dudettes!  Apart from their usual busy routines, they
had new collars today, they were weighed and they had their toe nails cut!  If you want a hard job, try and
take 1mm off a squirming puppy!  And then do it 143 more times!  It is very hard on my nerves!  The nails are
so small in the first place, (April 14th picture is pretty close to life size) and then to take off just a tiny bit
without getting into the quik.  The quik carries the blood supply and nerves.  If you cut into that, it would be
like someone cutting your own nails too short and drawing blood!  Very painful!  So, for their very first trim,
it's really important that they don't have any trauma associated with it.  BUT NO PRESSURE!  I'm happy to
say that all went well!

I've added a new video on
webshots.  Please leave comments!  And thank you everyone who has written me
about the website and content.  I have received some incredible compliments and I am grateful you have
shared them with me.  Thank you so much!  It makes all the work worthwhile!
April 28th '09 - Aren't they cute!  Four weeks old today!  Check out the new pictures webshots

Thankfully they've gone from "pea soup" style food to softened kibble now.  Not nearly as messy, thank
goodness!  Not that they are clean or neat or anything though.  You will see in some of the pictures a few
pups look a little "soggy".  That's what happens when Mom cleans up after they've eaten.  Aaawwww Mom!

The pups are now venturing out of their room and down the hallway.  Oh, it's a scary world out there!  
Vacuum cleaners, mops and pails, all just waiting out there to eat poor little puppies!  In the fourth week,
they have a sense of survival.  They now realize that there are things out there that can eat them!  This is
the beginning of one of their fear periods.  They will be managed very carefully for the next little while to
make sure nothing frightens them that isn't "erased".  What I mean by erased is, the pup learns that
whatever it was, or whatever has happened, is OK.  For example, if a stranger (male) was to accidentally
step on a toe, that same person would have to locate that puppy (because he's probably hiding at this
point) and make friends with him again.  If that doesn't happen, the dog could be scared of strange men for
the rest of his life.  Or scared of people with hats, or, or, or... you get the idea.  This knowledge is one of
the many reasons I feel that Guardian Angel Shepherds are far superior than the other dogs out there.  
Breeders are breeders, behaviourists are behaviourists, trainers are trainers.  But when you have all of
those wrapped up in Guardian Angel Shepherds, how can you not benefit!  I put in so many more hours than
anyone else I know, by a long shot!  I give you my promise.  You will receive the best dog you possibly
can.  But don't take my word for it.  I received a letter the other day from a past puppy owner who no longer
has a Guardian Angel Shepherd due to a tragic accident.  Zena was a Guardian Angel Shepherd.  The
following is an excerpt.  He says:
I got my first purebred german shepherd 18 years ago and have had three
more since then, not a very good record. My first got cancer at eight
years the second at only six then there was Zena and now Ruger. I loved
every one of them but Zena was special. From the moment she stepped
out of the crate we where best friends I can’t put it into words there was
just something special that I think was a once in a life time experience.
Although she has been gone for over two years now I still think of her
almost every day. The statement on your home page - this will be the dog
by which you judge all others is very true for me...

                      Brian
Although Guardian Angel Shepherds have proven to be very healthy dogs, generation after generation, I
still recommend people get Pet Secure Pet Insurance.  Each puppy already comes with 6 weeks of
insurance.  Seriously consider continuing the coverage on your new family member!  Click on the link
above for a free quote!
A good place to sleep?  In the
dinner bowl?
Hey!  Why'd you wake me up?
What YOU lookin' at!
April 30 '08 -  BATH DAY! There comes a time in a puppy's life where he's got to do something that he
doesn't want to do.  Well, today was their first encounter in learning to put up with things when they have a
totally different idea of what they'd like to be doing.  Bath day is always "fun".  It took 2 hours to bath 8
puppies.  I wish I had a helper who could have taken more pictures.  I was able to take a few between wet
hands and soapy puppies.  You can find a few here:  
Webshots
May 3 2009 - Moving Day!  The pups are old enough now that they are moving outside to larger quarters.  
It's a BIG day for them, and me!  It's both a happy and a sad day for me.  Sad because they are no longer
under foot where I can watch their silly antics but also happy because I know with more room to run they
will become physically stronger.  t is also a lot easier to keep them clean out there.  I wash the puppy
room floor 8 times/day.  And I also spot mop accidents throughout the day.  They will now have a large
enough area to start understanding that there is a place to go, and a place to play.  This makes
house-training them much easier.  A few people have asked me if I house-train them before they go home.  
The answer is no.  They are too young to understand how to "hold it" at this stage of their lives.  And even
if they were old enough, my job is to have them believe that they can take on the world.  To reprimand
them would teach them the opposite.  Outside, they will be exposed to a myriad of new things over the
coming weeks.  It is my job to make sure they can tackle anything and everything they encounter.

They will still come into the house for socializing and play time.  I bring them in, two at a time, so they
won't be stressed without their brothers and sisters.  Once they are comfortable with two, I bring them in
individually.  It's a scary world out there when your instincts tell you that it is safer in the pack.  It is at
that point that they start to bond in a whole different way to humans.  It is up to us to become good leaders
for these pack animals.  You can never demand respect from them but you can earn it.  You earn it by being
a fair and vigilant pack leader.  From 8 weeks to 11 weeks, they go through a fear period.  If you are not
there for them, they can be scarred for life.  We've all heard of the dog who hates men in hats, or
specifically mailmen etc.  This is probably due to the fact that something scary happened to them in the
8-12 week period that is associated with a person of that description.  I always recommend that the puppy
be placed in a safe environment whenever you cannot be there to watch him closely.  If you leave your pup
in the backyard while you're gone, all kinds of scary things can happen.  When you get your puppy from
Guardian Angel Shepherds, you will have this beautiful blank slate to work with.  It's up to you what you do
with it from there...
May 10th - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY everyone!  I am happy to be spending it at home.  I apologize for not
giving you updates and pictures.  I ended up in the Emergency the other night after having a migraine for 2
days.  I was so dehydrated from not being able to keep anything down, they insisted I stay in the hospital
with an IV.  They finally let me go home with the IV needle still in my hand "just in case".  I was able to
remove it yesterday.  Below is my "get up".  I made it small so nobody would be grossed out!
It sure is hard when you have animals that depend on you, even when you are
sick.  I won't go into details but it certainly wasn't pleasant.  All the critters
were taken care of but basic food and water was as much as I could muster.  
None of them look the worse for wear.  Except possibly me!  I'm going to take it
easy today and hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to get some pics up.  The puppies
are loving their new found area!  Lots and lots of chasing and wrestling go on
now.  They're lots of fun to watch!  If you come and see them, you need to wear
long pants and sleeves and no open toed shoes!  They are miniature piranhas
now!  But that's just how they play.  They don't hurt intentionally but man their
teeth are sharp!  'Til tomorrow...
May 12 '09 "Moving Day" video on Webshots!  Check it out!
Webshots
Ms. Pink                                                Mr. Blue                                                Mr. Black
Ms. White/Maroon                        Ms. Violet/Dark Pink
Mr. Red                                                Ms. Orange                                        Ms. Green
May 13, 2009 - Six weeks old already! I can't believe they will be leaving in 2 weeks!  Exciting times for the
new owners!  

There is always an argument that plays out the day a puppy leaves.  My heart is very sad and wants to grab
that little guy back and keep him forever!  But my brain tells me that he/she is on this earth to become
someone's partner.   Three puppies are going to Search & Rescue homes and the remaining five are going to
do equally important jobs.  Their jobs will be to watch over their family, protect them from danger and alert
them to problems.  It is truly an honour to be able to provide these wonderful dogs to people who will care
for them and treat them like family until their dying day.  All I ask is for updates and lots and lots of
pictures!  I am so proud of my dogs, not to mention the owners who are willing to put in lots of time and
effort developing their partnership.  I might get them started in the right direction but it's the owners who
must get most of the credit for producing a once-in-a-lifetime dog.  

So, now we need to start booking days and times for the little fur balls to venture off to their new homes!  
They can leave here anytime after May 26th.  Two pups will remain for an extra couple of weeks as one
owner is away on holidays and the other pup must fly all the way to Minnesota!  I won't fly them until they
are 10 weeks old.  The other six can go home anywhere from Wednesday the 27th on.  You can email me at
k9trainer@dogwhisperer.ca
When you email me, remind me please to attach the file named:  "Puppy's First Night & Beyond!"  This will
help you get ready for what's about to be some very critical weeks in the puppies life.  You have an
OPTIMUM learning time of 6 weeks to get that puppy doing EVERYTHING you can possibly think of.  
Children's playground equipment, recess at schools, loud busy streets, quiet walks in the country, car
rides, leash training, house training, stairs!  All these things must be learned and much, much more!  Six
weeks goes by very quickly so do your best to get your pup out and about to anything and everything!  

When you come to pick up your puppy, bring with you: a second person to hold the puppy on the way home,
clean up supplies in case they get car sick or have an accident, the puppy's blanket to rub on Mom and his
littermates.  This will help his transition from group to singleton.  And last but not least either cash or
certified cheque made out to Mary Ann Marcellus, for the remaining balance on the puppy.  If you have any
questions, feel free to contact me anytime.  

Bye for now!
May 14, 09 - Today was the day we all travelled to the vet to get our shots, be dewormed and get a check up.  
What fun that is!  It takes about 4 hours from start to finish.  All the pups behaved themselves very well and
we had no "accidents" in the Jeep on the way there or back.  Thank goodness!  I must say that my "Dog
Mobile" makes things a LOT easier for me.  I used to have to put all the pups into two extra large crates, get
them up into my truck box, then tie them down and cover it all with a tarp so it wouldn't get too windy and
frightening for the pups.  I am so grateful that all I have to do is place each pup into the back of the jeep and
music if they get frightened.  It's so much easier on both the pups and me!  And this time, I was lucky enough
to have my sister visiting from out of town and she helped shuttle the pups from kennel to Jeep and Jeep to
vet office;  vet office to Jeep and Jeep to kennel.  It doesn't seem like much but do that 8 times and it really
adds up!  So between my new Jeep and my sister, things couldn't have gone any smoother!

All the pups received a clean bill of health.  There are 2 pups that have umbilical hernias but that is not out of
the ordinary.  I make an effort to prevent the Mom from chewing off the umbilical cord because they can pull it
too hard and that can cause the hernia.  When I looked back at the times those two pups were born, there
were 3 pups all born within  7 minutes of one another.  The second and third pup came so quickly, that I didn't
have a chance to cut the cords myself so Indy just went ahead and did what nature told her to do.  

Umbilical hernias can be classified into 2 categories.  The first is caused by trauma to the umbilical site, the
second is a birth defect.  The birth defect more often than not needs surgery to correct it.  When there is a
small hole caused by trauma (the Mom cutting the cord too close to the abdomen or pulling on it), that kind of
hernia heals itself over time.  In the odd case, a trauma induced hernia may need to be closed surgically and
that can be done when the dog is spayed or neutered.  It is a simple procedure at that time and the chance of
either of these pups needing that is exceedingly slim.  

My vet always does an extremely thorough job of checking the pups.  They are checked from top to bottom
and from inside to out.  Eyes, ears, teeth, elbows, hips, genitalia, toes, tails, hearts, lungs etc. etc.  are all
checked before he gives them his okay.  I tell you, if there's something to find, he finds it!  He once told me
that all the pups were great except one.  I said, okay, what did you find?  He said "One of the pups has a toe
on the back left foot that is a little longer than the others.  And he was serious!  I had visions of something
horrible and here it was a toe longer than the others!  I sighed a sigh of relief and then gave him heck for
worrying me!  

The pups also received their first shots and all were dewormed.  They will need their next set four weeks
from now and their last set four weeks after that.  Be sure to check with your vet as his schedule may be
different than my vets.  After we arrange the date and time to pick up your pup, be sure to make an
appointment to take the pup for a check up within 2 business days of receiving him.  That way, we will be
sure that your vet agrees with mine.

I'm bringing the pups, two at a time, into the house several times a day.  That way they are continually
exposed to all the household noise and energy.  It's funny how I'm so happy to get the little guys outside
because they are so much easier to keep clean but then  I always remember how much time it takes just to
shuttle everybody back and forth several times a day.  Not that I'm complaining really.  It's good exercise and
taking care of cute little fur balls is a job that anybody would enjoy!  I think it's just that it always amazes me
how fast a day can go by!

So I guess that's all the news for now.  Have yourselves a wonderful long weekend!  I'll be seeing a few of
you this weekend and am looking forward to showing off my "sweet peas"!

'Til then...
May 20th - I am sorry I haven't updated recently.  We have had a death in the family and everything was put
on hold.  It was not totally unexpected but hard none-the-less.  I hope to get you some info on the pups
tomorrow.
that I would be letting you know who gets which pup.  Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, I had to
cancel the testing which was to be done on Tuesday.  Now I have to find another tester as the first one is
booked up.  If I can't find one in the next day or two, I will test them myself.  I always go with my own
interpretation of the results anyway.  Many of the testers do not have the knowledge or education that I do.  
A flick of an ear, an eye blink or the tilt of the head is all it takes to change the meaning of the reaction.  The
temperament test is a series of events introduced to the puppy and the reaction to each is recorded and
interpreted.  They are as follows:

1. Social Attraction - degree of social attraction to people, confidence or dependence.    
2. Following - willingness to follow a person.  
3. Restraint - degree of dominant or submissive tendency, and ease of handling in difficult situations.
4. Social Dominance - degree of acceptance of social dominance by a person.  
5. Elevation - degree of accepting dominance while in a position of no control, such as at the veterinarian or   
             groomer.  
6. Retrieving - degree of willingness to do something for you. Together with Social Attraction and Following a
        key indicator for ease or difficulty in training.
7. Touch Sensitivity - degree of sensitivity to touch and a key indicator to the type of training equipment
required.
8. Sound Sensitivity - degree of sensitivity to sound, such as loud noises or thunderstorms.  
9. Sight Sensitivity - degree of response to a moving object, such as chasing bicycles, children or squirrels.
10. Stability - degree of startle response to a strange object.  

There is no right or wrong reaction to a specific event.  All of the reactions are included in the result.  eg.  
Open up an automatic umbrella.  Some pups will startle, run away and come back.  Others will startle and
cautiously sniff it.  Others still, will not startle and run up and bite it.  The "right" response depends on the
type of dog you are looking for.  Do you want a dog who "thinks" first, a dog who is inquisitive or a dog that
defends.  The first dog would be suited for a family, the second dog would be suited for Search & Rescue and
the last dog for Police work.  But don't forget, just one reaction does not tell the true nature of the dog.  Each
and every reaction is calculated into the final result.

On another note, the pups are having a ball when they go for their walks.  The first walks are slow and
cautious but now, they pile out of the kennel full bore waiting to explore new and wonderful things.  I've
taken great care in ensuring they have not had a single bad experience.  These dogs are going to be
phenomenal!  I can't wait to hear what wonderful partners they become.  Please, please be sure to send
updates and pictures often!

I'll update more tomorrow.  I'm off to the RCMP kennel!  What fun!
May 22 '09 - I LOVE going to the RCMP kennel.  It is always a place to learn more and experience the
fantastic dogs they breed there.  At the moment they have 3 females with 17 pups!  And all were born last
weekend!  Good thing they have lots of staff!  

I've arranged to have the pups tested on Monday.  I will let you know on Tuesday where each pup is going.  
I'm very sorry to keep you all waiting to find out which pup you are getting and I appreciate your patience.  
There are still few of you who need to make an appointment to pick up your little furball.    

I am pleased with the progress of my next potential stud dog.  His name is Guardian Angel's Vedor.  He is
just about a year old and he's looking fantastic!  His picture is below.  I will be able to get preliminary
hip/elbow x-rays on him shortly.  He won't be certified until he is 18 months old.  But so far so good.
Guardian Angel's Vedor
11 months old
May 25 '09 - Test Day!  The puppies have an appointment to be tested at 3:00PM today!  It will take
approximately 4 hours to test the pups.  It is a LONG day for both the puppies and me.  I have every
confidence the pups will come through with flying colours.  They have been exposed to so much over the
past 5 weeks that I can't imagine anything upsetting them.  It is critical to get them tested before they
reach 8 weeks old.  At that time, they start a fear period and the test results would be inacurrate.    I had
one day to spare!  I'll let you know how everything goes.
May 26 ' 09 - NOT YET!  I take my job extremely seriously.  I know you are waiting but please be patient.  
This dog will be with you for the next 10-14 years.  I want to make the right choice for you.  Just to give
you an idea what I'm doing.  

First I list all the puppies, black female, black and tan male, black male, black and tan female etc.  Then I
write down peoples dream dog as far as colour and gender.  That way, if I can, I will match you with the
dog of  your dreams.  The one you visualize when you go to bed at night.  Then I cross off all the dogs that
are not suited to your particular situation.  eg.  Mr. Black is too much of a handful for a first time owner.  I
go through each puppy that is listed beside that person's name and decide whether it is a good match or
not.  Hopefully there is exactly the dog you need in the colour and sex that you want.  If not, then I have to
go through all the puppies that would be suited to your family.  I then pick the best puppy that would
become your perfect K9 partner.  Things to take under consideration on the people side are: experience
with dogs, experience with GSDs, children - toddlers or teenagers, no kids or kids eventually, ultimate
goals eg. SAR, family protector, babysitter, therapy etc.  On the dog side the considerations are:  energy
level, touch sensitivity, dominance, trainability, desire to please,  & confidence.

It is something that I spend hours going back and forth with because I don't want to disappoint someone
but I also want to have the best match possible.  So there you have it.  I've been working on this since
8:00AM.  Taking out a pup that I think might be suitable for Mr. & Mrs. X and watching how it interacts with
the environment, with the other dogs, with it's littermates and then possibly deciding that that isn't the
best pup for them.  Over and over again I do this  until I'm satisfied that each person has got the best dog
for them.  

So thank you for your patience.  I'm still working on it.
OKAY I'M DONE!  So here it is (pictures below)

Jesse Martini gets Mr. Black

Stacy Parker gets Miss White

Amanda Lesko gets Miss Pink

Mike Mendelman gets Mr. Blue

George Kimble gets Mr. Red

Olivia Nicklefork gets Miss Orange

Terrel Roberts gets Miss Violet

Heather Aicken gets Miss Green
Mr. Black
Miss Green
Miss Pink
Mr. Blue
Mr. Red
Miss Orange
Miss Violet
Miss White
TIP:  You can click on the
pictures to make them larger.  
You can also download them by
right clicking and hitting
Save/Save as
When you come to pick up your puppy, don't forget:  the puppy's blanket, clean up bag in case he/she gets
car sick, and certified cheque, cash or Money Order and three name choices to go on the registration papers.
 Expect to spend 2 hours here.  It may not take that long but I'd rather have you going home feeling confident
what to do next with your precious bundle!  Get lots of sleep because you won't get much for the next little
while.  They will need to go outside 2-3 times per night depending on what time they go to bed.  If you never
allow an accident to happen, it will make things much easier and quicker.  If your puppy has an accident in
the crate or in the house, roll up a newspaper and hit yourself!!  It's not the puppy's fault, it's YOURS!  
May 27 '09 - I want to talk about something besides dogs this time.  I want to thank everyone who has been
ordering books through this website and all the people who use the Rewards Mall, my travel portal and all the
other things at my other website.  
www.fhtmca.com/easylife4u
As you all know, I have a maximum of two litters per year.  And although some may think I make a lot of
money from the puppies, guess again.  My dog food bill alone, is getting awfully close to the $1,000 mark, and
that's per month!  And the last 2 dogs I bought were in the neighbourhood of $10,000 each!  So, I needed to add
some other forms of income that would not interfere with my first true love, dogs.  I decided to do some
network marketing.  It's been a great way for me to help pay the bills and without you, my customers, it
wouldn't be happening.  So I just wanted to say thank you to all my loyal friends who have booked their
vacations, bought their vitamens or shopped at my Reward Mall instead of somewhere else.  It gives me a
boost in the pocketbook without taking away from my dogs.  So from my heart, a big thank you for supporting
me and my dogs.  THANK YOU!
May 31st - As I write to you, I'm sitting in the hospital waiting for my son to come out of emergency surgery.  
First, let me tell you prognosis is good.  My son decided he needed some excitement in his life and decided
to try skydiving.  He said "Mom, the jump was fantastic!  It was the landing that wasn't!"  First jump, first
landing!  When he was heading North, his right foot was heading East!  YIKES!  At this moment, they are
putting in pins/screws/plates to put his lower leg back together.  He has been gone from his room for four
hours now and I'm thinking that seems to be a very long time.  The doctors said he will not be able to put
any weight on that leg for six weeks, then it will be a long recovery after that.  They do feel that he should
make a full recovery.  Thank God.  I am getting a little worried now as he's been gone much longer than
anyone said he would be.  So, I thought I'd take my mind of things and update my webpage while I waited
(not so patiently).  

When I look out into the puppy pen, it looks so empty!  Four puppies have gone home to their new owners!  
All have reported back that their new charges are doing wonderfully well.  A few got carsick on the way
home, a few didn't.  So don't forget your clean up bags if you're coming to get a puppy soon!
Happy in her new home!
More happy puppy pictures in
their new home!
June 8 '09 - Half the puppies are getting acquanted with their new owners, the other half are here with me.  
It's rare that I have so many puppies at the age of 10 weeks.  There is a multitude of reasons why their
families have not been able to receive their pups yet.  A brand new baby, holidays booked a year in advance,
pup is too young to travel by air etc. etc.  I'm sorry to say that they will all be gone by the end of the week.  I
took a few pictures of the gang so you can see how they are all growing up.  
June 10 '09 - And then there were two...  I said goodbye to Miss Orange and Mr. Red yesterday.  Miss Orange
had a quick trip home and apart from getting mildly carsick, all went well.  As for Mr. Red, I am still waiting
to hear that he arrived safe and sound in Minneapolis!  We dropped him off at the airport at 10:00PM last night
and it is now over 12 hours later .  It's hard enough to say goodbye to the pups when they are leaving in
people's arms but when you send them off alone!  It just about kills me!  I have been tracking "the cargo" on
the website and know that "the cargo" has been delivered and accepted in Minneapolis.  It usually takes
about an hour for the pup to get from the plane to the cargo area.  Then there is the initial introduction to the
new family, a walk and a drink, and then the drive to the new home.  BUT IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER!  I keep
telling myself, "he's fine, he's fine" but until I get that phone call, I just can't relax.

So tomorrow I go in for surgery on my eyes.  Definitely excited but nervous at the same time.  So, if you are
trying to reach me in the next few days, you will have to be patient.  I have no idea how long it will be before
I feel good enough to get back to work.  It sounds like only a couple of days so hopefully that will be the
case.  Wish me luck!!  
June 14 '09 - Just a really quick note to let everyone know that my surgery was a complete success!  I can
see 20/20 out of both eyes now!  That's quite a difference from 20/100 that I used to be!  Yippee!

All the pups are now at their new homes.  Sad for me but I'm happy to provide everyone with incredible
partners.  I've had all kinds of very nice comments, over the phone and email.  Thank you all for your kind
words.  One thing Terrel said that struck me.  He said " It's like getting an older dog that's already trained!  
Anyone getting one of your dogs, that is a first time dog owner, will have no idea how good they have it!  
They won't know how much work you've done to create this wonderful dog."  What an incredible compliment.
 Thank you Terrel.  It means a lot to me.

I'm hoping to get some pictures up in the next few days.  So all you new puppy owners, send more pictures!  
I love it!
June 16 '09 - I must say, having 20/20 vision takes a little getting used to!  Every morning I jump out of bed and
start immediately looking for my glasses.  When I can't find them I say to myself "where the heck did I put
them this time!".  Then I remember I threw them in a huge bin with hundreds of others and they are on their
way to Africa!  What a feeling!

I've been getting lots of emails and pictures from everyone!  Thank you!  I'm still planning on getting some pics
up but I'm not sure when that's going to happen.  If I can squeeze it into today I will.  I'm preparing to attend
another 3 day course in Vancouver so I have to get things organized around here to make sure that the rest of
the family can take care of all the critters as easily as possible.  If you think about it, with 7 German
Shepherds, it takes over an hour to feed them in the morning!  RAW diets are great but very time consuming!
Now include walks, training, cleaning etc, etc and you have a full time job!  So I want to get things as efficient
as possible for them.  Otherwise I won't be able to go to anymore courses!

And all you puppy owners out there that are close enough to take advantage!  Your puppy kindergarten course
starts June 30th!  It runs for four weeks and is held every Tuesday night at 8:00PM at the Cow Palace in Olds.  
Please confirm that you are planning to attend so I know how many others can attend.  Talk to you all soon!
June 29 '09 - As the end of June has now just about arrived, so has my involvement with this particular litter.  
But with endings also come beginnings.  Each puppy has found a new life with new families across Canada
and the U.S.  I miss them all terribly but they are all doing the job I wanted for them.  They are now all K9
Partners for life.  Good bye my little sweet peas.  Come and visit me when you can!