White Shepherd Stories

The Search

 

Arezzo

Arezzo
 

Many of you know I began my search for the right addition to our family a few months back.  After a lot of consideration I decided that we needed to get our pack number back to three.  I was just not doing too well at recovering from the loss of our Quest. Pirate was doing a pretty good job at taking over the leader position, but with only one dog to instruct, it seemed he was a little overly bossy with Journey.  I did not want anything to harm the brotherly love between Pi and Journey.  I had my heart set on a puppy from Rhonda, at Surefire Kennel.  Journey came from Surefire Obi wan Kinobi x Regalwise Gabriela.  Pirate is from Hallmark Help on the Way (Sailor) x Surefire Stella Blue Starr (a daughter of Obi wan Kinobi).  The breeding I was hoping for did not take place and Rhonda had only long coated puppies, which does not work out here as they have access to both a pool and doggy doors into the house all day.  

So back to the search.  I found a wonderful kennel on the east coast, but they had only limited ownership registrations which would not work for our family.  

Rhonda suggested looking for an imported dog.  She has a couple wonderful females she recently added to her breeding program. I had no idea how to go about all that and assumed that it might be way too expensive.  Rhonda offered to help by answering a lot of my questions.  I decided to begin my search.

Several years ago I had seen a young male White Swiss Shepherd on line, that really impressed me.  He was in Europe and I did not figure I had a chance in a million of ever having a puppy from this dog.  I just followed him on facebook and admired him from afar.  I became more and more impressed by his accomplishments.  He was pretty much my dream dog, of course that was after my own.  I had felt that way once before, about a dog named Obi wan Kinobi.  I watched Arezzo as he accrued numerous championships in many countries.  I followed him as he learned Schutzhund and just recently got his IPO 2.

 

C.I.B., IPO2 AREZZO - multi Grand Champion, Ch. of 11 countries

Updated about 2 weeks ago

C.I.B., multi GCh., multi Ch., Club GCh., Club Ch. AREZZO Bohemia Star Moraveč
"Bernie"

His personal WP http://sampionizvysociny.cz/Arezzo-Bohemia-Star-Moravec212.html

* 25.01.2009
66 cm, 45 kg, STUD DOG FCI (breeding license from 09/2011), FULL PEDIGREE FCI, COMPLETE DENTITION (42 teeth, all visible)

Bernie has an excellent dark pigment for all year, black eyes, strong bones, straight back also in moving, perfect set tail, wide chest, elegant head with male expression, balanced friendly character but with working drive.
He is great combination of BEAUTY and WORK.

Father: Ch. FERGUSTON Taien, IPO1, ZVV 2, ZPU2, FPr3, ZZZ, VZ1, RH-E, ZOP, ZZO, BH /Ch. Basko Fillův Dvůr x Ch. Gara z Veselé rodiny/ - total 15 working exams
Mother: Artemis z Nového Malína /Cino Giacomo Elbigi x Alexis of White Glory/

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C.I.B. (previously INTERCHAMPION) - the first WSS in Czech republic
Ch ČMKU (= 4x CACIB or National Winner in Czech republic)
GCh Czech republic, GCh Moldavia, GCh Slovakia 
Champion of: Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech republic, Poland, Slovakia, Macedonia, Moldavia, Montenegro, The Balkans, The Mediterrianen 

Club Grand Ch CZE, Club Ch CZE, Club Ch SK, National Winner (CZ, PL), Regional Winner, Derby Winner, Class Winner 

Candidate Champions of: Austria, Hungary, Slovenia
multi CAC, CACIB, BOB (AT, AZ, CZ, MLD, PL, SK) 

HD B, ED 0/0 
test DNA in Czech republic and in Germany
MDR1 +/+
DM n/n

Working exams:
ZZO (obedience + special discipline)
ZOP (obedience + special discipline)
BH (obedience by IPO)
ZPU 1 (track + obedience)
BgH 1 (obedience by IPO)
ZM (track, obedience, defense)
ZVV 1 (track, obedience, defense)
IPO-VO (track, obedience, defense)
FPr 1 (track by IPO1)
IPO 1 (track, obedience, defense)
IPO 2 (track, obedience, defense)

Offsprings:
He is a father of 24 females and 19 males (9 puppies with long coat)
"A" litter "Šamanův trik" (Czech republic) February 2012
"T" litter "Acabo Czech" (Czech republic) August 2012
"B" litter "Forrento" (Czech republic) January 2013
"G" litter "od Kunovského lesa" (Czech republic) March 2015
"N" litter "AKBO-Parchovany" (Slovakia) April 2015
"B" litter "Atagora" (Czech republic) April 2015
"A" litter "Almost Normal" (Czech republic) May 2015
"B" litter "vom Kettengrund" (Germany) May 2015

Pedigree:
http://pedigreedatabase.com/white_shepherd/dog.html?id=1854759-arezzo-bohemia-star-morave269

More informations about his offsprings:
http://sampionizvysociny.cz/NASE-DETI.html

All his offsprings have a standard height and beautiful heads. He improves pigmentation, frame and character in his litter!!!!

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As I watched Arezzo accomplish so much, I was pleased that I certainly had a good eye for a truly great dog. 

 

Once I decided to possibly import a dog, I thought I might as well start at the top. Nothing to lose by trying.  When I contacted Arezzo's owner, Hana Berkova', and inquired about a puppy, she responded immediately.  She said she knew my dogs from following them on facebook and that she was "absolutely in love with my dogs".  She loved the way I treated my dogs and all the things I did with them.  She said "it would be a pleasure for you to have one of my puppies!"  That was about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me and after clearing tears I responded to confirm what I wanted in a puppy.  Arezzo's son,  with short coat.  That really said it all.  Everything Arezzo is, is what I wanted and I was certain she would have chosen a female worthy of him.  Well, she only had a female pup at that moment, but I requested that she put my name on the list.  

 

I believe it was no more than a day or two when Hana wrote to me: "I have your puppy if you want him."  He was born May 5, 2015.  He was reserved, but the owner of the litter did not feel the owner was a good match for him and he was available. 

 

YES!

 

Hana is the dearest, sweetest person.  She just took care of everything.  She picked up the puppy, took him to the vet for his passport and health information.  His flight was confirmed and I only had to wait a few more days. All through the transport she kept forwarding me adorable pictures of the cute little guy. She drove him to the airport at

Prague, in the Czech Republic.  That flight was only a little over an hour, to Amsterdam.  He spent the night at a dog hotel in Amsterdam.  Then they put him on a KLM flight to Portland, Oregon to arrive Friday, July 17, 2015, 11:42 AM.  I was floating on clouds with happiness and excitement.  

 

On his way .....

 

 

I expected a very tired, possibly soiled baby boy.  He was 45 minutes early, and he came out of his crate fresh, with many kisses for me; lots of curiosity for everything and everyone.  He obviously liked his car, and he liked his treats and he really like the hugs and kisses I was giving him.  We stopped at Subway and shared a Turkey Italiano sandwich (He got most of the turkey).  We continued home and met his brothers.  I had planned a one dog at a time introduction, so as not to overwhelm him.  After meeting him I decided he was not overwhelm-able.  I was right.  He just accepted both of his big brothers immediately.  Pirate was delighted.  Journey was a little overwhelmed.   Today is his 6th day here and it feels like he has been here so long.  He is totally settled in and he loves everything.  Nothing has frightened him; he has not turned down any piece of food. His tummy was not the slightest bit upset and he still had energy to spare.  He is already barking with the pack and when Pirate decided to howl at something, puppy joined right in.  He is winning Journey over with little kisses and play-bows. Journey found himself wagging his tail at him in spite of himself.  He is just a wonderful little guy.  He chases balls and brings them back to me and he is only 10 weeks old.  He is super smart .  He learned to navigate stairs after once being assisted going down.  Going up he managed alone.  He is using the doggy doors and he is learning his name "Andiamo" which means "let's go" in Italian.  He is everything I could imagine wanting in a puppy. He fits right into our pack and we are all enjoying him so much!  

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you Hana Berkova' and Arezzo.  And a big thank you to his lovely mama Allis Mia.  We will take super good care of this precious puppy. 

 

USDAA Agility Trial - July 13, 2015 - Longview, WA

2 First place "Q's"

This was Journey's second USDAA trial.  We had entered two days, but changed it to one day, as the temperature has been so hot.  As it turned out it would have been just fine as, by the day of the trial, it had cooled off  to the low 80's.  This trial was outside, and we had lots of nice shade trees.  

Anyway, Journey ran two beautiful runs in Jumpers and in Snooker.  Snooker is the one where you run a coarse partially designed by you.  Journey was to jump a red jump, then do an obstacle of my choosing, (preferably one of the higher point ones). Then another red jump, and another obstacle of my choosing.  Last he is to do one more red jump and then choice obstacle.  After that we take about 7 obstacles in sequence.  He really needs to listen to me for this event, as there are times when we need to weave between obstacles without executing them, in order to get to the obstacles we need to do. Journey is getting to be very good at this one.  It is a lot of fun and is one of my favorite games. 

We missed having Joe Camp taking pictures.  I believe he was attending a different trial on this weekend. 

We were surprised to see some friends from California at this show.  

Below is a link to my friend's winning run in USDAA Masters at NW Regionals .  They are really a super team and they are competing right now in the FCI European Open in Rieden, Germany.  It was so nice to see Desiree and Peggy here in Longview at the USDAA trial on July 13, 2015.  Desiree and her Border Collie Pace are on the USA Team.  I have known them for many years.  When we were all competing in Southern California they were running Siberian Huskies.  They still have Chi, she is 13 now and she really looks good.  

 

 

Another woman who was competing at the Longview show mentioned that there were four members of the USA international team at this event.  It was such a joy to watch them run their dogs.