Swimming… What Month Is It???

Today Brita and I were in Neenah and it was 55 degrees and sunny.  Yep..  it’s November 24th!  A favorite place we have is Fresh Air Park in south Neenah.  It’s a very small park, the size of a large building lot in between homes on Lake Winnebago.  Even in good weather, we often would have it to ourselves.  So… off we go… I can’t remember when the water has been so clear..  you could actually see the stones in the water – and this IS Lake Winnebago! 

Camera in my left hand.  Tug in my right.  Toss tug.  Take pictures.  Do it again.  Some worked really well and some are gone!  At one point I did throw the tug a different direction so I would be facing the sun and I think there are a few good silhouette shots!  Fun time!

   

Workin' with Angie

So today I was talking pictures for Steinig Tal Police Academy and Angie asked me to take pictures of her doing obedience.  Sure...  Then she asked if she could borrow Brita!  Of course.  It's fun to see your own dog work with someone else! 

 

 

Happy 3rd Birthday!!

It's become a custom now...  Birthdays are spent at Clever K9s so off we go!  Pictures were taken and reports were good.... she had fun playing with the other dogs!  On the way home we stopped at McDonalds for a cheeseburger and ice cream!  (we shared the ice cream!!)  

I had picked up a new retrieve item which was a unicorn on a stick... it didn't occur to me that the stick was plastic until the first time I said "hold" and she crunched it!  She did have fun retrieving it but was much happier playing with her ball on a rope even though for a bit it was stuck in a tree! 

Another birthday behind her!!  Tomorrow back to work!  (and we should all like our work as much as she does!!)

It was just this kind of day.....

 

 

Brita is such a HOOT

So today it turned out to be a pretty nice day so I wanted to get some work done in the training area and took Brita out with me.  I literally cannot walk around the yard without her running over and starting to heel next to me.  I was carrying fence posts in my right hand and she is heeling on the left. 

Well, she is pretty persistent so I thought ok...  I can do some training (which I was going to do anyway) so I ran her little butt off.  It was pretty humid and she was breathing pretty hard so I stopped and told her to get in her pool which was FULL of water.  I did not expect her to lay down in it however!!!!  What great training for PSA!!

What a difference from the first summer and her introduction to water!  I guess Teddy was a good teacher!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009.10.18 Training with Terence Williams

What a great time she had!!  When she got the sleeve and I said "take it home" (meaning back to the van), she ran in the other direction as if to say - "No, I'm not going...this is too much fun!"

2009.10.17 Training at Home with Angie and Chico

The SUN was finally shining and it turned out to be a beautiful day to train dogs. Angie came with four dogs but had a great time playing with Chico (see slideshow) Brita was full of herself so we decided to video tape her.. enjoy the show!

In this video we were trying to have get on the toy truck... it was fun!

Chico really had fun running around the yard!

2009.10.12 Training (Wayne Stephens-helper)

More training with Wayne Stephens at Angie's. Also Bobbie and Jason were there and.of course, Michelle! ....and even Ari got to take a few bites!!

2009.9.12 Training (Wayne Stephens-helper)

This was the photo that was everyones favorite... the connection between Wayne and Brita is cool!


Training was at Steinigtal Kennel. The main helper was Wayne Stephens and Gordy Esselman also stepped up to help. Working dogs was Angie Fink, Michelle Goodrum, Bob Evans, Laurel Stone, Gordy and Wayne. It was 2 days and Brita made significant progress each protection session! We has a blast and will be doing it again!
 

Height and Weight Standards

People ask about Brita's size thinking she is too small. (just had that conversation today) Brita weighs 56-58 pounds depending on the day. Based on these standards, she is just shy of the midrange of weight.

German Shepherd Dog Height & Weight Standards

from the F.C.I. Standard

Adult Males:

• Height at the wither 60 cm to 65 cm (23.62 inches - 25.59 inches)
• Weight 30 kg to 40 kg. (66.14 pounds - 88.18 pounds; Midrange = 77 pounds)

Adult Females:

• Height at the wither 55 cm to 60 cm (21.65 inches - 23.62 inches)
• Weight 22 kg - 32 kg (48.5 pounds - 70.55 pounds; Midrange = 59.5 pounds)

Average German Shepherd Growth Chart by Weight & Age

Please note: these are averages. Your puppy may grow faster or slower, larger or smaller. Consult your vet for an accurate evaluation of your puppy's development.

	MALE			FEMALE
Age in Mos	Kilogram (kg.)	Pound (lb.)	% of Total	Kilogram (kg.)	Pound (lb.)
1	4.2	9.2	12.10	3.3	7.2
2	9.0	19.9	26.18	7.5	16.6
3	14.2	31.3	41.18	12.1	26.7
4	19.0	41.8	55	16.4	36.2
5	22.9	50.6	66.57	20.0	44.0
6	26.1	57.4	75.52	22.7	50.1
7	28.4	62.6	82.36	24.7	54.4
8	30.1	66.4	87.36	26.1	57.5
9	31.5	69.4	91.31	27.1	59.7
10	32.7	72.0	94.73	27.9	61.5
11	33.7	74.3	97.76	28.6	63.1
12	34.5	76.0	100	29.1	64.2

First Day of School 2009

Due to Ari's ups and downs with seizures most likely from a brain tumor and his inability to walk, I never thought he'd be around the first day of school this year much less be in good enough shape to play with Brita while waiting for it to arrive the first day of school. The first event was the arrival of a dump truck and it's departure, then the kids getting the bus and then the bus itself! At the end of the series of pictures, Brita is so warm from running that there is steam coming from her body. It was a cool morning with low lying fog and at first I thought she was kicking up sand but then realized it was following her everywhere!