We have a new dog!! A German Shepherd named Duke!!!!
Several days ago my Mom's brother's wife Carol texted saying that her parents had bought a dog that they actually didn't have room for. Apparently he was an old lady's dog who didn't have room for him as she lived in town, so Carol's parents bought him from her. They had him for two months, and then realized that they didn't have room for him, as they also live in town (they live in the Tri-Cities). They were looking for a good home for him. He is intact. We were ecstatic, because we've been looking for a male ever since we got Nova as a puppy (that was 4 years ago). We originally got Nova because we wanted to breed her and have puppies. We have tried several failed attempts at having different friends bring their male out to our place and try to get them to breed, but Nova would never let the male do it so we just decided to buy a male pup. We never got around to doing it though....
So yesterday they brought him up.
We were introduced to Duke. Duke has the traditional black-and-tan markings of a German Shepherd. Unlike many other purebred German Shepherds, Duke does not have the extremely slanting hip. Rather, he's like Nova, with a perfectly straight back and hip, which is what we prefer. Also he is much taller than Nova. He is turning 2 on December 10.
Isn't he beautiful? We were going to buy a pure black German Shepherd male, because we like them better than the black-and-tan, but Duke is still beautiful
He is extremely energetic and a bit high strung, and was jumping all over, sniffing, ect. Once when Dad made a sudden movement towards him he snarled. Of course, Dad said he would expect him to do that since he doesn't know us from Adam, and he's in a new place, and we're thinking that when Duke bonds to us he'll snarl at strangers, which is what we want, a guard dog. He hasn't been leery of us since, but extremely lovey and he never wants to be separated from us.
We will not introduce him to our other dogs until our muzzle comes in the mail. He is too alpha male and he would seriously injure our other male cow dogs as well as Nova.
Anyways, since he's been in town all his life he has never seen horses, goats, cats, deer, wild turkeys, ect. From yesterday to today he's went from barking at the horses and lunging at the leash, to sniffing them calmly and watching them intently. He was also barking and lunging on the leash at the goats, but now he just whines at them and watches them intently. A big step forward!
Also, Dad has been working with him on the leash. He used to be pretty pushy, but now he is heeling pretty good. He also knows sit and if you say "handshake" when he's sitting he'll give you a handshake! I'm hoping to teach him to fetch.
He isn't food agressive, which is good, and acts like he really wants to work the livestock. Nova is really low-key, and has always has 0% interest in the animals, but Duke is always watching them. I am really curious to see how much he'd blossom if he was started on herding. Also he is an extremely good tracker. He's always sniffing, and is starting to scent things out. In fact, he's so good that Dad said it would be really easy to teach him to sniff out lost people. He'd really blossom as a police dog. Anyways, we're really liking him, and though we have all been spending time with him, he's bonding to Dad and I most.
I hope that by the time Nova comes into heat that they will be used to each other (which should be in December). He has a really pretty head, and so it will be a good combination. I CAN'T WAIT FOR PUPPIES!!!!
Anyways, Uncle Jason and Aunt Carol had a new baby, Johanna Carolina Cousins
And they have a little boy who will be turning two January 30. His name is Jeremiah Cousins
Also, on August 20, I entered two afghans in the Goldendale fair. I got two blue ribbons and Judges Choice! That means that I won!
I got a blue ribbon on this one, called "Kittens"
Can you see the kittens' heads and paws hanging down?
And I got a blue ribbon and Judge's Choice on this baby blanket. I made it for Johanna
We were introduced to Duke. Duke has the traditional black-and-tan markings of a German Shepherd. Unlike many other purebred German Shepherds, Duke does not have the extremely slanting hip. Rather, he's like Nova, with a perfectly straight back and hip, which is what we prefer. Also he is much taller than Nova. He is turning 2 on December 10.
Isn't he beautiful? We were going to buy a pure black German Shepherd male, because we like them better than the black-and-tan, but Duke is still beautiful
We brought him in the house. He didn't whiz, even though he's not neutred, and once he calmed down he behaved really well.
He is extremely energetic and a bit high strung, and was jumping all over, sniffing, ect. Once when Dad made a sudden movement towards him he snarled. Of course, Dad said he would expect him to do that since he doesn't know us from Adam, and he's in a new place, and we're thinking that when Duke bonds to us he'll snarl at strangers, which is what we want, a guard dog. He hasn't been leery of us since, but extremely lovey and he never wants to be separated from us.
We will not introduce him to our other dogs until our muzzle comes in the mail. He is too alpha male and he would seriously injure our other male cow dogs as well as Nova.
Anyways, since he's been in town all his life he has never seen horses, goats, cats, deer, wild turkeys, ect. From yesterday to today he's went from barking at the horses and lunging at the leash, to sniffing them calmly and watching them intently. He was also barking and lunging on the leash at the goats, but now he just whines at them and watches them intently. A big step forward!
Also, Dad has been working with him on the leash. He used to be pretty pushy, but now he is heeling pretty good. He also knows sit and if you say "handshake" when he's sitting he'll give you a handshake! I'm hoping to teach him to fetch.
He isn't food agressive, which is good, and acts like he really wants to work the livestock. Nova is really low-key, and has always has 0% interest in the animals, but Duke is always watching them. I am really curious to see how much he'd blossom if he was started on herding. Also he is an extremely good tracker. He's always sniffing, and is starting to scent things out. In fact, he's so good that Dad said it would be really easy to teach him to sniff out lost people. He'd really blossom as a police dog. Anyways, we're really liking him, and though we have all been spending time with him, he's bonding to Dad and I most.
I hope that by the time Nova comes into heat that they will be used to each other (which should be in December). He has a really pretty head, and so it will be a good combination. I CAN'T WAIT FOR PUPPIES!!!!
Anyways, Uncle Jason and Aunt Carol had a new baby, Johanna Carolina Cousins
And they have a little boy who will be turning two January 30. His name is Jeremiah Cousins
Also, on August 20, I entered two afghans in the Goldendale fair. I got two blue ribbons and Judges Choice! That means that I won!
I got a blue ribbon on this one, called "Kittens"
The ribbons
Judges Choice
The blue ribbons: First Premium
Stay tuned for more posts on Duke!!
I'm glad you finally found a male, and look forward to your puppy posts! Congratulations at the fair! Those afghans are beautiful!
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