Sam - a German Shepherd in Florida

Pius von Thuerlesberg

Sam's second half year:

October 2004:
Time flies when there is fun!
End of September Sam and I flew 'home' for three weeks to get some 'serious' training. We were guests at two clubs (Donauwoerth and Wertingen) and worked about 4 days a week on obedience, bite work and we even had a chance to start with tracking.
Obedience is not Sam's favorite, but boy - he loves the bitework! He quickly found out that at the end he is allowed to keep the glove and carry it off the field, and that is the end, well, he decided that he just won't leave the field. So, he got the glove and when he realized I was heading towards the gate, he just flopped down, holding on to the glove and that was it. At first the trainer thought that poor Sam stumbled over the big glove, and he made us come back for another 'attack' (just what Sam wanted). Got the glove, head towards the gate ... nope, Sam 'fell' over the glove again. After the third time, the trainer and I caught on to his little game: sorry Sam, you just have to leave the field ....
First week in October, Sam got measured, 68 cm.
The pre- hip X-ray showed an excellent result.
Sam is definitely a 'collector's dog' ( ein Liebhaber Hund)
Nicknames given to him by club members: Apparat, Lackl, Elefant, Mordskerl ... I am so proud of him!

Sam had fun with Timmy, the little Beagle boy he visited with. Sam tried to love him to death, slobbered all over him, nibbled on his neck and floppy ears, grabbed poor Timmy on his neck and carried him around the yard.... but both had fun chasing each other around the bushes and park benches. Timmy had the advantage of his small size dodging under the benches and between the potted plants.

November 2004:
It is getting cooler here in Florida. Sam actually likes it now outside. The yard is all fixed up and ready for winter, with new annuals planted.... Sam pulls them up and drops them some place else, he also found the taste for water lettuce and water hyacinths... he grabs them off the pond and distributes all plants evenly all over the yard.

*~*~*

December 8,2004:
I would like to find a blog software, would make it easier I think. I'll keep looking....
gosh - Sam is changing coat! I groom him daily and I believe the hair I brush out could easily make up the coats of about three German Shepherds. Maybe even four. Pounds and pounds of hair I am brushing out daily. unbelievable! could I use it to stuff pillows?.... That's something I have to get used to, all my other dogs either were none-shedding breeds or very short haired (Boxer). But it's fun to brush him, he does enjoy it so much. And there are so many 'tools' available, rubber brushes, steal enforced natural bristle brushes, metal loop thingies, double-row rakes,...

December 24, 2004:
what fun unwrapping presents! Sam had so much fun shredding the gift wrap, digging himself into the piles of torn paper bits.

January 2005:
Todd constructed a crate for the back of my GTI for Sam. really neat, with screened windows in front and back, it is made out of wood and fits snug into the trunk space. It is big enough for Sam to stand up, this way when his paws are all muddy, my backseat will not suffer.

February 9, 2005:
What fun to play/train with Thor. Thor is a 6 month old German Shepherd. Doug has a puppy sleeve, but for Sam that sleeve is no good anymore, his bite is too hard. Today we got the dumbbell in the mail. Sam is not too happy with me making him hold it. Pictures of Thor and Sam are up on the COPS site.

February 18 2005:
Sam's first Birthday! It is scary how time goes by so fast. He is a big boy with 84 pounds on the scale, but so very handsome. Soon we will go to Germany for some intensive training and to have the necessary HD x-rays done.