What are we missing Part 2

A client asked me what was missing on the bag of dog food I posted the other day,  I was confused.  I said there was nothing missing.  The circle area was just to point out it was Large Breed puppy food.  And now I know why she asked me.  The text did not come thru with the picture of the bag.  Here is the text.

For those who missed it before. I have changed to Petcurean Now Fresh for large breed puppies. I changed because it has the correct calcium to phosphorus ratio. The same ratio that has been clinically proven to help reduce the risk of Hip Dysplasia. 

Think about it. I mean REALLY, really think about it. 

I can easily trace dogs back in my pedigree  for almost 50 years. And if I put some effort in I could go back another 50. NONE  of them had Hip Dysplasia. None. Zero. Nada. Generally speaking, if the past 50 or more generations of working line German Shepherds have been cleared of Dysplasia and there is still Dysplasia, there has to be something we are missing. Maybe it's lack of vitamin C. Maybe it's the calcium phosphorus ratio. There is something we are missing!  I will continue to look under every rock and cranny to figure it out.  I hope you will too. 

Pele

My faith in humanity has been renewed. There are so many people out there with hearts as big as the sun. I am overwhelmed at all who have sent me money to help with the cost of Pele's multiple veterinary visits and physiotherapy. I refused offers initially but as the expenses continued to grow and people kept insisting, I finally gave in. And it is very, very much appreciated, I can't tell you what it means to me. You guys are awesome! For those of you who offered, and I refused, I am most humbly accepting now if the offer still stands. It is surprising how fast the bills can mount up. You can send it to mamarcellus@hotmail.com The answer to the question should be Pele.

And I want to say something about the money I make from my puppies, If I was looking for a puppy and I figured out the math on this litter it would seem like a lot of money, I would wonder where all that money goes First off, 4 of these puppies are being donated to be service dogs. Any income I receive from the rest of the puppies goes to the upkeep of my current dogs and hopefully to find a new stud dog. Merlin died almost 2 years ago and I am still looking for a suitable replacement. I have 3 females that are breeding age and 1 of them cannot be bred because it would be inbreeding. Last year the 2 that could be bred, didn't catch. So that means I had 1 litter in 24 months, This is the first income in 24 months, For easy figuring let's say it costs me $100/month/dog to feed them not including puppies. I have 9 dogs, The puppies and Maya are eating 50 cups of food a day. Yes, 50 cups. That's not a typo. If you want to buy a good stud dog, which I do, you are looking at $20,000-$45,000 plus shipping from Europe which can cost up to $10,000. And this litter may be the one and only I have this year. I hope to have one in the fall but that is up to the dogs. I just didn't want anyone to think I was making a ton of money and not spending any on Pele. I am spending money on Pele. I did not ask for any donations. I was quite willing to spend what she needed. I love her with all my heart. I spent many sleepless nights worrying about her. I brought her into this world and I am responsible for her. Period.

I just wanted to say how overwhelmed I am that people would donate to help with her vet bills. Past clients, new clients and even strangers. You are all truly Angels. 😇

Yours most humbly,

Mary Ann

Advice from one of the world's best behaviourist

Dr. Ian Dunbar -  I've taken many in person courses from him and I highly recommend him.  

https://www.dogstardaily.com/raising-a-puppy

Meet Loki

Loki used to be Mr. White.  For the longest time I'd been referring to Mr. White as Miss White!  I generally try to keep the colours as: dark colours are boys, light colours are girls.  I had so many boys I had to give him a white collar.  But for years, white has been for a female.  Much to the surprise to the owners, and myself, when they came to pick up the FEMALE puppy yesterday, there was some extra equipment under the carriage!!  How embarrassing!  But all was good.  They didn't care, boy or girl.  And this was the best puppy to suit their needs.  No harm, no foul.  Thankfully!

Today is her birthday!

I was asked for photos of some of my older dogs just recently.  This just came in today!

Today is Lexi's birthday!  I absolutely LOVE it when I get pictures!!  HINT! HINT! HINT! And updates! HINT!

Lexi is a great girl who spends all of her time with her Mom going for long walks and her favourite pastime, agility!  From what I hear she is doing extremely well!  

She's absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks for the update and photo DL!

New Video link

https://youtu.be/KhLajcCA-WU

Last time there’s 11

What are we missing?

Pele (Miss Pink)

I have news about Miss Pink who is now Pele. Pronounced Palay, Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, fire & wind. All unstoppable forces of nature! Just like Miss Pink! She is a true unstoppable force of nature!

We went to a canine physio specialist last Tuesday. (Seems so long ago!) We came up with the idea to have the vet sedate her, pop her hip back into place an put a special sling on it. It would be on for 72 hours, then taken of and practice weight bearing exercises. Then the sling would go back on for 72 hours and off for exercises. This would last for 2-3 weeks.

So that was Tuesday. Wednesday the vet came to do vaccinations, health checks and microchips etc. He felt the therapists ideas were great in theory but unless I could x-ray every day to be sure the hip was still in place, it would be useless. While we talked, I was holding Pele down while he tried to manipulate the hip back into place. Something that was very painful for her, I had spent a lot of time the day before holding Pele for the therapist to do the same thing. At one point I just SNAPPED! I grabbed the vet's hand and thrust it away from Pele. He looked at me in surprise. I was not going to put this puppy through anymore pain!! I told him I'd rather put her down than have her go through this over and over again. We discussed euthanasia as a real option. I even told him to go ahead and I took off her collar. I was sobbing, He had tears in his eyes. It was just awful. Then I said "she does so well when she's just running around with her littermates". He said "explain". I said it didn't even slow her down. She played and ran and wrestled just like everybody else. An unstoppable force of nature! Sure she got tired faster and tipped over more but she didn't seem to mind. We decided to let Mother Nature take over and see what would happen. Wait 2 weeks and reassess. So that's what we have done. She is too young to have any kind of surgery, physio wasn't going to work so Mother Nature and prayers were going to be the answer.

So that's where it is sitting at this point, HOWEVER! The story continues! But I have to rush off because I'm late feeding the puppies! To be continued…

Mary Ann

Pick 3 Names

I do my best to allow people to have their registered name the same as their call name. The Canadian Kennel Club requires 3 names to chose from on their registration papers. Just in case the name has been used already. The letter this year is "G". I suggest you think of the call name of your dog "Rover" and then 2 "G" names. "Gigi" & "Gorgeous". They will most often allow the first name written, so you usually get your call name as your registered name. The G name helps with the filing systems and will declare the dog was born in 2019.

So it would look like this:

Rover vom Haus Marcellus
Gigi vom Haus Marcellus
Gorgeous vom Haus Marcellus

In this situation, if Rover vom Haus Marcellus had already been taken, they would use Gigi vom Haus Marcellus. You would still be allowed to call your dog "Rover" in everyday life. For example: Marcellus' I Am Canadian, was the registered name of Diesel.

And by the way, vom Haus Marcellus means "from the house of Marcellus".

Mary Ann

Puppies have been matched with owners!

Finally!! I've managed to find the time to match each puppy with their perfect owner! I've sent an email to everybody except one family who I didn't have the email address of. If you haven't received an email from me, please email or call me and I will tell you which puppy is going home with you next week.

Anyone who has not made an appointment to pick up the puppy, please arrange with me as soon as possible. Please allow 2 hours here and do not bring young children. It's very boring filling out paperwork and listening to adults talk!

Congratulations everyone! And thank you for your patience! I promise, it's worth the wait!

Mary Ann

Outdoor kennel

They enjoy the fresh air but can use the dog door to go inside when they want.  So many things they already have learned before they leave for their new homes!  How to use a dog door, sleep in a crate, use the litter box which can easily be transferred to the outdoors, come when called!  It'll be a walk in the park!

Up the hill! & a video

https://youtu.be/tuNAib3dK8A  Find the puppy with the dislocated hip

All Puppies Cleared!

All pups received their health clearances. vaccinations , microchips and were dewormed today. They were all troopers when it came to the shots and microchipping!

You will all receive 6 weeks free puppy insurance when you pick up your puppy. I highly recommend continuing with your pet insurance. I have insurance for my dogs. You don't have to go with my insurance company but now is the time to research them. It can literally be life or death for your dog. It's the best thing I've ever done.

Awesome Dog Education YouTube Channels

These are some of my favourite dog channels on YouTube!  These people are extremely well educated and are my mentors.  I have been lucky enough to take courses with most of them, in person.  Incredible educators!

Dr. Karen Becker/Mercola   - holistic DVM -  https://www.youtube.com/user/MercolaHealthyPets

Leerburg Kennels - all things German Shepherd -   https://www.youtube.com/user/leerburg/featured

Michael Ellis - World Class Trainer  -   via Leerburg site    https://www.youtube.com/user/leerburg/featured

Dr. Ian Dunbar -  World Class Trainer - https://www.youtube.com/user/DogStarDaily/featured

Kikopup - Motivational Dog Trainer (no corrections)  https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup/featured

Best Dog Foods for Large Breed Puppies

But check the calcium phosphorus ratios!

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/best-large-breed-puppy-food/

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/canine-nutrition/hip-dysplasia-dogs/

Calcium content analyzer for kibble

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/calcium-content-analyzer/

Balancing Calcium Phosphorus in your dog's diet

This is one of THE most crucial elements of feeding a large breed puppy.  If you plan on feeding raw, this article will help you.  The imbalance of these two minerals are one of the main reasons large breed dogs get Hip Dysplasia.  Whether you feed raw or kibble, the ratios should be the same.  

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/bone-food-values-for-raw-feeding-dogs/

Busy Days Ahead

With thanks to Meagan and Mark I was able to do the aptitude testing of all the puppies yesterday. It took several hours!

Today I'm off with Miss Pink, 2 hours South, to a physiotherapist who specializes in canines. Hopefully we will come up with a plan on how we can help her with her dislocated hip!

Tomorrow is health check, vaccination and microchipping day.

And hopefully, after all that is accomplished, I will be able to go through all of your questionairres and learn more about you on Thursday. And ultimately find you the perfect puppy. I'm hoping Friday I will have the results for you!

Gotta dash!

Mary Ann

Preventing Hip Dysplasia in your puppy

I am taking Miss Pink (now named Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of wind, fire and volcanoes ie unstoppable forces of nature like she is!) anyways…taking Pele to The Canine Fitness Centre on Tuesday for assessment and physio for her dislocated hip.  I found this great article on their website and thought I'd share.  I'm very proud to say that I am already doing everything they recommend breeders do for reducing the incidence of hip dysplasia in your puppy.  That makes me feel proud!  I'm obviously doing things right!

 Genetics is the first step, proper care and rear end awareness from birth to 8 weeks and then the rest is up to you and the environment you raise your puppy in.  I will talk about Vitamin C, MSM+Chondroitin+Glucosamine, and calcium+Phosphorus ratios in other posts.  All of these things are crucial in raising your puppy to be dysplasia free.  It all starts when the sperm meets the egg AND the first day you bring him/her home!

Mary Ann

https://caninefitness.com/docs/THE%20HAPPY%20HIP%20PROGRAM.pdf

Prevent Hip Dysplasia Videos

For those like me who prefer to see rather than read!

https://caninefitness.com/index.php?pid=61

Visiting with the pack

Just like a child needs a village to raise them, puppies need a pack.

Mothers deserve naps too

Maya taking advantage of the "no puppy" area so she can take a break from her 11 puppies.

List of things you may need for your new puppy

 I'm putting together a list from Amazon on the products I use and recommend.  GSDs are very hard on things and over the years I've spent tons of money on toys and items thet are "indestructible" and are gone in 15 minutes.   Anything you purchase through these links I will get a small percentage of.  I have tested all these items on a daily basis and recommend them all. 

https://amzn.to/2DpgGvl  Hard Plastic Crate - the only kind they will allow on planes  - this is what I use most of the time

https://amzn.to/2IOzdoB  Wire Crate - handy because it's portable and folds away - you can take it camping or to a friends or in-laws.  I like to use blankets over top for privacy for the dogs.

https://amzn.to/2XqMMOX  Exercise pen.  I highly recommend an x-pen.  Makes life with a puppy a whole lot easier.

https://amzn.to/2IJpCz2  Back seat car cover

https://amzn.to/2V4SubVMartingale collar - martingale collars  are the safest collars there are

https://amzn.to/2IwLY7Y  Multipurpose  adjustable leather leash  - use it at 4, 5 and 6 feet as well as hands free or 2 dogs

https://amzn.to/2IJNoez Food and water dishes 

https://amzn.to/2IFRjZA  MUST HAVE!  Dyson pet brush,  You may need an adapter for whatever kind of vacuum you have.

https://amzn.to/2Xw2hoX  2 sided comb.  Another MUST have most people don't know about 

https://amzn.to/2XwfVbD  2 sided brush

https://amzn.to/2V4UQHN  good quality nail clippers are a must. These you can sharpen with a round file.  These 4 grooming items are all you need.

https://amzn.to/2DnqyFY Rollover is what I use for training treats,  It is actually a high quality food and not a treat so you cannot ruin their dinner!  Just exchange some of one for the other!  You can find it more economically  at other stores but I wanted you to see what it looked like.  Different flavours come in different sizes,

https://amzn.to/2XoMRTe Yak hard cheese chews,  Believe it or not, they are worth the money.  One of the few things that last for awhile. Small left over pieces get put in microwave and become puffs

Bed - there's lots of good ones out there

I'm making up a list of toys that are good for GSDs so that will come in the future.

I hope this helps.

Mary Ann

Update on Miss Pink

Things are looking a little brighter for Miss Pink. Since there is no guarantee that surgery would work, I've been looking into alternatives. I have an appointment with a highly referred canine physio clinic 2 hours South of here. We can't get in until the 23rd but they said as long as she is ambulatory that that will cause no further damage.

And one of my previous clients who has been following us on social media has referred me to a fantastic vet in Ontario, Thank you so much CM for caring! I will try and reach the vet as soon as possible.

Little Miss Pink did not ask to be brought into this world. I am responsible for that and I will continue to be responsible to her throughout her life. She will never be a working dog but I'm sure we can figure something out to give her a reasonably good quality of life. She has a sparkle in her eye that just is beyond words. She doesn't know she's been hurt! She is tough as nails and carries on the best she can. She eats, and runs, and even beats up some of the other siblings! She's an unstoppable force of nature! I would love to find her a pet home where she could be the only one to be loved on, but if that isn't the case, she will stay here with us and become part of our pack for many years to come. Either way, she will be loved!

Mary Ann

A Terrible Thing Has Happened (No one has died)

2.5 days ago I went into the building 20 minutes after feeding the puppies to pick up their dishes.  I saw Miss Pink was sitting strangely.  Her left right leg was straight out.  I went over and picked her up and she was her usual happy, tail wagging self.  I put her back down and off she ran with a stilted kind of gate.  Since she wasn't in pain, I thought maybe she'd pulled a muscle slightly or maybe another puppy had bitten her leg.  By the evening, her leg did not seem to be better and she seemed to be weak in her back end.  After so many hours, I thought if it was something minor, it would have corrected itself by now.  I then started worrying about more serious things like broken legs or dislocations.  But there wasn't any pain.  How could that be?  I was horrified to think there was no pain because there was nerve damage so I pinch her toes.  Yup!  There's feeling and she pulled her leg up and away from me.  There wasn't much I could do for her that night and she seemed in good spirits so I left her with her brothers and sisters.  I called the next morning for a vet appointment but there wasn't a single vet in the area that could fit me in.  I had to wait until yesterday afternoon to get in.  They took x-rays and found that poor Miss Pink had a trauma related dislocation of her hip!!  I've been crying ever since!  There are no good options.  Either surgery (and possibly more than one) for thousands of dollars with no assurance it will work because she is so young, or …

I have just been going out of my mind!  Crying like a baby! The only thing I can think of is Maya accidentally stepped on her as she was jumping into their enclosure.  She is always so careful about where she lands.  She always looks over before jumping and then adjusts her body angle so as to miss the puppies who may be on the other side.  So if that's what happened, it was just a freak accident.  

I've done nothing but care for her for the last two days.  My apologies for the phone calls and emails I haven't returned.  I will get back to those asap.  And my most sincere apologies to Bob who was supposed to come and see the dogs today.  I TOTALLY  forgot all about it!  Thank you so much for your understanding.  I also apologize for my breaking down on the phone.  Just what a guy wants to hear!  A woman crying on the other end!!  Sorry Bob!

Please send prayers and good thoughts our way.  I'm still trying to find alternatives.

Mary Ann

                                                                coming out of anaesthetic 

Vitamin C and Hip Dysplasia

The puppies are receiving 1500mg of vitamin C/day included in their meals. I strongly suggest you do research on Vitamin C and Hip Dysplasia. I give all my dogs Vit C in moderate amounts with their food for their entire life. Do your research and decide if you want to do the same.

Outdoor Deck Enclosure

I had a great idea yesterday! There is a deck on the South side of the puppy building. Why don't we put up some chain link and the puppies can utilize the dog door and soak up the Spring sunshine! And voila! There it is! Next sunny day, the puppies will be able to utilize the deck! And since it's covered, it won't bother them if there are April showers!

New Toys

Slide and a rock wall! Flat on the floor to start but will get higher as the weeks go by. They have no depth perception yet so this will help them with that.

Notice several puppies sleeping inside the crate. This will help them when they go to their new homes. A crate is a place of safety and relaxation.

Brotherly love.

Or is that sisterly?

My YouTube Channels!

Don't forget I have a Guardian Angel Shepherds YouTube channel! Just type in "Guardian Angel Shepherds" in the search box on the top of the YouTube main page. Then be sure to subscribe and hit the bell to get notified of all new videos as they come out. There is also the very beginnings of an educational channel for all things canine. It's under the name "K9 Partnership". It will show you how to trim nails, give pills, which brushes work and why. I will be adding to that channel as I can but it's all great things to know. And again, don't forget to like and subscribe!

Mary Ann

Starting her tracking career early!

Contact Info Missing

There have been a few people inquiring about puppies that have either forgotten to leave their contact info with me, had the contact info bleeped out partially by their cell phones or my answering machine, or someone has left the wrong number to return the call (Dave). If you have sent a message in the past few weeks and not heard from me, you may be one of those people. Please call or email and as soon as I get your contact information I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Mary Ann

It’s a big, big world

Puppies are starting their individual walks outside. First we start with outdoor group walks with Mom. Then groups without Mom. And now we are at individual with Mom. Next will be individual walks without Mom. Takes a long time to walk 11 puppies!

Security Camera View

Moving Day!

The pups have graduated to their new building! Lots of room to run and play and build their muscles. I have a security camera on 24/7 and Alexa is still adding music and sounds to their every day lives. They listen to classical, pop, & country as well as trains, rush hour, and other mechanical sounds. And just to keep things balanced, rain/thunder storms, chickens, cattle, birds and a myriad of other nature sounds. All a part of our puppy program at GUARDIAN ANGEL SHEPHERDS. It has been proven that early learning is invaluable to the puppy and helps it deal with stress later in life. The puppies are much better at problem solving and quicker to learn. When they leave here, they've already been taught how to learn. It doesn't get any better than that! There is no other kennel that I know of, that puts in that kind of time & effort to create the best possible dogs a family could have!

I want to say a quick thank you to Meagan for all her help today. It would have been at least a few more days before the pups could graduate to a larger enclosure if it hadn't been for all her help.

Tan, Black, White, Grey 4.5 weeks old

Miss Green going for a car ride!

Surely this can’t be comfortable!