Klaus on Christmas

Mary Ann

Duke's First Christmas!

Duke is about 13 weeks old and living life!  I'm guessing since he's already received his Christmas jammies, he's going to have a few more items coming his way!

Merry Christmas to Duke and all his family!

I’ve lost my head!

Oops. Cruz got a little carried away with her squeaking. Luckily bunny's head is just out of photo. Not in Cruz!

Mary Ann

Guardian Angel Shepherds on Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Not sure you understand

Mary Ann

Hi from Miss Yellow!

Mom said I needed some quality house time so I got to leave sis and bro' in the puppy building. The walk to the house was thankfully short as it was -21C with a big wind!  I'm glad I'm an indoor dog!

I was offered a bully but I'm not sure what that is so declined it. Maybe next time. 

There are a TON of dogs I don't know in the house but they were all really nice to me. One even let me steal a bone!  I think I met about 6 dogs but I'm not sure. I lost count. 

Anyways, Mom says I gotta go. Talk to you all later!

To All New Puppy Owners!

 

You should have received several emails in preparation of taking home your new puppy!  Four emails to be exact!  Each one provides you with information and instructions on just about everything I can think of for you up to the age of 2 years old!  You will also have a lesson on the day you pick up your puppy.  This will not include the puppy, it is a verbal lesson only.  Allow up to 2 hours here when you pick up your pup.

Things to bring when you pick up your puppy:

A puppy blanket that I can rub on Nova and the other puppies to take the scent back home with you.  It will help with the first few nights.

A second person.  One person to drive, the other to hold the puppy.  Putting the puppy in a crate makes it doubly stressful for the puppy.  They do much better on someone's lap.

A clean up bag.  Your puppy might get car sick on the way home.  You will have a few minutes notice before they actually get sick so you can place that plastic bag where it's needed!

A pen and notebook.  I suggest you write down any questions you have before you get here.  The notebook can also be used for taking notes during the lesson.   Even if you've had dogs all your life.  Have you ever adopted from a professional trainer and behaviourist?  There's lots to learn!

Money.  If you haven't paid for your puppy in full before the pick up date, you will need to bring cash.

I think that's it.  How many more sleeps?  Not many!  Get sleep now!

Exciting times!  

Mary Ann

Things I suggest you have for your new puppy

This is what one of the new puppy owners had on their list of things to buy.  My remarks are in red.  Anything I am recommending is purely because I like them and use them.  I am receiving no money for recommending them.

Mary Ann

• Kennel ✅ Some people call them crates.
• Bed for kennel - Puppy may chew it. Be careful he/she does not ingest any of it. You may have to remove it until he/she gets older.
• Bed for living room ✅

• Dog food (kibble) - They are eating Petcurean NOW Fresh Large Breed Puppy food. Approximately 1.25 cups per meal. 3 meals a day. They also get a vitamin every day that we will talk about when you pick him/her up. They have to be ordered with a breeder number.
• Food and water bowls
• Collar✅

• ID tag✅
• Harness If you like the idea of a harness, get one where the leash attaches at the front of the chest. I also suggest a Gentle Leader or Easy Walk head halter but not until they are 6 months old.. Not a Halti. They are different.
• Leash ✅
• Poop bags✅
• Pee pads. Shouldn't be necessary unless you have to leave your puppy for very long periods alone. No point in teaching pads if you want him/her to go outside.
• Car seat cover ✅

• Hair grooming (we also have the dyson with the brush extension for when it's older) - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09BNMPL9T/?coliid=I5RYKCKSV7SKZ&colid=UWSN7C3S6ONE&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im. These might be okay for later but they are too aggressive to start. See photo below.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B074YBX4V6/?coliid=I2CL9QWBCD0D4F&colid=UWSN7C3S6ONE&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im

• Nail grooming - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B075N83693/?coliid=I1AOR62L9WL1FM&colid=UWSN7C3S6ONE&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it Don't get ones with the guard. They are a pain!
• Shampoo - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00106XDFM/?coliid=I1BE65BX9OC05O&colid=UWSN7C3S6ONE&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im I don't see a brand I recognize on Amazon. You have to make sure it's a good quality shampoo as GSDs have higher PH levels than any other breed. They can end up with itchy skin otherwise. I buy mine at dog shows so you'll have to do your own research.
• Teething toys and regular toys. I suggest lots of bully sticks, Himalayan cheese sticks and puzzle toys to keep him/her busy as well.

• Add to the list (potentially) an exercise pen

https://www.amazon.ca/images/I/51LWzypLpIL._AC_UL232_SR232,232_.jpg

• and PINE shavings to teaching where to go to the bathroom outside. These are optional but make your life easier.

Temperament/Aptitude Testing

 

I have 7/9 pups tested and will do the last 2 today.  Tomorrow I will spend the day matching puppies with people.  It's a very long and stressful job making sure everyone has the best matched puppy possible.  Things to consider from the pups side:  health, energy level, sight sensitivity, sound sensitivity, focus, patience, forgiveness, confidence, food desire, retrieve desire, learning speed, play drive, prey drive, etc.   There's a LOT to placing a puppy!

Of course everyone wants the perfect puppy.  But you know what?  There is no perfect puppy.  You might ask for 10 things but your puppy might come with 7 of the 10.  But that's okay!  You know why?  Because there are many things that are TWEAKABLE.  Things that you can encourage more of or discourage.  Play and prey drive for instance.  You can build on what the puppy comes with or you can suppress what the puppy comes with.  Same with confidence.  Same with patience.  You cannot however change some things.  Like pain tolerance, and forgiveness.  Those are set in stone.  

Then there's the owners to take into consideration.  There's just as many categories there as there is for puppies.  Experience is the most important.  For instance I can take a mediocre puppy and turn him into a star.  That's because I've had decades and decades of learning dog psychology, behaviour and training.  So along with owner's energy levels, family specifics, etc both the amount of time they have for their dog and their previous experience play a large part in my decision.

The above photo is the room set up for testing.  That's not what the pup sees when he first comes in.  That is all the items I use to test for the above qualities.  Can you guess what each one is for?  It takes 15-30 minutes to test each puppy.  That all depends on the puppy.  You cannot rush these things!l

Anyways, I best get to testing the remaining pups.  I have owners waiting to hear!

Five in the bed and the little one said,

 Five in the bed and the little one said, Roll over, roll over,. There were four in the bed and the little one said rollover, rollover…

Fresh air, Exercise and Vitamin D!

 

I’ve earned my good breeder icon!

This is earned not given. There's an interview and seminars to attend. Not everyone who tries, gets this award. 

Mary Ann

Strange way to sleep

Mary Ann

Two Puppies Available!

Big, Little and Medium sized!

 It doesn't happen often but there are two puppies that are available for adoption.  If you have already sent a questionnaire and haven't heard from me, please re-send.  I've been finding these emails in the strangest places.   Spam, Junk, even in the garbage can!  

I've been so buys with 9 puppies, a four month old and 3 board and trains, that I've left finding approved families very late.  As I tell people often, I'm really good with dogs, not so much with business!  The pups will be starting to go to their new families after December 3rd.  

Best thing to do if you have sent a questionnaire recently and you haven't heard from me,  please email me again.  And don't be afraid to follow up with another email.  I have a sneaking suspicion that some questionnaires were bounced altogether.  

Questionnaires can be downloaded from the EXTRAS page on my website.  www.myguardianangelshepherds.com/Extras.html. The contract is there for your perusal only.  It
can be signed when you pick up your little fur ball!

Don't delay!  If you've been wanting a Guardian Angel Shepherd, maybe now is the time!

Mary Ann

Puppy Dinner time!

12-15 cups NOW Large Breed Puppy food topped with organic raw Greek yoghurt and a daily vitamin!

Random Nova Puppy Photos

Sorry, not the best photos but I thought you'd like to see them regardless.  It's all I have time for at the moment.  I'll try and get some better ones up soon!

Trinity

I love Trinity's conformation and super soft and shiny coat. She's waiting for her best friend, Lee-Ann, to come thru the door!

Miss Maya

Maya snoozing on the couch after chewing her knuckle bone.

Himalayan Cheese Sticks

German Shepherds are heavy duty chewers! There are FEW things that can withstand their jaws. An average GSD has a bite force between 200-250 pound per square inch (PSI). That's enough to easily break a human bone. In comparison a human's bite force is approximately 86 PSI.

One of the few things I have found that gives my dogs more than 5 minutes of chewing before it is destroyed is a Himalayan Cheese Stick. It has two ingredients. Yak milk and lime juice. It is the only thing I have found that will outlast a session of chewing. IOW the dog gets tired of chewing before it's gone!

Each chew stick will last about 3 or 4 dogs before it gets too small for them to have. And even those small ends are still useable. Put them in the microwave and they puff up 3 times their size. Once cooled, the dogs can enjoy those as a tasty treat!

Below is a whole cheese stick alongside 2 puffs.

I am not getting paid to recommend these cheese sticks. I just thought I'd share the information in case someone else wanted to try them.

I got too big!

Mom was taking up too much room on the loveseat so Tazer decided he'd opt for the single chair. He must have circled 10 times before he laid down. Only to realize he'd outgrown it!

Mary Ann

Nine Puppies!

6 males 3 females. Born October 4th 2021 to Nova & Tazer!

For those who haven't seen the commercial

We were hired in August to do a commercial for Co-op. It took 5 days to film this short commercial! But what a blast we had! Thank you to those who allowed their puppies to become tv stars! There were 2 Mom dogs and 3 puppies in this commercial!

Mary Ann

Two Alaskan Angels

This is Emmie and Rex.  They live in Alaska!  They are not brother and sister but they are related.  Aren't they gorgeous!  I know I'm a wee bit prejudiced but you can't deny it.  So many of my puppy owners tell me they are constantly stopped on the street and asked where they got such a beautiful dog.  I hear it all the time.  And the funny thing is I can have two dog owners, who do not know each other, see the other person's dog and just know it must be a Guardian Angel Shepherd.  And sure enough, once they start chatting, it is!  Many new friendships have been started that way.  

I wonder if Rex and Emmie will be doing any mushing this year?

Mary Ann

My favourite training treat

This is called Rollover. It's actually a dog FOOD not a treat. So it can be partially exchanged for your dog's meal. It comes in 3 flavours. Beef, chicken and lamb. It's not oily so you can even put it straight into your pockets. (Just a heads up though. Remember to empty your pockets before you leave your jeans on the floor. Otherwise you'll find yourself with many pairs of jeans with no pockets!)

Did someone…

Did someone poop the bed on the right??

Bigger!

I can't believe how fast they are all growing!

Chubby Girl's Rolly Polly Puppies!

Another Hurdle Accomplished

We are now at the point where I can stop weighing them every day!  Once they are this old, they're pretty much on their way!!  Yahoo!!!!

Mary Ann

Hawk on the treadmill

It was very cold, rainy and windy today so I wimped out and used the treadmill today.  Treadmills are great but they are NOT a replacement for good old fashioned walks!  Treadmills exercise the body but not the mind.  Walks stimulate the dog emotionally, physically and mentally.  That's what wears them out!  Occasionally using a treadmill is okay, but they can't replace walks.

Mary Ann

Mr. Blue

12 days old.  Lots of tan coming through on this guy already!

Miss Yellow

12 days old.  Eyes are almost open.  Eyes and ears open at the same time!

Typical Cruz

She's so sweet!

Mary Ann

Kananaskis Country

Been meaning to put this up for awhile now.  We took a trip to K Country in mid-September with some of the dogs.  This is Gypsy and Gaia enjoying the fresh mountain air!

Mary Ann

My Beautiful Rommel

One year ago today. Here's Rommel, Cruz and Gaia ready to go for a ride in my Jeep. It wasn't long after this I had to put Rommel to sleep. 😔

Mary Ann

Can you count all 9?

Mary Ann

They moved!

They don't all fit in any more!  

Mary Ann

If they’d just stay like this…

I could fit more in the warming box!

Mary Ann