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Another New Puppy on the Block

Rudy — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:38:24 +0000

It happened again, there is another new puppy on the block. Yippee! He is a little German Shepherd Puppy-Dog.

I just met him last Sunday December 27th. His name is Danny Boy and he is a long hair German Shepherd Dog. Anyway, he was so happy because he was out tracking in the snow with his big sister Morgan. He was only 9 1/2 weeks old, but he wanted to learn how to use his nose like his sister and all his new German Shepherd friends. Our GSD pack will take him under our wings and get him started on the right path, for tracking that is.

He told me that he likes his new home and sister. They have all been very nice to him and they pay lots of attention to his every need. His Mrs is a great trainer for dogs and his Mr likes to watch over him, keep him warm, and talk to him in the car.

He asked me what he should do around the new house, so I gave him a hint; chew on EVERYTHING and blame it on cutting your new teeth. He thought about and said he thinks it would be easy for him to get away with it, because he is so fluffy and cute. I said, ”Oh Danny Boy, you have a lot to learn.” Those soft cuddly ears and almond eyes will only get you so far with your Mrs. She expects you will take to the field like a Champion GSD with tracking and obedience training. I am sure you will too.

What I did not tell him was all the things I did as a puppy. I eat his glasses. Why, I do not know, other than he had them close to his eyes which I loved and love to look at. I get so many cues from his eyes. Do they know that we read eyes? I do not think so. I ate half a plastic lens. I came out the next day with no problems, but my Mr took me to the vet to see if I needed an operation. Thank goodness I did not. The Vet, I like her because she knows all about us GSD, said ‘feed him bread, it is soft and will encapsulate it while it passes’. It worked and the plastic glasses passed right though me. It was such a treat to eat the bread that I tried to eat his glasses again. This time he was wise to me and he stopped me before I could crew and swallow them. I spared Danny Boy this story, because I did not want to give him ideas like I got which lead to crewing on stairs, shoes, baseboards, and Bluetooth Headsets, just to name a few.

Back to the story of Danny Boy. My Mr took a video of you. Here is the link to the video on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b3AckE2sm0

Danny Boy and all you other dogs must send me your comments about how you managed your humans. Well, that is all from the Dog Run for now because we have snow to play in outside. Happy New Year!

Rudy in New Boots from the Dog Run

Rudy Shepherd GSD plays with Beau the Tabby Cat

Rudy — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:41:23 +0000

Rudy here.

I share this house with my humans and 2 cat brothers. They are gray Tabby Cats. They lived here before I was born. They are 13 years old and I am 2 years and 9 months. That is a big difference but they are in good shape.

Clancy Cat is one fat cat. He thinks he rules the place. At one point when I was a puppy, I used to think that too! He would charge me and hiss. Then he would give me the evil eye. He threw punches and even stuck out his tongue at me! Then, I learned he could not hurt me. HE IS A PUSSY CAT! A big pussy cat that thinks HE is dominate. When he punched me he batted at my nose with his paw. It felt like a little soft teddy bear paw or rabbits paw. I got wise and just winked at him. We have an understanding now. I let them all ”think” I am afraid of them and play …dumb like a fox or maybe a wolf.

The skinny cat is named Beau Cat, short for Beauregard. And is a fine looking cat. He likes to go outside even though he is an inside cat. I often wonder, “where was my little kitty friend Beauregard?” One day he was gone and I was frantic. Then they both asked me, “where’s Beauregard Rudy?” I sprung into action and used my nose. I have a great sniffer, and I am have a Track Dog Title from AKC. Once again Beau, the little guy, decided to go out to play in the yard. He just wanted to play with my big red ball I think, or go criddering for Chipmunks. I found him by the wood pile under a big hosta bush. In went my nose and out came his paw trying to punch me. I showed my people where to find li’l Beau, he scooped him up, and put him inside. Then my Mr. gave me a treat.

Now we have learned to PLAY inside together. Yes, PLAY together. Beau and I have a tag game that is hard to describe. Luckily, my Mr. took a video of me and Beau in action so you can see for yourself. All of you dogs out there should try this. It is great exercise on winter days.

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcmtwz6bmDY

Clancy does not like to play, but Beau and I play everyday. It is so much fun.

Keep up with your exercise. Well, that’s all for now from the Dog Run.

Oh, wait, before I go, I have to Wish you a Merry Christmas. They got me some new boot to protect my feet from the salt used on snow, but more about that in my next article.

Rudy in New Boots from the Dog Run

My Dog IS My Shepherd

Rudy — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:17:13 +0000

Snoop’in Rudy

I can’t help snooping!

Rudy Here. I know, I am not supposed to be a snoop, but I found this poem in his printer. At least he uses a PC vs. writing things down on paper. Save a tree and type, spell check for this guy is a must and he needs a proof reader. She is really good at it and helps him a lot with that.

Anyway, I think the poem is about me? Wow, I must mean a lot to these people. I joined them when I was 10 weeks old on June 1^st 2007. It seems so long ago. I weighed 26 pounds then and now I have grown into my paws and weigh 88 pounds at 21 months.

Here is a picture of me on day one. See me smiling. They said I was soooo cute. Doesn’t she look happy? I was because I was out side on their patio, in the warm spring air, in the shade and nibbling on violets. I came to find out that THIS WAS MY DOG RUN. All for me?? What a gift from heaven, good folks that feed me 3 times a day and my own Dog Run. It is great. I have grass and trees and plants and sticks; and there are those two Cat Brothers for entertainment – Beau and Clancy. I did miss my mom and bothers, but I did not miss all those other dogs that barked all the time. They were replaced by hisses from the Cat Brothers. I want to play, they say no way! More on that subject later.

My first day in the Dog Run

I still hear them talking to me a lot: Rudy I love you, Rudy you are sooo cute, Rudy dogs the quality dogs are best, etc. So here is a point to my dog pals out there – If you want them to say things like this to you then HAM IT UP. Look cute, attentive, point out when something is wrong, and most of all – SMILE. However, I do have my High Energy Moments and sometime High Energy Days. What the heck, I come from a long line of High Drive German Shepherd Dogs. I am not a lap dog!

When I want a snack, I get into something interesting and they say “Leave It” followed with a treat. They say “Off” when I jump on the countertops in the food room, he says “OFF” when I am jumping happy to see him when he comes home from work, and when I bark at things they say “Thank you”. What is wrong with that? What are they spoil sports? It is my job to have fun, bark at strangers and keep the things in our Dog Run in there and keep all other things out of the Dog Run. I am just a dog that wants to do my job and have fun doing it!

To my Dog Pals out there: Please make sure you post your comments and stories after you read this article. If you have stories about Long Gone Dogs, then post them in the Memories section. We should all think about our cousins and families that need Dog Tips.

Now here is his poem I found. I think they do appreciate me and love me. What do you think?

“My Dog IS My Shepherd”

By GRH

February 19, 2008

My dog IS my shepherd,

I have no wants;

He teaches me to play in green pastures.

His lead and his collar are beside me;

His regal and graceful moves they comfort me.

He truly has cleared my mind,

As enthusiasm overflows.

Surely his goodness and grace will follow me

All the days of our lives;

And live in our hearts for ever.

Is he talking about ME? I think so.

That all for now from the Dog Run!

My Name is Rudy!

Rudy — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:36:16 +0000

My Name is Rudy

Rudy here. This story is about how I got my name or names.

His mom got a puppy in the fall just before she first went to college at the University of Illinois. The dog was a Cocker Spaniel, reddish color, and was named Ike ( I – Key) after General Dwight D. Eisenhower. When she came back for Christmas break, the dog was not her’s but was her mothers. Ike was a great dog I hear. He lived on a farm and got to run without a leash all day long. Can you imagine a complete farm as a Dog Run!

As it turns out many years later, I came along in my mom’s 9th litter. The breeder liked to have puppies named per the American Kennel Club registration (AKC) with a letter that corresponded to alphabetically to the number. I was named with the 9th letter or I. He named me Ike after that first dog he knew when he was a small child and his mom’s or mom’s mom’s dog. They use the “Call Name” of “Rudy” for me, but my official name is Ike von der Neuen Welt, which translated means Ike (Eisenhower) of the New World. How appropriate to be a German Shepherd in the United States of America and to be named after a US General and President that was of German ancestry like me. He who won World War II for the United States of America vs Germany! What a small world it is.

Here is the story I found on his desk that his mother wrote:

“Ike was born October 14, 1952 on Dwight D. Eisenhower’s birthday. Within a month Eisenhower would be elected president of the United States.

Mom and I first met Ike at my best friend’s home when I was home on Thanksgiving vacation (1952) from my first year of college at the University of Illinois. It was arranged that we would get Ike when I was home for Christmas vacation. I don’t remember much discussion about naming him but he was named after our new president, as my mother was a great admirer of Eisenhower. When I got home for semester break at the end of January, Ike was no longer my dog, he was my mother’s dog and remained her dog. She said that when she got up early in the morning they would sit in a rocking chair and rock until everyone else got up.

Mom & Dad moved in the spring of 1954 to the farm north of Francis Park east of Kewanee. At one point after the move Ike was missing. Horrors of horrors!!! I don’t remember if they advertised or saw an advertisement in the newspaper. Anyway a couple picked him up when they saw him as he was going his merry way back toward Bradford and the farm they had moved from. (Sound familiar.) Since he was friendly and had tags on they knew he had to belong to someone. His escapade ended happily back home at his new home.

Ike the Cocker in the Truck

Mom was a Registered Nurse. She worked at the hospital in Kewanee and later for Dr. Giltner in Sheffield. Ike didn’t like it when she got dressed in her white dress, shoes and hose. Mom was a purist as far as her uniform, which was all white in the 50’s complete with the mid-heel white oxford shoes. (You might say they would comparable to the comfortable SAS shoes that women of a certain age wear today.) She would sometimes wear those shoes with her street clothes and no white hose. Ike knew the difference. He knew she might be staying home. He didn’t like for her to be gone.

He didn’t like those shoes. When he had a chance he would get those shoes and either chew on them or hide them.

Mom did some sewing for herself, Dad, Carol and Elaine. (Edie was married and I was in school and later married.) While she would cut out the clothes, Ike would sit on a dining room chair, watch her, and cock his head as if he knew everything about what she was doing. Mom said he was a lot of company.

Since he didn’t like for Mom & Dad to be gone he had his little tricks. He would eat almost everything that Mom would eat including lettuce, which doesn’t seem like something that a dog would like. One night when Mom & Dad went to bed Dad put his hand under his pillow to get comfortable. Something felt strange. There under Dad’s pillow were pancakes left over from that morning’s breakfast.

It seems like I heard that he hid some car keys at one point. I think he liked to go with Dad in the truck and probably would have gone with them in the car although I don’t think they took him too much.

Bradford had a Labor Day parade and festivities in the 50’s. It had to have been Labor Day of 1953 that we decorated Elaine’s bicycle with a window on her basket. A sign said, “How much is that doggy in the window?” The doggy in the window was a song that was popular at that time. Ike went completely nuts when we got him in town for the parade. He didn’t want to stay in the bicycle basket and kept barking at all the people. He was used to the farm with just his family and not all the commotion that goes on in town let alone all the extra people that come to town for a parade and festival. We didn’t realize that we should have taken him to town several times to prepare him for his big day.

Ike liked most people. Dad had several different hired men over the years. There was one young man that Ike didn’t like and everyone knew it. It turned out this guy was the one that had been taking gas from Dad’s gas tank and maybe even took some tires. Ike would have been the only one at home when he took these things.

When the grandchildren came along, Ike seemed to know that he should go to the basement and stay out of their way. He was probably more than a little jealous of all the attention those little kids got. After all if they weren’t there, he would be getting the attention.

I’ll check these things with my sister, maybe she will remember more things.

Love Mom”

Isn’t that a nice story, she does write very nicely. I think that is were he gets it from.

Oh, the picture was retouched by his niece Katie. She is really good at it because she is in high school. The older ones are not as good at such things or they do not have the software. Thank goodness she does because the old picture needed help and she did it.

Did I mention that these people must really love me? (I hope your people do too.) I have an official AKC registered name of Ike von der Neuen Welt, the have a “Call Name” of “Rudy” and sometimes they call me Boo Boo. It gets confusing but it does help to increase my vocabulary. I answer to all of them and always for FOOD. I know how to hear and spell breakfast, lunch, snack, treat, and dinner. They know it too. I am not a picky eater, but more on that in another story.

Really, it means a lot to me to be named after his mom’s dog. I hear them talking about him. Ike the Cocker had the run of the farm. When they arrived for a visit he was the first to meet them when they got out of the car. He was always on the watch. Once he knew them, he would wag his tail and jump around to greet them because he knew there were 8 more hands to pet and scratch him. When my Mr. went outside, Ike was always following him to keep him out of trouble. They would walk with Mr.’s Grandfather who was doing chores every morning and night; watering and feeding the livestock. When that was done they would go play in the hay mound or another shed like the old chicken coop or tool garage. After a long day in the summer they would sleep under a shady maple tree. In the winter, they would go inside to nap.

I like to do both with my Mr. We have a lot of fun, no matter what name he calls me. The Mrs. wanted to call me Rudy and thus, My name is Rudy!

Now Im a Video Sensation! That’s what they think!

Rudy — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:32:00 +0000

Toddles The Scottie Terrior

Rudy — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:40:46 +0000

Let me show you a picture of a little boy called Jackie who grew up to be a young soldier called John and who, at an early age, learned what it meant to be responsible when you sign up for the service to take care of another.

It was in the early 1930’s and money was in short supply, Jackie wanted to help at home. He thought he could earn enough to pay the dime for his milk money for his lunch at school. That is when he came up with the idea of starting a dog walking service. His neighbors worked all day and they had a Scottie
Dog named “Toddles.” Perfect!

Everything was going well. Jackie was feeling good about his new job. That is until the afternoon when his friend threw him a new baseball. He dropped the leash to go after the ball and before he knew it Jackie was chasing the dog instead of the ball. That was the very day that he learned the lesson that was to stay with him through the rest of his life. He learned the meaning of responsibility.

A few years later he was called into a service that was to protect his country and that same feeling that he had had when he was a boy with the responsibility for the care of a little dog he took with him into the service of his nation.

Well done, soldier!

Dog Yoga, Doggie Yoga or Doga at the Dog Run

Rudy — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:51:45 +0000

Rudy here. Today’s topic is Dog Yoga. Ever heard of it?
I have an open mind. I really do have an open mind. This is my posture for accepting a new concept that has been brought to me. However, I am a bit skeptical. Here it is—Doggie Yoga or Dog Yoga or the newest, DOGA. Is it for me or them?

Well, as usual, I feel a little research is required. I am a proper dog, a big German Shepherd Dog. Should I tell my friends at the dog run? Should I experience what life has to offer and just go for it or be trapped by the traditional training dogma? The answer is YES GO FOR IT. So I went to class last year.

Here is what I found out. Dog Yoga or DOGA is an enlightenment exercise meant to create a stronger bond between human and dog. The benefits of Dog Yoga is really about partner Yoga that allows for our humans to get our focus for an extended period of time. This special DOGA time is usually 45 minutes. I stretched, made new friends, and felt totally relaxed.

STARTING YOGA CLASS ON A MAT

Here is the point: Doga also creates a spiritual bond between dogs and their humans. This bond is important too. When they get to know us as a part of the family, with emotional needs, then we can truly experience what Dog Yoga has to offer: Bonding of the mind, body, and spirit with your human.

YOGA POSITION - GETTING RELAXED AND BONDING

K9-Karma is a transference of that emotional and environmental calmness and peace. This can take place in the DOGA class and can be in the home, the dog run, and through our exploration of the world.

When I interact with humans through DOGA, through movement, you form a better bond for both humans and dogs. In the dog run, I have seen dogs naturally stretch. Exercising, stretching and chewing on bones or grass has a very calming effect.

The stretching and motion coupled with meditation and concentration keeps us in harmony. It is a state of Zen for Dogs and their human partner and forms a stong Karma. One question—who is the Yoga or Doga master? I guess it really doesn’t matter, but I think it is for all of us. Because my new friends know interacting with a big buddy is important in the city.

TREATS HELP THE EXPERIENCE

Further research has lead me to understand that there are around twelve exercises that DOGA focuses on: Center Breathing for Dogs through exercise, Doga downward facing dog for dogs and their humans, Meditation techniques for dogs and humans, Doga tree pose and salutation to the Sun, and a few more. Group sits are learned by all my friends.

GROUP SITS ARE LEARNED BY ALL

OK, I can’t wait to try it AGAIN. The classes are in my home town of Chicago at the Lakeshore Athletic Club at the end of February, March and April. I think I will go with my girl friend, she is a nice chocolate brown standard poodle named Schulzie after Charles Schulz. More on her later. Here is the web link to the class pdf.

http://www.lsac.com/docs/flyers/1325%20Doggy%20Yoga%20Flyer.pdf

What do you think? Have you ever gone to DOG YOGA class or can’t your Mr sit in lotus position or folded leaf? Let me know your comments, OK?

RUDY IN THE DOG RUN

Rudy from the Dog Run

Dog Run Memories Baltazar the Great Dane

Rudy — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:37:28 +0000

Baltazar the Great Dane Protects Josephine

Hello. Its Rudy from the Dog Run again!

Finding out about dogs from the past and present is one of my
favorite things to do. What I have learned from these histories and
memories–is that it doesn’t matter where the dogs go or where they are
or where they have been. The dogs I learn about at the dog run are always
in someone’s memory.

Today, I learned about a very special dog. I found a very old photograph from
the turn of the 20th century. There is a little girl and a very big dog in the picture.
I had to learn more. I found the photo in a very old treasure chest made out of cedar wood.

There were pictures and books and beautiful linens in the chest. Would there be a clue?
I took the picture and I left it on the table near the dog run. I figured that someone would
find it and start talking about it. I was right. What great information. I learned about
a beautiful story that answered many questions.

Who is the little girl? Who is the big dog? The little girl seems self-assured and shows no fear of
the world or the big dog that towers over her.

They talked. I learned the story.

The little girl’s name was Josephine. This was a popular name near the turn of the
century. She looked pretty in her dress with mutton sleeves. Her hair was cut shoulder length because
she liked to have freedom from all the fussiness of the victorian era.

The dog’s name was Baltazar. When I look at him I realize that he has a very keen expression on his
face with clear eyes. He sits proudly next to the girl. He is a regal king of a dog. He is
a Great Dane! What a big dog! What a little girl.

I went to Google. Yes, the dog run has access to laptops and Google. I found many listings for Baltazar. What did this name mean? Why would he be named Baltazar.

My research showed that Baltazar was one of the three kings of the orient that so many have learned about through reading Christmas stories.

The actual name Baltazar means “protection”.

Later, after I was fed, I sat by the dining room table. My tummy was full. I was dreaming of a big steak. Then they told a story.

Little Josephine went out for her daily walk to the butcher shop. Baltazar walked along side of her. She never needed a leash for Baltazar. He heeled by her side all the way. That day, she went in for a package of sausages. She left Baltazar by the door and he waited. On the way home she came across another dog, a mean looking hound. The hound sniffed out the sausages, and then made eye contact with Josephine and Baltazar. Baltazar looked him straight in the eye. The hound then became squimish and turned away. Baltazar, the King Protector, had saved Josephine and the sausages. When they got home, Baltazar was rewarded by getting his own plate of sausage, mashed potatoes and apple sauce!

Josephine was so proud of Baltazar and she knew that she would never be scared of anyone hurting her again.

I am so happy to learn about Baltazar and Josephine. The dogs in the dog run loved me telling them about this story and sharing the picture I found. I hope that they can tell stories about what they find in old cedar chests too.

Can you snoop around and find some stories to send me?

RUDY IN THE DOG RUN

Missing Boot Found in Snow Bank!

Rudy — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:27:42 +0000

Missing Boot Found in Snow Bank!

This is an update to my story titles “Walking in Boots in my Dog Run! Muttluk Dog Booties? Cool.” In the story I wrote: “These Boots were made for Walk’in and that’s just what I’ll do’ tra la la– in them. Well, I did until I was wearing the Red Boots, and I lost my precious dog boot. It came off in the snow along the road as I was looking for a place to empty my bladder. All of a sudden a city snowplow turned the corner and buried it under a huge splash of snow. No matter, I winked at him and he understood that we would look for it when the snow melts. How do you like that?”

Well, my little snow truck trick did not work. The temperature went up and he went back to look for it. He found my missing boot in the snow pile next to the road. He never likes to waste anything.

It was frozen in solid like a lead filled snowshoe, and my Mr. had to chip it out with a pick. He chipped and chipped and finally it came out as you can see below. It was frozen solid with ice all around. It was crumpled up and would not move open. There was no way to put that one on me!

BOOT FROZEN IN SNOW BANK

Well, so much for trying to get rid of it.

FROZEN BOOT CHIPPED OUT

He took it home, thawed it out and then washed them, all of them! My next plan is to wear out the toes on these Red Boots by dragging my feet on the street. I have a long gate so no one will notice. I have already made it through the black layer and the red is showing from underneath. So, there is not much more to go before I get to wear my yellow Muttluks all the time!

RED BOOTS WASHED AND CLEAN

The Muttluk Boots will last a long time. They have leather toes that are thick and strong. I know these will last. They cost him more, but they are worth it. Who wants to break in new boots each week, I don’t. He found the Muttluk on the manufacture’s web site http://www.muttluks.com/our_products/muttluks.php. They have a sizing chart he print out so he could size my feet up to their available sizes. Next, he went shopping and found a web site that had them in stock for me. KV Vet Supply had them and other cool stuff. Here is the KV Vet Supply web site:
http://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/search_results.asp?mscssid=0B98D92D6785431C9BB115C77325BDB3&Gift=false&GiftID=.

Like love my yellow Muttluks! They keep the rock salt off my feet and from between my pads and toes. I don’t like the salt, it make me sick. The other day we walked on the street and when we returned he took off my training collar and let me Run and Run in the Dog Run. I loved it. We have had so much snow becasue I have cabin fever.

ME AND MY MUTTLUKS IN THE DOG RUN

What do you think of the yellow/black color combination and the reflective Velcro straps that holds them on around my ankles? Don’t I look hip in my Muttluks? Please let me know your comments, OK?

Oh, by the way, my Muttluks are not yellow because I stepped in yellow snow. I would never do that. Why, because he has sung the lyrics of the song on the Frank Zappa Apostrophe (’) album to me. Have you heard the song, “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” by Frank Zappa? Frankie details some very wise advice in musical form regarding yellow snow. It is a classic. I like it. Check it out at the YouTube link below. It is the full music track from Side One of Frank Zappa aprostrophe (’) starting with the song I like the best followed by on through to Cosmic Debris. Check the animated (I like animals) video on YouTube too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws5Xeu3BEQk

Did you like the song?

German Shepherds Voted Third most Popular in the USA

Rudy — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:59:06 +0000

Rudy here at the Dog Run. I have been waiting for this announcement. Forget the Oscars. GSD’s win Third Place.

Third Place as Most Popular Dog?! Where is Rin Tin Tin when you need him!!!