A Good Shepherd
by
Sheila Searle
February 2009 

I am sure many people have had some memorable experiences during the current severe weather. The snow has been particularly deep in many regions and here is my own narrative which makes me a particularly proud owner of a German Shepherd Dog.
      Videx Hazy (Daisy-mae) is almost three years old and a German Shepherd with an extremely large heart. I purchased her simply as a family pet and her training to date has consisted merely of general obedience. Treating her with nothing but love and respect I allowed her to evolve into a beautiful creature; intelligent, kind, affectionate, immensely loyal and protective.  I wanted a companion, a best friend, nothing more and nothing less but in Videx Hazy I have found far more than I anticipated.
     We live on a farm, on the edge of Exmoor in the Brendon Hills in Somerset and Hazy has spent the last week or so having fun and games, frolicking in the snow but, then the weather started to cause local farmer and neighbour, Ray Bryant, grave concern. He knew he had sheep unaccounted for and realised they must be trapped and buried by the huge snow drifts, somewhere in the top fields. He voiced his fears to me one morning and I instantly told him I thought Hazy would be capable of finding them.
     Initially hesitant to accept Hazy’s help Ray eventually agreed and he, Hazy, my husband, Roger and myself set off, slipping and sliding along snow filled lanes and ultimately battling our way on foot through three feet high snow, once our vehicles could go no further, in search of the missing sheep.
     In the gateway of the first field we came across a dead sheep which we encouraged Hazy to sniff and examine. Then attaching a 16 metre rope lead to Hazy’s collar we gave her the command “find” and everyone hoped for the best.
     Hazy’s favourite game is ‘hide and seek.’ which consists of one of her toys being hidden for her to seek out. It is Hazy’s love of this game which made me believe she would locate the sheep. Plus the other occupants of the house are two feral cats, who go by the names of Holly and Ivy. These two feline monsters continually bring home mice, voles and shrews which they unwittingly proceed to lose somewhere in the kitchen. To date Hazy has always succeeded in finding and retrieving them; much to my relief and the cats’ disgust.
     Hazy, realizing that the sheep were now substitutes for her toys, set off nose pressed against the snow, creating little furrows as she went. Within thirty seconds she halted and started pushing her nose deeper before digging with her front paws. I called her back to me so Ray and Roger could dig down with their shovels. They were soon pulling out the first live sheep, which ran off to join the rest of the flock; bleating as it hurried away.  With no training and relying purely on instinct Hazy covered a wide area repeating this ritual time and again until all the sheep were accounted for. Unfortunately not all the sheep were found alive but, a good many were.
      All in all it was a good morning’s work for a young dog thrown in at the deep end who won through, justifying my faith and belief in her and undoubtedly proving herself to be a good Shepherd.

Breeders note: Videx Hazy is a daughter of Rocky vom Haus Tepferd x Videx Quena. Both her parents are FULLY qualified under the German SV system for breeding, which includes amongst other requirements gaining Schutzhund qualifications, which consists of Tracking, Obedience and Protection Tests. We retained Videx Hexi, a litter sister to Hazy. We are extremely proud of Hazy, and she certainly proves emphatically our important principles in the breeding of our German Shepherd Dogs.

Hi I have just been looking at your website regarding AF as our nearly five year old GSD Zak has just been diagnosed.  Surgery was not viable as the AF was too advanced and could cause incontinence.  So we are opting to use the drug Atopica which we will collect from our vets today.  We are also hoping our insurance company will pay which would be extremely helpful as like your article said it is extremely expensive.  Your website on this subject has been very helpful and time will tell for us, as we have been told that if it is going to work we will see an improvement in 2-4 weeks.

Thank you 

From: Miguel Fernandes
Sent: 05 February 2007 10:04
To: David Payne
Subject: RE: 

Dear David,

I'm a GSD passioned and when I discovered your web site I discovered a outstanding source of knowledgement that is helping me to better understand the GSD and improve my satisfaction to be part of my dog's life.

Your web site is, as far as I see it, a reference to the GSD community, including owners, breeders or the simple breed lover.

Continue your fantastic work and you can count on me for anything you think I can be of assistance.

Miguel de Sousa Fernandes

Philip Prince GSD 

Hi David and Rhoda

I would just like to thank you for the help and support over the past few years.  You have helped me see more in German Shepherds then most people could ever dream of in England.  I hope this makes me a better breeder.
You and Rhoda are a great team, and an asset to the German Shepherd scene in England. You have been a true friend and may it continue.

HELLO DAVID & RHODA

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR VERY INFORMATIVE SITE. I TOOK ON A RESCUE DOG WHO THEN HAD SEVERE BLOAT AND SINCE THEN ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS RESULTING IN 2 FURTHER OPERATIONS I WAS GOING NUTS AND READ SO MUCH INFO FROM YOU THAT GOT ME THROUGH THE PAST 3 MONTHS. ITS NOT OVER BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW YOU ARE APPRECIATED GREATLY.

Hi David & Rhoda 

We would just like to say that having met Rocky we both agree he is an outstanding male with a fantastic temperament, and have booked to come back to use him in the very near future. We have visited your kennels on several occasions and also used two of your other imports, Immo and Zasko at stud and have had two fantastic litters.  We have always found you both to be friendly and helpful and we have been treated with total respect and courtesy any time we have visited and look forward to using your dogs for many years to come. 

We have known you both for 3 1/2 years now since buying our fantastic foundation bitch Kira.  We have since bought more dogs from you and have always received a great service. 

We have had dealings with a few of the supposed "top kennels" and have always found your service second to none. Your kennels are always clean, dogs well fed and groomed, and the temperaments are outstanding on all of them. 

Both of you have always taken time to talk and advise us over many different issues and always been friendly no matter what time of the day or night. 

Some of the people out there who claim to be your friends really need to take a closer look at themselves; two faced back biting should not happen between "friends".

There are already too many shitty people in this breed, and too much "one-upmanship". Maybe some of them should take a look closer to home as "what goes around comes around" 

We wish you continued success in the breed and hope you enjoy all that you have earned and achieved. 

If you wish to circulate this mail or use on your site please feel free

Hello David and Rhoda

We hope that you are keeping well. It’s been quite a while since we have contacted you. It will be three years this July that we came to your house and took our wonderful adorable Charlie (Videx Fasko) (Videx Yassko x Selyn v.d. Roten Matter) home with us.

He is maturing well, we still love him too bits and cannot imagine life without him. Charlie is happy to be with us whatever we are doing and he is very well behaved, we can take him anywhere and he just fits in. He has a terrific character, he absolutely adores being cuddled and kissed, and we have never had a GSD that loves so much fuss. Yet, when its time for business; somebody coming to the house that we don't know well that’s another story, he is not going to let them in until we say that it is ok. He is still very cheeky and always up for a bit of fun.

Anyway the reason for this e-mail is to let you know that it’s not always the show dogs that grab the limelight! Pet dogs and their owners (Amanda) do as well! My bosses husband is a photographer and he has always liked Charlie, so recently he asked if Charlie and I (Amanda) would do a photo-shoot for a leaflet that will be placed in veterinary surgeries around the country promoting dog passports. The leaflet has been produced to encourage dog owners to take their dogs abroad on holiday with them. There is a beach scene, a city scene and mountain scene and that’s the photo we were shot in. Charlie looks great not sure about me though! He was as good as gold and loved every minute of it. The shot is portraying the image that Charlie and I have just climbed this big mountain and Charlie is looking at me as if to say, 'Right mum what’s next."

When I receive a copy of the leaflet, which will most probably be in a couple of weeks I will send you the picture via e-mail or post. I'm sure you will be interested to see it, either to laugh at my expense or to be proud that one of your dogs is a famous model!

Anyway take care, and by the way we still love looking on your website.

Kind regards

VIDEX THE WORD

WE HAD DECIDED ON A  QUALITY GERMAN SHEPHERD PUP
SO VIDEX GSD’S I JUST PHONED THEM UP
AFTER SURFING THE WEB
THE VIDEX WEB SITE I DID FIND

IT’S BRILLIANT AND PROFESSIONAL
IT’S SURELY ONE OF A KIND
WITH LOTS OF INFORMATION
AND STUNNING DOGS ON SHOW
WWW.VIDEXGSD.COM
IS THE PLACE YOU MUST GO

THEN DAVID HIMSELF
HE IS LARGER THAN LIFE
HELPFUL AND SO HONEST
JUST LIKE RHODA HIS WIFE

THEIR ENTHUSIASM AND COMMITMENT
FOR THIS WONDERFUL BREED
AND THEIR HELPFUL WAYS
MAKES THEM SPECIAL INDEED

Hello David,
For starters, I want to thank you for posting all of your Sieger Impressions over the past few years...I have read and re-read all of them many times...Although I am not able to attend the Sieger Shows, you have made it possible for me (and I am sure MANY others) to see the show through your very experienced and knowledgeable eyes....THANK YOU !!!

Secondly, I would like to ask your advice:
I have been breeding the German-German Shepherds for about 15 years now...I have bought the best 'seed' dogs I can afford from Germany and am trying to breed something very special from these great lines and I must say, I have been doing quite well for myself...(I do this strictly for myself---I don't belong to any clubs and I don't show).

I have a 6 month old young male that is undoubtedly the best GSD I have ever bred...He is absolutely gorgeous in every regard...."EXCEPT".....except his coloring is very light...His pigment is good and his eyes are as black as coal...His sire is a good colored Ursus grandson and his mother is also very dark colored (Rickor v Arlett out of a very dark colored litter sister of Quai zu den sieben Burgen).

I have attached a picture of a young dog I found on the internet that has the same kind of coloring as my pup and looks just like him.

My question to you is:

If this were your dog, would you keep him and use him in your own breeding program?...All of my other dogs are very dark colored with excellent pigment.

I thank you for your time...But most of all, I thank you for writing and posting the SIEGER IMPRESSIONS.

Peace and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours, John

Dear David
I just wanted to say thank you for the write up about Tony Trant, he was my grand-father. I did not get to see him before he died as he died the afternoon he came back from Germany. I have just done a search on the internet and found your website and felt I had to write to say thank you.
Many thanks
Mrs Mickaela Lumgair

Hello Mickaela
It was my pleasure to write about Tony, he was certainly a stalwart of our breed and a true gentleman
If you would agree, I would like to place your email message on my TESTIMONIALS web-page.
best regards
David Payne

Hi David
Of course I wouldn't mind, it's comforting to know that he was so well thought of.
Many thanks for your reply.
Regards
Mickaela

Dear David and Rhoda, 

Henna (Donna) is settling in really well, bless her, she was as good as gold on the journey home and I am bowled over by her, I just love her to bits already.  She is eating well and her tummy is fine so far, she is like my little shadow.  I will keep in touch and send you photo's. 

Thank you so very much 

Dear Mr Payne 

Your site has become something of a ritual. a well-informed and varied source of European GSD news and views.  It is well-written and newsy but above all, you are courageous, confident and committed  -  I have no reason to disbelieve your views and they are delivered in a fearless and challenging way  -  I totally respect your outspoken style.  So often GSD (and other hobbyists) people complain and criticize 'in safe company' but then adopt a different stance 'in official company'.  This practice is hypocritical and serves no purpose; in fact, no progress is made and this is possibly why the UK has been trailing behind in WUSV debate and development.  We can only hope that recent moves with the WUSV and co-operation from the KC with our first Sieger-style show marks the beginning of progress. 

My impressions of your website and my routine of checking it regularly,  I can appreciate that it must take you many daily sessions but just remember that there is some sad soul hanging on to your every word!  Thanks for your efforts and keep up the good work. 

Regards, 

Hello David, 

If you recall, we spoke a couple of weeks ago, when I telephoned you regarding a puppy prospect for working/sport. You had just visited Charles Wall and were extremely enthusiastic about his dog, Edo, and a litter of pups there. 

I wanted to thank you for recommending this course of action. I visited Charles & Gaynor and spent time watching Charles' expertise in training and assessing his dogs. It was very enlightening. 

Edo was incredible! I don't think that I will see many dogs as intense as him, when working. He hits the sleeve like a freight-train, considering his relatively compact size. Fabulous dog. 

As a result, I purchased a female pup from the Edo Sekac x Jessy von Mochauer Land litter. Having researched the pedigrees on the GSD database, I was already convinced of the potential of the litter. I was re-assured, as I also met a senior Police instructor, who had selected a male pup from the litter. Charles is obviously knowledgeable and well-respected. 

My pup, Ide (ee-da), is settling in well and is already demonstrating strong character. Fingers crossed! 

Anyway, thank you. 

I hope we can keep in contact. 

Kind regards