Shiloh Shepherd Times, FEBRUARY 2006
SHILOHS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

History | Golden Oldies | Shows | 9to5 | Companion | Feb 06 Newsletter

A PART OF OUR HISTORY


NS abCH Yonavick's Chewbacca Of Pimm, CGC, ROM
Christi Yonavick, Ridgewood Shilohs

sire: NS abci Ch. CJ’s Lobo Amado De Windsong, CGC, TDI, ROM
dam: Atherton's Lily
Sept 3, 1998 - July 12, 2005

Chewie was our first Shiloh Shepherd here at P&C's Ridgewood Shilohs. We quickly fell in love and have dedicated ourselves to the breed due to our wonderful experience with Chewie.

Chewie was a fantastic ambassador for the breed. Sweet, loving, brave and a friend to all who met her. It was extremely rare for Chewie to meet a person or animal that she didn't like, yet there was the occasion that she stepped up and protected her family. Chewie was the most fantastic friend and she continues to live on through her progeny.

Chewie will be forever missed by us at Ridgewood Shilohs and by her soul mate Marita with whom she lived her last two years.

We love you and miss you Chewie!


GOLDEN OLDIES


NSabCH Sierra's Shadow Walker of Zion, ROM, CGC
Susi Ramstead, Sierra Shilohs

sire: bCH Shiloh's Killer Grizz of Zion, ROM
dam: Mountain Sheba of Zion, ROM
June 27, 1994 | brown sable smooth

The first time I saw Shadow he was coming out of a crate at the airport. He was the most beautiful puppy I had ever seen. He came home with us to capture all hearts of our family and friends. He was a bit of a handful as a pup, actually still is at the age of 11 1/2!

He has a will of his own that's for sure. But a better more loyal companion one could never have and he makes us laugh. His big trick is that he whispers. He always barks to go out, but if everyone is asleep, he will come to my bedside and whisper a bark. How smart is that! He welcomes people and dogs into our home only taking time to "posture" to let the guest dogs know he is in charge. No dog has ever challenged his authority.

He achieved the honor of National Select in 1996, after traveling to New York and winning 3 Best of Breed in the smooth coat category.

He has produced some wonderful progeny which has earned him his ROM. He is a great grandfather now and enjoying retirement.

He is my constant companion, the Shiloh that started it all for me. Because of him I have some wonderful friends and a new career. There will never be another dog like him. I thank God everyday that I was chosen as his human Mom.


OFF TO THE SHOWS


abcCH Miracle’s Silver Bullet, CGG, OFA
Dave Herz, Bold Canine

sire:NS abCH Shenandoah-Mt. Selah's Magnum, CGC, OFA, TDI, ROM
dam: NSabfiCH CJ's Sweet Tarantella of Kuro, CGC, TT, OFA, ROM
b. Feb 3, 2003 | black/silver sable plush

It just goes to show you what a difference a year can make. For all of you out there with young Shilohs that have not yet matured … this one’s for you!

Gunner is a three year old male from Miracle Shilohs in PEI, Canada. He possesses huge size, an incredibly gentle personality, and excellent health (including OFA “Excellent” hips).

After the 2004 show season, Caroline and I decided to retire Gunner for a year to let him mature. Skyrocketing in height to 31.25” at 20 months, Gunner was all legs, with the awkward proportions of a lanky basketball player. Due to the large turnout expected at the 2005 Toronto Sportsmen’s Show, Caroline and I entered him, just for fun. Our boy had matured over the winter; at 130 lbs, the body had finally caught up with the legs --- and Gunner took his first Reserve Best in Show!

As the show season continued, Gunner earned multiple Best of Breeds, numerous Group placements, 3x Reserve Bests in Show, and ended the season with his first Best in Show! In 2005, Gunner finished his Breed, Canadian and ARBA championships. He is also Grand Championship pointed. Recently, Gunner was named the RBCSWO’s Top Plush Shiloh --- and 4th Dog overall --- for 2005!!!

Now, we look forward to seeing Gunner’s offspring, through upcoming breedings planned with Whisperwood Shilohs, Genesis Shilohs, Miracle Shilohs, Ocean State Shilohs, Shamrock Shilohs, and of course with our own lovely Lola.

The conformation shows are fun and social. Caroline and I truly enjoy spending our summer weekend with wonderful friends and their shilohs. But the real reward is being able to enjoy our lives with this great shiloh, and more importantly – loyal friend and companion.


SHILOH 9-to-5


KeyStones Jasper Jax O'Zion
Cher Bender, KeyStone Shilohs

sire: bCh Zion's Angus Quinn for Cash
dam: GV bCh Zion-Chaos' Spirit of Megan
b. Apr 13, 2003 | Golden Sable Plush

Jasper on the Job:
Our company is very “dog friendly.” We have casual dress code, coffee & donuts on Fridays and we bring our Shilohs in to work with us whenever we can. They are loved by all our employees and they are always a big hit with the customers.

We own a small business with offices and a large shop out back. Jasper is our most frequent visitor as he is much quieter and a little more subdued than Jersey is. Jasper has his canine good citizen and is a certified therapy dog which makes him a very good candidate for this kind of arrangement.

Although he is larger and can be a little more intimidating than Jersey when meeting new people, we have developed a way that people can be properly introduced to our dogs. When customers or suppliers stop by the dogs are on a raised bed that they have to stay on when they are told ”place” This way, people who would like to be introduced to the dogs have the opportunity to approach them and not the other way around. Most people take one look at that big dopey face, fluffy ears and wagging tail and can’t resist walking up to him to give him a treat and say hello. Using this method enables us to always have a controlled meeting with new people and if someone is a little leery about meeting such a large dog, they can walk right past him.

We are fortunate that we own our company and are able to set the policies. There are many employers out there that would be open to an arrangement like this if they were approached. The best thing to do would be to ask for a trial period to see if it can work for your situation. It is always a good idea to have good doggy etiquette when choosing to bring your pooch to work. Here are some things that you should remember:

  • If your dog is not well trained, leave him at home until he is ready to mingle with both humans and dogs. Enroll your dog in an obedience class.
  • Keep your dog looking and smelling good. Your local pet store offers many remedies for body and oral care.
  • Your dog will likely spend 8 to 10 hours at the office. Make sure your dog has his own spot. Set up a comfortable bed or pad, blanket, and toys. If your dog is not occupied, he may find something to occupy himself – in the form of carpet, a desk or your files.
  • Don't forget about fresh food and water.
  • Take your pet out for frequent walks and bathroom breaks.
  • Be aware of your dog's behavior. If he is snagging your co-worker’s pants or barks when the phone rings, correct that behavior immediately. Your co-workers or boss may not let you know it's a problem until they ask you not to bring him back. Don't assume that everybody thinks your dog is cute.
  • Know when it is time to give it up. It may not be worth your professional reputation to keep Fido at work. Be sensitive. You can always try again later, after he's had more training.

Studies show that having a dog at work can create a more relaxed and productive work environment. Introduce some tail-wagging wage earners to your workforce and you will likely find that creativity, interpersonal skills and positive work relationships will increase-while stress levels and absenteeism decrease!


THE JOY OF A COMPANION


Zion’s Gentle Windwalker aka Bear
Cathy & Stephan Zybala

sire: Zion's the Mark of Zorro
dam: Zion's Bring n' Back Kari
b. Oct 10, 2000 | brown sable smooth

 

In 2001 we brought home a 10 month old named Bear from a kennel in upstate New York. I was working as a nanny at the time and had some very specific needs in a dog and was told this boy would be a perfect fit (we were told his nickname was Prozac Bear). Although the condition of the dog (soft ears and all), the way he was being kept, his frantic demeanor and his surroundings at this kennel made me suspicious, I could not turn my back on him and leave him there. So to our home in downtown Toronto he came, and our journey began.

After about two weeks of showing no desire to bond with us, Bear was exhibiting a very troubling, child-fearful and aggressive nature. We assumed he hadn’t been socialized or exposed to anything in the important first weeks of his life. One day, he nipped a passer by with no warning given. Next, a jogger was nipped and his dog aggression started to manifest. More bites ensued, so we sought out an amazing trainer. Progress was made in training, but we finally had to admit this was hard wired behavior, and a product of his breeding. Our only choice was to isolate him, but as we were living in downtown Toronto in an apartment, this was a monumental task. The last bite was our upstairs neighbor, and this one was reported to the city. Bear was now in trouble.

Dear friends of ours, and fellow Shiloh owners, offered us an incredible opportunity to move out of the city with Bear, in exchange for helping them with their new property. We accepted and a new chapter opened. Many adjustments had to be made as Bear would not accept their three dogs, and everyone had to adapt to a rotating system of letting the dogs out. Bear being sharp/shy caused him to be very aggressive toward the other dogs every time he would see or hear them. Showing incredible patience with us and our Bear, everyone adapted until one day another bite occurred. Bear had been showing acceptance to the other people that were there at the time, so he was being given some freedom. But, yet another bite happened. The decision was made that Bear would be neutered, and would have to always be on leash.

All is not bad though, as Bear has now fully bonded with us. He is silly, goofy, smart and one of the family. We come home to a huge hello and a cuddle session on the couch. He follows us around the house and wants to be with us. This is a huge step for as a young dog he would not even stay in the same room with us and would stare at the front door for hours. He plays, he=s happy and loves us as much as we love him. After we neutered him his ears came up. At 18 months his x-rays showed grade 2 CDH in both hips with deformed femoral heads and arthritic changes, but he is still sound and very strong. This is a dog that in another situation would not have made it to his third birthday, but through a series of amazing events and the understanding of some great people Bear is still with us and enriching our lives.

Bear has taught us to be patient and understanding. We have learned how to be better handlers and owners, but most importantly he has given us valuable insight into the workings of the canine mind. This story unfortunately is not that uncommon, and other dogs like him have not made it, even though other owners have also made major adjustments to their lives to save them. If we had stayed in Toronto much longer we are sure we would have been given a destroy order and would have lost our boy. But Bear and us are some of the lucky ones. We will keep Bear safe from the situations he can not handle. We have had to keep him in isolation and only we have been able to enjoy the wonderful side of his personality. We have had people tell us that they feel sorry for Bear, but he is having a life, and loves us as we love him. Isn't that what it is really all about?


Five shilohs will share the spotlight each month and tell their stories. Do you know of a Shiloh you wish to see spotlighted in future newsletters? Please send your nomination along with a brief descripton for consideration to the newsletter design team.

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