These dogs from the past may not be living with us, but they are a part of our lives and our thoughts. Above all, they taught us much about temperament, training, patience, goals, character and disappointment.
 

 

Cindy von der Schiffslache

b. 28 June 1994
Cindy is a solid, stable, dependable bitch with excellent working temperament. Unfortunately she injured her back and has been retired from Schutzhund. She is lucky enough to have found a retirement home with the father-in-law of a friend, where she goes for daily walks and doesn't have to compete for her toys. Derek misses her, but he's kept busy with Gator. Cindy would have been a fun dog to work, and I'll be forever disappointed that we were unable to be a team.

Polarstern Bazi vom Haus Shoal

b. 19 April 1988
"Busy Bazi" tried her best to be the dog I wanted. She tried to understand tracking, she tried to understand obedience... unfortunately she tried so hard to do right that she never slowed down long enough to figure out how to do it. She would have made an awesome, if reckless, agility dog (and put to rest any myths about shepherds being slow, or needing to jump less than their shoulder height — NOT!) And she could do courage tests all day long, every one of them fast, direct and powerful. Unfortunately, once she was on the sleeve she was munchy and tentative, but she did her best. Today she is in a wonderful retirement home where she still gets to go running, boating and skiing regularly. And, she hasn't slowed down.

Zarga vom Busecker Schloß

b. 04 February 1990
Zarga was a bitch with a happy, outgoing attitude and screaming prey drive. A real water-lover, she could entertain herself at the lakeshore for hours: digging, splashing and biting at waves. She was our one attempt at bringing an older dog into the pack, which ended, unfortunately, with tragic results. I wish things had been different... She was sold for just about enough to pay for Maggie's vet bills.