Gaby's a year today, but maybe you remember the birthdates of all your litters! She is a beautiful dog - fine-boned and relatively small (she weighed just a few ounces shy of 60 lbs. at the vet a couple weeks ago), but very strong and athletic with incredible stamina... Gaby is exceptionally good with people and most other critters, although she still will occasionally get her hackles up over a strange dog. Not every strange dog, just an occasional one - beats me! Generally, though, I would describe her as a fairly dominant female, so maybe that random dog just looks her a little too squarely in the eye! We're working through it - I'm not sure it will every just "go away," but we're getting it under control....
Gaby can be soft and cuddly, and strong-willed and dominant. She is a good "watch dog," but she can take small treats from my grand-niece's 18 month old fingers. And, she has an incredible attention span. Her eye contact with me on a sit can last for minutes - or at least longer than I can last!
She's a treasure!
Nancy, MO
Gaby (Half x Maya)
Pictured above going home as a puppy and today as a young adult
Jennifer,
I just took these pictures today and yesterday of Apollo. This is his favorite chair to sit in. He loves to sit in it and watch outside. He also sleeps in it. I don't know how since he is so big. He just wraps himself in it. I gave up trying to protect the leather. ;-)
Amy
Apollo ( Rick x Zarah)
Omaha, Ne
*Amy is one of our great owners that keeps in contact with us on a regular basis. We wish this pair lots of success as they continue in their training.
Taken in 2006
Jennifer
Here are a couple of pics of Faelon. He gets so excited when he does some training, even if its just an obedience exercise. He is fun to watch. Also, he and Emmy have grown so close (as you can see in the photo). In the training photo, there was some hair and teeth buried under the snow. His drive is great, and he is 95% always right on target. He has a funny personality. Faelon makes us laugh,and he always wants to be close to us. He is such a special part of our family! Whne I get more photos, I'll forward them to you.
Take Care!
Dave, Jessup, IA
Faelon (Half x Atti)
Dave is a retired K9 officer and a certified SAR evaluator. He and Faelon will be doing searches on the water.
Thanks for visiting us!
Cathy Graeve and Bodie (Agar x Corida) and Charlie Graeve and Jax (Quax x Venice).
Above right, Quax and Jax. Thanks for making our dogs such important members of the family.
Sorry it's taken so long to get these to you. We got snow yesterday . Rudy loves the snow. These are taken today...
Hope all is well with you, your family and the dogs
Regards,
Sharon, PA
Rudy (Rick x Zarah)
From Angie & Forrest (Rick x Sira) in NJ
Hope (Half x Zarah) and Faith (Rick x Sira) picture updates
from our good friend Lori here in Iowa
CONGRATULATIONS
Hoverhythm von Holtgrew CGC RN
(Half x Zarah)
Breeders - Jennifer Holtgrew & Christi Lanckriet
Anna Asmussen & "Mea" earned their Rally Novice over Easter weekend & took a 3rd and 4th.
We're proud of her accomplishments with Mea,
only 15 mths old.
I have some pictures of the chubby puppy for you. Bodie is a funny little dog. Have you ever seen a dog stick its entire head into a water bucket? He will walk up and look at you then plunge his head and ears under water then pull his head out shake and walk away. He is doing well with schutzhund training. The trainer is starting to work protection a little with him now. It has mainly just been socializing for him, there are some other puppies there.
Bodie (Agar x Corida)
Owned by Cathy, Council Bluffs, IA
Jennifer,
He is such an intelligent boy it amazes me sometimes. Definitely getting to be a big boy and loves the girls. I’ll be taking him to obedience in June or July. I don’t think it’s going to take much to teach himl... Thank you for everything.
Tammy, MO
Mercer (Quax x Biena)
Jennifer
Just a little update on Roxy. We bred her to our Radar in February and on April 1, she had 5 beautiful puppies. 2 males and 3 females... I just really wanted to thank you for such a wonderful dog. We knew that GSD's were great dogs because of Radar, but Roxy is such a sweetheart, she is really a good mother and a wonderful dog, she is so athletic is just blows us away. I will send pictures later of mom and puppies.
Thanks again for such a wonderful dog and for being such conscientious breeders.
Deedee, IL
Delta von Holtgrew OFA Good (Half x Sammi)
Jennifer It has been some time since I sent so pics of Angl.She has become such a great dog and an important part of our family since we had to put our beagle Elmo down a month ago. She loves going to Sara's soccer games and having the kids pet her but when somethings wrong she lets us know. I can't get over how much she looks like her mom.
Thanks again
John, Lori, Sara,Angl (from Iowa)
Angl (Rick x Sira)
Absolutely wonderful! She has been a great puppy and will be a great dog and companion. I believe she had been housetrained already or at the very least we are on a schedule that works well for both of us. She goes into the vet today for some booster shots but I went in with her last week just so she could meet the vet and have a good experience being there. I can’t thank you enough for you help in choosing her, we are a great fit! She is becoming more comfortable and feeling like she’s home. Jennifer thank you again for all you help. I have attached a picture of her and will get more for you in the future.
Tom, Iowa
Numa (Quax x Sira)
Hi Jennifer,
I wanted to update u on Samson. He is 10 months now and growing so fast and beautiful, everyone comments on his gorgeous look. We are in obiedence class now, doing great with that. He picks up on words so fast. Sit, Lay down, Stay, Come, Heal... He loves to play ball. He catches it in the air, when you say catch he jumps for it. He plays soccer, he picked up on the word kick fast. I usually have to pacify him with a tennis ball so he doesn't carry the soccer ball around, otherwise you are chasing him forever, its cute. My family really gets a kick out of him and all the toys i carry with me in a napsack. I like to keep Sam busy so he doesn't jump and nip. He gets better with that everyday. I do have to remind myself he is a puppy. This is his first Spring, Summer, he loves to go places to run. I am trying to get him use to the river, water areas i like to fish. He goes right in to the water, drink it all up if he could. he doesn't quite like to go into the deeper end, i let him get use to that himself. Well thank you so much for my beautiful Big Boy.
Take Care, Melissa
Jerricho "Samson" (Quax x Venice)
Iowa, pictured above as a young adult with his dad and, at right, today
These are some pictures of Bandit. Just wanted to tell you thank you for a great dog. We just had a little boy and Bandit and him are becoming close....But thanks again for our great dog.
Jenny
Carroll, IA
Bandit (Rocky x Gracie)
Jennifer, Just wanted to send a quick note, Ethny is doing great at her job. She loves to go and is ready in a moments notice. She has been going to Bickford Cottage, St. Lukes pediatric and rehab unit, and soon at the cancer center and when I am done with school, she will be going to Opportunities Unlimited, for I have signed a contract with them to be their physical therapist assistant, and I plan on using both the dogs in therapy sessions. June 7th is a special time for us, Ethny was born June 7th,2005. Molly was adopted from the Humane society, June 7th 2002. and my oldest daughter was born June 7th. Kinda strange?
Thanks for adding Ethny to our family!
Sandy, Iowa
Ethny (Half x Sammi)
Hi Jennifer,
It's me McKenna! Belle's doing good. She finished puppy school and is going to start new classes. She learned to swim. She weighs 50 lbs. She's great! Hope to get together sometime.
Sincerely, McKenna
Belle (Quax x Biena)
Iowa
* McKenna is a wonderful young pet owner. She even interviewed vets before choosing the right one for Belle. We are very proud of this pair and wish them well in their upcoming obedience classes!
I wanted to send you some updated photo's of Priest, he is 1 year and 7 months old. These pictures were taken on 07-06-07. I know I'm a bit bias, but I still think he is one of the best looking German Shepards around. We get good comments by every person that meets him as to how gorgeous and mild tempered he is. We took several pics, but these two are our favorites. Priest loves to play outside in the corn, and drives us crazy when ever we walk past the front door. For some reason, he thinks he needs to be outside investigating everything, 24/7. He does love the air conditioning though I must say. Priest has two brothers now, both are cats that live here as well. I've never seen cats that get along with a young dog so great. Yes, he does enjoy a chase of them frequently, but they love each other dearly. Hope all is well for you. I must say Erica and I were sad to see Biena being sold, and we wished we could have taken her from you, but at least you found an owner that she'll be happy with. Love your website by the way, I check it every so often to see what's new!
Take Care,
Erica and Troy,
Priest (Rick x Biena)
Missouri Valley, IA
Priest now and then (pictured with his owners at 8 weeks of age)
