GOOD DOG GONE BAD

Are you like me that sometimes you�re just amazed at how some dogs that have been terribly abused can still lick the hand of his abuser? Or take this same abused dog and put him with another owner and he loves him unconditionally? Are you amazed at how you can yell at a dog after having a bad day and if you look in his direction he�ll gladly come to you and lay some affection on you? Then there are other dogs if you gave them the same abusive treatment, they are never the same again. They may fear man for the rest of their live. They may shake and run in a corner and if you were to go over to him to pet him, he may relieve himself on your shoe. So what makes some dogs recover and lead a healthy, happy life whereas others end up being skittish and fearful of man for the rest of his life?

I believe it�s all about the dog�s nervous system. I believe that some dogs are more sensitive than other dogs. They may have both been born with a lovely and trustful nature, but one�s nervous system may be more delicate then his litter mates. Is this genetic? Can a puppy that you bred be born with a good temperament and you sell him and his new owners are calling you after a couple of weeks telling you that the puppy has a bad temperament? How did this happy, friendly, out going puppy become a shaking, fearful wimp?

I had a five week old puppy that was in a big medical facility having procedures and tests done on her. When I left her there and was waiting for further instructions, I heard this most pitiful scream that made me jump out of my seat. I asked the girl at the desk was that my puppy? She said yes she was screaming because they were trying to get a tube down her throat. She was there for three days. She went in a happy, �wagging her tail� little bundle of fur. She came out never trusting strangers again. From then on in, every stranger she met, she greeted with a growl!

This can happen with an older youngster as well. I have a friend who once told me that she had a young male that she raised that had a good temperament. He never showed any signs of having a bad disposition. The dog was a show quality animal so she sent him to a well known trainer to prepare him for the show ring. She told me when she got him back, he was a different dog. Her once friendly happy dog no longer could be shown. He became a spook and backed away from the judge rather than standing confidently for his examination. How could this be?

So what makes a good dog go bad? Perhaps some dogs can be rough housed and have it never affect them. Their nerves are steady and nothing seems to bother them. On the other hand some dogs don�t take to being overly handled. They are truly aloof and if they allow you to pet them a couple of times then that�s enough for them. These are not the type of dogs that like anything forced on them.

Just like humans, some of us can tolerate more stress than others. Some people you could drop a bomb in front of them and maybe you�d get a yawn out of them. Others all the way on the other side of the nervous system spectrum would be put in the mental institution. That�s why some people end up with all sorts of nervous conditions due to stress and a sensitive nature. This is when ulcers show their ugly little heads, spastic colons, anxiety attacks, panic attacks, etc. It�s not any different with the dog. I wonder why we expect so much more from them then we expect of ourselves! If the dog has been traumatized, why do we expect them to act like nothing ever happened to them?

I don�t have the answer why some dogs will remain friendly with people after they have been abused and others are never the same again. We can blame or credit it to genetics, but most dogs in a shelter environment are mixed breeds. So if one of your dogs was abused and he had good temperament, would you expect him to bounce back and be trustful and friendly with people once again? Is it reasonable to think this way?


From the book: "SILENT VICTIMS: RECOGNIZING AND STOPPING ABUSE OF THE FAMILY PET" - Silent Victims offers students, professionals, and laypersons an overview of the most critical scientific and anecdotal findings about the antecedents and consequences of animal cruelty. The research presented includes notable studies on the factors associated with animal abuse, including the perpetrators, abusive environments. The book also offers readers an insider's look at animal cruelty; real life tales weave theories and research findings with applied fieldwork, and examine commonly used strategies and techniques for recognizing and addressing animal abuse cases.


My rating: Finding the best homes for our puppies and dogs: (4)

WANT A GRAND VICTOR/VICTRIX - LOOK TO THE STARS!

In my pursuit to find something entertaining and different to write about, I happened about this idea. I�m going to list the names of the more recent Grand Victors and Grand Victrixs� as taken from the German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s website to see when they were born and help me write about today�s subject. A few of the names are missing here because they didn�t list the month or date of birth of the dogs. Then also the last couple of years there is no listing for the newest winners. Let�s see which signs produced the dogs and bitches with the top honors.

MALES:

GV Ch Bethesda�s Tacoma of Si-Don CD TC � 03/10/1985 � Pisces - Water
GV Ch Woodside�s Nestle�s Quik v Merwestyn, HT � 11/27/1984 � Sagittarius - Fire
GV Ch Campaigner�s Gatewood Uzi ROM CD, TC, HT, � 03/21/1989 � Aries - Fire
GV Ch Inflight�s Spencer v Sandyhill ROM � 07/23/1992 � Leo - Fire
GV Ch Stoneways� Uecker ROM � 06/29/1993 - Cancer - Water
GV Ch Mar Haven�s Color Guard ROM PT TC � 12/17/1993 � Sagittarius - Fire
GV Ch Caraland�s Unlimited CD, TC, ROM � 12/10/1994 � Sagittarius - Fire
GV Ch WeLove DuChien�s R-Man ROM � 12/17/1993 � Sagittarius - Fire
GV Ch Hickoryhill�s Bull Durham ROM, TC, HIC � 03/18/1996 � Pisces - Water
GV Ch Survival�s Tuff Decision TC ROM � 07/10/1999 � Cancer - Water
GV Ch Marquin�s Xtra! Xtra!, TC, HT, RA, ROM � 07/07/1999 � Cancer - Water
GV Ch Mar Haven�s And The Beat Goes On TC ROM � 03/06/2000 � Pisces - Water
GV Ch Wayside�s Honky Tonk Man ROM � 10/08/1998 � Libra - Air
GV Ch Trafalgar�s Premium Blend ROM � 04/22/01 � Taurus - Earth
GV Ch Welove DuChien�s Army of One ROM � 02/02/04 � Aquarius - Air

BITCHES:

GVX Ch Howard�s Magic Moment CD, ROM � 02/10/1985 � Aquarius - Air
GVX Ch Sea-Lair�s Ciera ROM � 05/24/1986 � Gemini - Air
GVX Ch Altana�s Kricket � 12/18/1985 � Sagittarius - Fire
GVX Ch TR�s Guinevere v Kenlyn ROM � 03/06/1991 � Pisces - Water
GVX Ch Jerr�s French Pastry ROM � 04/26/1992 � Taurus � Earth
GVX Ch Inflight�s Heaven Only Knows PT, TC � 09/11/94 � Virgo - Earth
GVX Ch Winsome�s Fettucini v. Cypress � 03/25/1996 � Aries - Fire
GVX Ch Aramist�s Ivana of Kolbrook ROM � 01/07/1996 � Capricorn - Earth
GVX Ch Lindenhill�s Voodoo Lily � 04/20/1999 � Taurus � Earth
GVX Ch Jecoda Keylis Jest �N Thyme TC ROM � 10/13/1998 � Libra - Air
GVX Ch Kridler�s Ruby of Highland Acres ROM � 02/01/2000 � Aquarius - Air
GVX Ch Hickory Hill�s Godiva Sirius Park � 02/16/02 � Aquarius - Air
GVX Ch Falcon�s Welove Liberty � 12/14/01 � Sagittarius - Fire
GVX Ch Castlehills Tuff Cookie HT, PT, TC, ROM � 10/08/01 � Libra - Air
GVX Ch Mar Haven�s Black Orchid � 10/18/04 � Libra - Air

FIRE � (9) � (6) Grand Victors, (3) Grand Victrix
WATER � (7) � (6) Grand Victors, (1) Grand Victrix
EARTH � (5) � (1) Grand Victors, (4) Grand Victrix
AIR � (9) � (2) Grand Victors, (7) Grand Victrix

So the most signs that produced the most winners for the top honors at recent Nationals have been those signs under the element of �Fire� and �Air.�

The breakdowns of the winning signs are:

Pisces: males � 3, bitches: 1
Sagittarius: males: 4, bitches: 2
Aries: males � 1, bitches � 1
Leo: males � 1, bitches � 0
Cancer: males � 3 males, bitches 0
Libra: males -1, bitches � 3
Taurus: males 1, bitches � 2
Aquarius: males 1, bitches � 3
Gemini: males 0, bitches � 1
Virgo: males 9, bitches � 1
Capricorn: males � 0, bitches � 1

The top sign for a further Grand Victor to be born under then is Sagittarius. The top for a Grand Victrix is either Libra or Aquarius.

So what does all of this prove? If you are leaning more towards having yourself a Grand Victor, then make sure your litters are born to be "Fire" or "Water" signs as those signs seemed to be the most dominate for the top winning males. If on the other hand you would prefer a Grand Victrix time your litters to be born under �Air� signs as more top winning bitches were born under that sign.

So there you have it. Time your litters correctly and you just might produce yourself the next Grand Victor/Victrix. With the National Specialty right around the corner, lets� see which zodiac sign will have the most influence over the winners this year!


From the book: ALL AROUND THE ZODIAC: This book provides a revealing new look at the astrological signs, from Aries to Pisces. Gain a deeper understanding of how each sign motivates you to grow and evolve in consciousness. How does Aries work with Pisces? What does Gemini share in common with Scorpio? All Around the Zodiac is the only book on the market to explore these sign combinations to such a degree.
Not a Sun-sign guide, but a thorough look at the twelve signs themselves, this book is broken into three parts. Part 1 defines the signs, part 2 analyzes the expression of sixty-six pairs of signs, and part 3 designates the expression of the planets and houses in the signs.


My rating: Planning your litters according to the stars: (1 - 4).....depending upon how much you believe in the astrological signs!

NO GOODBYES...JUST I'LL BE SEEING YOU

I apologize to those who inquired about what happened to my blog yesterday. Well yours truly was gone from morning until early evening. When I got home, I had 579 e-mails. Yikes! What a bunch of correspondence for me to shift through. Lot�s of deletions as well. I was saddened when I read the news of a great lady in the breed that passed away, Peggy Douglas. She was a very beloved and respected woman for a very long time in this breed. I never heard people say a bad word about her.

Just the night before, I read of a young champion dog only about two years old that had been hit and killed by a vehicle while chasing a wild animal. I believe it was a bear. I�m sorry I don�t remember this young dog�s name as I didn�t save the e-mail, but I felt a pang in my heart just the same. It�s sad enough that our beloved dogs don�t live long enough but to have one taken like this that was by all rights still a puppy, well that�s just too unfair.

My heartfelt condolences to the families of Peggy Douglas and of the young champion dog. They join the elite group of German Shepherd residents in Heaven that welcome them with open arms. I read on one of the lists this morning that someone wrote that Peggy would now be joining LaMar Kuhns, one of her favorite handlers and they would probably be putting on a dog show up in Heaven. So with that thought in mind, I thought I would include the very first story that I ever wrote for my German Shepherd friends when I first came on the Show List. It was probably the article that I received the most e-mails about. It was written to honor another beloved handler that had just passed away, Henry Dancosse.

INTRODUCTION TO STORY:

Saint Peter opens the Pearly White Gates of Heaven to see a young handsome male dog standing outside. �Hey fellow,� he says to the friendly German Shepherd youngster, �Come in, come in. We were told you were on your way.� But all he gets from the beautiful dog is a bark and a wag of his tail. He keeps turning around and looking down through the soft billowy white clouds as though he�s waiting for something (or someone). �Well boy, either you�re coming in or your not, but I can�t stand here all day with you. Besides no germs are allowed to pass through these doors and if I hold them open too long, that�s just what�s going to happen.� The dog doesn�t budge, but just keeps looking the other way. �Alright boy, suit yourself then� and with that Saint Peter closes the big heavy doors. The young dog finally lies down and sleeps through the night.

By the dawns early light, the dog is wakened by a feminine voice. �Alright now boy, I�m told you were waiting for me to join you.� With that, the dog jumps up and down and starts to bark with joyful anticipation. The lady appears out of the clouds and walks toward the dog. �So you�re the young champion that just had to go chasing after that bear, well now, you and I are in this together. What do you say we knock on these doors to see if anyone�s home?� Before she can knock on the door, the Pearly White Gates begin to open. Out walks Saint Peter who is smiling and says to the lady, �Welcome Peggy, we�ve been waiting for you and it appears that this dog has as well. He wouldn�t come through last night. Now he has a companion.� With that the two of them walk through the gates. Saint Peter tells them that they will both be very comfortable here because today they�re putting on one of �those earthly dog show� events. �Right this way, he tells them. Seats are limited, so you better go grab yourself one over there.�


FIRST EVER GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG SPECIALTY IN HEAVEN
by
Barbara J. Galasso

Today the tunnel of light was opened and shone on another German Shepherd great.....Henry Dancosse. But before he was allowed to enter this tunnel of light he was approached by Saint Francis, patron Saint of animals. He told Henry that God saw fit to take some of earth's German Shepherd Dog people these last few months for his own purposes. God told him that it looked like people on earth were having so much fun showing his dogs, that he decided it was time to put on the first ever National German Shepherd Dog Specialty show in Heaven because, "I'm tired of all you earthly people bickering about where to have the next National!" He told Henry that in order for him to enter Heaven that he would have to pass a test first. Now there were so many great dogs of the breed that had passed away over the years, and that he being a German Shepherd Dog handler, would get his choice of all the top dogs that were in Heaven. But he told him to choose wisely, for although Ernie Loeb was there too in Heaven, this would not be his assignment this day. No, it would be God who would be the judge of this event.

Henry was excited. Just think he said to himself, "I get to choose from all the greats that have passed away. Wow, Lance, Paladen, Rosemary, Manhattan, Hawkeye, Hammer, Andretti, Nestle's Crunch. Who do I choose, who do I choose?� Just at that moment an old familiar voice called out to him. He said, "Henry dar...ling, don't even think of taking Lance in. That's who I'll will be showing. He may have been Jimmy's dog on earth, but up here, he belongs to me. Besides, everyone knows up here as they did on earth that no one knows how to stack a dog like me,� LaMar said as he throws his hands up in the air.

"Now boys, boys, stop your bickering Charlie Chester says. Don't pay attention to him Henry. He and I were out partying too much last night, so he doesn't know what he's talking about. At this rate, if we keep this up, we might both find ourselves back in purgatory."

Just then an announcement comes over the loud speaker by another familiar voice. "Ladies and gentlemen gather up your dogs and bring them to the rings and they better be in top "Naked Care" condition" a laughing voice says. "Well, I'll be darned", Henry thinks to himself, Len Steen is still making announcements and still cracking the jokes."

"OK then LaMar you can take in Lance, I'll take in Manhattan. God should be impressed with him. He broke all records on earth. As this thought lingers in his mind, he feels a tug on his pant leg and hears a small little voice whisper, �Hey mister, I know you have a choice of which dog to show, but I was wondering if you would please take my little guy in. I know he's not much to look at with his long coat, down ears, overshot bite, and he kind of elbows coming at you, but he has a big heart and he'll really try to win for you." Henry looks at the child and remembers what he tried to practice while on earth. "To thine own self be true.� He knew he always did try to help the little guy. "Yup, I'll take your little guy in for you,� he tells her.

All the greats strut into the ring. Age certainly didn't change these guys. LaMar and Lance..........what a team. (Jimmy Moses eat your heart out). And in walks Henry with his down eared, long coated Shepherd. God asks them to move their dogs around the ring and Henry's dog hits the end of the lead and the two of them float around the ring like there was no one else there but them. No double handling was needed or allowed in Heaven. The dog�s ears stood straight up, his coat smoothed out. God points to Henry and the crowd of angels and Saints roar.

When God approaches Henry to congratulate him on his win, he says, �You did well my son. You passed the test.� He tells him, �You see as you were on earth so you are here too in Heaven. You never let the little guy down. You stood for what you believed in.....you were true to yourself. A gentleman there, a gentleman here. We don't have any trophies in heaven Henry; we just have ways of earning your "wings".



So we won�t say any goodbyes to Peggy and this young champion because after all, we�ll be seeing them again. For those who have lived and loved, they never die. Besides they�ll be too busy with the dog shows in Heaven. Hey Peggy, save us a front roll seat, will you?!


My rating: Living a good life so you�re missed like crazy: (4)

"FACEBOOK" AND THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

Several months ago I wrote about the different social networks out there on the internet. Like many of you, I belong to a few of them myself. Some I like better than others but I suppose they all serve their purpose. As I�ve said earlier, I don�t get the big thrill with �Twitter.� I barely use it. Anyway, I wanted to re-visit this subject again only this time paying more attention to the social network giant, �Facebook.�

When I first signed up for this group, I didn�t think too much of it and barely used it. In fact, I didn�t even really like it that much. There were weeks that I seldom went onto the website. I sat back and wondered how long I would continue with my account. Well time went by and I started to check it out some more and now, it�s one of my guilty pleasures.

There are many reasons one would chose to go on �Facebook� but not always for the obvious reasons. It is a great social network to almost instantly connect with your friends or acquaintances. There�s not too much waiting for information with this site. As far as the dogs are concerned, the reason why I like �Facebook� so much is that I�m seeing pictures of dogs that I�ve never seen before. New litters, stud dogs, show win pictures. It�s become a German Shepherd Dog super highway. It is a great marketing and promotional tool. Some of the pictures I�m seeing are incredible. In my opinion, if you don�t use this site to promote your dogs, you�re missing out on a lot of free publicity.

I admit I use �Facebook� for more things than looking at all the pretty pictures of people�s dogs. There are all sorts of groups that you can join up with on many varied subjects that you might be interested in. Being a writer, I just joined a writing group. I love saving money with coupons and I have saved a fortune with being on �Facebook.� I�m signed up with some companies that I like and I get all their latest information or promotions sent to me. I�m connected with my favorite subjects and some of my favorite people. There are many rescue groups on here as well as breeders and exhibitors. I get to view lots of fun videos that people post. Some funny, some informative and some I chose not to watch (abuse of animals to make us aware of what�s going on). Reading about it is hard enough most of the time. Watching it is too much for me because I carry these types of things.

There are down sides to being on �Facebook� as well, but then again, there are downsides to belonging to many different social networks. Reports of scams and hackers coming on �Facebook� are always a concern to its members. That being said, just visiting websites on the internet, can also introduce you to some unsavory situations as well. I�ve encountered a couple of scams on �Facebook� already. In fact, just a couple of nights ago, I ran into this problem. I got an e-mail from my cousin telling me to look at a video that she thought was very funny. When I clicked on it, it said before I could view the video, they wanted me to answer a few questions first (none of it was personal questions), but it made me suspicious and I clicked back out of it. Come to find out my cousin never sent this to me, but whoever did wanted me to believe that she did. So yes, you need to be careful when using these social networks because there are millions of people on these sites. Proceeding with caution is always advisable.

�Facebook� is a great place to hook up with people that you haven�t seen or heard from for years. There are many German Shepherd people on here. I didn�t realize just what a large number of German Shepherd enthusiasts there are out there. I do think it�s a great place to promote our breed for those that are interested in learning more about them. Again, use caution when dealing with people that you don�t know that may be inquiring about your puppies or breeding dogs. It�s a nice way to bring people to you, but like in any other way of advertising, make sure you get references from people.

Is �Facebook� for everyone? No, it isn�t. There are those that resist change and like things just the way they are. There are those that are shy or are very private. Then this is not the place to be. For them �Facebook� makes them too uncomfortable. I admit I normally don�t like change in too many things if I�m enjoying things as they are. Sometimes it takes me a little longer to be convinced about something new. Then once I try it, I wonder what took me so long.

With the economic climate that we live in, people are looking for a way to reach out and connect with other people. Having friends can be a good thing. People are looking for less expensive ways to advertise their dogs and when something is free and it reaches so many people, well resisting the temptation to join up becomes a little harder. �Facebook� won�t appeal to everyone, but for those that it does, they�re having fun, they're networking, they�re reaching out����..until the �next big thing� comes along on the information highway!


From the book: HOW TO TALK TO ANYONE: 92 LITTLE TRICKS FOR BIG SUCCESS IN RELATIONSHIPS - Leil Lowndes' How to Talk to Anyone offers101 time-tested hints, tips, and techniques for confidently communicating with others. A bestselling author and renowned communications consultant, Lowndes focuses on ice-breaking skills and communication techniques that are proven successful when making a positive first impression, establishing instant rapport and credibility, and more.

Packed with basic, no-nonsense advice and solid research evidence about which techniques work best in which areas, How to Talk to Anyone show readers how to:

* Make small talk not so small
* Use body language to captivate an audience
* Look like you know what you're talking about--even when you don't


My rating: "Facebook" - (1 - 4)

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS

I apologize for not getting my blog out yesterday but I was gone all day from early morning until late in the afternoon. Then I had car trouble and was lucky I made it home at all. It was a stressful day and I had the migraine this morning to remind me of it!


I love this list of suggestions for success that I came across. Although it�s written for us and our personal lives, I thought I�d use it to see how it can apply to our lives with our German Shepherds.

21 SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time and talent.
Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
Be forgiving of yourself and others.
Be generous.
Have a grateful heart.
Persistence, persistence, persistence.
Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
Commit yourself to constant improvement.Commit yourself to quality.
Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
Be loyal.
Be honest.
Be a self-starter.
Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
Take good care of those you love.
Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.

HOW IT MAY APPLY TO US AND OUR DOGS

Buy the absolute best bitch you can afford. She will help determine the future success of your breeding program.

Decide what it is you hope to achieve in the breed whether it�s a top show dog, obedience winner, a therapy dog or just an all around wonderful animal to live with. Just make sure you and your dog are having fun.

Show people the best representative of the breed that you have and that you�re proud of.

Be a person that people can approach and talk to.

Don�t hold grudges because someone�s dog beat your dog at a show. Today was their day. Tomorrow might be your day.

Help the novice person in the breed by being a mentor to them. They are the future of our breed.

Never think that you know everything there is to know about the breed. No matter how long you�ve been in the breed, if you�re not still learning, then you�re stagnating.

Never give up with your goals in the breed. If you want to have a champion, find ways to make it happen. If you want to have a well behaved dog, teach it obedience commands. He may be smart, but he won�t learn if he isn�t taught!

Spending a fortune with a top handler is not the only way to go. Don�t over look another less known handler that is coming up in the ranks. Remember that tomorrow he will be the top handler.

Respect, good sportsmanship and yes a smile goes a long way. Remember when you first started out and you had butterflies in your stomach. Be kind, you just might be responsible in shaping someone�s future in the breed�..either by making it or breaking it.

Never settle for mediocrity when owning a German Shepherd Dog. Help him to achieve all that he was meant to do. He�ll never disappoint.

We as breeders help determine the future quality of the breed. Strive for greatness. Never settle for anything less.

Remember it�s not the breeder that has produced the most champions that will be remembered. It�s the breeder that has produced the most �excellent quality� champions that will be remembered. This is the breeder whose bloodlines have produced the least amount of genetic health and temperament problems.

Gossip is a given in the breeding and showing of dogs. Just make sure you don�t believe everything you hear and always consider the person the gossip is coming from. Remember if she is talking about everyone else all the time�.she�s talking about you as well!

If you�re a judge, be honest in your evaluations of your placements in the class. Know that your friends will show under you. Be true to yourself and chose your selections because they deserve those awards, and not because �Joe Blow� won�t talk to you anymore if he doesn�t win. When you hire a handler, hire one that feels he truly can finish your dog. If he likes your dog that�s even better. If you�re a breeder, be honest about your own dogs. Don�t become kennel blind and think just because you bred it that it�s the best thing walking on four legs! Know when to weed out stock that is not in the best interest in the gene pool.

When you are first starting out, realize that you just don�t show up one day with your beloved dog and win every prize that they are giving out that day. It took these breeders many, many years to accomplish what they have. Learn everything that you can about the breed, ask questions, join a breed club and keep on learning.

Make up your mind what type of animal you want, but also never think you know it all. Take advice from those �in the know.� You don�t know it all. They�re not where they are because someone handed it to them. They�ve worked extremely hard at what they do!

If you lose (and you will lose more than you win), stop blaming the judge. Stop blaming the handler. Take a step back and take a good look at your dog. You may think he�s great, but not everyone else may share your feelings for him!

Know that breeding animals is always a risk. You have no control over genetics. Don�t give up. Improve and continue to improve. It�s the brave ones in this breed that rise above the rest. They�ve known that they needed to take chances. Sometimes they win and sometimes they loose, but they never give up.

Don�t forget the rest of your life and the people that are in it just so you can pursue your dreams in the breed. Nurture that part of your life as well to have a healthy balance.

Don�t back stab, don�t cheat, and don�t do anything that would not make your mother proud that you chose the German Shepherd breed to help make your dreams come true of being a good breeder, exhibitor, handler, judge or just an all around lover of the breed.


From the book: "THE SUCCESS PRINCIPLES: HOW TO GET FROM WHERE YOU ARE TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE"..........When it comes to success, Canfield knows of what he speaks: he is co-creator, with Mark Victor Hansen, of the seemingly endless Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He presents 64 success principles that he claims "always work"�and draws on his own experience and that of others to illustrate them. Sixty-four principles may seem like a lot, but each receives a concise, easy-to-digest chapter that challenges readers to risk creating their lives exactly as they want them. Many of the principles are familiar�e.g., "Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life"�but Canfield has a nifty way of summarizing them ("Reject rejection"), and some are inventive: "Become an Inverse Paranoid" means see the world as out to help you instead of out to get you. He also offers specific techniques, such as positive-thinking exercises and visualizations. A section on transformation provides even more on how to overcome self-defeating beliefs, fears and habits. Further sections offer principles on building good teams and better relationships at the office. Canfield acknowledges his predecessors in the success advice field, such as Napoleon Hill, and is also clear that while he gives information, motivation, and inspiration, readers must contribute their own hard work. Canfield's energy and enthusiasm bounce off the page; many will flock to this inspiring (and very rich) teacher. And those starting off in business or in need of a refresher course may consider this title required reading.

My rating: Living a successful life: (4) Jack Canfield's inspirational books: (4)....I love this guys writings!