Sunday, January 28, 2024

The Search is On

Once I decided a Standard Schnauzer was the breed for me, selecting the right breeder was the logical next step. My search began last March and I soon found out finding a Standard Schnauzer that met everything on my wish list wasn't going to be easy. 

Standard Schnauzers come in two colors - pepper and salt (gray) or black. Some have docked tails and cropped ears. Others have natural tails, but cropped ears. And still others have natural ears and natural tails. The breed standard allows all of those combinations. After looking at lots of photos, I knew I wanted a black Standard Schnauzer with both a natural tail and natural ears. It turned out to be a rather tall order. 

Standard Schnauzers in general are not always easy to find since they are not bred in great numbers. In fact, during my research I found there are only about 500 new Standard Schnauzers registered with the AKC each year. In addition, black is not the most popular of the two colors. 

The SSCA breeders' list currently includes 59 breeders. Only 11 breed black, exclusively. I emailed the breeders closest to me and filled out numerous puppy applications. The best breeders don't breed often and they typically have a waiting list of interested people. It became obvious; I wouldn't be bringing home a puppy anytime soon.

In April, I found a black-only Standard Schnauzer breeder. After checking her website I noticed both her dogs had natural ears and tails. Even though she was located on the other side of the country, I decided to reach out. At her invitation, I called her after submitting a puppy application.

She answered all of my questions and provided lots of good information -- including many things I hadn't thought to ask. I asked her to put me on her list. She planned to breed her female, Gypsy, that spring when she went into season. In the meantime, we continued to talk, as well as exchange text messages and emails. 

The wait was longer than anyone anticipated. As the weeks, and then months, ticked by, I considered a couple of other litters that had recently been born. However, the puppies’ tails had already been docked which generally happens just a couple of days after birth. Even though both of those breeders were also on the breeders' list and considerably closer, I wouldn't be getting a puppy with a natural tail. So, I continued to wait. 

Ultimately, the inevitable happened. Gypsy went into season and was bred in early July. Five black Standard Schnauzer puppies were born on September 4 (only four pictured in the photo below). And one of them would be mine! 



Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Who's Next?

I will always have a dog. So, after losing Reacher to bone cancer early last year and Vega fast approaching 13, I decided to begin the search for my next four-legged companion. 

I decided I should downsize when choosing my next dog to make any future lifting easier. I was also interested in a breed that would excel in dog sports which I planned to pursue. In additon, little to no shedding was a must-have for me. I've been living with a German "Shedder" for a dozen years and counting. Boxers also shed a good bit even though their coat is shorter, so I was determined to find a breed that would allow me to cut WAY DOWN on vacuuming.  

A dog trainer I had worked with in the past considered my wish list and suggested a Standard Schnauzer, the original of the three sizes of schnauzers. According to the Standard Schnauzer Club of America (SSCA), the Standard Schnauzer is a handsome, robust, squarely built medium size breed known as an excellent family companion. The Standard Schnauzer is also outstanding as a working dog excelling in conformation, obedience, agility, tracking, herding, and therapy. In addition, the coat is harsh and wiry with minimal shedding and is pepper and salt or solid black.

These guys checked all the boxes. 

I happened to discover a couple in my neighborhood who had recently gotten a Standard Schnauzer after previously owning Giants. They invited me over to meet 5-month-old Riley. He was super friendly and excited to meet me, but after about 10 minutes or so he settled down and allowed the humans to have a conversation without interruption. I was impressed. 

Coincidentally, I was acquainted with another woman who had owned German Shepherds most of her life and who had recently chosen a Standard Schnauzer after losing her last Shepherd. She and I trained our dogs together years ago. So, I called her to get a first hand perspective. 

What she told me fit right in with the description I found on the SSCA website: "Like a mishievous and very bright child, they need consistent rules and a firm, but not rough, hand. They will get away with whatever they can and will rule the roost before you know it, if allowed." 

That sounded like a Boxer to me. So, a Standard Schnauzer? No problem.  

Let the search begin! 

 




  


Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Hot Dogs in Heaven

I've had dogs my entire life, so it's natural that I've experienced my share of good-byes. None of them were easy. But the hardest one so far, has been Reacher. At 11-1/2 years of age he was the longest living and healthiest of my three Boxers buddies. 

His problem started with a limp and eventually resulted in the loss of function of his right rear leg. My crazy Reacher, didn't let that faze him. In short order, he learned to go anywhere he desired as a tripod. He traveled up and down the stairs with ease and even attempted short sprints around the back yard.

His appetite never wavered. That boy was always ready to eat and continued to give me the stink eye as he had done every day during his nearly a dozen years, to let me know meal time was fast approaching. He was drinking water like always and the rest of his bodily functions continued to operate as usual. All except of course, that right rear leg.

At his age, the vet and I agreed not to do a deep dive into his issue which was likely a torn ACL or possibly something more nefarious. In either case, the goal was to keep him as comfortable as possible. So, that's what we did. 

After several weeks, it was clear Reacher was feeling the pain and on a Sunday evening I even noticed some swelling high on his leg near the hip. I knew it was time for a decision. On Monday, the swelling was moving down the leg and I called a vet I know who provides euthanasia services in clients' homes. She came on Tuesday. 

At that point, even Reacher's foot was swollen and getting around wasn't as smooth as it had been. The vet told me, the useless leg accompanied by the sweeling was likely a result of bone cancer. And the only treatment was amputation. Which wasn't an option for my "senior" boy.

So, we sent Reacher on his way to the Rainbow Bridge as I fed him chunks of hot dog, one right after the other. He looked at me with those big brown eyes and gave me one last Boxer smile. It was clear, he was in heaven.    





Friday, July 24, 2015

Red Crayon or Black Rubber Bone, It's All the Same to a Dog

Dogs can be a lot like kindergartners. No matter that there's enough red crayons for every student in the class. Kids always want the same one their friend has.

Vega and Reacher are much the same. No, they aren't two artful canines who create masterpieces with their paws. I'm not actually talking about red crayons here. I'm talking about black rubber bones.

Last week I ordered one Kong Extreme black rubber bone to make sure it withstood the Boxer jaw test. If a toy can hold up to Reacher's chompers, it will pretty much hold up to anything. I am happy to report this rubber Kong bone passed.

Of course, for the few days when there was only one black rubber bone, it was the most sought after toy in the house. I get it.

So, when the second new Kong Extreme bone arrived today, there were two bones, two dogs, two satisfied customers. Right?

Wrong.

Vega wanted the new bone. Reacher wanted the new bone. And only the new bone. The Kong Extreme original was within sight. And well within reach. But neither seemed to care. Just like the kindergartners and the red crayon, I don't get it.

Both bones are black. Both rubber. Both the same size. Both make the same wet, squeaky rubbery sound when chewed. And although I have no personal experience, I imagine they must taste pretty much the same.

The only difference? They arrived three days apart. Big deal.

And yes, apparently it is to a dog.


Monday, July 20, 2015

Bad Luck and Trouble

It's bad luck when I leave the house and haven't done a visual sweep of the kitchen counter to look for napkins, paper towels, produce, plastic bags or anything else within paws' reach. It's equally unlucky when I may have checked the kitchen counter but overlooked every closet door in the house to make sure it's shut tight.

Bad luck always leads to trouble.

Bad luck.
Take today, for example. In his never-ending quest for mischief Reacher managed to find a slightly open closet door and then helped himself to part of a strap plus the front of a sandal while I was away. And not just any sandal, but the left one of a pair that I borrowed from a friend.

Trouble.
So there you have it. Bad luck and trouble. Which coincidentally is the title of the 11th book in the Jack Reacher series of novels by Lee Child.

According to the author, "He (Reacher) obeyed only the rules that made sense to him." 

The same goes for my Reacher character.



Saturday, December 6, 2014

And Then There Were Two

Where's Panzer?
My son and Panzer recently moved into their own place. So the three amigos are now down to two.

Lots of people have been asking what it's like without Panzer in the house. Honestly, it's a kinder, gentler place.

Panzer, no doubt about it, was the alpha dog. Reacher was at the bottom of the heap, trying his best to live under the radar every day.

So, I believe Reacher is enjoying this two-dog arrangement. He and Vega have rekindled their playful relationship. He loves playing tag and doesn't even mind when she catches him.

Vega may steal Reacher's ball or snatch a bone. But the difference is that she's more polite than Panzer ever was.

Of course, Panzer isn't here to roughhouse with Vega. There's no more dragging each other down the steps. Or slamming into a wall during a wresting match. There's no more Panzer to throw Vega to the floor. Or vice versa.

If Vega misses some of that she's not complaining either.

So now the house is back to two dogs plus a lady. It's a kinder, gentler place around here. But it's still a long way from an empty nest.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

The Silent Type

Of the three dogs, Panzer is the boisterous one of the bunch (see August 31, 2014 post). Vega barks with purpose. And Reacher is mostly mute. It's not that he's unable to bark. He just doesn't.

Any man, woman, child, dog or combination thereof, who passes by our house gets a mouthful from Panzer and Vega. But not Reacher. He simply stares, silently praying at least one of them will stop to play.

If there's an unexpected knock at the door, the two German Shepherds bark out a scary warning that's loud and clear. Reacher just waits to see who the visitor might be.

Deer grazing on the other side of the fence? Grab your earplugs. Panzer and Vega are about to go berserk. Reacher, on the other hand, is content to sit and study those white-tailed wonders.

Reacher never complains out loud when Panzer steals his bone. He stands quietly at the door and waits to be let outside. He doesn't sing for his supper. Reacher is simply the silent type.

In a house with a pair of barking manic German Shepherds, my two ears are grateful for that.