German Shepherd and Magic Tricks

Hi
This is getting too much! I taught John a magic handkerchief trick and now he pretends its his own trick. Here he is doing MY trick. He even calls me during the trick. What a cheek!

I am not going to tell you how I learnt it. Its a German Shepherd secret!

John just cannot help showing off! Just look at this next video. A bit much!

Big showoff! I've had enough!
Indy

Example of Fantastic Training wows German Shepherd

If you have not seen this YouTube video you are in for a great surprise. We
German Shepherds know how important training is but can you imagine how much training and hard work went into producing this performance?
And what huge talent!
Wow!
Indy

German Shepherd Stories

I really enjoy stories about us German Shepherds.
Here is a book you might like. Have a look at the write up.

German Shepherd Indy Teaching the Recall

At last Patricia has got it! I don't know how many times I have told Patricia and John: If you want me to come to you just call my name and say "Indy - Come!". Then I will come. It's that easy. Such slow learners these humans! (Oh yes - praise is also a plus).
Look at this. You can hear Patricia call me. Watch how I come and sit in front of her.

Indy - 26 November 2011

Look at us puppies socializing at our Club on 26 November 2011

 Great fun!

Wow it is tiring!

Bye - Indy

German Shepherd - Correct way to Stand

What is all this fuss about teaching me to stand "correctly"? Patricia and John just don't get it! They lift my chest to make my front legs stand straight down and then pull my one leg back. What a business! They are not good at all this positioning (both slow learners). I don't like being pulled and pushed. It cheeses me off so I put my ears back to show I am not pleased.

OK here is the truth. I already know how to stand "correctly". It is natural for me to stand this way. Have a look at this:

This is me, standing by the pool. I was not placed in this position. I just stood this way because I like it. (By the way Peter at my Club has already told John quite often that standing like this is natural for us German Shepherds. Perhaps John has at last got the message!)
(OK - I will put my back leg further back ...............  if I feel like it)
Indy

German Shepherd - Simnikan Kennels, where I was born.

Hi
Here is where I was born - Simnikan Kennels in Port Eliabeth. Have a look at the site. Lots of useful information and great pictures. News as well. Check out the new puppies - they make me quite broody!
Which reminds me .....

Here is a picture of me that I am sending to Yako on Velentine's day:






Hi Yako ........

German Shepherd - Left Behind - Disgraceful

I am most upset with John and Patricia. You know what they did? This afternoon they went to my club and didn't take me. That's right. They left me behind! Just because I have not been well. But I am ok now.I fixed myself by waking Pat about an hour before dawn today so I could eat some grass. I realise that is what freeked them out - me eating grass. Eating grass? Yes, of course. We dogs know that eating grass is good for all sorts of problems. Patricia and John have still got so much to learn about how smart dogs are when it comes to self medication. Some day John and Particia will eat grass too. I suppose they will then pretend that grass eating was their idea! Wheeu! These humans! Oh yes - this reminds me .... Patricia and John wake up far too late. Don't worry, I am sorting them out!
Indy

German Shepherd Adoption

Have a look at this internet site about German Shepherd adoption in California. And this similar site in South Africa. Thank you to those people all over the world who care enough to set up and maintain the German Shepherd adoption sites - some of these humans do care very much  about our fellow German Shepherds going through rough times.
Put into Google the words: "German Shepherd adoption" (leave out the " ")  and prepare to be moved emotionally. I won't admit it to Patricia and John but I nearly cried when I read some of the pleas for adoption.
All the best
Indy

The German Shepherd Show 2011 - Saved by Iris - see the pictures

Wow! What a weekend. On Saturday and Sunday (22 and 23 October) our Club (the Algoa Bay German Shepherd Dog Club) held their German Shepherd Dog Show here in Port Eliabeth. Dogs came from all over South Africa. The National President of the Federation, Frikkie van Kraayenburg, was here and we had a German Judge who came all the way from Germany - Herr D Gabriel.


What a business. I have never seen so many German Shepherds in my life (all 8 months of it). There were some really good looking dogs - more about this later (see the last two pictures).

Patricia and John entered me in my age group competition. I had to parade around the ring. I had to run around the ring as well. I had to stand in a special position. Iris was my handler. John and Patricia had to help Iris by calling me and running ahead at the right times. Guess what? They have not caught on yet how to do it properly (slow learners). I was really worried. Then - Iris came to my rescue. Was I lucky? Dead right I was - Iris is an expert handler. So expert that I came 3rd in my class (despite John and Patricia doing all the wrong things, like hiding behind a car as I ran past with Iris).

John took some pictures. Here they are.

                                          A view of the field

                                         A picture of part of the crowd

               Our Chairman Bernd Machle and the German Judge Herr D Gabriel

                                          Me with Iris - Iris saved my day!

                                         On the trot with Iris

Now for the important stuff! The winner of the Open Male Category was a fantastic looker from Cape Town. I insisted that John take his picture. Here it is (It is one thing John did get right!).

                                            The Open Male Winner

Need I say more. I have pinned a picture of him above my bed. Don't you believe me? Have a look at the picture below.

Bye ... Is missing a few heart beats ok?

Indy

Where am I? A game from Indy the German Shepherd. Sani Pass (Drakensberg) holiday - Great service from BMW

                                                            Can you spot me?

Patricia and John are back from a week in the Drakensberg mountains at the foot of the Sani Pass in Natal. They showed me some pictures. Here is a picture taken from the hotel looking over the golf course towards the mountains of Lesotho.

Those mountains in the distance had snow on them just before Patricia and John left for home. Have a look at this.

Wow this is a long blog! Patricia and John had trouble with their car going to Natal. The day was saved by great service from BMW in East London. Here is what John told me happened (it is John's letter to BMW).

How Richard Hancock of BMW Autohaus Monti (East London, South Africa) saved our holiday.

On Wednesday 28th September 2011 we (the writer, my wife and 94 year old mother-in-law) started an 11 hour drive from Port Elizabeth to the Drakensberg mountains in Natal. We were in our BMW 318i (now out of motor plan).

After about 90 minutes at 06:30 am near Grahamstown the car started to lose power. I phoned the BMW emergency number and was advised to have the car checked at a BMW Agent as soon as possible. We decided make a detour and go to Autohaus Monti in East London. I was advised to speak to Richard Hancock (the Aftersales Manager at Autohaus Monti). We set off for East London and on the way I phoned Richard Hancock, explained the problem and said we were coming. He promised to attend to car as soon as we got there. We got to Autohaus Monti at about 10:00 am.

After about 30 minutes Richard Hancock reported to us. The news was not good: the air flow sensor needed replacing but Autohaus Monti did not have the part in stock. Here is how Richard Hancoqck solved the problem. He said: "We don't have the part in stock but my own BMW has the same part so I have taken it out of my own car and put it in your car. Carry on with your trip and next Wednesday on your way back come in and we will fit the new part."

And that is what happened. Richard Hancock and BMW saved our holiday. When I thanked him on our return he simply said "it is BMW policy to keep you on the road". There is only one word to describe the level of service I received:Fantastic.

Thank you Richard Hancock. Thank you BMW.

_______________________________________________________

Bye - from Indy

Indy and Stephen

Here is one of my my favorite pictures - it is me with Stephen

Cheers - Indy

Getting to know Stephen with Benji close by

I met Stephen last week. He is one of Patricia and John's three sons (they have a daughter (Jennifer) as well). Stephen lives in London. He was out for a few days. I really like Stephen. Benji told me about him and how good he is connecting with us dogs. I have met Jennifer and am looking forward some day to meeting Andrew and Mark who live in the US.

Here are some pictures of us with Stephen (four pictures):

                                  Here Benji and I wait for a treat from Stephen

                                           Stephen pointing out something to me

Oh yes - Stephen loves windsurfing. Have a look at this!

                             Stephen wave jumping some years ago. Not for me!

Stephen is a really gifted photographer. Here is a picture of me and Benji that Stephen took with his Leica. Stephen gave permission for the picture to go on the blog.

                              Stephen has gone back to London - I really miss him.

Bye - Indy

Indy the German Shepherd advises us to be Grateful for Each Day

Did you see the video of my first visit to the Kromme River in Africa. Wow -  I enjoyed myself: running free; splashing; paddling; swimming. I lived life to the full that day. What a lesson for us German Shepherds and everyone.

When John and Patricia are not on the computer I like to surf myself. There is plenty on the web about how important it is to live each day to the full.

Do you know the very short poem "Look to this day" by Kalidasa.  Here is a link to it. The insights in the poem can be life changing. John read it at Jennifer and Willem's wedding (Jennifer is John and Patricia's daughter). If you are reading the poem for the first time I guarantee you will remember it for the rest of your life.

Have a look at this video where Louis Schwartzberg, a famous photographer, explains with beautiful pictures why we should be grateful for each day.

Surprised? We German Shepherds think about much more than our next meal!

Indy

Tess in San Francisco?

This brought a lump to my throat. Is it Tess?
John and Patricia's son Andrew (lives in Maryland)  took this picture of his brother Mark (lives in SFO) with a ridgeback on the beach near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco yesterday.
John tells me the beautiful dog is the split image of Tess. Perhaps it was her?

                                                Semper fidelis

Below is a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge also taken by Andrew. Is that the beginning of a rainbow above the bridge?

What a beautiful place.

Indy invites you to witness the faithfulness of Hawkeye the Labrador.

Indy invites you to witness the faithfulness of Hawkeye, a Labrador much loved by Jon Tomlinson, a Navy SEAL who died in Afghanistan on 6 August 2011. 1500 people attended Jon Tomlinson's funeral in Iowa. So did his faithful Labrador, Hawkeye.

View a news report about the late Jon Tomlinson and his funeral.

Indy the German Shepherd - "I am growing fast!"

I looked at myself in the mirror. Guess what I saw.

                                       Cheers! I am growing up fast. August 2011.

Indy the German Shepherd Learns to eat Roman Style

Here is a picture of me eating like a true Roman.

Who taught me how to eat like a Roman?
Benji - of course.
Here is Benji feeding.

Benji showed me this video of him eating Roman style and how it annoyed the late Tess. Enjoy.

Here is a tribute to Tess.

Indy's Favorite Story - Lost in Lion Country

I love stories - especially exciting dog stories. This one is my favorite. Benji told me about it. It's about a Jack Russell lost in lion country in South Africa. How would you like to get lost in the African bush - at night? Every time I hear the story or watch the video (John made the video) I head for the nearest tissue box (I won't tell if you do too).

Here is the story on video:

                          The Night We Lost Pepper In  The African Bush

Legal Stuff: Thank you to the Walker family for giving permission to put the video on YouTube

A corner of paradise is waiting

Benji has told me about a corner of paradise where he used to play with Tess. It is the family hide away at the Kromme River about 70 km west of Port Elizabeth. I have heard Patricia and John saying we will be going there soon. I can't wait! Benji says if you are very quiet you can hear Tess flying across the grass - free, young and healthy.

                                                            Kromme
                                               The view from the house

And here is a video John made of the birds at dawn at Kromme. I am longing to hear them myself.

                      Birds welcoming the dawn at Kromme - at the tip of Africa.

My Birth Place and My Club

Here is where I was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Simnikan German Shepherd Kennels.

Picture coming

This is why my posh name is "India of Simnikan" - that's where my name "Indy" comes from.

Great surroundings. What a wonderful place to come into the world. Read more about my birth place here at Simnikan German Shepherd Kennels.

Would you like to see where I take Patricia and John for training? Click here and have a look.