Kleinen Wiese German Shepherds

Posted By Sandy Wilson on July 17, 2009

Spending more time outside and seeing the great outdoors.

The pups have been spending alot of time outside in a big expen where they can play with toys and have fun.  They also like to venture outside the pen and play with mom and grandma Hera.

Female Puppy

The girls are lighter in the face than the boys – think they will look more like mom, but you never know until they have matured.  They are really starting to develope some personality.

Dascha - Checking out the water bowl.

Dascha is a sweet female.  She is very friendly and comes right over to you and licks you in the face.  Three of the girls look very similar; they look like three little bears.

Just waking up.

Here is the big boy; he was laying in the boy's handmade box doghouse.

I call this boy the Gentle Giant.  He is the largest male and very sweet and kinda laid back.  He just wants to sit in your lap and lick your face.  He really is a sweetie!

This boy is into everything, including the kids shoes! Don't sniff those bad boys!

Those are some of the latest pics.  More individual pictures coming soon!  They are really moving around now and love to be on the rug where they can trot around and really move.  They definitely have alot of interest in toys and nothing seems to bother them.  They play with metal canisters, balls, squeaky toys, big blown up plastic bags, and they can handle alot of noise from my kids that is for sure.  They are getting much better at nail clipping too!

Category: Puppies | No Comments »
Tags: D Litter Pups, D-Litter, German Shepherd, Puppies

Posted By Sandy Wilson on July 12, 2009

Alf v. Fafnerhaus, also known as Nicky has passed on some very strong genetics.  His progeny are maintaining strong work ethic, biddability, intelligence and a williness to work and natural herding talent.  I know I repeat these things over and over again, but it is such a gift to see in these dogs.  The traits that these dogs exhibit are very  strong in the bloodlines.  I am thrilled to see these genetics are prepotent and are being clearly seen in many offspring.

Here are photographs of some of the different progeny that Nick and Ussa have produced.  All of these dogs have a very strong desire to work and please.   They are a true pleasure to watch while they are working.

Dux von Fafnerhaus HGH "Luki"

Luki, Dux von Fafnerhaus HGH, is a Nicky son who was puppy-tested and selected by Manfred Heyne.  Luki was given to Manfred on one of his visits here and was taken to Germany to be Manfred’s full-time herding dog.  Over the years Manfred competed some with Luki in herding trials including the 2002 BLH, but Luki’s main job was to tend Manfred’s flock.   As time went by, Manfred’s age and increasing health issues meant that Luki often had to keep watch and tend the flock on his own demonstrating the true value of the real HGH.  Eventually, Manfred had to retire from active herding.  He sold most of his sheep in 2007 retaining only a few since he could never live without them.  Manfred knew how much Luki loved his work and so out of his love and devotion for this dog, he returned him so he could continue working as he lives out the remainder of his days . . . . herding sheep at the place of his birth.  Luki is one of the last of the real herding dogs from Manfred’s old herding/working bloodlines.  It will be a sad day when this old boy retires too!  These dogs are such proud animals.

Falcon v. Fafnerhaus - I guess geese are betting than nothing!

Falcon v. Fafnerhaus, HTAD I-ge,  is yet another son out of Nicky.  He is a very high drive dog and loves to herd, but there aren’t many sheep where he lives, so instead he enjoys herding geese.  It doesn’t matter that these are geese and not sheep, these genetics are strong for herding and for working.  True versatility!

Nicky and son Gunthie working together.

Gunther still resides on the farm and works several hundred sheep as his sire once did.  It’s nice to see a son follow in dad’s footsteps “paws” so to speak.  When Nicky was still working, Gunther and Nick would work the flock together in perfect harmony . . . no commands needed.  It is what these dogs do.

Freuda v. Fafnerhaus - Following in Nicky's footsteps!

Freuda is a beautiful working female.  She has genetic obedience that is so valued when training these dogs.  She works independently here making her own boundary to keep the sheep where they belong.  Freuda is a warm and friendly dog who enjoys working.  She is one of the sweetest dogs I know!

Fenix Rising v. Fafnerhaus "Rogue"

Rogue, Fenix Rising von Fafnerhaus, doesn’t have access to hundred’s of sheep to herd, but still enjoys herding several at a time.  These dogs are able to adjust according to the task.  They can herd large numbers of sheep and small numbers - it’s all herding.  They have the ability to adapt to different herding situations.  Rogue has many AKC titles which include CDX, RA, HXAds, HSAc and AHBA title HRDIII (Sheep).  Rogue herds ducks, sheep, and cattle!  Way to go Rogue!

Fee v. Fafnerhaus "Xena"

Xena, Fee v. Fafnerhaus, a daughter of Nickys, is freely working the boundary in Germany.  Xena absolutely loved to herd sheep and it didn’t take her long to work her way around all four borders.   While Xena’s owner visited with Manfred, Xena had the opportunity to work with her full brother Luki, both tending to the sheep as a team working together.  It is amazing how these dogs are mentors to one another.  The older dog always teaches the younger one and also helps them along in their training  – a spectacular sight to see!

Hera v. Fafnerhaus - at Little Meadow Sheep Farm

Hera is the first real herding dog we have ever owned and what natural talent.  I don’t think we really appreciated what a dog with natural herding ability could do until we owned and worked a dog like our Hera.  She is a wonderful working dog – the most biddable dog I think we have ever owned.  Hera loves to work as the rest of her brothers/sisters do and she now has her own progeny out there following in her footsteps.  We are seeing how strong these genetics are in her daughter Arla and son Aiko that are working on our farm presently.  Hera has truly given us a gift!

These are just but a few progeny that have taken on the task of herding.  There are many others that are participating in other canine activities.   Thanks to everyone who gave me permission to supply such terrific photo’s and stories of these wonderful dogs who will always be remembered and appreciated by us here at Little Meadow Sheep Farm.

More on the next generation – the grandkids!

Category: Herding - HGH | No Comments »
Tags: Alf v. Fafnerhaus, Dux v. Fafnerhaus "Luki", Falcon v. Fafnerhaus, Fee v. Fafnerhaus "Xena", Freuda v. Fafnerhaus, Gunther v. Fafnerhaus, Hera v. Fafnerhaus

Posted By Sandy Wilson on July 12, 2009

Arla - outside with her puppies enjoying the sunshine.

Hard to believe these pups are three weeks old.  I feel like they were just born yesterday!  Today we fed them some goatsmilk mixed with meat and wow did they dig in.  Some of these pups even are starting to get little teeth.  Yesterday I just gave them a bit of goatsmilk in the round puppy dish to see how they would do around a big dish – we’ll the milk didn’t last long – they slurped it right up.  They all had little milk smiles after that. 

Pups enjoying the great outdoors.

They also had their first experience outside.  That was so much fun taking them out onto the grass.  It was so new to them to be out of the box, but quickly they adjusted and found mom and now they are nursing standing up  – too funny.

The pups are just big enough to grab onto mom!

Arla is such a good mother.  So patient as she stands there and lets them nurse.  Sometimes I don’t know how she holds herself up from the weight of those hungry pups.

Arla watches over the pups, while her mother cleans them.

All of the dogs just love the puppies and just naturally take on the job of mothering and rearing the pups.   My male, Aiko acts like the big daddy.  When we take the pups all inside, he will stand by the pups to watch over them until every last pup is carried back to the whelping box.  What a good boy!

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Posted By Sandy Wilson on July 10, 2009

This is quite a lively group, so it was tough taking pictures, but we got some individual shots of each puppy.  They really liked laying on the sheep skin. 

And here they are!

Delta - Female Puppy

This is the pup my son wants to keep.  She is calm and sweet and loves to be held in your arms.  But when it comes to food, she is the first one there and always seems to get hold of a good milk supply.    My son is so bonded with this little one.

Cid - Male Puppy

Pudding - Female Puppy

I would have to say, Pudding has personality.  She is a chatter box though and always on the move. 

Dante - Male Puppy

Bongo Boy - Male Puppy

Bongo Boy is the largest male pup – very dark all over with just a hint of color over his eyes, cheeks and on his feet.  He is going to be some handsome boy!

Flower Girl - Female Puppy

She is as cute as a button and wears a red flowered collar.  That’s how my boys came up with her name.  She is just adorable.

Squealer - Female Puppy

Squealer was the first puppy to make a noise and still is.  She wears a little stripped collar.  She certainly has a way of letting you know she is around wanting attention.

Pupcake - Male Puppy

This is a puppy you just want to pick up and hold.  He is big and fluffly and just as sweet as a cupcake!   He wears a plain black collar.

Bear - Male Puppy

Bear is the one of the darkest males like Bongo Boy and has just a beautiful dark face, but showing just a tiny bit of color now on the cheeks.  He is really  a pretty boy – he wears a blue collars with spots on it.  Looks quite handsome.   We call him bear because he looks like a little bear cub!

That’s the latest – soon they will be starting to eat some mushy food.  I know Arla is excited about that – it will give her a little break from feeding these hungry pups!

That’s all of the pupperoni’s for now – soon we’ll have pictures of them all at the dinner plate – that should be fun to watch!

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Posted By Sandy Wilson on July 8, 2009

My boys have chosen their favorite pups, but all of them get plenty of attention.  There are two special puppies which have stolen the hearts of my boys – the female is Delta!  She wears the red collar.  The other is Bongo Boy.  He is the largest male and very dark and just looks like a big fuzzy bear!  He was wearing a spotted collar, but now he wears a blue collar. 

Kevin & Bongo Boy!

Delta and Will - It's true LOVE!

Sleeping again!

Dante - Male Puppy

That’s all for now.  At the end of the week, they will be three weeks old.  Hard to believe – their eyes are open, their ears, and they are all walking around and mouthing each other in the whelping box.  Soon they’ll be wanting to jump out!

Category: Puppies, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags: D-Litter, German Shepherd