RIP Kenja, B.H.: Passing the collar to Serephina
Posted: Sun May 12, 2019 3:27 am
Kenja passed in 2012. I grieved for seven years before I was ready to get another Dutchie.
I have had many GSD's, and they are great dogs, but there simply isn't any comparison to a Dutchie. A well bred and well trained Dutchie is, as I see them, like a GSD on steroids and speed. Smart, really smart. Fast, really fast. Fighters to the last breath. Playful jokesters who really want to please you. Kenja was all of these. Losing Kenja was losing part of my self and my soul. I grieved very, very hard for a very, very long time.
The first picture of Kenja is taken in front of the police K9 memorial at the University of California, Davis. The second picture is of her on the grass at one of the fields we trained in each day, on the UCD campus. This second picture is all over the internet. I put it on wikipedia's Dutchie page about 10 years ago and many groups have taken and used it, which is fine. If you search "kenja" and "dutch shepherd" you will see my girl sitting on the grass with a huge, "let's go train, Dad" smile (or maybe it was, "Let's go train Dad"). Other pictures I put up of her, many years ago, have been taken and used commercially, which is also OK. It is an homage to my best working dog, ever. RIP Kenja.
After seven years I was ready to get another Dutchie. I contacted North American Dutch Shepherd Rescue (http://www.dutchshepherdrescue.org). After they thoroughly checked me out to be sure I can handle a Dutchie, they introduced me to a very high energy, very high drive, very smart and talented 10 mo. DS puppy who had been fostered by super-trainer Charles Wong (http://www.k9ts.org). Mr. Wong and Super Foster Mom Pauline K. had rescued an entire litter of DS pups from good lines of working parents.
The pup is officially named "Banshee", which means Irish demon who screams just before someone is to die, which is an appropriate name if one knows what a Dutchie on "packen" or "revere" can do. But, alas, my much-loved wife wanted a different name to use at home; so, we chose "Serephina". If you are at a SchH trial, and a dog is introduced as "Banshee", but you hear her called "Serephina", you will know it is us. I only intend to do a B.H., probably in 2021. After that, we will do protection work on a private basis with Mr. Wong. I love SchH clubs that are positive, (e.g., Way Out West), but, I don't have the time to join a club.
These last seven years I kept Kenja's rolled leather collar, small prong training collar, and trial leash on the shelf above my desk, along with the urn of her ashes. Each day as I work, Serephina lays at the base of the bookshelf, next to me. Then it struck me--Serephina has Kenja's spirit. They could pass as twins both for looks, drive, and spirit. So, I put Kenja's rolled collar on Serephina and I started using Kenja's leash with her. This is a magical continuation in the best sort of way. Not surprisingly, the collar fit perfectly and Serephina loves to get leashed because she knows it is training time.
Two pictures of Serephina are attached also. One is of a curious 11 mo. old pup exploring her new yard while being ever alert, and the other is right after training when she is relaxing. If you look carefully, yes--she is wearing Kenja's collar in both pictures.
Thanks for reading this,
Dad to Kenja and Serephina
I have had many GSD's, and they are great dogs, but there simply isn't any comparison to a Dutchie. A well bred and well trained Dutchie is, as I see them, like a GSD on steroids and speed. Smart, really smart. Fast, really fast. Fighters to the last breath. Playful jokesters who really want to please you. Kenja was all of these. Losing Kenja was losing part of my self and my soul. I grieved very, very hard for a very, very long time.
The first picture of Kenja is taken in front of the police K9 memorial at the University of California, Davis. The second picture is of her on the grass at one of the fields we trained in each day, on the UCD campus. This second picture is all over the internet. I put it on wikipedia's Dutchie page about 10 years ago and many groups have taken and used it, which is fine. If you search "kenja" and "dutch shepherd" you will see my girl sitting on the grass with a huge, "let's go train, Dad" smile (or maybe it was, "Let's go train Dad"). Other pictures I put up of her, many years ago, have been taken and used commercially, which is also OK. It is an homage to my best working dog, ever. RIP Kenja.
After seven years I was ready to get another Dutchie. I contacted North American Dutch Shepherd Rescue (http://www.dutchshepherdrescue.org). After they thoroughly checked me out to be sure I can handle a Dutchie, they introduced me to a very high energy, very high drive, very smart and talented 10 mo. DS puppy who had been fostered by super-trainer Charles Wong (http://www.k9ts.org). Mr. Wong and Super Foster Mom Pauline K. had rescued an entire litter of DS pups from good lines of working parents.
The pup is officially named "Banshee", which means Irish demon who screams just before someone is to die, which is an appropriate name if one knows what a Dutchie on "packen" or "revere" can do. But, alas, my much-loved wife wanted a different name to use at home; so, we chose "Serephina". If you are at a SchH trial, and a dog is introduced as "Banshee", but you hear her called "Serephina", you will know it is us. I only intend to do a B.H., probably in 2021. After that, we will do protection work on a private basis with Mr. Wong. I love SchH clubs that are positive, (e.g., Way Out West), but, I don't have the time to join a club.
These last seven years I kept Kenja's rolled leather collar, small prong training collar, and trial leash on the shelf above my desk, along with the urn of her ashes. Each day as I work, Serephina lays at the base of the bookshelf, next to me. Then it struck me--Serephina has Kenja's spirit. They could pass as twins both for looks, drive, and spirit. So, I put Kenja's rolled collar on Serephina and I started using Kenja's leash with her. This is a magical continuation in the best sort of way. Not surprisingly, the collar fit perfectly and Serephina loves to get leashed because she knows it is training time.
Two pictures of Serephina are attached also. One is of a curious 11 mo. old pup exploring her new yard while being ever alert, and the other is right after training when she is relaxing. If you look carefully, yes--she is wearing Kenja's collar in both pictures.
Thanks for reading this,
Dad to Kenja and Serephina