Red Rock K9

German Shepherd Breeder and Training

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ROCKY’S STORY

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FIGHT LIKE ROCKY

Its about time I share the story of Rocky.  And today of all days seems quite fitting as it is his first birthday. For those of you that follow Red Rock K9 closely you may remember me making mention of what a big year 2017 was with not only big feats but several challenging hurdles along the way.  There were too many to mention in that post nor was it that pressing to elaborate.  But Rocky’s beginning was one of those hurdles that were thrown our way at a time we thought we couldn’t handle many more obstacles.

Rocky’s story began in Czech Republic where he was to begin his early training with our good friends and partners. I received weekly updates of his training and could see in each shared video his progression week by week. It was apparent that time and love was being poured into Rocky.

Rocky’s training was complete in the Czech Republic and I began receiving his training videos the day I was to pick him up in Dallas.  I spent time studying his training and his handlers motions and moves and was already confident in the puppy I would soon receive.  Sure enough Rocky arrived as all of the puppies and dogs do, alert and happy, and eager to take his first steps on American soil. 

Rocky’s first two days at Red Rock K9 were full of fun and I experienced a seamless transition into his training. He was confident in every step and loved meeting my kids. We went on walks with the kids and Rocky was loving every second of life.  

Then came the third morning. As I let out Rocky for his morning outing things seemed fine up until the point I went to feed him.  He began to eat but not with the same Rocky tenacity that I knew.  He didn’t quite finish the meal which I thought a bit odd but still nothing was too alarming.  But then around 10 AM or so on my next outing with Rocky I noticed he had not held down his meal and soon would not hold down his water.  His stools were still fine but my radar was in full alert. 

I have to make strong mention before I utter the dreadful word that no dog place wants to hear…   I luckily had been teaching training classes and many can vouch for me having a bleach pump sprayer mix handy for any dogs that wait until arriving at our place to do their business. So from the onset of Rocky’s arrival I had already been spraying the areas and disposing of his stools.  So having said that it is with great confidence that not only was Rocky never in a “puppy area” he was also virtually quarantined by nature of our procedures upon his arrival.

So by noon that day which happened to inevitably fall on a Sunday I had already made the decision to get answers early on what could be causing his lack of appetite and ability to hold down his water. From the time of making the decision to go to the vet and the car ride to the emergency vet clinic Rocky had seemed to really plummet from his lively self .  By the time I was finally seen by the vet I actually had a pretty helpless looking puppy laying on the table next to me as I watched him sleep.  I knew by the questions I was being asked where it was heading but really thought because I had not seen a bad stool that it was certainly not “that.”  Not “that,” it couldn’t be. If you haven’t guessed it yet, a parvo test was done and in this 15 or so minutes I really wasn’t expecting bad news.  But soon it came.  It was. And it was said to be a strong positive.  The vet mentioned that I had probably got him to the clinic earlier than anyone she had seen in the recent past. 

The vet was cautiously optimistic but did say that the percentage of cases caught this early usually did have a positive outcome. I had cared for a dog with this once before but knew I didn’t have it in me at the time and also knew that he was at a top notch facility with 24 hour veterinarians on duty with vet techs constantly caring for him.  

Driving away from him was difficult. But we were prayerfully hopeful. I was determined that with the time invested in Rocky I was going to do everything in my power to see to it that he received the best treatment and hopefully pull through.  I received an update the next day that Rocky was actually eating a meatball mix from the vet techs hands with a bit of eagerness he had not had before.  The vet said it was a great sign but also noted that he was getting so much support that he would feel better but to expect the virus to still run its course.  

Moving this story forward a bit Rocky did a bit of a rollerocaster of ups and downs but I was receiving daily updates and with some of the blood cell counts they were able to tell me that he was a puppy without a doubt that would pull through.  Rocky was a fighter every step of the way and it was apparent. We visited him several times during his stay, each time suiting up in gear that would be disposed of and double layer of latex gloves and covered shoes. With each visit I could see the fight in his eyes and knew he would prevail. 

Why would I be surprised with a dog given that name?  Rocky spent about a week in treatment before we got the call that he was more than ready to leave.  I will never forget driving with my wife, Linsey, to pick him up and thought I would let her hold him on the way home.  But as I positioned myself in the drivers seat ready to pull out of the parking space there was a frail little puppy wagging his tail fighting to make it over the console.  We quickly decided I would ride in the passenger seat and hold him for the journey home.  I guess you could say we bonded in those first short few days.

I have to also note as it was asked back then and I’m sure some would wonder now…. Rocky was definitely not sick upon arrival.  I was not sent a sick puppy.  I was sent a healthy puppy that we can only assume was exposed to a sick puppy in the airplane or during the 24 hour period before his departure. In researching more the incubation period can be much faster than I had originally thought.  Rocky had only been vaccinated once and we have since changed our procedures a bit before allowing a puppy to fly ensuring that each puppy has had the opportunity to have two rounds of vaccinations at a minimum. 

This story wouldn’t be complete without giving due accolades to the awesome owners that were to receive Rocky.  I had FULL support in my decisions and they were patient in his recovery of strength at RRK9 before being released to his final destination. I can’t say I would have made any decisions differently but in the back of my mind there was this little boy that had long awaited this dog. It wasn’t just mentioned once or twice; I knew that this little boy had hand picked leashes, collars, toys, beds and was actively reading everything German Shepherd with his parents. So I guess you could say I was invested on a lot of different levels in this puppy.

Turning the clock back.  There was a family that was simply taking a routine ski trip at Angel Fire New Mexico Ski resort when this little boy saw another family with a German Shepherd on the slopes.  This dog, named Ranger, just happened to be a Red Rock K9 German Shepherd.  This little boy had been talking to his mom for months about wanting a dog but they had always owned labradors.  But now all of a sudden, this was the only dog he wanted, a German Shepherd…. But not just any German Shepherd.  It now needed to be this mysterious Red Rock K9 German Shepherd that the owner of Ranger went on and on about.  

This little boys mom thought to herself he would soon forget the meeting on the slopes but oh how she was wrong.  So the story of Rocky and Logan  started a very long time ago.  While Rocky’s journey may have started off with a bump in the road you would never know it looking at him now.  

I have to be the first to admit that anytime I hear of an adult future owner speaking heavily of the desires of the child to own and be best friends with the dog I become a little hesitant in wanting to proceed.  But this story was different all the way around. It was like the bond that I had achieved with Rocky immediately transferred to his new best friend. 

Through this year I have been quite amazed at the bond that Rocky and Logan have developed and the dedication that this family has poured into Rocky. I could not be more proud of this family. Oh, and a very important mention… Remember that Ski resort where the idea for a RRk9 began?  Rocky was invited to be the official mascot of the Ski Resorts and team of instructors. 

I couldn’t bring myself to write about this until now…  But if there was ever a story that paralleled our year it would be his. 

I have often thought it is how we handle adversity that defines us. Fall, get up, keep fighting. Fight like Rocky. 

Growing up with Rocky

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Strength & Honor

STRENGH & HONOR

“Busy” doesn’t begin to accurately describe the last few months let alone the year it has been for Red Rock K9. Its been a whirl wind of a storm here getting everything ready for puppy departure day including 10 puppies bathed, nails clipped, owners puppy handbooks and kits ready, bedding cleaned for newly clean puppies, videos filmed and cut, DVD’s edited and burned and a countless number of other puppy chores that are the usual daily norm here. I seem to hit this point at the end of every trained puppy litter not knowing exactly how to handle the flood of emotions tied to the amount of work poured into the puppies and realizing I have done everything I can to the current point.

But this litter was different. Possibly because it matched our largest litter to graduate. But more overly knowing the backdrop of the last year that is now behind us. We took an entire year away from having a litter in order to prepare a new training area for our pups. There was nothing easy about getting to where we are today. There have been plenty of bumps and hurdles and it took a lot of mental and physical strength alike.

And then I think way back to a moment that I questioned going any further with dogs at all. I don’t think I have ever specifically written about Maximus. Max was my first German Shepherd. He was my boy. I picked the name Maximus from one of my favorite movies at the time, Gladiator. It was strong and just seemed fitting for him. We did everything together. While my love for dogs and training grew, so did the pack of German Shepherd friends that would eventually solidify the “6 Pack.” Raising those 6 German Shepherds taught me more about dogs than anything I could have ever read in a book.

Tragically one day Max was swept from this earth in an unfortunate accident. I remember when losing him, not knowing if I could go on with dogs. There was one problem. I still had 5 that reminded me daily about a dog’s ability to remarkably keep moving forward, living life to the fullest in the moment. With life feeling like it had stopped for me, the rest of life around me kept moving. It wasn’t like me to just quit and there had been plenty of times in the past I had fallen down and gotten back up, but this blow just seemed a bit different.

 

Max had been struck by a car. At the time, we did not have the perimeter fence that we have now. And when I say he never wandered from his boundaries, he really never had before.

Unfortunately, a neighbor’s dog that was a wanderer had found his way to our yard and I am confident he was running him back across the street. So, on that cold day as I got the call and made my way to the main street it was only a short time until I was joined by my dad that had already gotten the news.

As he insisted that I go back to the house and didn’t need to be involved in moving him I had the strongest urge to help.

Looking beautiful and large and only as if sleeping he appeared untouched. Yet I knew he was gone. When the time quickly came to carry him my dad once again said not to interfere but once again I had the strongest urge to carry him.

I don’t think I thought about this until years later but that little puppy that I had named Maximus from the Gladiator movie unfortunately met the same fate in the conclusion of the story.

“Strength and Honor,” it was a phrase spoken and motif in the movie Gladiator along with one of the similar final questions, “Will you honor him?” which was asked in regards to “will you carry him.” While I’m not one to tie emotions into fictional narratives that only satisfy my own thoughts, but I couldn’t help but remember and realize the striking similarity of events.

In the ending scene of the movie as the Gladiator had fallen, it was asked of the soldiers of Rome, “who will help me carry him,” as it was also echoed, “Honor him.” Perhaps the parallel is far fetched. But amongst the pain in the moment I had an amount of composure and strength that could only be matched by my the willingness to honor him and be near him in that moment, I wanted to carry him and no one could have talked me out of it.

As I think back to that day I wonder how much of our story had already been planned and written. While I know he is “just a dog” I can’t help but think of him running in green pastures above, and looking down with pleasing eyes to where we are now. So here’s to you Max – Strength and Honor.

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Zeus Anrebri

12227479_947505708654719_2145611074_oRed Rock K9 has had the privilege of building strong partnerships and friendships abroad. This has given us the ability to offer world class German Shepherds to our clients right here in America. Access to world renowned champion pedigrees of the working line German Shepherd dogs combined with the expertise of world renowned trainers makes for a formidable combination in producing top level dogs.

In October of 2015, a little black puppy with exceptional character and aptitude for top level sport became available and we perhaps took our largest leap of faith in our overseas partners.  We knew the wait would be long, but we trusted that we were investing in more than just a dog; we would be investing in something that aligned with our strongest belief; the importance of Building a German Shepherd with a solid foundation from the ground up. It is the combination of correctly preparing a puppy for the world, training that puppy, and educating new owners that leads to the best success stories.

Zeus is currently preparing for his BH and IPO1 exams next month.  He will reach the top level of IPO3 before becoming an official member of the Red Rock K9 team where he will serve as a Stud and obviously be integrated into family life here at Red Rock K9 which we insist doing with each and every dog that joins the team.

We will continue to keep you posted in the Zeus’ journey.  We hope you will enjoy the video of his current training.

We would like to thank Renata and Petr for all of their hard work preparing Zeus!

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Delivery Day turns to an Eventful Night

IMG_9982By now you may have seen that the latest litter has safely arrived at Red Rock K9. However only 2 of the pups were actually born in our whelping room. So here goes the story…

Cira began stage 2 of labor on Wednesday August 17th. By this stage we are carefully taking note and charting every uterine contraction to know the frequency and strength.  This gives us an accurate timeline to go back and review if no puppies have arrived after 2-3 hours and assess the amount of stress the dog is under. In Cira’s case, this was the scenario as no pups had been born and at that point it was going on 2 a.m in the morning.  We had also noticed Cira’s habits were a bit different than her previous litter as she was not comfortable laying down and had all of her contractions in the sitting position.

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We decided that the only decision left was a trip to the emergency vet to assess the possibility of a C-section and determine the position of the first puppy.  The trip there must have helped  more progression as by the time the veterinarian on staff checked for position she noted the head of the puppy was very large (which was not present when I had checked).  I was not too excited about the idea of C-section delivery unless it was absolutely necessary.  Cira was in good condition but I knew it was best to have an educated opinion. We were given a pretty large exam room to wait in and I had brought the large bed for Cira that she was used to having in her whelping box.  She seemed to be content with her bed in this new place and responded well to the the nurses and veterinarian. The staff was very kind and offered me coffee several times through the night and made sure I knew to “just holler” if I needed anything.   So here we are, now at 3 a.m and I’m praying for Cira to just have the first puppy. I figure if we can just get the first puppy to deliver the rest will surely come with ease.

After an ultrasound and x-ray the veterinarian decided to administer a very small amount of oxytocin. This is usually something that should not be given with a puppy in the canal but it was concluded that the very small amount was not going to risk any harm to rupturing Cira’s uterus and the puppy that was already in the canal was at no greater stress than was already present.

After 30 minutes with no attempts greater than what I had witnessed Cira try to push at home the nurse came into check on us. The nurse said she would let the vet know and I knew that it was inevitable that they would be preparing for operation soon after.

I already had my sterile rubber gloves and OB lube in my pocket and thought I would have a quick check to see if the puppy was any farther down.  To my surprise that puppy was so close I was confident that with a little patience I would be able to help Cira with this puppy. I literally was able to secure a hold on the backside of each jaw of the puppy and waited for Cira’s next contraction.  It is definitely not the first time I have had to help a female with a pup so I knew exactly what to do in this situation.  My only concern as I sat back in the corner of this large room with only a small glass window in the door was that I was going to have to tell a nurse or a vet to please have a seat if they entered as I was a bit tied up in a position of keeping Cira calm and still with a puppy’s head securely grasped with a thumb and index finger.  At her next contraction there was progress as I felt the puppy come down being careful to pull no more than the contraction allowed. I knew by Cira’s reaction at her next movement that it was a big puppy.  Within seconds of waiting on the next contraction the puppy was virtually out, still in its protective sack and we waited for Cira’s final push. And there it was, placenta and puppy dropping to her little bed in one fast swoop.

 

IMG_9977So now, here I am surprised to have just delivered a puppy in this room that I have all to myself. Cira took the first moment  to “clean up” the placenta and I’m already helping free the sack from around the puppy. I’m realizing in this moment that I don’t have my baby nasal aspirator (I just had to look up the name for that on google as I typed in “baby nose” and googled finished by search results with “sucker” … I know I’m not the only person that apparently doesn’t know what those are called). I was not shy on taking the nurses up on their offer of “holler if you need anything.” Only problem was the only words that could come to mind for that nasal aspirator was “suction.”  So here I am yelling to the reception room adjacent from me: “SUCTION, SUCTION… I NEED SUCTION….. And TOWELS TOO!!!”  I hear a quick voice yell back, “HERE I COME.”  Perhaps a bit comical if my adrenalin was not kicked into full gear at the moment. The nurse came running in with supplies in hand. My main concern when a puppy (especially one that has been in canal for a longer period) is to clear the puppy’s lungs and begin rubbing vigorously on the puppy to get the blood flow moving through the body all while momma is still usually chewing off the umbilical cord.  I try my best to interfere as little a possible but usually in that quick moment surprisingly mamma is occupied cleaning what usually exits with the puppy and seems to not mind the help.  It all happens very fast.  Puppy came out perfect. Just very large.

So here I am nearly 4 am in the morning with the first puppy born, happily nursing on mamma Cira, all on the comfort of my newly stained ergonomically cushioned premium dog bed.  The nurse came back into “my current whelping room” and explained that she had a name picked out for the puppy if I needed ideas.  I was a bit confused by the comment as that was the last thing on my mind. She went on to explain that she had just had to pronounce a dog deceased and at the very same moment she had heard the my puppy’s cry and my very loud call out for assistance. So in honor of the dog that I never met… for now, the nick name of this large male pup we shall call Koda.

Within about 15 minutes from delivery of the first pup, the second was born.  This female was delivered with ease.  I really think now after knowing of Cira’s change in delivery habits from her first litter that the first pup was just very large and could have caused undue trouble for the rest of the litter.

It is now nearly 5 a.m and I am just seeing the vet again for the first time since Cira having 2 pups. She enjoyed watching Cira clean and feed her two pups and she told me that I was free to stick around or welcome to head back to the house and to call if I needed anything else.  If I hadn’t seen her begin contracting on pup 3 I may have tried to get home right then but instead I thought it better to wait for the 3rd pup to be born.

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Cira did great pushing that third pup but I knew she was super exhausted at this time.  Cira at this point was in her normal laying down position with two pups nursing as she contracted and pushed.  She seemed to appreciate the calm encouragement and was not affected by my presence in the corner of the room.  I checked the location of the puppy and this one was positioned feet first which is not uncommon.  Sometimes it can be a bit trickier for a tired female to push.  So comfortably I position two finger on the feet of the puppy still in canal and wait for Cira’s contractions. The main purpose of my help when there is a pup that is breach is to make certain not to loose any ground that she gained in the process of pushing (Puppies have a way of wanting to stay where it is comfortable).  Another nurse walks in and sees a puppy being delivered and as she starts to talk “in a happy voice” to Cira I kindly asked her if she would like to have a seat and watch. She obliged and I think realized it wasn’t a time for idle chit-chat.  Within moments we now have 3 pups delivered all in the comfort of this newly decorated bed… All the while, pups are happy and nursing.

I rush to pay and prepare the van for safe travels with pups in blanketed box and mamma Cira and her large area and comforter and pillow positioned against secured crates that are bolted to the van.

It is now nearly 5:40 a.m and I call my wife Linsey to prepare her for my arrival coming in hot with Cira and pups. I realized my last text message with her we had talked the direction of C-section so she was a bit confused at first when I told her I had 3 pups in a box and that I needed her to get the heat lamps on and ready in the puppy area and to come meet me when I drove up directly in front of the whelping building. I explained that I wanted to get to Cira out of the van as soon as I drove up.

So I arrive and she is there waiting for me and quickly gets pups to the room.  As I step into see Cira I was glad that she was on her bed but quickly noticed that there was a moving puppy at her “end” yet for some reason with that pup she was not able to get in the position to perhaps safely cut the umbilical cord that was still connected to the puppy and led back to her.  I imagine with the moving of the vehicle she chose to stay in a safe laying down position and cleaned the puppy and removed the sack yet just hadn’t quite finished.  I’m note sure at what point on the 20 minute drive home she actually had the puppy or perhaps she had the pup while I pulled into the driveway.  Either way, at this point I’m yelling back towards the whelping area for Linsey to bring the scissors that were so carefully positioned and available in the whelping room. She comes rushing to the back of the van and with a quick snip the puppy, Cira, my wife and I are rushing back to the whelping box.

So at this point, 3 pups have been delivered in the emergency exam holding room and 1 female pup born somewhere between Oklahoma City and Edmond in the back of my van. I think pup 4, the female born while in the car needs a name that represents her entry into the world while being driven home. Perhaps Daisy? After Driving Miss Daisy?

Pup 5 was born feet first with a little help from me.  We felt at the time that with the position of the pup and amount of time Cira had been in labor that the best choice was to help her so long as there was no undue stress on her in the process.

https://youtu.be/Q3TPTUwXxSk

It is now 9 a.m and my wife had stepped back inside to tend to the morning routine of the kids while I waited for the 6th and final pup.  But why would the drama need to be done just quite yet?

IMG_9983Pup 6 came into this world protesting the need for his own attention. As soon as he was delivered there was much more blood present than normal and after a quick assessment of holding puppy it was obvious his umbilical cord was a bit more disturbed than the others.  A little blood is normal here and there but when you see something beginning to squirt and slowly line the pups stomach with red you begin to kick it into a faster gear than you were already going.
So now I find myself barking out my 3rd set of loud request of the night. “Get the floss string and the septic stick,” I yelled for Linsey to rush to the room where we had already prepared floss string ties ready to tie off any leaking umbilical cords. I am glad that Linesy was there and able to quickly tie the cord as two sets of hands certainly made quick work of it.  Usually if there is any bleeding it is much slower and not as urgent as this was in this moment.  Perhaps it was the quick tie or the septic stick that was also rubbed back and forth across the umbilical cored but luckily we had avoided any major issues and the puppy within seconds of entering the world knew no difference and was happily nursing alongside his brothers and sisters.

13962724_1132839296794471_7491870707865890556_nSo today I am thankful. Thankful for the arrival of 6 healthy puppies.  Thankful for a visiting veterinarian that understands the importance of a call from me on the day of expected puppy arrival and graciously excepted my initial phone call at 1 a.m. leading up to the hour of “decision time.” I’m thankful for a kind and caring staff at the emergency clinic that was patient and understanding of my initial concerns and also accommodated my stay quite well.  After all, when else can you deliver puppies in a room just seconds away from having every single piece of medical equipment available and the knowledge and experience to go with it at your fingertips if needed. I’m thankful for having past experiences that prepared to be ready and know how to handle situations like these when time was of the essence.

Lastly, I’m thankful that with bleach and some detergent, Cira will have her new comfy bed back and its looking as good as new.

Cira’s 6 are all perfectly healthy and thriving. Follow their progress on our Facebook Page and bookmark our Red Rock K9 German Shepherds web site, if you are interested in a trained Red Rock K9 German Shepherd Puppy in the future.

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Cira 2Articles

Welcome to Red Rock K9’s “Articles” page.  Here you will find posts about what is happening at Red Rock K9 German Shepherds and read articles relating to health, temperament, and training of German Shepherds. If there is a specific question or article that you think would be helpful, please submit an article idea here.

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Plans for Training FacilityNew Training Facility

Red Rock K9 German Shepherds is working on new plans for an Indoor Training Facility!  We are hoping to add a new indoor training area to allow us to work our puppies and dogs when extreme conditions exist outdoors.  The new training area will also allow us to offer more training classes to clients during hours that we normally couldn’t offer them in the summer heat.  Owners and dogs alike will be much happier and efficient working in our new facility.  While we do not have a date planned to break ground yet, we are in the early planning stages now and hope to announce a start date by early next year.