Breu vom Gravin
OFA #DP-9931G24M-P1 vWD GeneSearch dna Carrier
CERF #DP-1196/1999-4 Thyroid Normal
Full and Proper Dentition
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Breu had been sold before he was whelped, as is our custom. When he was a few weeks old his new owner called to tell me he had been offered a position that necessitated a lot of travel and he didn't feel it would be fair to take the puppy. After much debate we decided to keep him. Thus began a love affair between Breu and myself that grows daily.
I had worked with a lot of dogs in my chosen profession of dog trainer. I have never come across one as quick to learn and enjoy the doing as Breu. He quickly mastered the basics of obedience, tracking, Schutzhund, agility, and, when he was older, personal protection. We attended a couple of PSA training sessions and he had all the necessary requisites for the first level with many of the more difficult aspects of the higher levels. On top of his athletic abilities he was gorgeous.
We attended the UDC National in Denver when Breu was 10 months old. He won his class and that was with me handling. I am not a conformation handler so this was extra sweet. I thought I might just have a champion on my hands. Shortly after this I noticed his testicles didn't seem to be the right size. I took him to the vet and it turned out he was sterile. I was heartbroken on one hand and relieved on the other. At least now I wouldn't have to go through the agony of deciding to whom and how often to breed him.
An unexpected fork in the road was ahead for us. We decided to move back to Southern California. We would no longer have ready access to a Schutzhund club nor obedience comrades. In fact, with our change of location, we had a radical change of life style. Our dog sport days were over. Our dogs were going to retire early and live out their days in the mountains running through our property in Idyllwild.
We now live in semi-retirement and watch the squirrels eat peanuts from our front windows. We are enjoying the dogs in an entirely different way. I am blessed to live with three such wonderful animals who entertain us and comfort us. They guard us against killer squirrels and man eating lizards and no hummingbird is safe if it dips within a few feet of our deck.
We enjoy watching Breu emulate his dad. If Uly goes to the window to check on the street, Breu goes too. If Uly gets on the couch, so does Breu. Anything that Uly does, including roll on the floor and make terrible noises while he uses his front feet to rub his muzzle, so does Breu. Breu sleeps on the bed with us, usually hogging the pillow and his morning routine, along with making sure the squirrels aren'g getting too comfortable, is to get on my lap for snuggles. In the evening he shares himself in this same way with Price. He grooms Tiana's face and licks her lips whether she likes it or not. He insists that she groom him back, something she is happy to do. It is not the least unusual to find them both asleep with one or the others' head resting on their companions back or hip.
Testa passed the responsibility of looking after me to Breu when he was six weeks old. He took that job on and has done a remarkable job. If you have any questions about Breu you can contact me by clicking here.