Thu, October 15, 2009 11:02:27 AM
Subject: Kiesel

Hi there!
We are all doing great!!!! Kiesel is really a great dog so far! He's a big boy though! He weighs 36.1 pounds, but he looks good. Although we were increasing his food over time, he was still so skinny, so for the past month or so we have really upped his food and he is looking great! The vet says he looks good for his size and age. He is so active, that I think he burns a lot of calories, so he needs to put in a little more (wish I had that problem!). We did change his food to the Eukanuba and it seems to agree with him.
We have been doing some training with him for quite a while already. He comes when called, he sits, gives his paws to be wiped (but not so happy about that one!). We have also been training him on walks to heel and sit when I stop and go when I go. It's amazing how quickly he learns. He is doing great. He has impressed quite a few people already because he is still so young, but already following commands! I walk him for a while to get some energy out and then we start with the training. We actuallly took him for walk for about an hour the other evening and he was only on the leash for about 5 minutes. He stays close by and comes when you call or whistle!
The kids are still having a ball with him. He respects the girls, but Alexander is just another puppy to Kiesel. Those two have a much different relationship with each other than any of the rest of us! Kiesel is so funny....when we walk to the bus stop in the afternoon to get the kids, he recognizes the big yellow thing from far away and gets so excited to see the kids. In the morning, when the bus pulls away, he looks so sad and even wimpers sometimes!
He loves to ride in the car. When I leave to go somewhere, I usually take him with, so when he hears my keys he is at the door before I am. He also is very in tune to the microwave. We heat his water for the kibbles at dinner and so when he hears the ding, he comes running.
We really are happy with the dog. I think having a dog before has helped us recognize what we did wrong the first time and we aren't making those mistakes again. Kiesell loves to be around us, but he also likes his alone time. He can play in the backyard by himself for quite a while and also will go cuddle in a corner by himself when he is tired. Our last dog was very needy, but I think we created that!
How are all the other puppies doing? How is Pip - is she any bigger? How are Sparky and True?
Any advice, thoughts that you have are always welcome.
Christina

Sat, December 26, 2009 7:56:34 AM
Subject: Kiesel

Hi there! We haven't drop off the face of the earth! Hopefully, now there will be some quieter moments with all the shopping, baking and cooking done for Christmas!
Kiesel did enjoy his first Christmas. He was happily watching us all open gifts and then opened some of his own. He is much gentler with the unwrapping than I thought he would be!!!! He nibbled away at the paper - I expected him to just tear it up, like he does his toys!!!! He is also enjoying the snow. We took him with sledding a week ago and he had so much fun running around and catching snowballs. He just loves to eat the snow too!!! We only got him on to the sled once (with me and Ava) but I don't think he was too sure if it was fun or not. Running next to the sled was more his thing!
He is getting so big. No one can carry him anymore! He is getting more and more handsome every day as well. Kiesel is still laid back and likes everyone. He has a "friend" he plays with in the open field at the end of our block. Rex and Kiesel seem to get along well. Rex is older, so Kiesel does get a little intimidated at times, but he is holding his own. I am sure that will change in the not so distant future!! Kiesel is also doing excellent in the obedience department. We haven't had any accidents in the house for at least 2 months, he goes to bed nicely at night in his crate with his pillow and blanket and he listens quite well when you call him. There is no more jumping up on anyone, and he hasn't even tried to jump on the furniture or beds. Also, he may sniff along the counter, but he hasn't taken anything off the counter. The cookies on the coffee table were tempting, but I caught him within inches and told him "no" and he never tried again. We have gotten many compliments on his behavior and his looks. People are surprised to hear that he is only 6 months old.
The only "problem" area is with Alexander and Kiesel, but that Alexander brought on himself and doesn't try to change either!!! Kiesel sees Alexander as a canine playmate. They love each other to death and look for each other when they are out of eye shot, but Kiesel just totally dominates Alexander. He jumps at him and on him and loves to nibble on him! Alexander will tell him no and walk way, but then he just starts laughing and Kiesel doesn't take him seriously. It's funny and cute in a way, but Kiesel is getting bigger faster than Alexander is!!! But, what are you to do with a "boy and his dog"?!!!
We did get the pedigree papers! What a great blood line Kiesel comes from!!!!! With that pedigree, I think we are entitled to some bragging rights!!! You definitely can see the quality in your dogs. We have noticed that Kiesel seems to be more true to the breed that Ottos was. Both good looking and great natured, but different.
I hope you get the pictures I atttached - sometimes I do well, other times not so well!!!
Hope your Christmas was merry and that you have safe and Happy New Year!!
Christina and the rest of the Speer Family

Sat, February 6, 2010 9:52:17 PM
Just a few pictures so you can see how our boy is growing up!  He is such a clown - as you can see!  Things are going great with him!  Kiesel is getting bigger and stronger but still has that puppy awkwardness at times.  When he plays with the nieghbors short hair pointer, he can easily keep up, but the agility just isn't quite there yet!  The other day he ran after a couple squirrels in the back yard and ran in between two trees and then crashed into the tree in between the two!  He looked stunned, but continued his hunt for squirrels!  

Christina