Seasonal Greetings

We leave the house at 4pm, a sunset is imminent. Zerline has a golden glow in the sunlight which is still bright. She is seven months old now, already an experienced sunset chase companion. In the distance the highest dune in the direct vicinity around us looms from the fog that starts to drift in. We hurry over for a good view of the sunset.

Life Changed

I open my eyes and have a peek around me from under the covers. No wonder I am feeling so warm. Tilde is laying curled up between my legs and Zerline is laying fully stretched out on my side. I feel her warm breath blowing in my neck.

Where Did My Puppy Go?

What happened to that innocent little creature I picked up at Schiphol airport three months ago? That tiny fur-ball, who fell asleep while I held her fragile body in my arms, snoring with satisfaction. That small dependent baby dog, who studied me endlessly with her big brown eyes.

A Dog's Summer

"Tilde No!". Too late. Tilde jumped the fence and was out of sight, chasing the bunny on full speed. That'll be the end of this particular fence solution I thought.

Conversations With A Hovawart #5: Puppy Class

"Can we have a word?"

Oh no, I thought, not the union again. Zerline could read my mind.

Rabbit Feet And Jackass Wings

Zerline is thoroughly discovering her disproportionate growing legs. She is trying them out on a daily basis to mark her latest top speed and if she can keep up with Tilde already.

Zerline's Family Tree, Beyond The Berlin Wall

The long-time readers of this blog will have guessed this post was right around the corner. I researched Zerline's roots, like I did with Kenzo and Tilde.

Fake Shepherds

"OMG. She feels so soft!" I hear that a lot. "Will it last?" some ask too.

Shaping Memories

We're well passed three months now. At this age, Zerline reminds me a lot about Kenzo. We first got him home when he was about the age Zerline is now.

The Wild Bunch

Today I tried to take a walk alone with Tilde. Being just the two of us would allow for a longer walk and, with all the time which goes into puppy Zerline, she would appreciate some alone quality time with me.

Hovawart TV: Zerline The Surfer

It was an impressive sight for Zerline. The first time we went to the beach she dared to go up all the way to the shoreline to have a closer look at all that boiling water and listen to the waves roar.

Hovawart TV: Digging A Team

When you dig as a team you can get deeper and move more sand when you work together. Trying to own the pit won't give any progress, and practicing dry breaststroke swims in it won't either. To dig, in itself, is the goal. Tilde seems to get that. But can she teach puppy Zerline to dig in the same direction?

Report From Puppy World

We are almost through the first month of puppy-hood in the blink of an eye. Zerline is 11 weeks old today. She has done a lot of growing. Her legs in particular seem to explode and lift her still fragile body higher and higher up into the air.

Conversations With A Hovawart #4: The Union

"Can we have a word?"

Zerline looked serious. Those big brown puppy eyes told me she had something important to share. I laid down my camera and reporters notebook, both overheated from puppy adventures, to give her my full attention.

"Dit Is Een Goed Stel, Hoor"

It's a sentence each Dutch person recognizes. Spoken by the sports commentator Theo Reitsma as he observed the Dutch national soccer team celebrate their win in the final of the European Soccer Cup in 1988. There is nothing profound about it. It simply means "This is a good team, for sure."

Summer Socialization With A Twist

In the middle of Summer all the rentals are occupied. Although I enjoy the emptiness of the West-coast during Winter, the tourists bring a special vacation atmosphere with them I have come to appreciate. People are happy and wear smiles, they have time and are not busy, or try their best not to be.

Bold and Bolder

It was the moment I had been waiting for. The moment in which I could witness Tilde and Zerline to truly connect. To find each other, enjoy each other's company while forging a bond on the road that leads to a true friendship.

Rediscovering Beauty

The rapidly swelling buzz of hundreds of bird wings made me look up in the air. A flock of Starlings made a fly-over that low, I could have touched them if I would have reached my hand out. Tilde took a sprint after them. Jumping, barking, like a crazed jack-in-a-box. Zerline, who was sitting down, looked up in amazement. Her gaze followed the birds until they disappeared over the horizon. She was mesmerized.

Breaking: Copenhagen Is Secured

Zerline took one look around the premises and knew it. This new place they call her home wasn't up to Hovawart standards at all. It was lacking some essential features. How could she keep her family safe in a place with so many gaping security holes. Zerline wasted no time. There was Hovawart-work to do!

Tilde, Meet Zerline. Zerline, Meet The Wild Thing

The sight of Tilde coming around the corner caught Zerline's eye and immediately aroused her curiosity. She quickly trotted forward to meet that dog, who must have looked a lot like her mother Amber to her.

Goodbye Rules, Welcome Grandparents

Tilde seems to know that once a year, when the grandparents make the long trip to Denmark for a visit, it signals the return of a window of opportunity in which everything once again is allowed. It will mean a short break from her mature life, maybe even a return to puppy-hood. For her, and just maybe, for all the involved too.

Countdown To Zerline, Eight More Days

Atie sent me this photo of Zerline getting acquainted with the transport bag which will bring her from Holland to Denmark. The photo captured a moment which stood out from all the other cute puppy photos I received during the last couple of weeks. The photo captured Zerline making a symbolic first step on her path which will lead to us. It signaled how close we are to having her here. How close we are for everything to become real.

The Paradise Of Senses

I am thoroughly enjoying some of our last hikes in which it will be just Tilde and me before Zerline will join our family. Tilde has become such a great hike buddy over time. We're such a good team now, both on the threshold of the next chapter, holding a new adventure for us all.

Feeling Involved, Puppy Buyer 2.0

Since the puppies were born, I get up at the for me unholy hour of 6:30 am, to turn on the computer and check out Atie's daily blog update about the puppies hoping for a glimpse of Zerline before I even make coffee.

We Match! It Will Be Zerline

Zerline, 4 weeks

Zerline, "the searching one", has found her home. With us!

Visiting The Puppies

Zerline "uit de Groetpolder"

After one and a half year of searching, waiting, and hoping, the day was finally there. I was about to lay my eyes on our new aspiring family member for the first time. Tilde's upcoming little sister.

Conversations With A Hovawart #3: Mission Puppy

The line seems to have died. "Hello Tilde, are you there?"

After a long pause, Tilde answers. "It depends... Remind me again, what place are you visiting today in your attempts to ignore me?"

My Territory

Tilde takes her responsibility to expel any intruders from her property quite seriously.

Snake Encounters, A Narrow Escape

Nobody got hurt and Tilde is fine.

Our latest encounter with a viper, the only venomous snake in Denmark, almost went terribly wrong. I hadn't noticed the snake until it already was too late. It was warming itself in the morning sun, still sluggish, and didn't move out of our way in time, what it normally would have done.

Having Fun Is Not Optional

Last Saturday, Emil was our guest. It was a lot to take in for him, being away from his "mom" and caretaker, Dina, for a whole day.

Running The Wet Gauntlet

One moment you're playing with your toy in the surf, imaginary rescuing it from drowning, just to cruelly throw it back and rescue it again. Suddenly you hear a rumbling sound approach and you realize you lowered your guard, carried away by all the fun you're having.

Conversations With A Hovawart #2: Phone Home

I am on my way home from a trip to Århus in the North of Denmark and decide to phone home, anxious to hear if Tilde is behaving.

Conversations With A Hovawart #1: Treasure Hunt

"I think I am on to something."

"Good girl, Tilde! Keep on searching!"

We have been training to search for money lately. It seems premature to expect too much. On the other hand, it is not the first time I have underestimated my own ridiculously fabulous dog training skills.

Conversations With A Hovawart

Lucky me. I just read on the Internet a study finds "talking to your dog is a sign of intelligence." Which is good news. I am not turning old and senile after all. On the contrary. My conversations with Tilde are a sign of a sharp mind and cunning wit.

Remind Me Again, Who Rescued Who?

Today three years ago, we went to the shelter to rescue Tilde, ignorant of the fact we would board a roller-coaster without brakes that very same day. Words like mischief and mayhem have a whole new meaning to me since then.

It was a good day. I remember how Kenzo and Tilde followed each other all over the place when we got home. Just smiling and enjoying each other's company.

The Nose Knows

Easter honored its reputation for new beginnings, the start of Spring, and the return of light. The weather took a turn for the better and with time-off from work we had ample time on our hands to play "Lost", one of our favorite games. In "Lost" we get dropped in unknown territory and let Tilde's nose decide which path to take.

A Tale Of Two Easter Bunnies

Once upon a time, during an Easter holiday.

Please Don't Leave Me

We waved goodbye to Emil. He had just visited Tilde and looked back at us one last time from the car's rear window. One of the best things of returning to Copenhagen is to see the two of them reunite for a play date. They are more than best friends. Tilde adores him. He is her shining star and idol. If Tilde would have been a teenage girl, the walls of her room would be covered with posters of Emil.

A Hovawart's Throne

Hovawart on her throne

Every Hovawart has a throne and Tilde is no exception. She has an issue though. Her throne is standing back home in Copenhagen, a long way from where we normally stay on the West coast. She was reunited with it last week when we made a visit home.

Tilde's Revenge And The Return Of The Seal

This is how it started:

That moment when you find out what she is dragging along turns out to be a decomposing seal, you first thought is "PLEASE don't roll in it!" just before she does.... #toolate #bathtime #yuk #gross #hovawart #shitbag

A post shared by Tilde and Leo (@leoschelt) on Mar 15, 2017 at 8:20am PDT

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRqeAc4hOv9/

The story could have ended right there and then with the aforementioned bath but with Tilde sometimes endings need to be rewritten.

Hovawart TV: Hurry Up!

When you are a Hovawart - or any dog for that matter - you know what is most important.

One of your family members getting further and further away, even if she is occupied in her search for amber, is definitely a no-go.

But how do you make that douche-bag in the rear to get it? Hurry up for pete's sake!



https://youtu.be/dGoqTnSCOcQ

What Is A Breeding Committee and Why Is It Important?

Today I turn the blog over to Claus Harding Hansen from the Danish Hovawart Club, who will reveal what those mysterious Breeding Committee's in Hovawart breed clubs exactly are doing behind the scenes, and why their work is important.

Hovawart TV: A Farewell To Winter

With Winter officially ending, so does our Winter adventure on the West-coast.

It is isolated on the West-coast this time of year. Shops and restaurants close. Tourists leave. Roads even close. Most locals close off their cottages too, as they are not build to withstand the cold of Winter when the relentless forces of nature reveal themselves and storms and freezing rain-showers batter the West-coast to change it into a barren wasteland.

In other words, perfect for a man and his dog.

The Horse Chase

Spending some time for work and visiting friends and family in Kijkduin, Holland, I was already looking forward to take Tilde to the beach later during the day. Dogs are allowed off the lead throughout the year on this particular beach and I know the place well. Tilde has been there a couple of times before and enjoyed it too. A lot of locals visit the beach. The familiar city weekend-warriors. No doubt Tilde could have some fun and embarrass me along the way.

A Shameless Sales Pitch For The Hovawart Breed

Actually I want all the Hovawarts for myself. My blogging efforts so far have been mainly about trying to scare you away, which I have not been very successful with. So for one time I will indulge myself in this shamelessly positive sales pitch on behalf of the Hovawart breed.

Photo by Christel Janssen, from left to right, Biko, Lara and Aico

What is it about the Hovawart that hooked me?

Happy 4th Tilde

Dear Tilde,

You are four years young today. Yes, really.

Jackpot

"Look! It's a Hovawart!"

The comment of the group took me by surprise. Not many recognize a Hovawart, and in Denmark, even fewer do.

Sharing Moments With A Friend

We're back at the West-coast after spending two weeks at home in Copenhagen. Walking the old neighborhood reunited Tilde with many of the friends she was used to meet almost every day.

The Hovawart, Next In "Pedigree Dogs Exposed?"

Two weeks ago I came across this heartfelt shout-out of Carmen Töller on Facebook:



The post was shared in a couple of Facebook groups dedicated to Hovawarts and quickly went "viral" - or, as viral as a post about Hovawarts can possibly go.

Is She Friendly?

It was such a great question, "Is she friendly?" I just had it difficult to find the right answer for the family of four and their Golden Retriever to describe Tilde, my Hovawart, best.