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.

Hovawart TV: When Friends Meet Again

They hadn't seen each other in a while, Tilde and Emil. The joy of their reunion was contagious.

Don't Be A Stranger

The windchill of a strong breeze instantly dropped the temperature even further below zero. The sun composed a scenery worthy of a beautiful day in Summer and only the freezing cold reminded me we were in the heart of Winter.

Welcome, Maybe

Who's visiting?

We were preparing the guest room, and Tilde knows what that means. The anticipation of guests arriving thrilled her. Or was it skepticism, as she wasn't involved in the invitation?

Hovawart TV: Beach Blooper

My famous last words: "Come down to the beach Tilde!"

Hova...What?

You could be actually reading this because you have just run into a beautiful dog, that looked a lot like a retriever.

Maybe you had a talk with the owner, who explained it was not a retriever, but a ... what was it she said ... a Hova...What? ... ah yes, a Hova...Wart.

Pet Blogger Challenge: The Blog After Kenzo

As you can see, Tilde isn't pleased she will not be the subject of this post.

Today we join the Pet Blogger Challenge, an event where pet bloggers share experiences and tips about blogging.

For you blogger friends reading this, grab a coffee and your "what-not-to-do" list and let's go!

A Hovawart Was Born After All

The three of us reached a clearing in the forest we were hiking. Tilde, Dok-dek, and me. Dok-dek was our guest on the West-coast for the week, to escape the noise of the New Year's celebratory fireworks of the city. It was freezing cold, -5 C with a sturdy breeze. The clearing we entered offered no refuge for the sudden drop in temperature caused by the wind chill. I put my hat back on, looked down in an attempt to keep the wind out of my face and stepped up the pace to reach the other side of the clearing.

The Mighty Hunter

While we walked past some bushes along the trail it was as if a fish hook had caught Tilde's nose. In a split-second she made a sharp, almost cat-like turn. Her head positioned perfectly aligned with her body. Her intense facial expression and the focus in her eyes left no doubt. She was on a hunt, but what? and where? I looked around me but couldn't see anything, until a dark shadow jumped out of the small bush right in front of me and made me look down.

The Wild Thing And The Distinguished Gentleman

When Tilde and me were driving on our way to meet Baxter the Hovawart I was filled with anticipation. Baxter would be one of the few 13½ year aged Hovawarts I would have the privilege of meeting face to face.

The Lost Grandchild, Tilde's Roots

Family: Tilde, Eska, and Candi

Standing in front of the gate I thought it was just how I imagined the place would look like. A painting of rural contentment, with a lot of land, animals, and patrolled by two Hovawarts. In many ways, it embodied the Hovawart dream, the medieval tale of the "Hofwart" alive in modern times.

You Get The Hovawart You Want

"Tilde!" A handful of sand hit me on the back of my head, and I felt it seeping down my neck where it changed the inside of my jacket's color into a piece of sandpaper. I reached out for Tilde, who was digging a sandpit behind me, when the next salvo hit my outreached hand and the sand continued its path up my sleeve.

The Head Of The Snake

Leave it !!!

My heart skipped a beat when I realized what Tilde was sniffing. We just got out the door for a walk and hadn't even reached the end of the driveway when she noticed something and rushed over for a sniff. It was a viper - the common European viper, or adder - the only venomous snake living in Denmark.

The Hovawart That Won't Wart

After two busy weeks in which an army of workers, inspectors, real-estate agents and curious neighbors visited our house, I am now one hundred percent sure. Tilde will never display any behavior of a guarding dog. She officially now is the Hovawart, that won't "wart".

Furry Surprise

I had forgotten all about Kenzo's green stretch-leash. Yet there it was, hanging on a hook behind the kitchen's back door. I slowly reached out my hand as if it was a sacred object. I had forgotten all about it.

The Victory Parade Of A Lovewart

For a Hovawart, Tilde is ridiculously happy for people. When we meet new people, you would expect at least some reservation while her Hovawart mind is balancing the "friend or foe" scale. Alright, I admit, she does bark a little at people she sees on the road, but as soon as they enter our driveway her tail starts to wag. I am not sure if she actually thinks the barking helps to invite people inside.

Wet Feet

Walking with Tilde on the beach is a wonderful thing.

Tilde Meets the Parents

Tilde has to be a little more patient for her little sister to arrive, but that didn't stopped us from meeting both aspiring parents, Joy and Asterix. We first met with Joy for a good beach walk, and after a break, for a walk in Kenzo's Valley. One week later, we would also meet Asterix, at a dog show.

Just A Little While Longer

Tilde has to wait for her little sister just a little while longer. The mating of Joy and Asterix was not successful. On the bright side, there is plenty of reason to believe it will work out next time.

Lost In Translation

Tilde isn't spayed. I prefer not to interfere with her hormonal balance, and although it does have some disadvantages health-wise there are equal advantages as well, which makes the choice not as clear cut as it maybe once was.

I'm Right Here

There he was. I had dozed off for a second and quickly looked around me for Kenzo. He had dozed off too, but my sudden movement alerted him, and his face came up from beneath the tall grass to check on what I was doing.