What more about Delphine?
It is hard to write, what Delphine meant to me.
How I came to Delphin?
Some chance or maybe a destiny would like me to find her and to send her by Rob from Australia to the Czech Republic.
In love with Australia, where I spent several months in 2000 and smart enough that I cannot have another dog (I had three that time - Oskar, Neck and Molinka), I told to myself that another dog I can only buy from Australia ... It was just a small impossible "compromise" for myself.
But fate would have it, that at the beginning of 2003 I found Rob Dunlop‘s website and with litter from Grimmendans Xeres and Djaegar van de Lamar. Djaegar at that time was already dead and frozen semen was used. Otherwise the litter was nothing special for Europe breeding, They just used Belgian and Dutch lines in Australia - no real benefit for Europe. Both parents were beautiful, in addition to Djaegar I have a special bond, even though aware of its shortcomings, there was something extra. In combination with Xeres, it was a 2-3 line breeding on Jolie Cannele du Domaine Ponti, pretty dominant female, the founder of the kennel "van de Lamar," but also a sister of Louky du Domaine Ponti, IPO3. And then I saw her on pics, a small Delphine, taken in 4 weeks ...
 
I'm not the one who enchants by any puppy. All puppies are of course beautiful but probably she would not be any specialy for most of the people... But it was a fate that I wrote the first e-mail to Rob.... And he finally gave me the first puppy choice from the litter and due to the high cost of transportation he agreed to my idea, to replace the puppy for frozen semen from my Kid Dylan van de Lamar. Through the descriptions of all puppies I picked just a girl from the photos - my Delphine. Barbara, Rob's wife, she had commented that she is so wild, that some other puppy has a better head, but that this one would be "glamour".
Despite all the import and export permits and papers Delphine came to us in 12 weeks, when she was allowed to fly. I wholeheartedly thank Rob and Barbara to send me Delphine...
How was she?
What has arrived was beyond all my expectations. First of all, Barbara was right, she was "glamour" ... very much "glamour"! She had a beautiful body, beautiful chest and forechest and the incredible amount of energy. But not the energy of bouncy showline terv but self-destructive dynamic force.
 
It was amazing what the little puppy could do and how she was behaving as an adult
Water, retrieving, defense ...
She loved the water, any retrieving and protection ... from puppy.
The first meeting with a pond, was a runaway ... she ran about 50 meters into the pond where she swam and swam and I could not call her back ...she was 3,5 months. I lured her to the ball, but still she only came to the shore and looked at me if I do not happen to catch her. She swam at any time, anywhere ... in the sea as well as in the gutter, in the summer as well as in December ... in the spring when the ice melt, she was like an icebreaker.
She was 100% natural retriever - that means she could break down to get the retrieve and grabbed quickly and bring it the same speed so I could get it to throw it again. I have not taught her anything, it was just in her. She was able to retrieve till death.
Even at protection she was an exceptional showline tervueren. She met with a helper in her 3,5 months for the first time and she wanted to kill him. Immediately. As soon as he show him self and made the sign of the attack. And she meant it. It was not hysterical or fearful barking. She bit to the feet, hands, belly, anywhere. It has never been a game for her, but a fight. .And amazingly serious fight. She was never afraid when fighting. We had to teach her for the prey and it was not easy, long time she did not understand it.
She suffered physical pain well. She was not a milksoap. On the other hand, she was very sensitive mentally. She reacted strongly on my moods and reactions. She was fixated on me and my family. And she did not need any strangers. She hate to be pet from strangers, or to persuade for peting her. When people behaved normally, she was OK, but hated from her soul such a persuasion, whether they come hug. She was then incredulous. I've always let her be her self. The touches that were needed she always managed well. I have always respect her personality. As she was older, as more attention from strangers she required and she even went to cuddle with anyone.
Delphine was dominant in the pack, but very social. From Oskar's death untill Prot became adult she was the natural head of the pack. Other females were under her, she took control of them but never bully them. She was even easy to welcome strange females into the pack.
She was beautiful ...
Delphine was beautiful. Despite the shortcomings (ear, small stop and I would prefer a harder structure of the hair) she was very beautiful. I loved her beautiful chest, forechest. Her coat was rich, like dog‘s - she was one of the few females who had male‘s mane. I loved her black head and a beautiful front angulation, her dynamic movement and expression, when she wanted to practice. Received many titles and victories, won the highest title Interchampion and BIS from Club show and she was selected for breeding in Czech Republic and France.
   
We trained...
I trained with Delphine. I learned myself a lot while training with her better. The first three years we hung between trainings and Scotland, where I was for three years for work and Delphine spent two and half year by my friends before we could take her with us there.
After that I have summarized my ideas of how to proceed with the training, i have learned to drive a car and finally began to think seriusly about training. What does it mean? To train the best I and my dog can do, to listen around, take in new information and think about about why and how everything works. Since 2006, I became a member of ZKO Sezemice where Delphine began to bite on two top helpers - Martin Plechacek and the first two years also on Jarda Labík. And despite all we spoiled untill that time, we gradually passed exams from IPO1 to IPO3 and also the Czech national ZVV2. I struggled with spoiled obedience and tracking, it was a great school ...
  
Health
Delphine was a healthy female. If you do not count anal glands problems in youth, injured elbow, knee and torn (in turn sewn back) ear from Jukiny, bitten leg from german shepherd Jerry and many cut feet.
Delphine the Mother
She was an excellent mother and there is not better one in our pack. Not only she took the care, protect, but also she used to play with the puppies and raise them. Even in last days of her life she played every morning with her one year old daughter Kuky ...
I love her children, every moment that I recall Delphine. She left behind her many beautiful and smart children. She had 4 litters - P, T, X and Y.
From each litter we kept a puppy by us or with our friends and I believe that I will get her back once in the genes.
  
Last week of Delphine
The ending was unexpected and rapid non-leniently... All at once she began to have weak back legs. It seemed like the old dogs cannot walk due to bad hips or spine. After a week it was not any better and she even stopped to eat and became sad. After 4 days, when she ate a few biscuits and pain medications did not help i took her to vet clinic on Sunday where after careful examination they found a large inoperable tumor in the pelvic area of the spine (which caused enormous pain and poor walking) and subsequent acute renal failure.
Time stopped for me and I wanted him not to hurry anywhere anymore. With the doctor we looked at each other, until I lost in the mist as my tears flowed. I knew what he wanted to say, but I did not want to hear it. It was so very much unfair! She was chasing in the woods last week, she was still angered at the gate today...
I decided that Delphine cannot die at clinic. She did not like that place...
I drove her home from the clinic where after about an hour the doctor came and put her to sleep in my arms.
The hardest time was while waiting until the doctor arrives... First we both lay in her lair, I alternately sobbed and blew my nose, Delphine slept ... And then it hit me ... We will play some! And I pulled her plush panda, that she loved ... She have not pursued it, but she bite it on cue, like not may tervs can do in full force ... "hold, release, hold, release..." and proudly took it to lair. I hid it behind the fridge ... she was searching for it, and I praised her and I was happy and she was happy and tail wagging. Then she got tired. When the doctor arrived, she accepted her quite calmly, no barking, just watching her. When she gave the injection, she bared teeth menacingly at her and I hugged her and praised, it's my little girl and she walked away ... and now I'm a hundred years older ...
I am a hundred years older and I want her back. My beloved little girl.
Today she sleeps together with Oskar in our garden and her soul is chasing birds on the beach in heaven... she always loved it...
 
From the heart I thank Rob and Barbara, for Delphine Erlander,
wonderful and unique.
Dear breeders, friends, when the same puppy will born, let me know! I will buy her. I even will travel for her to Antarctica if needed, and I pay by gold... I will love her and train her as once ...
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