Mazze's story- Updated 12/18/2009
Mazze's story continues with a new update from Carmen and Robert, who live in the Yukon Territory of Canada, and adopted a young Kangal Dog from Germany.
They write:
He is a very big friendly dog. He likes our kids, sheeps, cats and other dogs. A the time he is 55kg (~110 pounds) and 78 cm high. He is the best family dog what you can have. He is still a pup but very quiet. We know how puppys can be. We had only husky pups before and they are very active and nervous. But Mazze is very quiet and different. The only thing is: He is a obstinate mule! But all Sheepdogs are stubborn. He protect our yard and he is still learning to be around our house. He likes to play with his friend Pan (Maremmano Abruzzese Sheepdog) and makes us happy.
See new photos!
Mazze's Story Part 1
As told by Carmen and Robert Perren from the Yukon Territory of Canada.
A few years ago, Carmen and I moved to the Yukon, the most northern Territory in Canada, and both of our children, Anju (4 years) and Lou (2 years) are born here. We decided to live ways away from any kind of civilization and all the comfort that comes with it. Life is not better or worse than it was in Switzerland – but very different; a lot quieter and more humble. Some days are hard like the long cold winter we have, some days are just as lovely as a little lake, hidden in silence and solitude. The place we call home lies in the middle of nature: it borders directly on a creek and is surrounded by an endless carpet of trees and majestic mountains. In the distance we sometimes hear coyotes or wolves howl and on the banks of the creek we find tracks of bears. Then there even is the odd Grizzly that finds its way to our property. We do not fear these “wild” animals, but we always keep our respect and high regard towards them. Naturally, we are worried about our children that play and romp around outside. Anju will be going to school in less than 2 years. To catch the school bus, that comes out so far to pick up kids, she has to march approximately 10 minutes through dense forest. Then we ask ourselves: “Who is going to watch our kids, whenever they amble away too far from our house?” We want to teach our children to live this new life with all the caution and precaution need in it. However, at the same time we know we will never be able to be around them always and 100%.
Well, we started to look for a dog. So far, we had plenty of experience with Huskies, but none with any kind of sheep herding dog, one that can or must react to challenging situations on his own. Many an evening we studied the book by Thomas Achim Schoke. We surfed the internet even longer trying to find any information about these dogs, Then, all of a sudden the search was over: we wanted a Kangal! Through www.sivas-kangal.de we came to know Elisabeth von Buchwald and via Elisabeth we found Eleonore Roessner and her dogs. Ron Grill (www.wildrosekangals.com) added some very useful information, too, and then finally in February 2009 we were able to talk to Eleonore Roessner personally. We explained to Eleonore about our live here, our ideas and what we though we would need. She listened carefully and helped us with professional and friendly remarks. She wasn’t going to just “shove a dog down our throat”. It took her weeks to find exactly the type of Kangal she thought was best for our situation. Despite we never met Eleonore personally or ever saw her kennel live, we felt we could trust her completely with this decision. With all her love to these dogs, she thoroughly searched and found us the perfect dog: Matze. We thank Eleonore and Elisabeth for all the work, time and effort they spent in helping to send this wonderful dog on its long journey from Germany to Canada.
In March 2009, we were ready to pick up Mazze at Vancouver International Airport. Mazze is home now, living with us in harmony. We are so glad to have him. Eleonore didn’t disappoint us at all. Mazze is a fully integrated part of our big family of two adults, two kids, six huskies and two cats. He immediately and affectionately befriended our 1-year-old male Marremano. These two herding dogs seem to speak the same language and it very much looks like they will become a true “dream-team!” Even while at play they always know what is going on at and around our house. They follow us on our long walks through Yukon’s wilderness and never have to be on a leash. They are reliable and attentive when with our children or us. They seem to grow into their assignment increasingly with every day. But there are still moments when we think: ”Are they deaf, now, both of them, or do they just not want to listen?” Then we catch ourselves in time to remember their true innate character: they have to decide and act independently, whenever the situation asks for it. Therefore, we accept their “misbehavior” as a virtue. And we thank these two youngsters for all their work and reward them with as much loving care we can muster and an (nearly always) open house, from and into which they may wander at any time.
If we had a hat we would tip this hat to them!”
