YY Litter
Miss White (now “Jiva”) went to Minnesota for tracking, nosework & herding competition and possibly Search & Rescue. Mr. Red (now “Archie”) went to Georgia as a pet and for therapy dog work. Mr. Gold (now “Zeke”) went to Montana as a pet and for therapy dog work. Mr. Purple (now “Ducati”) went to southern Colorado for forensic detection (cadaver). Mr. Blue (now “Ve”) went to Idaho for Search & Rescue. Mr. Green (now “Brodie”) went to Casper to be a therapy dog and compete in all kinds of dog sports – Julie plans to try agility, nosework, and rally, at least, with him. I kept Miss Yellow (now “Pascha”) for nosework competition, therapy dog work and hopefully breeding.
See Pascha training in nosework, August – September 2024
(1 year 4 months old)
Jiva (Celhaus Yaj of Ten Thousand Lakes) at 1 year 2 months
the former Miss White
Name Story: Yaj is Sanskrit for a person who is a wise sage. “Yaj is Sanskrit for a person who is a wise sage. Jiva is short for Jivamukthi. A Jivamukthi in Hindu is a fully “enlightened” soul who incarnates solely to help humanity. “Jiva” means the self and “mukthi” means freedom from the mortal world, emancipation or fully absorbed in God. Minnesota is known for its over 10K lakes.”
Photo 1: “Just a picture showing the calm tie outs. This was our first time in weeks up with the sheep. Jiva is the far away dog, the black dot past the person. Sometimes there are many dogs along the fence.”
Photo 2: “Jiva closeup on tie out. She is coming along nicely, much more dialed into me than before, when she went crazy over the sheep. She really is a good girl. Tracking is coming along very well. Nosework is slowly getting there. Only so much time for everything! I may get her tracking-certified by fall, but I am in no hurry.”
Photo 3: “Nice indication on the container.”
Jiva at 1 year 1 month
Photos 1-3: “Jiva and my mom. Mom just adores Jiva!!”
Photo 4: “My sister giving Jiva a face massage.”
5/14/24: “Jiva and I went to a popular park on the Mississippi yesterday. I met up with a couple and their 9- or 10-year-old sons. Jiva was able to be reasonable – well, that’s still a work on progress! I instructed the boys on approaching dogs. They had so many questions and enjoyed giving Jiva some basic commands. Parents had questions too! Jiva was most interested in the Canadian Geese in the water and getting her toes wet. Anyway, it felt good to educate folks on the breed and have Little Miss Social enjoying herself!”
5/28/24: “We did a track recently on a hillside with wide serpentines. Gave her a new puzzle to figure out. She handled it well! She LOVES to track.”
Photo 5: 6/8/24: “Happy note – 1year ago I got my Jiva!”
Jiva at 1 year
Photos 1-2: “1 year old! Cold and rainy, but she’s happy.”
Photos 3-4: “One of the things in herding is to have dog tied to fence post with other dogs about 10 feet apart as they wait their turn to work sheep. In back of photo is a gal working in a smaller pen and also penned sheep on the left. Jiva settles nicely. Other dogs and people walk in front as they come and go. Earlier we were with penned sheep and their lambs working on Jiva being calm and the sheep being calm too. Practiced some obedience. The day was very successful!!!”
Photo 5: “Love fest with my sister. We took a long walk along the Minnesota River at a state park today and picnicked. Beautiful day.”
Jiva at 11 months
“11 months old today!”
March 4: “Making good progress (me anyway) with herding. I was able to be in the pen with instructor helping from outside and Jiva is learning to be calmer approaching the sheep and getting them to move. Next will pressing her out to go around the sheep on their outside! Also connected with a dedicated newish herding group for tending style. Lots more GSDs. Their farm is too muddy right now for starting for the season. Very excited!”
March 10: “I so wished I videoed our herding lesson today! I was more confident and relaxed. Jiva did very well learning to walk up nicely to sheep, wait (stop) with a few half hitch corrections sometimes. She moved the sheep and for the most part kept them calm and collected. So proud on how we did! Then I drove an hour south to a group of herders that do AKC Course C for tending breeds. Busy dog day for us! One gal at herding said she had moments of great presence! That felt great to hear!”
Photo2: “Jiva and I walking along the Mississippi River. It was gorgeous out today.”
Photo 3: “This bronze statue initially had Jiva puzzled! We approached it and she sniffed. A giant human!!! Good girl. She is doing well with leash manners. This statue is along the Mississippi in the old milling district of Minneapolis. New sights and smells for Jiva. She did well with approaching dogs, coming to right or left side. The key in a novel environment is to get her dialed into me. I keenly watch her arousal level and proceed confidently.”
Jiva at 10 months
Photos 1-2: “Herding class. Another lesson today – so much improvement! Initially, before our lesson, I had a very hard time controlling her. The instructor was very firm on her behavior at the gate and wild pulling. Oof! Jiva almost took me down! She needed a few well-timed corrections. Then, we had a controlled walk to sheep and learning to move the sheep calmly. The instructor handed the leash to me on half hitch. She can handle more pressure, and I need to ask more of her. She must respect me and the sheep. People really complimented me on her working structure.”
Photo 3: “Notice the gnawed corner of the side table. Oops! She doesn’t gnaw now. This happened a few months back. My previous 3 GSDs were not enticed by this piece of furniture. Jiva? Chomp, chomp, chomp in a second! Good grief!!”
Photo 4: “Finally, a picture of us together!”
Jiva at 9 months
1/27/24: “Jiva is doing well! A bit more barky at dogs. Today we went to local popular lake. First sunny day in weeks and people were out! I sat on a bench several feet off a path. Had her sitting near me. She settled into the sit by herself. She was so into the sights, sounds and of course SMELLS. Several dogs passed by and she would just watch them calmly and air scent- about 5 to 10 feet away. All were very neutral, except one turned and gave her a flashing stare, and she barked excitedly. Not aggressive. I said no and light pop and called her to me. She got praise for coming. She was really very good, able to stay by my side on loose leash and pass other dogs with me encouraging her to pay attention to me. It has been many weeks since she was out around so many humans and dogs. She is such a great pup! I have put a lot of energy setting her up to be successful. The goal for the day was a new place for her to see and remain calm. I try to keep her under her threshold. So far, it’s working! We will be starting formal herding lessons soon! It’s a very hard endeavor, for her, but mostly for me as a new handler learning the ropes.”
2/2: “Lovely trip to State Park today. We have had almost NO snow this winter so the usual cross country ski courses were perfect for our hike. I taught her to respond to pressure on prong- to back off when she pulls. She getting great on the loose leash. Her nose was to the ground with all the smells! 2 hours outside and she was zonked when back in the car!!! Proud of her!!!”
2/7: “Jiva had her first official herding lesson this week! A long session in the pen with 4 sheep, learning to respect the sheep and moving on the outside of them. She wants to grip them!!! It was a great, crazy first lesson! At the end she approached them more calmly. She also got her first lesson in being short-leash clipped to the fence. Eventually, she has to be calm and okay with me stepping away. She did well with me about 20 feet away. She sat, watched some other dogs attached to the posts and some sheep. She mostly sat and looked around. She settles very nicely!!! She got a lot of praise for her efforts! There is another group of herding that meets elsewhere that works with more of GSD tending style with larger flocks. I will check them out at some point. The instructor mentioned it.”
Photo: “Got that much-needed mat for ‘place’!”
Ducati (Celhaus Yamaha Chasing Ducati) at 1 year 2 months
the former Mr. Purple Photo 1: “Ducati waiting for his turn to work in the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) rubble pile.”
Photo2: “Ducati working the rubble pile.”
Photo 3: “Loading up on his first helicopter ride.”
Photo 4: “Ducati finding a hide in a dark basement.”
Ducati at 33 weeks
“Ducati getting ready for the Christmas parade. Ducati is proving to be an excellent detection dog. His high toy drive coupled with an incredible hunt drive makes him super fun to work with.”
Ducati at 19 weeks
“Life imitates art”
Ducati at 16 weeks
“Ducati is doing great! He is absolutely wearing me out on his gotta do something right now attitude. He is super social and yet a hard worker. Very adaptable and ready for every new environment or skill. He loves learning Detection work and just about everything else in life.”
Archie (Celhaus Yan) at 1 year
the former Mr. Red
“Here are some birthday pictures we took this morning. He wanted to play instead of hold still for photos. He is doing really great. We have been going for morning jogs now that the weather is a bit better and the snow has, for the most part, quit for the season. We started slow at 1 mile, three days a week. He LOVES it. We get deer and bunnies and squirrels out this early in the morning and so Zeke has tons to look at. It has been a bit of a learning curve because he is coupled with my other dog, Indiana, so they have to run together in a team so we don’t all get tripped up. We are soooooo ready for camping season to get started! And nice weather so we can be outside more – planting flowers and playing in the yard.”
Archie at 11 months with Ava (from the KK litter, 8 years 2 months)
“Hi Cel, hope all is well. Here are a few photos of Archie. He is such a joy!”
Ve (Celhaus Youngest Brother Ve) at 1 year
the former Mr. Blue
Name Story: “Ve is one of the brothers of Odin in Norse Mythology. My two male dogs are named Vili (middle brother) and Ve. (Https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vili_and_Ve). Ve is pronounced ‘Vay’.”
“Two tries at SAR didn’t work out for various reasons. So he’s a Schutzhund boy now. He likes bitework better anyway. He loves it. When he sees me pullout his ” tough guy” clothes, you can’t hardly contain him. He’s still a puppy, so he does it with a big stupid grin and a wagging tail. Yeah, tracking. American Schutzhund does black powder detection, so that would be the other option. I think the trainer I’m working with favors tracking though.”
Photos1-2: “Ve is doing well. He says thanks for the birthday wishes.
Photo 3: “The pack.”
Photo 4: “Has he grown or not? He is 18 weeks old in this photo.”
Ve at 22 weeks
“Learning to rappel.”
Ve at 17 weeks
Zeke (Celhaus You are a Blessing) at 9 months
the former Mr. Gold
“Zeke is doing awesome! He is so big now, and so handsome, fuzzy and fluffy. Zeke is such a sweet boy. He loves coming up to us for pets and snuggles, although he’s not keen on napping with me. He is kind of lazy in a hilarious way. My golden, Indiana, and Zeke will play tug with a toy and his favorite move is to just lie flat on the floor while Indy just drags him from one end of the room and back again. He is also very patient and loving with my four children. My oldest loves to “train” him. Really, he just has him sit and lie down and stay but Zeke gets treats and my son gets practice on how to work with dogs. The girls love to dress him up and read stories to him and he patiently allows it. I have included a picture of Zeke with a cat-ear headband the girls put on him. I am looking forward to spring when we can get outside to go jogging and enjoy some camping.”
Zeke at 13 weeks
“It’s been a few weeks since I sent an update. Zeke is doing awesome. We have been enjoying all sorts of fun activities from going to the local ice cream at the little ice cream shack, to going to tractor supply and hamming it up for all the workers and shoppers in there. We also got out the little splash pad at our house for the kids because it has been super-hot lately. Zeke loves it! He and my golden spend just as much time running through the water as the kids. We also just got back from Zeke’s first camping trip! We went on top of the Beartooth Mountains to a secluded mountain lake and enjoyed a nice peaceful weekend. Zeke had a blast hiking into the lake and really enjoyed the fishing. He was not quite sure what to think of those fish. I need to get a hunting vest for him or something. I was scared he would be mistaken for a bear cup or wolf pup, so I put a red bandana on him while he was up there. However, he behaved so well and never once tried to run off.”
Brodie (Celhaus Your Young Bromeister) at 1 year
the former Mr. Green
“Here is the birthday boy looking very handsome today.
And here he is with brother Gus (8 yrs old, LL litter) in the back.”
Brodie, 8 months and Gus, 7 years 8 months
“Here are Brodie (at window) and Gus waiting for mom and dad.”
Brodie, 5 months, and Gus, 7 years 3 months
“Here are Gus and Brodie (at window), waiting for mom and dad.”
Brodie at 28 weeks
“So cute! Here is two-ball Brodie. He loves the snow, cold and two to three balls at once. Gus just loves him and plays with him more than I ever dreamed he would. We swear Gus gets more active and younger every day!”
Pascha (Celhaus You Walk on the Wings of the Wind) at 1 year
Pascha now has her own page. New photos posted 4/30/24
Name Story: Since this litter was born on Holy Saturday, I wanted an Easter-themed name for my girl. The name for Easter in the Eastern Rite Churches is “Pasch.” In the Western Churches we talk of the Paschal Mystery of Easter. “Pascha” is a derivative of both Easter names. Her registered name is from my favorite psalm (Psalm 104), which is one of the Psalms prayed in the Liturgy of the Hours for Easter Sunday.
See more one-year-old photos
to the YY litter Background Information
to the YY litter pedigree