(Linda w/ Dennie, Elsa, Colorado & Bonnie)

(Linda, in red, with Bonnie & Colorado posing with Jeff Bridges on the movie set of "Blown Away" in Boston. Bonnie & Colorado were the bomb squad dogs.)

Helping to preserve the DDR (East German) dog, has become a very important part of my life. I would like to share with you just how and why the DDR dog has won my heart. I have been rehabilitating and training dogs for 25 years. The first "problem dog" was sent to me when I was 18. About 11 years ago, I decided to look for a quality dog, one I could train and show for my own pleasure. The German Shepherd dog always had impressed me, so the search started. Having a good eye for animals, I knew what I wanted, but quickly became more and more discouraged with what I was finding. I didn't take long to knock the American show dog off the list, for to me the physical structure and the character trait of lack of courage were not very appealing. I knew I wanted a dog with versatility-one that could be trained in different areas, such as TDI (Therapy Dog International) and protection! The German-bred dogs were the ones to look at, but still, something wasn't right. In some cases the drive was too high, even when we weren't working. In addition, I still had a certain quality of bone structure and overall character traits that I was looking for. After a long search, I was beginning to think the dog I had pictured in my mind had been lost due to changes in breeding programs over the years. Then one night while reading the Want Ads, I came across an ad that caught my eye. It was the first time I had heard a DDR shepherd dog ever mentioned. The father was a DDR Sch III, and the mother, a West German Sch I, farm-raised and bred for quality, companionship, and temperament. I will never forget the dark, rainy night I drove out to western Massachusetts to look at the dogs. My search was over! The adults had that unmistakably friendly eye as well as the strong bone and head structure I had been looking for. This is where my beloved "Bonnie" picked me out. Little did I know then how much she would change my life! She was her father's daughter in every way, a masculine female with a sound temperament. She went on to teach me the characteristics so common to the DDR dog: an ideal companion dog for inside the house, as well as a great traveling companion, excited about activities such as camping, mountain climbing, etc. (continue right)

Although an extremely obedient and dedicated companion, I was to learn over the years that performance obedience for showing was not easily achieved. I always told people, "She knows there is no reason to walk circles in a ring!" After her C.D. (Companion Dog) which, with a lot of work, she scored in the 190's, we stuck to things we could both enjoy! This included things like TDI, protection training, tracking, and even some big Hollywood movies! Over the years I was fortunate enough to meet Teri Townsend, and together with her fine DDR stock, including the late Klokows Lex, Bonnie has produced outstanding sons, daughters, and grandchildren, with high levels of quality DDR blood. They have made many parents and children very happy. They have also have become search and rescue dogs, police dogs, and even sledding dogs! Bonnie is now 11 years old and happy and healthy; people visit her family here regularly. They always speak for themselves! Even show breeders who have never heard of the DDR shepherd have come to visit, and leave wanting one of the dogs for companionship! I strongly believe it would be a very sad day for the German Shepherd dog if the DDR blood is not preserved. I am extremely grateful that of all the dogs I have owned and trained, God brought Bonnie into my life, which opened my eyes to this unique DDR dog whose line I take great pride and pleasure in helping to preserve! This story was written by Linda in 1999. Unfortunatly, Bonnie is no longer with us. She has however left us with a great line of DDR quality progeny.