Joep is almost 15 weeks old now and he is doing juist fine. Het is a very stabil puppy, not affraid our shy in new situations, he likes to observe before taking action and he likes other, strange dogs. First he seemed to be a little affraid when meeting other adult dogs but we take him out to our dogschool twice a week for socializing purposes mainly. And we take him to places such as a schoolyard, the towncentre etc. just to get used to all kinds of experiences. The first time we took him to our dogschool he had his tail between his legs but he improved a lot and since the second time he is no longer shy or anything like that, he looks very self confidence and very happy.
Last sunday we took him out to an annual meeting of the dutch sheepdog society,
http://www.hollandseherder.nl where owners have the opportunity to show there DS, in different classes of age. He did not participate because he is to young right now but we wanted to bring him along with us to get new impressions again while meeting many other dogs and people. Well, he did just fine we think, he never got nervous or anything, he was very calm, not dominant to other dogs and very friendly towards other people as well. He likes to observe things as I have told you before and he still does. We are very glad to have him around and we are convinced that he will become a fine adult DS in time. I have some photo's I like to show you.
At fisrt a few photo's of his dad, Rodo-Rocky van de Bothof, called Frodo by his owners. He was also on last sunday's show and became overall winner,
Best in Show, which might be very promising for the future of Joep:
And a photo taken some other time:
His mother Cefamke-Dieuwke van de Ruwe Kempenaer, called Famke (she didn't participate):
Joep along with two other puppies, a shorthair and a longhair DS. This was taken by Marjolein, she wanted to take a series of photo's wit all three puppies sitting or standing still at he very same time (which seemed to be almost impossible, no mather what she and some other people tried to draw their attention which was very funny in its self :dswink" ) : "
Marjolien, I hope you don't mind for using one of your photo's."
We also try make him swim, we know he can but he si still a bit anxious and we have to do this very carefully or else he might become affraid og swimming. That would be a shame because it is both a good exercise and for his own safety surrounded by water as we are:
I don't have a picture of him swimming, our camera battery was empty

. But we have one from Floor, showing him how to swim:
Some people think his ears are funny to look at, I don't know why:
