Max, Greta and Jasper

 

        Each month I find myself trying to find something unique about each dog I am going to write a story on. I was staring into space, which is easy to do here in the Mother-Lode, when my dog Owen jumped on me asking for food. In that second I wondered what breed of dog is Owen? We brought him home from the animal shelter and they indicated he was part German shepherd and part lab. The Shepard part was easy to believe because he is very hyper but the Labrador was questionable. I wondered if I submitted his DNA for testing what would I find out. Then into my minds vision enters Maximus Canine AKA Max.

       Max is owned by Kelsey Mort and Kevin Conklin. Max has no apparent features that tie him to one breed although he does look like maybe a Shepherd-Rottweiler mix. He has one unique feature not found in either a shepherd or Rottweiler and that is one ear is peaked up like a shepherd and the other hangs down. Kevin and Kelsey discussed Max’s heritage with previous owner and Kelsey’s mother, Marie Mort, on the possibility of having Max’s DNA tested.

      They found a laboratory in Sacramento on the internet that does DNA testing on dogs.  Kevin and Kelsey e mailed the lab and soon found a DNA swab kit in the mail. One cheek swab of Max and a photograph was all that was needed and they sent the sample for analysis. The results indicated that he is part Staffordshire terrier, Chow, Weimaraner, Collie, English setter and part Labrador retriever. One look at him with his one ear up, other down there is no way a person would guess this combination.

      Max came to his current home with Kelsey and Kevin via Marie and John Mort, Kelsey’s parents.  Max first lived with the Morts, but because they both work Max was left alone. When the Morts came home in the evening after work another part of their house was destroyed (separation anxiety).  Kelsey and Kevin, who live right next door took custody of Max giving the original parents, the Morts, visitation rights.

      Because they live next door to each other with the properties being separated by a fence with two gates there was never any doubt that Max could visit any time he wanted. Now Max shares his life with four adults and two other dogs Greta and Jasper who live with Marie and John

     Jasper is the youngster and is a Malinois breed. If you haven’t heard too much about this breed they are from Europe and are being brought into this country as police dogs. They do not get hip dysplasia, as Shepherds are prone to do. Thus they can work longer as a police officer than a shepherd. Jasper spent some time with Margraet Blair in Jackson to see if he would be a fit to be trained as a police dog. That didn’t work out so these days he is a fun loving playful puppy residing with Marie and John.

   Greta is a full German Shepherd, Marie wondered out loud if she requested a DNA test on Greta, if the results would come back that she was a pure German Sheppard. 

  Max is the friendly one, he loves everybody. Greta is kind of stand offish which I think is the shepherd background--they seem to be one owner dogs. Greta however is good friends with Max as is Jasper the energy charged puppy.

     When I arrived at Marie and Johns house Greta and Max greeted me. Jasper was over at Kelsey and Kevin’s house whining through the fence to come meet me. Once the gate was open Jasper grabbed his favorite toy (A blue child’s ball with a tennis ball stuffed inside). He has so much energy that all he wanted to do the entire time I was there, was chase the ball. They have a big yard in Pine Grove for him to run. Greta and Max are more than happy to play with Jasper.  Between the three of them they expend a lot of energy. Once the day is over a tired Jasper, weight 50-60 pounds, loves to crawl on Johns lap in the living room recliner and rest his big head on John’s chest recharging his batteries.

    One thing I have to say about my visit for the interview. Marie, John, Kelsey and Kevin are true dog lovers. They have three dogs that require a great deal of attention and together they make sure that at days end there is nothing these dogs lack. That includes everything from food to love.