Owning German Shepherds had been a lifelong ambition, even when I was at Primary School! We had a Crossbred GSD x Labrador in those days. I have been involved with German Shepherd Dogs since 1975, working the family's first GSD - 'Sally' in obedience. I was also one of the instructors at the local obedience classes at that time.
I trained as a Registered General and Ophthalmic nurse in the late 1970's but still found the time to attend the training classes and obedience shows with 'Sally' despite working in a busy A&E department at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham.
My contact with the medical world probably explains my keen interest in the health and genetic aspects of The German Shepherd.
When I married and left home, my parents wanted to keep Sally, who was by now eight years old. She lived to a grand age of fourteen.
After moving to Wiltshire with my husband in 1983, I bought my own German Shepherd Bitch, Bresan Orilla of Velrok (Tikka) - a daughter of Velrok Orion, from Joanne Holman. Tikka is pictured below:
Tikka was a very dark grey sable, with a Hip Score of 1:1 and she turned out to be the foundation of the 'KESYRA' kennel. She had a wonderful temperament and converted many people who thought the German Shepherd was unreliable or unfriendly. I bred my first litter in 1985, which turned out to be a disaster with only one puppy surviving. The surviving puppy 'Anja' went to live with my parents. Two years later, Tikka had a litter to Champion Cito von Konigsbruch and I kept a dog called 'Kesyra Basko' (pictured below) who proved to be a popular stud dog.
Kesyra Basko
When mated to Champion Jupaala Quino, Tikka produced Kesyra Ghia who was a good producer as well as a show winner. In 1986 I bought Vornlante Hexe, a strong bitch who was mated to Gigant Blue Iris and produced Kesyra Hero, a top winning dog in his day.
Both Hero and Ghia are behind many of my dogs; as far back as 9 generations on the younger members of the family.
Kesyra Hero
Although I have shown my dogs successfully, they are first and foremost my pets and are very much part of the family.
I passed the GSD League Judges exam in 1988 and am a qualified Breed Judge. I have served on Breed Club committees, including the GSD League.
I am a qualified Microchip Implanter for Petlog, having successfully completed the 'Pet Detect' training course.
Over the years, many of my dogs have been pictured in several books about the breed. In 2002 I was very pleased to be asked by Ringpress Publishers to write a book for pet owners and newcomers to the breed: 'The German Shepherd Dog - Breed Basics.'
A young Kesyra Yogi is pictured sitting on the front cover.
In 2008 I was asked to write a chapter and provide photographs towards a new book on the breed - 'German Shepherd Dog - Best of Breed series' published by the Pet Book Publishing Company. I feel it is rather poignant that Yogi is pictured at nine years of age galloping through the grass on the back cover. He died shortly before the book was released.
