KERSIN'S ODINN

14 WEEKS WELCOME TO THE USA

My first experience with importing was both exciting and frightening. Having never undertaken such a project, I didn't know where to begin.  Thankfully, Helga and Porsteinn were there to assist me in making the arrangements on the Iceland end. Even Iceland Air was extremely helpful. Getting the pup to the US was the easiest part. Getting him to the west coast, well that was a different story.  I was lucky enough to find Gale Young, and AKC judge, breeder of gun dogs AND owner of a

shipping and kennel service. She met the plane, took Odinn home (not the kennel) and then reboarded him bound for San Fransisco, CA the next day.  She found the dog fascinating and did an outstanding job at making my life much easier.  I drove from Oregon to San Fransisco International to pick up my puppy.

Odinn arrives at hotel after 4 hour drive.  We are half way home. My daughter keeps him company

Home at last. 8 hours of driving and we arrive in Klamath Falls, OR. An exhausted pup met the GSD's and rapidly took over the household! He became the delight of his obedience classes and entertained everyone with his antics.  Soon he would travel another 12 hours in our move to Spokane, WA. He would be 7 mos.

Odinn rapidly settles into play at the hotel.  The flight, which had been traumatic quickly forgotten.

4 MONTHS

Intense would ALWAYS describe Odinn. Thinking before reacting to new situations; he eyes ever inch of territory, be it rocky outcrops of rivers. Once "cleared" the game is on.  However, he RARELY barks!  I wish my others could say the same!

Balance is the word. Note the short coat on a pup that develops a very nice full coat with age.  Nice long angles. Body appears longer than tall. Odinn has always been comfortable in any environment.

Beautiful yet feminine head at 4 months.

5 MONTHS

Gorgeous "eyeliner" muzzle, underjaw,  stop and mask pigment.

5 months found Odinn well balanced and very nice. His puppy head shows great stop. His ears are large at this age but would balance later.  Again, bone width of chest and "balance" prevail.

To "chase" is NOT to retrieve.  Odinn wouldn't learn the skill of picking up the ball until over a year of age and that was only with GSD's for teachers!  But to Play is great fun!

6 MONTHS

6 months shows a very immature Odinn who appears  shorter in loin than he will be as an adult. His coat is soft and thin, face still looks puppyish.  Great shoulder, chest and hindquarter for age and something he will always have.

Comparing this frame of the hindquarter with the one below, the muscular structure is well defined and tailset is good.  The 8 mos picture was taken in the heat of an autumn day and the tail reflects this.

8 MONTHS

Hindquarters are extremely important to this breed. Form follows function. Many dogs are cow-hocked and toe out. Odinn has excellent structure of the hindquarter and is well muscled both on the inner and outer thigh.

8 months finds Odinn very hard bodied, course about the head and in this frame, he is also toeing out.  He would later straighten nicely in the front end. Bone is of excellent quality.

10 MONTHS 2 WEEKS

10.5 months saw many changes to the body with a deepening of the chest making Odinn begin to come together in length to height ratio. While he has developed more muscle development in the back , loin and hind-quarter, he is also about 5 pounds heavy. At late autumn, his winter coat is beginning to make an appearance.

14 MONTHS

14 months found Odinn up to his belly in snow. He loved it. His coat has come in. He has developed a tremendously protective, correctly textured guard hair with "adequate" undercoat. I would like to see more undercoat on this dog.

18 MONTHS

Odinn this spring at 18 mos. A full bodied, well balanced male with great shoulders and hinquarters. Very straight and correct. Nice neck and excellent tailset. At this age, I would like to see better layback of the shoulder, a tighter tail, a more refined head (although I am fond of the type) and  more length of leg.

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