Druidale Dark Delinquent (neut)
"Free"

  26th July 1996 to 8th June 2009

Eye tested Clear, Hips 22:23 

Free was  litter sister to Rio and had numerous Best Puppy in Breed awards at open show level. When Rio came back to me, Free lived in her shadow, often taking second places to Rio who had gone on to Best of Breed. Free has managed to beat Rio once for Best of Breed ! Sadly, both Free and Rio are now waiting at The Bridge.

Free was a registered Pets as Therapy (PAT) Dog.  Free loved dogs and people, especially children. As well as competing in the breed ring, she was in training for working trials, but sadly her hip score wasn't as good as I had hoped for and I decided not to continue her training. Free was also a very useful asset when I worked with problem dogs, she was a natural pack leader and used her wonderful body language to get other dogs to respect her and to follow her lead. She assisted me in turning some dog aggressive dogs into wonderful companions. Without Free, Shadow's rehabilitation wouldn't have gone so well. Thank you Free

Free with Shadow (left) and Rudi (right) ,two of the dogs that she has helped me with

Free passed the Kennel Club Good Citizen Test Gold level after successfully gaining the Silver level in May 1999 and her Bronze Level at Crufts 1998. Free also took part in demonstrating the Gold level of the Good Citizen test at Crufts 2000. She also spent two days on the GSD stand in the Discover Dogs section of Crufts 2000, where she made many new friends.

Free assisted me whilst I was studying for a HNC in Dog Training and Behaviour at Bishop Burton College, where she learnt how to detect firearms. She loved training and being with me and always been voiced her protests at being ignored. She competed in obedience and took a third place in pre-beginners at Northern Branches BAGSD show at Beverley, much to my delight.

Free was a wonderful dog and would turn her paw to anything, she enjoyed fun agility, tracking and searching. She was a truly versatile dog! A true German Shepherd.

Her favourite pastime has always been retrieving, and in her younger days she would retrieve from water all day. I'm sure she would have enjoyed doing gundog scurries. Free was the first dog that I ever clicker trained, and she just loved it. She was very creative and could learn new behaviours very quickly through free-shaping. She developed arthritis in her later years and as a result I became attuned as a Reiki Master so that I could keep her pain free and mobile. She was  on Canine Cortaflex which is fantastic and is the best joint supplement that I have found. She also had back massages on days when she was stiff.

Free was a very special dog, she was my soulmate and my constant companion, she even slept in the bedroom. She shaped my life and taught me so much. She was the ever willing companion, prepared to turn her paw to whatever I decide we'd try next. She always gave her all.

Sadly on 8th June 2009, I had to make the decision that all of us dreads, the decision to send my beloved Free to The Bridge. I let her go whilst she still had her dignity. She was the culmination of a dream, from my first home bred litter. It was only fitting that the vet that assisted in her whelping (her brother Sabre got stuck) was the one that helped her on her way to The Bridge.  She has gone to join her mother, sister and half sister, along with other GSDs, terriers and cats that have shared my life.

She was a dog in a million, my soul mate, my rock. There is a huge gap on the sofa and an even bigger one in my heart. She has been my constant companion, travelling everywhere with me for almost 13 years...trips will not be the same now that I no longer have my co-pilot and navigator.