Alpinarc Boy Oh Boy - "Hugo" He is brilliant around children, who always feel safe in his presence. He adores them, but never gets overexcited. He can be around small toddlers and never knocks them over as some dogs might. (My youngest child learnt to climb a hill using Hugo for stability as required.) He seems to instinctively know how to approach and interact with small children without being boisterous or intimidating. This intrinsic respectfulness is also demonstrated around adults. He is highly intelligent, learning new commands after only several tries, and retains this knowledge over long breaks in training. He listens and can find an object just by our hand directions pointing at it and words of encouragement, even though he has never been trained to do this. He copes well when introduced to new situations and new dogs. He was shown in the 2008 WSSDCA National Show, and despite minimal preparation, and in novice hands, he behaved outstandingly, receiving runner up in his class and receiving best male head and hindquarters and third for his forequarters. He has never displayed any aggression beyond the subtle rebuke of young dogs when they overstep the mark of polite behaviour. He is also somewhat of a hero in our family for bringing a very young, featherless lorikeet chick to us when asked and placing it into our hands totally unharmed. He is also amazingly quick on his feet, and agile in the air when catching a ball. He easily outruns our other shepherds and can change direction in a flash. He is simply the most amazing, affectionate, lovable dog ever. His affectionate manoeuvres include rolling catlike, head first to the ground to land upon his back, and on your feet, for a tummy rub. In fact, human feet are his favourite place to sit. There is none other like our Hugo. We have been blessed with what people describe as their ‘once in a lifetime’ or ‘one in a million’, best friend and lifelong love. If he sounds too good to be true it’s because he almost is. He is a vice free (apart from foot sitting), highly intelligent, high drive, strong, fast, physically beautiful, friendly, loved and loving, family member. Pedigree for Alpinarc Boy Oh Boy "Hugo"
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 Laying in the grass (2008). Photo by PhoDOGraphy  A very happy and handsome Hugo (2008) Photo by PhoDOGraphy |
