Legend

10-3-2015: birth
Weight: 1 lb 2 oz

10-10-2015: 1 week
Weight: 1 lb 15 oz

Health: 
Legend is extremely healthy.  He has not had any medical issues to date.  He has not had any tremors, seizures, weakness in the legs or feet, limping, panosteitis symptoms, issues with his eyes or ears, excessive scratching or other allergy symptoms, soft stools, etc.   He runs, jumps, lopes, lies down, etc without any difficulty.  He has never shown signs of pain or any symptoms of illness at any time.  He is extremely healthy and vibrant.

Temperament Test #1 - Birth to 3 days

How does this puppy come into the world?

This puppy was born by cesarian section.  He was healthy and vibrant.  As a result of the c-section, he was under anesthesia and so did not react in any way upon birth.  This score is forfeit. 

Noises this puppy makes in the first 8 hours of life?

This puppy is relatively quiet.  He grunts when mom cleans him and grunts softly when held.  He does not scream or cry out.  This puppy receives a score of 9 for this category.

What is the energy level of this pup?

This puppies feet go constantly when held and when placed on an unknown surface.  He eats and sleeps, pushing other pups out of the way when needed.  He is smart about his movements when in the den. This puppy receives a score of 9 for this category.

What is the reaction of this pup to the first medical examination?

This puppy sniffed briefly and then when he decided that I wasn't something known, his feet moved into action.  He moved into the handler's hair and crook of the chin.  He grunted softly throughout.  This puppy receives a score of 8 for this category.

What is the reaction of this pup when it is turned over on its back?

This puppy quietly, but deliberately moved his legs about working to right himself.  He did not cry out or grunt, but was quiet.  When the handler began turning, he anticipated and helped the handler turn him back over.  This puppy receives a score of 7 for this category.

What is the reaction of this pup when it is placed back with its mother?

This puppy moved his head very slightly from side to side then moved confidently in the correct direction to get back to mom.  This puppy receives a score of 10 for this category.

What is the reaction of this pup when touched by a human?

This pup quietly gets his feet going and moves himself toward the person.  He isn't so much snuggling and not away, but moving in a clear direction.  This puppy did not flinch or move his head away.  This puppy receives a score of 8 for this category.

Overall, this puppy receives a score of 8.5 on this first temperament test.

Temperament Test #2 - 2.5 to 3 weeks

What is the reaction to a dropped loud object?

This puppy startled and then lie back down and closed his eyes.  He was not stiff and seemed unconcerned at the sound.  He receives a score of 9 for this category.

What is the reaction when pup is roughly pet?

This puppy moved his body with the pet, but not up into the pet.  He remained loose and quiet throughout the pet.  He receives a score of 9 for this category.

What is the reaction when pup is picked up?

This puppy was loose and quiet.  He did not struggle or whine.  He receives a score of 10 for this category.

What is the reaction of this pup when it is turned over on its back?

This puppy initially drew up his paws and was stiffly holding onto his own paws, but then relaxed into the position.  He did not move about or look around and was not stiff after the initial turn.  He remained quiet and still throughout the turn.  He receives a score of 8 for this category.

What is the reaction of this pup when it is placed in a wicker basket?

This puppy initially moved and sniffed the bottom of the basket and then whined out and looked around.  He did not move to jump up on the side of the basket and remained on the bottom, but did move about and whine to get out of the basket.  He stopped whining the instant he was picked up.  This puppy receives a score of 7 for this category.

What is the reaction of this pup when it is placed back away from siblings?

This puppy moved to get a drink of water.  He did not remain with the person and did not look back up at the handler.  He then eventually moved back to the pile of puppies and lie down on the top of the pile.  This puppy was not traumatized by the test in any way.  This puppy receives a score of 8 for this category.

Overall, this puppy receives a score of 8.5 on this second temperament test.

Temperament Test #3 - 6 weeks

What is the reaction to a dropped loud object?

This puppy initially startled by flinched and moving his body down in reaction to the sound.  Within one second he recovered and went about his business without care to the object left in the den.  This puppy receives a score of 9 for this category. 

What is the reaction when pup is roughly pet?

This puppy sat and allowed the handler to pet him.  He did not look up at the handler, but straight ahead.  He did not turn away or become stiff, but remained loose and relaxed.  He neither moved into or away from the pet.  This puppy did not make any noise and was completely silent during the entire pet.  He was awake and alert throughout the pet. This puppy receives a score of 9 for this category.

What is the reaction when pup is picked up?

This puppy was loose and relaxed.  His mouth was slightly open and he looked straight ahead.  Throughout the lift he became even more loose.  He was alert and awake.  This puppy receives a score of 10 for this category.

What is the reaction of this pup when it is turned over on its back?

This puppy was loose and relaxed in his body and tail.  His head was turned deliberated away from the handler and was stiff in his neck.  When the handler moved to look at his face, he turned slightly further away from handler.  This puppy receives a score of 8 for this category.

What is the reaction of this pup when it is placed in a wicker basket?

This puppy was quiet except for a very small whine in the middle of the time that he was in the basket.  He was initially stiff in his body posture, but within two seconds he stood up slowly, but did not shake or whine out.  He moved to the side of the basket closer to where the handler stood.  He eventually placed his paws on the side of the basket and looked down, giving the one small soft whine before he then moved to jump out of the basket.  This puppy receives a score of 9 for this category.

What is the reaction of this pup when it is placed back away from siblings?

This puppy initially moved away from the handler when placed back on the ground then stood facing away from the handler about 2 feet away.  He stood quietly and still for five seconds then turned right back around and moved back to the handler's shoes and sniffed them.  He looked up at the handler and mouthed her pant leg.  He then walked around the handler slowly and deliberately looking up at her.  This puppy receives a score of 10+ for this category.

Overall, this puppy receives a score of 9.3 on this third temperament test.

Legend is an exceptional puppy.  He is extremely quiet, hardly making a sound at any time.  He is also very calm and mellow and doesn't mind being picked up, held, turned over or placed on any surface.  He sniffs and then is silent and calm when in a new situation.  He is a thinking puppy.    He isn't the largest pup or the heaviest pup, but his temperament is beyond measure for this litter.  

Temp Test #1: 8.5

Temp Test #2: 8.5

Temp Test #3: 9.3

Temperament:

Legend is an idependent dog and is not an attention hog. As a young puppy, he did not like to be crowded and would tell the other puppies to get out of his space. He is very loving and sweet to all. He does not require affection, however, but enjoys it when it is given. Legend is confident with known people, but is much less affectionate with strangers, although he is not afraid of them and will accept petting from them. His aloof nature gives him a strong bond with his family. He prefers to watch and observe and learns by watching others instead of getting right into the mix of things. Legend is a more serious type of dog. Legend has a tendency to vocalize his disapproval. He had to be trained with consistency that whining was not going to get him anything he wanted. He is a smart dog, though, so he learned this fairly quickly. Legend is more on the submissive side and shows his emotions readily. He does not like to get in trouble and does not take a heavy hand. Legend enjoys being outdoors and taking long walks. He does not have an excessive need for play and running, but instead has a calmness about him. However, he possesses more energy than we require in our breed. Legend has a lower prey drive. Legend responds well to light touch and is aware of his surroundings. Legend is not sound sensitive and does not react to thunder, gun shots, nor fireworks. Legend has a high pain threshold and so does not react to minor injury or pain. 

Legend is a gold sable with no mask.

Conformation:
Legend is a lovely golden sable color with a no mask. His eyes are light brown in color. Both ears are erect, but did not rise until around 6 months of age, after teething. Legend stands 27 inches tall and weighs around 98 pounds. His shows a thinness in bone and body structure at this time, although he may fill out more as he develops into maturity. Legend has deep black pigmentation and no white spotting. Legend shows small feet. He has a short tail, but it does curl some at the end; however it does not curl up over his back. Legend has a deep stop and narrower skull than we like. 

Faults:

Legend is thinner in bone than we require with a lightness to his weight. He has small feet and a narrower skull. Legend's stop is too pronounced. He is a bit more independent than we like. He does not like over affection. Legend's eyes are too dark and his ears are too large overall.