We lost Ivo yesterday.

Steve took him out to track about 8:00 am; he ran a good track and then scarfed down his stew meat reward. Then they played ball for a while. Steve brought him back to the house and put him in the kennel (which is totally shaded and they have a pool to get into). This was about 11:00. Steve went to the cattle sale and came home about 3:00 and he was gone. I took him out for necropsy and they couldn't find anything obvious. The best-guess diagnosis was heat stroke. I'm not sure I'm agreeing with that, but at any rate, he's gone.

Ivo was imported from Germany to Atlanta, Georgia, by a young girl. When he hit about 10 months old, he started challenging her and her mom and dad and aggressing the neighbors. I don't know if any of you have heard the horror stories about Boban von den Grauen von Monstab, but that was Ivo's half-brother. Ivo was headed that way himself.

Steve drove down to Atlanta to get him. He had to put on the bite suit jacket to get him out of the crate. Ivo wanted to kill him. About every 30-45 minutes driving back to OK, Steve would stop, get him out and have to put his foot on the leash and near choke him out to get him calmed down. Then he would start showing him the ball and convince him to play for a bit. 30 minutes later, he'd have to go through the whole thing again. Finally after about the 8th stop, Ivo decided to skip the fighting/choking and go straight to the ball playing. He's never given us a seconds' trouble since.





These pictures were taken the morning after Steve got him home from Georgia -


Loving the ball on a rope


Liking the tug even better.

He took to the obedience like a duck to water. Within just a few days, Steve had him doing beautiful attentive heeling and long downs and sit stays. When he introduced him to the sleeve it was love at first sight!


He was such a character! He wouldn't tolerate any birds landing in "his" yard or bushes and would just go nuts running them off! He would carry a log around the yard that you couldn't believe he could even pick up! He adored swimming. He was wonderful with little puppies and would tolerate anything from them, also being very protective of them. (Our friend Sheri found this out when Ivo thought she was walking away with a puppy!) He very quickly made his displeasure at that known! He did not like anyone being behind Steve or me - he would always position himself to watch our backs. For a dog with off-the-chart drive outside, he would settle down and be a couch potato in the house. A very special boy that I'm glad I had the pleasure of knowing.


Run free big boy, we'll miss you always.

Oh, Becky, I'm so sorry. A very special boy, for sure. What a great tribute.

He's beautiful, too. What a hole he will leave.


Rest in peace, Ivo.

What a beautiful story.

Rest in Peace Ivo, you were so very loved.

Becky he is such a gorgeous boy I'm so sorry for your loss.

RIP IVO

Oh, no, Becky! I am so very sorry to hear this. You and Steve have my heartfelt condolences. What a beautiful guy he was, and so lucky for him that he ended up with exactly the right family, who knew just how to bring out the very best in him.

I know you will miss him terribly. Run free at the Bridge, Ivo.

Becky, so sorry to hear this.

Sorry to hear about your loss, Becky.
RIP, Ivo.

Becky and I am so sorry for your and Steve's profound loss.
What a special dog he was and how wonderful that he found you.
I agree you were the right family, that could bring out all the very best in Ivo.
He was such a beautiful boy, and such a beautiful tribute!
Run free a the bridge Ivo! RIP.

Becky & Steve, I am so very sorry to hear about your boy, Ivo. What an awful loss for you both.

Run free to 'the bridge' IVO.

I am very sorry for your loss, Becky.

Ivo was a beautiful dog.