"Atika Vom Haus Dettmer"
(Ah Tee Ca)
 

Atika is a dark black, saddle back Long Coat or Long Haired German Shepherd.   Currently, with her young age and the blowing of her coat, her hair looks a bit plush coat, yet her mane is long and flowing.  Her long coat is soft and always silk like, never coarse or stiff as you might find on some of the ‘plushy coats’ sold in the states as Long Coats.  As she matures, I expect her long haired coat to continue growing.  Atika might be considered to some as a ‘bi-colored’, but whatever you might call her color, she is simply ‘breathtaking’ by breeding!  She is jet black, with reddish tan legs, silver shades in her long mane and streaks of ‘copper’ or ‘reddish’ hues throughout her upper head, muzzle, face and body.  Her colors change like the weather!   She is one of the most ‘striking’ dogs I have ever bred; even tho I’ve whelped several ‘beauties’ of this combination!  Atika ‘just’ came out with a superior gene combination of beauty, brains and brawn! This dog has it all!

 

As a Long Coat or Long Haired German Shepherd puppy, Atika inherited some of the finest qualities of a true German Shepherd.  She possesses a blend of her long coated mother’s laid back temperament combined with her sire’s superior brains and versatility.  Above all the qualities she brings as a German Shepherd, Atika ‘is’ my best canine friend.  She is loyal and true to our friendship and she wears her heart in her eyes!  I can ‘tell’ she is sincere to her half of this relationship. 

 

Atika is bred with consideration as to how the German Shepherds of long ago once existed.  She is sound, sturdy, of good frame and bone, not oversized and extremely owner loyal.  She is protective of her surroundings, but not aggressive or territorial.  She loves to work and play, has superior focus and is gentle and quiet when the time comes.  She has a GREAT PLAY DRIVE and a focus to be doing something worthwhile!  Like a well-bred German Shepherd, Atika strives to be doing something with a purpose.  She enjoys filling up her time being by your side, whereas her momma is more happy just being fed, getting love and laying around watching you work! 

 

Atika is fantastic in the training environment.  She excelled as a Long Haired German Shepherd puppy in obedience training and has earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen Title.  As a breeder and trainer, she is one of those German Shepherds that you just love to train and watch excel.  She is not food motivated, yet has the natural ability to please her handler.  She does not like to do things wrong!  You see the disappointment in her eyes and a correction on Atika is rarely ever necessary.  And, it’s hard to do, as it breaks your heart to see her eyes when she ‘fails’ her task!  She will work until she succeeds and the celebration is exuberant!!

 

Atika has been around a multitude of people and dogs.  She accepts new puppies, dogs, people and strangers with proper introductions.  She will however, let me know when strangers arrive at my home or car.  I was approached one time, ‘unsolicited’ and it ‘tested’ her loyalty!  She would give her life and I thank her for her loyalty!  I welcome that, as I can count on her to protect me when I’m alone - anywhere! 

 

I can take Atika anywhere, to any homes, to visit people and places.  She’s always very receptive of new environments and activities.  She absolutely goes gaga to ride in the car and just a jingle of the keys sets her in a tailspin.  Sometimes, it’s hard to leave her at home.  She uses her ‘sad eyes’ to let you know she’s not happy with you leaving ‘her side’!     

 

Atika has a HUGE love of playing ball.  Since an 8 week old puppy, she has been fetching stuffed animals.  Atika is ball crazy and lives for a game of fetch.  She has taught EVERY other dog at my kennel to play!  You will NEVER see her without a toy.  If you say “outside”, she searches the house to find a ball to take with her.  Outdoors, she’s never without a toy in her mouth.  In the car, she takes her ball.  In Petsmart, her favorite place is the toy isle.  She NEVER leaves the store without picking out a toy that she can proudly carry around and through the parking lot back to the car.  She will even sleep with her head propped on her ball!  I think if the world would eliminate toys, Atika would die of a broken heart.  She knows the word ‘toy’, ‘ball’, and how to find one anywhere if I tell her to find one!  NO MATTER HOW FAR FROM HOME ON A WALK WE WILL BE, Atika will run home and get a toy and bring it back to me!   She is not hyper, or obsessive, she just LOVES her toys!  If I tell her to ‘leave it’, she leaves it!

 

Atika is simply a fantastic bred German Shepherd dog.  Her love is deep; she has a large frame, big bone, huge head, straight back / level top line, and a fabulous temperament.  As you can see in the many pictures on the site, Atika’s versatility and athleticism is superior to most you will find in any Long Coat or any of the Long Hair German Shepherds on the market!  She has a far reaching gate, covers a vast amount of ground, would be great in agility!  She is great in obedience!  She rides in the tractor bucket, walks on the treadmill, accepts the massive shop drier, bathes in the hose, takes a shower, swims, and just about anything else you ask her to do! 

 

Atika is neither aggressive nor submissive.  She runs with a pack of other intact females and is tolerant of all.  She is ‘motherly’ to the babies at Vom Haus Dettmer and is never outwardly aggressive to other dogs.  She has accepted many a dogs that have visited, come to live and/or rescues coming to our home with nothing but an introduction ‘sniff’.  She is not food possessive and can eat in a pack without incident.  

 

Atika’s noticeable attributes are a fabulous temperament, large square frame with solid bone structure, yet not oversized to jeopardize her athletic ability.  Her headset is perfect, with erect ears proportionate to her skull.  Her expression is soft and watchful, always focused.   Her versatility supreme!  Her combination pedigree has made her an Ultimate Canine Companion!  Her average weight at just over two years is right above 100 lbs, where I try very hard to maintain at nothing greater!  Her parents run large, so this is hard to do.   Atika was not bred for size, nor was her size considered as ANY factor in using her for our breeding program!  Beauty just came natural!  Her intelligence, companionship and versatility outweigh most you’ll find anywhere!  You’re my “princess”, Atika.                      OFA CERTIFIED HIPS - ELBOWS NORMAL