What is your background in dogs?

[adojrts]

I have always had critters, LOTS of them lol. My life would not be complete without them. I ve never had an animal stab me in the back yet!!
When my husband asked me to marry him, I told him.........Did he realize that with me came animals and that could be any kind or any number? We've been together for 18 yrs now and married for 16 yrs. Just before our marriage, one of my relatives asked my mother how my soon to be husband was going to make out with all my animals..............her reply was.........If she loves him and takes care of him half as well as she does her animals, he'll do just fine lol.
I married a smart man, one of his friends asked him how he was *dealing* with me and my animals........and his reply was, 'If she didn't have her animals, she would be so miserable I couldn't live with her anyways, so they stay and we are all happy

98% of what I read and have always read has been about training, care and health concerning animals. I love training, competing and teaching.
My animals are just not a lifestyle, they are life to me. They only take a back seat to our son............

Lynn

 

[tessa_s212]

My mom grew up with dobermans. She's always loved dogs. When I was four we got our first cocker spaniel from a petstore. Soon after we got two more cockers. Then I joined 4-H with my dog when I was 8. When I was 9-10, I got another cocker. This time she was all mine. Not my parents, but all mine. She was my little baby, still is. That dog was my best and only friend growing up due to family issues for those that know a bit about that.

So I've been training in obedience, showmanship, and agility since the age of 8. Getting more and more involved and interested as I got older, continuing my education by getting onto dog forums, where at the age of 14 I finally switched from harsh correctional training to mainly positive reinforcement training.

Got Marq in the winter of 2005/2006, started showing in AKC and UKC.

I started volunteering at the humane society last November. Now I am known as the "dog genius", but more specifically my duties consist of training the dogs to make them more adoptable, temperament testing t help find more suitable homes, and grooming the dogs, specifically those that need ticks removed, mats shaved, and dogs that are too difficult for other volunteers to groom. Then I actually started reaching out through internet and getting dogs adopted that way.

And now I'm here.

 

[Babyblue5290]

I've always loved dogs, but Lucas is my first dog ever. No dogs growing up.

I also volunteered at the Humane Society here for .......3?4? yrs now. I do a lot of the meet n' greets, and work a lot of the dogs.

That's honestly about it. But I do a lot with the dogs, and I know body language. I learned a lot before I even owned a dog.

 

[Sheepdog]

I have had dogs since I was a young bloke living on Dads farm.

We used border collies and kelpies to help us muster(herd) the thousands of sheep and cattle on our farm.

I have had dogs ever since and now I still muster sheep with them but mainly I compete in three sheepdog trials which is one of the best sports going

Cheers

Sheepdogs

 

[Red_ACD_for_me]

I can't imagine why anyone would want to go into the animal business for the "money". People never fail to amaze me It really isn't the greatest money to make unless you are a vet. I went into the animal business because I love them........ when you love animals you love your job so money isn't everything IMO!

 

[mrose_s]

I have had dogs since I was a young bloke living on Dads farm.

We used border collies and kelpies to help us muster(herd) the thousands of sheep and cattle on our farm.

I have had dogs ever since and now I still muster sheep with them but mainly I compete in three sheepdog trials which is one of the best sports going

Cheers

Sheepdogs

where abouts in aus are you? i plan on getting into herding with my next working breed. but don't know much about it cept i loved watching my uncles kelpies working, their awesome.

 

[shadowfacedanes]

I'll give the short version and spare you all the stories that could fill pages...

In my youth, I grew up with a yorkie, a couple of wiener dogs, and a mixed breed with a stunning resemblance to a Briard.

When I was 13, I started working odd jobs around the neighborhood such as bathing dogs and walking dogs for the busy folks, or elderly folks.

When I was 16, I took on my first real job - working at a brand new hospital. I was the only employee besides the Vet and his wife, the tech. I started out doing everything - and learned as I went along. I was in charge of the kennel dogs and post op care of the dogs in the recovery ward. I worked there for eight years, and by the time I left, I had become the one who did the blood draws, inserted IV's, took x-rays, restrained aggressive dogs, assisted in surgery and did all of the pre-op duties. I learned alot there.

During that time, I also started my own part time petting sitting business. When I left the clinic, I branched out and did this full time. I cared for many pets, and loved doing what I did.

I maintained my own pet sitting business full time for many years - finally, I had to scale back the number of clients I could take because I became heavily involved with Great Dane rescue and that alone became almost a full time job. I did rescue evaluations, placements, and homechecks and coordinated the adoptions in my immediate area, as well as some out of my area.

I have also worked with one of the top Briard breeders in the country. As the owners showed heavily, I became a primary caregiver for the up to 17 dogs in the household, including grooming them. (wow, that was a LOT of work!!)

When I moved to Concord, I had to leave a lot of this behind sadly, though I am in the process of rebuilding a pet sitting business again.

I have also managed a large boarding and grooming facility, worked with a bird dog trainer, volunteered for shelters and many rescue organizations, and then I have the owning of my own dogs along the years.

Sorry, tried to keep it short.

 

[planet molosser]

WOW you must have patience of a Saint .
I have carefree dogs at home and only need to shave down the sheep once a year.
At work I get paid for it so it comes to pass the more work more money.

Pleasure to finally meet all of you.

Would like to here more about the Briads and how they are groomed one day.
If you can show a before and after pic in the future it would help me greatly.

 

[planet molosser]

Noludoru;"Planet Molosser, you are an amazing person. Even just by your posts here, you have given me so much to hope for, and your dedication and love for dogs, especially your breeds, is amazing. I wish everyone could have the chance to learn from you, and have to joy of reading your posts.
Well.. we had cats growing up. But they both went to the shelter due to peeing in the house. I went pet-less for years. Then I BEGGED my parents to get me a guinea pig. My friend had just gotten one, and she was so sweet. So we got a little baby named Julian, and he died several days after we got him due to an illness picked up at Petco. The reason he was so sweet, sitting in my hand and loving me, was b/c he was so sick. I never knew.

I was almost inconsolable for a week... All I could do was cry. ""

Thank you... Please note by being a ethical breeder you will create a enemy list of backyard breeders and friends longer than you can imagine.
So as hard as you think it is . IT is heartbreaking to see your hard work, hard earned money, tears be torn apart by the majority of the breeders online.

Meaning most ONLINE breeders ( exception of most all Chazzers) that spend 24-7 online are there to market pups no one wants. Vs getting out and proving the dogs.

So to all being a ethical breeder is like being a honest politician
You are outnumbered 2 to 1.

Im so sorry about Petco.
Yes when they bring the Vet on every other Sat.
It draws in some of the worse people who have sick pups and kittens.
And some of the best like rescue people who cant afford office visits for every cat they find.
These people lets say leave their mark all over the floor.
Which is why I dont bring my pups there on Sundays after the Vet is there.

I also will strip down to my undies when I have pups at home before I step foot in the house.

Again so sorry.
I have seen hamsters die from wet tail but dont know much about Guinea pigs.

Wish you lived close I get adoptions free small animals all the time for local young folk. People drop them off and we adopt them out.

 

[Sweet72947]

Ever since I was born I have always been around animals. Our first pets were cats though, Franco and Misty. Franco came with a pool table my parents purchased, and Misty was born to a stray mama in my parent's carport when they lived in Missouri. Soon after kitties came me and my sister. Then one day my mom and I drove out to some farm and bought Coco, a backyard bred Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Coco was nice enough as a puppy, but as I've said many times to many people, my dad didn't and still doesn't know the first thing about training dogs. We did take Coco to a training class, but we never kept up with it. Coco was food aggressive and also aggressive to strangers until he got to know them. Coco was also kept out in the backyard fence 24/7 because my dad thought that he was "too big to keep in the house."

One day I walked into Coco's yard not realizing that my mom had just fed him, and he came over and bit me in the face. My parents put a "free to good home" ad in the paper, and were promptly contacted by some rescue group and educated about "free to good home" ads, and told to bring Coco in the house with the family, which they did. Coco stayed with us until we had him PTS at almost 15 yrs old.

In Coco's last two years, he lived with Daisy, whom I got from my friend for free. She was the last pup of the litter. During this period of time I got a job working as a receptionist at a grooming shop. I learned a lot about different breeds (I called a wirefox terrier a schnauzer once before I learned the breeds, very embarrassing ). I also learned about the importance of grooming and that some people really didn't care about their dogs like I did. Sometimes people wouldn't bring dogs to be groomed, but little mattballs with eyes.

While working at this shop I met a woman who had a dog she needed to rehome because she had fallen on hard times and was living with her mother again, and the mother wouldn't allow the dog around her cats. The dog was a dutch shepherd mix named Abby. Abby lived in the big-dog cage at the shop and was walked and loved on by employees out of the kindness of their hearts. Abby was(and probably still is) a wonderful dog, very smart and loving. I started taking her out too, and eventually that moved on to her staying at my house on weekends (otherwise she would have to stay in a cage by herself for 18 hrs a day until somebody came to the shop to take her out). We would have kept Abby if we hadn't had Coco at the time.

In my quest to find a home to Abby I was given the name of Friends of Homeless Animals. Abby never went to rescue though, we found a home before then. But Abby led me to animal rescue. I now volunteer at FOHA every Sunday. It is my passion.

Sorry for the lengthy post.

 

[shadowfacedanes]

Would like to here more about the Briads and how they are groomed one day.
If you can show a before and after pic in the future it would help me greatly.

Sadly, I only had a 35mm camera then, but if I can find a few pictures, I'd be happy to share them.

Luckily, since the majority were actively campaigned, they were never in bad shape, but they could get that way in a hurry if they weren't brushed daily. The older, retired dogs were kept clipped, so my primary focus was on the dogs that were being shown at the time.

They were really good about it too - you'd get out the grooming kit, the brushes and spray conditioners and pat the floor, and they'd come lay down on their sides and let me have at it.

The only downside was that the owners had a gigantic scarlett macaw who would sit there and shriek at me as I groomed the dogs. When the dogs would finally get relaxed, the bird would make some noise that drove the dogs nuts. The dogs would get up and run to the door and bark.

Here's a link to their website (it doesn't look like it's been updated for some time) - you can see pics of some of them who stole my heart (Gilly, Dax and Hank to name a few).

http://www.senderobriards.com/

 

[planet molosser]

Now that is a breeder!!! What kind of conditioner do you use for that shine and lenght?

I would of had a convo with bird then he would of learned some ITalian words .

You have EXCELLENT Taste

 

[Angel Chicken]

I've had dogs since I could remember... I can even remember our first dog.

Bo-Bo, a Doberman. This guy was a hell of a dog. Even though he lived outside, he was a big part of our family. Growing up, I lived in a abusive household... my dad was always one to tan our hides good if we didn't listen.

Well, one day, my dad went to go pop my leg, because apparently I had misbehaved. Bo-Bo was inside that day, due to the cold weather. When Dad popped me, Bo-Bo protected me... he didn't bite, but he was damned close to doing it. He put himself between me and my dad... and wouldn't move.

A few days later, Bo-Bo disappeared. I found out many years later my Pop took him out in the country and let him go.

So I went a long time without a dog. I begged and pleaded with my Momma, and she seemed like she wasn't going to do it. Then one day, she took me on a ride. We went to a home where a beautiful Keeshond/ Chow Mix was outside on a chain. His name was Buddy, and he was MINE! But my parents still didn't believe in letting him in the house Buddy was sick when we got him, and just a few short months later, he died in my arms.

Than came my mom's dog, Maximillion . Max was a Shitz-Tu/ scottish terrier mix. My mom loved this dog... I remember him like it was yesterday. He loved to go camping with us and was well known all around the campground we always stayed at. My grandma stayed at her camper just a few lots down from us, and Max would figure a way off his chain to go visit her. She always kept the cheese filled hot dogs just for him! Soon after Sox and Taco entered the family too. Taco went to my Grandma, and Sox was mine. Mom got them both off of a friend as a gift for both of us.

Max has to be given away after about 10 years of having him, when my Mom and Dad separated. Mom couldn't find a place that would allow a fully house trained dog. Sox was given away too.

After Mom gave away the dogs, a year or 2 later, her and Dad decide to try and work it out. MY grandma had since passed on and Taco was now my dad's dog. Since we moved into my grandmother's house, again I had a dog in my home. Taco passed on last year, after she got hit by a car.

Fast Forward a year...

Mom and Dad are separated again. Mom is living with her Boyfriend, Woody. I lived with them. Woody's dog had just passed on and he thought it was time to get another dog. That is when he found out my Uncle's rottie was pregnant. My uncle then got hurt at work, and he "hired" me to feed, bath, and run his dogs for him. My payment was one of Princess's pups. So, I fed and cared for his dogs, and Coby was born. He was in a litter with 12 pups, and was the only one that lived. This was 2003. My mom now owns Coby, because my land lady will not allow bully breeds.

Fast Forward again, to 2005. I was now living on my own, with my old man, my son, and his son. Even though I had the kids, something was missing. I missed having a dog. So, I asked Rob if I could have one. He said no. He tortured me for months. Christmas rolled around... and he had quite the present in store for me. My baby Kona. If you want to read the whole story on how I got her, check the Dog Story section.

So that's my history with dogs. I never have had one that was really my own, until Kona. I have never trained, or cared for one myself. I have been blessed, I have a very good dog.

Hopefully in the years to come, I'll have another dog or 3:lol-sign: Truth is, right now, I just don't feel comfortable adding another dog to our already full household.

 

[shadowfacedanes]

Now that is a breeder!!! What kind of conditioner do you use for that shine and lenght?

I would of had a convo with bird then he would of learned some ITalian words .

You have EXCELLENT Taste

Magic Touch by Crown Royale. I love that stuff. I even used it on the mastiff I used to groom for shows. It works great on long coated breeds as well as slick coats. I love it.

And as far as the bird goes, she probably learned a few four lettered words from me. That bird was such a brat. She tried so many times to bite my with her ginormous beak. But she could fake nice so well too. I was such a sucker.

 

[Amstaffer]

I have been around dogs my whole life. I got started with dogs because my best friend as a young child was my father's hunting dog. I was kinda like the kid from "Old Yeller". My next closest sibling was my brother who was 7 years older and not the best play mate. We lived out in the country and there were not many kids my age so by default my best and most reliable playmate was Pepper or (Cindy..who came later) both of which were hunting dogs.

I have been a dog fanatic ever since.

My dad had mostly Chessie Ret. but we also had a Poodle/Lab/Border Collie mix (From the "Pound" not a designer) that was my moms dog who was called my dog but everyone knew she was my mom's dog.

As an adult I had Rotties and now Amstaffs.

 

[Amstaffer]

Addition: after reading a few other post I think I kind had the row idea...

Other experience as far as activities:

I have worked with a couple of Pit Bull rescues and volunteered at the local Humane Society as a clean up person, dog walker and assistant to vet techs.

I have dabbled briefly with Weight pulling and very briefly with some showing.

 

[SummerRiot]

I have a life time with dogs lol

My parents were both heavily into dog showing - Conformation, Obedience, Agility, Rally etc etc..

They owned one of the top stud dogs around the area as well and co-bred him with the kennel they got him from (my Uncles Sheltie kennel actually lol). "Kinard Kennels" was what it was called.

When i was born, they carted me along to all the dog shows.. I never had a "play pen" i was stuck in the puppy pen lol

Once our last Sheltie passed away we took a few years off from dogs. Then my parents got a couple Shelties again and began the show scene again.

I got Riot and moved out.. and here I am today.. working in a Vet Hospital! lol

 

[Charliesmommy]

My dad was a conservation officer so we ALWAYS had tons of animals. In addition to our menagerie of dogs and cats, I grew up helping my dad take care of sick or injured deer, racoons, foxes, whatever. We even raised an owl once.

I got MY own dog, a GSD I named King when I was 4 and had him until I went to college and he had to be put down. I had decided that I would not get another dog until I was financially stable and owned my own home. I know way too many people who rent and you never know what could happen, with having to move, or the landlords not liking the dog, or whatever.

So, after 15 years of being a renter and dogless, I got my house and within a week I got my Charlie.

 

[SizzleDog]

Let's see.....

Got my first job at a vet clinic when I was 14 - I didn't have a dog of my own, but I spent a lot of time at the clinic, got to know many breeds, etc. Then, when I was 16, moved on to work for a groomer. Started out bathing, moved up to being *the* groomer for coated breeds that didn't need any clipper work. All the collies, pyrs, chows, etc. came to be, as well as the hand-stripped dogs. The other groomers I worked with were very experienced, most showed dogs at one time or another, a few were still showing.

Through that job I met handlers, traveled to dog shows and showed corgis and standard schnauzers for my friends. At that point, I had gotten Ilsa and was playing with her in Obedience and Conformation.

Moved away to college, started working at the university's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Did that for awhile, quit for lack of hours...

Got my show dog, and the rest is history!

 

[Spirit2010]

Ever since I was born, we have had a dog, or at least my grandpa has. And 5 years ago when we got Hershey. He's the first dog, to ever be fully trained in this family. And then Whisper, so 5 years for me!