A Little About Me And My Dogs

I love all dogs but I cannot deny that my obsession IS the German Shepherd Dog.

My first experience with a German Shepherd was at the tender age of 13. My parents got Cleo (named for the dark markings around her eyes, like Cleopatra) from a neighbour who had bred her mother Tammy. There was some discussion whether or not Cleo was a full GSD as on the same day Tammy had been visited by GSD sire, a collie got into the garden and it was never sure whether or not he had mated with her too. We didn't care and to us there was never any doubt she was full GSD. Cleo did everything just as the GSD books I had started to collect said she would. She learned quickly, was protective, loyal and everything about her was GSD. She was certainly the very start of what is now called my obsession with this most beautiful, intelligent, noble and loyal of breeds.

At 20 years old I left my parents home and shortly afterwards along came Athene. Athene was the runt of her litter but she proved herself to be the best of the bunch. She was everything to me for 13 years and I will miss her to the day I die. Athene was so very loyal to me that it took an awful lot of gentle persuasion to get her to obey the instructions given to her by my new partner Bev. She would look at Bev as if to say "You're not my Dad" and ignore what Bev had asked of her. In time she became as loyal to Bev as she was to me. Mum misses you every bit as much as I do girl. Rest In Peace.

One morning while Bev was walking Athene, she returned home to tell me that a young cross breed had been tied to a tree and left overnight in our local supermarket car park. Bev brought her home so we could give her some food and look after her until the local kennels opened on the following Monday morning. That was 7 years ago!! I owe Tara my deepest gratitude for being there when I lost Athene as I think that despite the understanding given to me by Bev and all around me, I could not have coped without having a dog in my house.

In 2002, some 1 year, 1 week and 1 day after losing Athene, I was waiting outside the school collecting my children when I saw an advert seeking an experienced owner for a GSD bitch. When I inquired about her it turned out that despite her owners best intentions, they lacked the knowledge to correct some issues they had unintentially created with her temperament. I went to see the bitch, knowing before I saw her, that she was coming with me regardless of any problems she had. Cassy came into our lives. She is almost 4 now and despite having her problems, many of which we have now worked out, I would do the same thing over and over again. She has taught me things about dog behaviour that books just could not put into words. May I take this opportunity of thanking Mrs Janet Wesley from Nottingham for helping me understand and deal with Cassy's wary aggression and I will always be indebted to you for your determination. Thank you also Janet for encouraging me to take up the wonderful sport of competitive obedience which I love and also for encouraging me to use my own knowledge with dogs to help others.

The year 2004 saw the arrival of my new puppy. Thor is a red sable and he came into our lives thanks to Bev falling soft when I was hinting. I had been thinking for some time that introducing a puppy into the household would help with many things. I hoped that Cassy would respond well to having a youngster around and that he would start working competitive obedience with me as well as Cassy, who had not long previously worked a few rounds in exemption shows. I am pleased to say that getting Thor made quite a big improvement in Cassy come about and although he's not two yet, he tries very hard in the obedience ring and has come very close to winning out of Pre Beginners already this year. The race is now on to see which one of them gets us out of Pre Beginners first!!

I spend most of my free time doing something to do with dogs. If I am not training mine or attending obedience shows, I am helping others train theirs, doing behaviour visits or sitting here on the PC talking about dogs. I assist at a dog training school, and sometimes even find time to read about dogs, in particular the GSD.

If you would like to see some pictures of my dogs, please click on the "My Dogs" button on the left.

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