My Sage

Sage is almost 3 yrs old. He is the black german shepherd mix you see on my blog at the beginning and on most of my newsletter. He might be part wolf. I did not get him from original owners so who knows. I only know what people told me where they got him and the owners told them. He lives with dogs and I've trained him as I would a dog. I never lose sight of the fact he might be part wolf. He was going to be my training dog and go with me to classes and be a demo dog. The first sign that this might not work out is that he was carsick from day one. I took him in the car a lot and it is better but he still prefers not to ride in the car.

The second sign is that he guards the treat bag. He thinks it is ours not those other dogs hanging around (the class dogs). I'm working with that one. And I guess that knowing he might be part wolf, I find it hard to trust him off leash. Even in the classroom. If it is just us, he's fine. And dogs he knows like his brother or half sister. I should trust that he is a pack animal and he wants to be with the pack. When he goes outside, he does his business and is right back at the door to come in. We are very bonded and I hope to perhaps do some Rally with him and maybe compete if he's good at it. It is something we can do together like Oreo and I did agility. It really helped him in a lot of ways. Maybe Rally will help Sage.

The Story Of Joe

His picture is at the bottom. I have no idea where he is today. His owner passed away last fall. Everyone knew her as Miss Mary. She worked for the park district and knew so much about nature. She taught classes and did workshops and held nature hikes and geological digs. I was privileged to be called by her to teach her 8 month old adopted german shepherd-Joseph. AKA Joe. She lived in a wonderful log cabin in the woods and it was so beautiful there. I trained with her there a couple times and then suggested I bring Joe to classes with me on Sundays. I didn't know what I was in for. He was a terrible rider in the car, all over the small car I had, almost changed gears for me unexpectedly, was in my face and barked and barked. He barked all through my classes and I had to put in back in the back kennels more than a lot of times. He eventually got better. The memory that stands out for me is picking him up the Sunday the hurricane hit Cincinnati. The winds were horrendous, branches flying, trees being uprooted, the power off at the Animal Ark where I trained. We stayed for a few hours to see if anyone from my classes would show up. Taking him home was another matter. All power was out. No traffic lights. Debris everywhere. Miss Mary had a fallen tree in her drive and had to walk up the drive to get him. It was a terrible time for all. Some folks didn't get their power back for weeks. We were lucky and got ours back in a day or so.

I imagine a member of her family took Joe after Miss Mary passed away. She loved that dog so much. She would drive her golf cart and he'd run along side to the creek where he would go swimming. She had a pen built in back for him when she had to leave. He also went inside and had a big crate and lots of bones. He loved to play ball.

Days off

I hardly ever get a day off. I teach every day. But that's my choice and I love what I do. But some holidays I just call a day or two off to rest or catch up or catch my breath. Invariably every time, someone wants to start classes on one of my days off. One client even got mad because I had no classes on Easter Sunday. I guess that's good in a way because people WANT to train their dogs. I guess I need to clone myself so there's more of me. Seriously, I was thinking in time, one of my goals would be to train trainers to teach for me. I would try to be there as much as I could, as I LOVE teaching but the day to day classes would be taught by others. I would train them and pay them. Worth looking into.

I added some lookalike pics of Jamaican. I have no real pics of him. Why oh why in all the time I was with him I didn't take any pics of such an adorable guy. It's been a week today. I try not to think about it but he creeps into my mind and heart often. I haven't told many people, it's too painful for me right now. As you can see, he was a few days short of his 7th month birthday. I found a little poem. It suits him: The Gift

I'll lend you for a little while
My grandest dog he said.
For you to love while he's alive
And mourn for when he's gone.
It may be one or twenty years,
Or days or months, you see.
But, will you, till I take him back
Take care of him for me?
He'll bring charms to gladden you,
And should his stay be brief
You'll have treasured memories
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return.
But, there are lessons taught on earth
I want this dog to learn.
I've looked the wide world over
In my search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes
With trust I have selected you.
Now will you give him your total love?
Nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate Me when I come
To take him back again?
I know you'll give him tenderness
And love will bloom each day
.And for the happiness you've known
Forever grateful stay.
But should I come and call for him
Much sooner than you'd planned
You'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And someday you'll understand.

Author Unknown

My Dogs

I started thinking about my dogs and how much they mean to me. My Pyrenees are going to be eight years old next month. Mo is starting to have trouble getting up from laying down. Mary always wants to stay outside. I make her come in because I want her to be with us. Gable the beagle will be 11 years old in December. He's diabetic and the insulin is robbing him of his eyesight. Garcia was born on a farm in Kentucky. His mom was hit by a car and killed when he and his siblings were only 3 weeks old. So he was hand raised by the farm family. They said he was a beagle and as a pup he looked close enough. When grown up, he looked nothing like a beagle. More like a coonhound mix. Garcia is 10 years old next month.

Rocky the pitbull is about 7 years old. I love that dog. He is always so happy. He loves to lay in the hot sun on the deck and sunbath. He loves to heel, front and finish, spin, sit, down, stay and leave it. He is really good at them. He just hates the neighbors.

Sage is the youngest. He will be 3 years old in July. Rumored to be part wolf, he is about 90 lbs now. His picture is at the top of my blog. He is very handsome and getting to be grown up. He goes to classes with me sometimes. He's good but he guards the treat bag. Frankie is the newest but not youngest. A black and tan doberman.We think she is 4 years old. We just adopted her in November around the time we lost Oreo. She is also diabetic and starting to lose her eyesight. I also take her to classes and she does very well. She is black and tan. Flame is the red doberman. We have no idea how old she is as she came from the SPCA. I have had her for 7 years and when we adopted her she had just had pups. And they thought then that she was older. So she could be 8-10 years old also. Sometimes I think I'm running a Resthome for old dogs. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I know we will lose some of them in the next year or two. I will probably never have this many dogs again. It is a lot of work and I'm getting older. But when I'm down to 1 or 2 dogs, I will get a german shepherd puppy from a reputable breeder. I have wanted one for a while. A female for Sage to play with and keep company. She will be my training dog.

Still trying to cope

I'm still getting over the shock that Jamaican's gone. I can't talk to his owner anymore right now. It makes me too sad. I don't want to hear the details. It will just play over and over in my mind. I want to remember him when we were training and he was a puppy. His little joyous handsome face. The walks we took on the nature trail before spring was even here. And how we watched the construction men build the new school. He loved to smell the same trees on the walk so I let him. He could almost walk off leash next to me on some of our last walks.

I'm sure his family is suffering too. They lived with him and he was their dog. But I get emotionally involved with my clients. I guess that's what makes me different than the training clubs and Petsmart. And it makes it hard for me. I want everyone to succeed. But I guess if you are in the business long enough, you will lose some.

And sometimes if you are really lucky and don't even deserve it-you get to experience a little bit of heaven on earth. Just a little snippet. Extreme happiness and joy. Over in flash but oh so worth it. That's how I'll remember Jamaican. The eternal puppy. Baby shark teeth and all. At first one ear up and one down then they both stood up. Handsome dude I called him.

My Heart is Broken

It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart that I write today. Jamaican-the german shepherd puppy that I did a board and train with some weeks back, ran into the street and was killed by a car today. I am so sad I could not even tell anyone for awhile till I could process the news. His owners called me today to tell me. He was about 7 months old-just a pup. I trained with him for about 6 weeks everyday. He was so smart. He picked up 28 commands in his time with me. I took him in classes and on privates. We went to the park and on walks and more walks. I never had to use a harness on him, just his collar to walk. He was so smart I would have taken him to competition. And I've never even done competition before!

He was so handsome. You just knew he would be a great looking dog even as a puppy. He was more black than tan. And I had him when he had just puppy teeth. And I'd say "no bite!" and stuff his toy in his mouth. He would carry it on our walks. If not a toy, he'd carry a stick. The whole walk. We had a special bond that only training can give. He'd look forward to me coming every day and was always ready to work.

Dogs come into our lives for a reason. Sometimes for a long time, sometimes for just a season. They are here to teach us. They bring the gift of themselves. It's all they have. In my heart I told my Oreo to find him and hang with him over the Rainbow Bridge. Jamaican would like a buddy.

First posting

I just decided to start a blog. I will write about dog related topics and maybe not so dog related topics. I can't promise to blog everyday but I will give it a try. I teach 22 classes a week plus in home classes plus a few hours of doggie day care (what fun!) and love and care for my own dogs. Plus market my business. That's a lot of work. Most of it comes from word of mouth so I try to make sure I am meeting all my customers needs and that of their dogs. I help dogs and owners be successful and live a more harmonious and balanced life.

I hate that it keeps raining although I enjoy the cooler weather. You can keep that hot, hot weather. I just got a new (to me) SUV and I want to wash it and keep it clean but that rain. And I have to keep mowing and mowing. It burns up my knees. I guess I need a riding lawn mower.

I also write a newsletter about dog training and my classes once a month. I try to come out with it more often but it usually is once a month. It is full of training tips, congrats to great owners and dogs, helpful info and more. I love writing it and have been for about 9 months.

Four classes tomorrow so I better get prepared. I'm sure they will be full of dogs and owners ready to learn.