of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a Chardonnay in one hand and chocolate in the other, the body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO YOO, what a ride!!"

 

Yes, I have had dogs around me all my life, (also every other type of animal you can think of)  and couldn't imagine life without them. They only ask us for our friendship and respect.

They are not my furry children but are my furry pals.

 

My first memories of dogs are of Rough Collies as I came out of babyhood.

 

Today, there are Poms, a Maltese, and a Pug. Also a Siamese cat, who tries to sleep on my face, a hamster, a tank with tropical fish ( that won't stop breeding) a  large ornamental pond with goldfish (that won't stop breeding either), and 6 hens and Robbie Rooster who keeps them under control or thinks he does, and 2 Kakariki birds in an aviary cage, who love to get out and fly around.

 

I believe that, dogs especially, take so much but give back so much more, and enrich our mundane lives endlessly with their presence, their unconditional love, fidelity, trust and patience and the dear human friends they bring to us.

 

Through dogs over the years, I have come to make many many wonderful friends worldwide, who, for some reason, are still around, hahaha  Who could ask for more?

Through dogs, I have met and got to know people like Princess Grace and also sold her a dog, and people in Show Business, and other walks of life,  etc.

 

I have lived abroad, starting in Belgium, where I was sent to learn French for a year, but met (and married) my own Waterloo.:)))

  I showed my own dog there for the very first time,

a Cocker Spaniel, born in Wales, Steel Blue of Lochnell, and

in Brussels big Championship show, I put him in the Open and he won,  beating 2 champions.

There was no holding me back then, I had caught the bug and there is no vaccine, as we have all found out. I also had other breeds there.

 I showed in Belgium and Holland.

My mentor was Mme Marie Desenfans of the prefix du Domaine de la Ferte, who was a brilliant dog breeder of several breeds and who won all before her, she taught me so much and in so many diverse breeds, from Yorksire Terriers and Italian Greyhounds to Great Danes with other breeds in between.

 

I then lived in  the South of France, with my dogs where I had Whippets,  2 Borzois and Cockers, Dachshunds etc showing the Cockers extensively there, and in Italy, Monaco etc with great success, before moving to Ireland with some of my dogs.

 

 I have owned, shown or had experience with many many breeds from big Borzois to tiny Chihuahuas ( I had a Tiny white Chi that was never beaten in his life).

My last 2 Shiba Inus are now in Spain, (the rest are petted out, though my daughter has a litter sister to my Int Ch bitch). 

I am the Hon. Sec. of the Japanese Shiba Inu Club of Ireland. I have been on many Committees, been a Show Sec but have more sense now and am on much less. I am a past President of the Pomeranian Club of Ireland and served on the Committee, also  Founder Member of the Bichon Frise Club, The Pomeranian Club of Northern Ireland, The English Setter Club of Ireland, and the Irish Ladies Kennel Association. Am on a Show Committee too. I brought back The Irish Toy Dog Society which had disappeared, was on the committee and then Hon Sec. a job more than ably filled now by Evelyn Hurley.

 

Back to the Shibas, one Shiba was already an Int. Ch. and has since won CACs and CACIBs in Spain and in Portugal and Gibraltar, by all accounts, and her daughter has been winning too.

My Borzoi bitch, now deceased,  Ch Colhugh Caria, bred by Reg Bassett, was in the film "Excalibur" with 2 of her daughters, one of which, later, went to France. The cast loved them .

My "Princess" a tiny white sleeve Pekingese, went to Hawaii, and was photographed so many times and met so many VIPs she must have been dizzy.

I would have so many anecdotes about people and people in dogs or even dogs themselves, I would need to write a book.

But maybe no one would read it :)))

I can never thank dogs enough for what they have brought into

my life, there will so many much loved dogs waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge. Something to look forward to indeed!!

 

On a more serious note, some newcomers into dogs, because of their understandable enthusiasm, are sometimes just a little bit unteachable, and I'm now too old to know everything, I only knew it all when I was young and inexperienced :))

 It is a never ending learning process day by day, and each time that we think we have seen it all, something else happens, and we need our sense of humour to see us through and not give up. As, unfortunately some newcomers find out, and that is when the rest of us need to be there for them.

 

People often glibly say that they are owned by such and such a dog or dogs, little do they realise that they are, or should be,

and they must be prepared to make many sacrifices on their behalf or not have them at all.

I do not like to see the so-called "kennels" and small runs,

the only time these loving creatures see their owners is when they are fed, cleaned out or groomed, (I think this is cruel, no love of dogs there, dogs need humans) or when they are taken out to a show to win "glory" for their owners. Of course, there is no harm in showing, dog shows are vital, but not when  winning dogs are a status symbol, and the dog,only a means to an end, and not a living, cherished being, to boost the owner's ego  or to help them become a VIP in the dog world. Or when bitches are only kept to make money, with no thought to their wellbeing, we have to try and remember that they do not ask to go through all of that . We have to give them the best possible care, both medically and at home.

 I'm sure that there are a few raised eyebrows by now. hahaha

Dog Shows should be fun, a day out,  for both dog and handler and if the dog wins, well that's a bonus.

 

My own dogs are "free range" basically,  and no,  they are not in any danger and they all get on with each other, most of the time, they are all close to me, where they can see me and be seen by me at all times. I have playpens, and an extra run beside the house, ( for necessities), a large patio with some of it covered, a large garden, for lead training too, and plenty of good country air .  They are only confined in a playpen as small puppies, as are bitches in season etc. The only time they are crated is if they are going to the vet, a dog show or just visiting.

My puppies are well socialised from the nest, they are picked up and we croon to them :)) Later, they run with the older dogs for a time every day to let them learn the rules of a pack, because they are pack animals, as are we.  They gain confidence, but we must also be the Alpha dog or bitch, to give thema sense of security, and equip them for their new life after leaving us to go to their forever home.

They are  fascinating  creatures to observe, it is astonishing what you will see if you take the time to look. This is nigh impossible with kennelled dogs that only see the walls of their kennels or wire netting of their runs, I think they do not develop their personalities to their full extent.  Eyebrows gone up again?? Or was that a frown?  hahaha

Far be it from me, to tell people what to do, these are just my opinions and observations from my own experiences.

I have made up champions in the breeds that I have shown.

 

to be continued........ watch this space......