A bit about me and the dogs that have owned me, past and present.
I've always had dogs within my life, from the very beginning that I can remember and from pictures of dogs that I can't remember as a baby.
My first was a Blue Tick Blood Hound, well I suppose he wasn't my first, as he was my fathers dog. She was joined by a black Poodle of short stature. These were the dogs of my babyhood. My father passed as I was just a little tyke, and with his passing, the dogs were given to relatives because a single mother at that time had very little income, and could not afford dogs as well as a child.
As I grew up, for a span of about 7 years, we had no animals within the house, but the relatives did, and that is where my love for animals really began. My Aunt and Uncle owned several dogs, I remember them distinctly. A brindle great dane, named Tandy, a black collie named Tim, and my grandfather had Australian Shepherds, hence my love for this breed. Three blue merles, Montana, Tums and I don't recall the third name.
At age of about 7, we inherited a Beagle from a friend, and yes his name was Snoopy. From Snoopy, came all kinds of followers. A Cockapoo (poodle x cocker spaniel) his name was Socks. He was jet black, and had white feet. He was actually my mom's dog, literally would favor her over anyone else in the house until it came to being protective. She would have to lock him in another room, when it came time for butt beating of my brother and I. Yes we got our butts beat, we grew up old school. Socks didn't like anyone being hurt, and would take the person hurting the other in an instance, and yes that included mom.
There was a dachshund in the bunch also inherited from someone. Mom had a gentle heart and if another was giving away a dog or getting ready to take to shelter, she stepped up and brought it home.
Another uncle and aunt were heading to Iran in the early 70's, and we ended up with a apricot colored poodle, named Mittens, and a Great Dane-Pyrenees mix named Boots. So we had our Socks, Mittens and Boots. Mittens lived to a great age of 19 years, she was blind at the end of her life, but it didn't stop her from digging for rabbits. Boots scared everyone because of his size, and there were times he wouldn't let people into the house, he would put both front paws on the door and look at them with the expression on his face of "I dare you."
After graduating highschool and moving out with my first husband, I inherited his dogs. A Blue heeler, who was very well trained. My first husband was also a dog person, so we had quite a few. A Red Dobie, called Cajun, he was a beautiful dog, and again people were scared of him, never understood that one, because if you said "boo" loud enough he would piss across the floor to get away from you. He was stolen. Another Blue heeler followed, Named Tika, she was a very smart pup, again someone walked off with her at age 6 months.
We also claimed a wolf dog, she was 40 percent wolf and 60 percent husky. We called her Sheena, she was very hard to train, but she was my best buddy through my divorce. As we both claimed her, she would spend time with my ex also. She passed after being hit by a car, in his care. I never really forgave him for that.
After the divorce, I found a Rottwieler mix, who helped me get through my first pregnancy.
Upon leaving Wyoming, I had to leave her behind with friends, who kept me informed of her well being until she passed.
Once in Indiana, I got married again. During the beginning of this marriage, a group of dogs were running the neighborhood, a bitch and her pups. I grabbed the biggest fluffliest one of the group and we had ourselves another dog. Bear, whom, I assumed to be part chow and part lab, lived to the ripe old age of 17, he was my children's dog through their youth. He was finally put down, because of cancer, not old age.
I again got divorced and Beardog was gone, the house a bit lonely with two kids moved out and two still at home. I then choose to go back to my roots and get an Aussie. I picked up Rudy( aka Rude Bitch) at a pet store, before you complain this way 20 years ago. Rudy was a black tri, and extremely smart, and very protective. I found her a baby brother, on the internet, a Red merle, who was deaf. Iceman, became my soul dog. Im also deaf. We added another one on behalf of my youngest daughter, a blue merle from Kentucky, Whinifred (aka Whiney). My interest in training became stronger with these three. This is when I really started to study dog behavior and various methods of training.
Iceman competed in 4-h with my nephew, only deaf dog, and he took 2nd place.
Whiney passed first, never did know why? Then years later Rudy passed and Ice followed soon after.
I waited a few years, sold my house, moved to an apartment. My daughter talked me into another dog, saying for safety sake, my being deaf, I should consider a hearing service dog. So here comes Domino, whom I worked with his breeder through out his mothers pregnancy, and she sent pictures of all the pups, and I glanced through them, and saw Dom's, and it was instant, "Thats the one."
But with Aussies there is this unwritten rule, anyone who owns one knows. One Aussie is good, but two are Great. So I went on a hunt, looking for a particular coloring, a red tri, I had one picked out, super breeder, whom I trust completely. But things occured out of his hands and mine and the pup did not survive. So I went to another breeder whom I had been talking with, and settled on one of her pups. Best settle I ever did, While Dandy is not breed standard, she is a yellow, she is all Aussie.
Here they are my idiot twins, D and D. Domino Archer Rydian and Dandelion Allain Boireannch.
Domino was named for his coloring, minimal blue merle, Archer comes from an arrow on his nose, and Rydian is welsh for handsome man. Dandy is named for her coloring, like a dandelion, Allain Boireannch from from scots Beautiful woman. Both are registered through American Stock Dog Registry.
Both are extremely smart and we learn new tricks every day. With Covid, The ADSR gave the chance to title without having to show in person, and that is what started me on this trick dog thing. Once I got started researching, I saw how many others were looking to find various titles and things to do with their dogs. I decided to put my research into a blog, to help others find resources.
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