We have always loved animals
and through the years have shared our home with many dogs, cats and even
birds. Our first purebred dog was a Lhasa Apso, then we got a Siberian
Husky, Samoyeds and we now have Belgian Tervuren. Through the years we
have also gotten personal experience with many other breeds of dogs. Echo a Siberian Husky was the dog that got us started in the world of dog
training and showing. Together we earned her American/Canadian UD by the
time she was 4 and 1/2 years old. Echo taught me to persevere even when
the going got tough. She also taught me to problem solve. Working with
Echo made me realize how much I loved the sport of training and showing.
Echo loved showing too. She was born a clown and I never knew what she
might do in the ring next, making us all laugh on numerous occasions. She
definitely taught me not to take things so seriously. My next dog was Dezi, my first Belgian Tervuren. Dezi was my greatest
teacher, she taught me to slow down, to learn how to read a dog and become
totally aware of the surroundings. She taught me to appreciate small successes.
If it weren't for Echo and Dezi we would not be doing what we truly enjoy
and that is teaching and learning every day.
Pete got started showing when he wanted to train Echo after he saw how
she was doing; I told him that he needed his own dog, so he started working
with the Lhasa. The next show we went to was Minneapolis Kennel Club when
it was still a Bench show, and I saw Pete standing by the Samoyed ring.
Pete got a very nice Samoyed (Mystique) that earned her American/Canadian
U.D. in a short time. Mystique was also the 2nd Samoyed in the nation to
earn a Working certificate for all of her hours visiting the nursing home. |