MissM

My very best friend was Lady Alice of Rockhound. When I first got her as at 6 weeks she was so small I could hold her in one hand. She was the runt of the litter. She was born July 6, 1993 and passed away from our loving arms on August 8, 2009. Oh how I dearly miss her. Alice traveled to Europe and lived there with us for our 7 year tour and came back to the states when we returned. She was dearly loved by our "putz frau", who cried over her when we left to return to the US. She is not the only one who cried over her either. Our Rat Terrier, Molly litterly cried and mourned for two weeks after Alice passed. She carried Alice's ball around from room to room, looking for her. She would not let me or DH out of her site. Not even to get in the swimming pool. As a result, Molly learned to swim, and how to climb the ladder to get out of the pool. To this day, that ball is still Molly's favorite toy, and she carries it around all the time. At this time we have 5 dogs. Alice and Molly are the only ones we have had since puppies, all of our other's we have gotten as resuce dogs. We have Little Bit, a Min Pin; Ginger, a Manchester Terrier; Bella, a Jack Rat; and Harley, a Rat Terrier.

Celeste

Just had to share this with you-all! On December 3rd we'd been having pretty windy weather. The other night when we heard what Dawn and I figured was small branches falling, I turned to Emily to see what our "guard dog" was making of all the commotion. She seemed to look at me like, "You gonna go check that out?"

Celeste

Sorry to learn of Jake, but glad you had Chip.

Maybe Chip was letting your SU hold him as a congratulations type thing. BTW, Congratulations Coach and team!

Celeste

MissM You've gotta bunch of cuties! I love it when my dog(s) pile up around me!

echoemb

Well here is my crew. She is my second cattle dog. I got her 9 days after my first ACD, Sadie died. I could not go on without a dog and I got Squaw. She is an awesome dog. She has 2 agility championships, a CD in obedience and a Rally excellent title. She has always been more than willing to do whatever I wanted to do with a dog. She is my first "competition dog". She will be 9 in June, 2012 and is slowing down but still wants to do. She has pancreatitis and has for the last 4 years of her life. that is what ended her agility career. It will eventually kill her but so far she is doing really well. Just have to keep her on a low fat diet, no fatty treats and love her.

I founded and ran a ACD rescue for 3 years and these two dogs are how I found out about them. If I hadn't taken Rex he would have died shortly and Dally with his attitude wouldn't not have lasted in a home I don't think.

The next dog in my family is Rex. Got him 6 hours before he was scheduled to be put to sleep. He was a mess. Had failed his behavior test, VERY fear aggressive (in fact he looked like he would take your throat out), hated men. Turns out he is missing part of a rib on one side and I suspect someone hurt him pretty bad. Well, I worked with him for a year (alot of timeouts for Rex) and he is now my silly, clown, goofy dog. He still isn't thrilled with alot of men but he has been known to approach somebody at the part or at class. He has a CGC (which our teacher said he would never be "well" enough to get-ha, fooled her and in fact he was the first in the class to pass the test). He will be 5 in January. He is quite the love and my self appointed protector. He lays behind me while I do dishes and guards the door while I take a shower but he is also the silliest dog I have ever had. He actually wiggles his butt clear around to his nose when he wags his tail and I only have to glance in his direction and that tail just goes.

Then there is "butthead". Dally, my avatar has been a challenge. He was turned into a high kill shelter at 5 weeks for biting. Ha, at 5 weeks. The rescue coordinator sent his picture and of course he had to come to me. Well, he was very skinny, VERY wormy, they had cut his tail off and it didn't look so good and he came on the transport with 7 other puppies who all go parvo (all survived). So we worked on getting him healthy and then discovered this ATTITUDE!! I happen to like the ACD attitude but he took it to the 9th power. I spent 3 days fighting with him over a lawn chair when he was about 4 mos old. He'd get in and growl and show his teeth and just wasn't going to let me have that chair...well, fooled him, I won those fights. He has been a challenge but I have won all the battles and at almost 3 he is turning into a really nice dog. Listens most of time, is a very sweet boy and LOVES playing ball and agility. So these are my furkids. All very different in attitude but loveable in their own way.

echoemb

Here's Rex and Dally's "baby" pictures

echoemb

I have one more dog I want to share as this dog had a profound effect on me. As I said I ran a rescue and one of my contact called and said they have a feral dog that they had captured, they had been working with her but weren't getting very far and they didn't really have anybody who could work with her and would I take her? I said no for a month. Finally wore me down and she was delivered tranqualized in a dog crate. Well, she WAS feral. Could not touch her, ran into her dog house when you entered her pen, lots of teeth and nasty. Well it took 9 months but I got her into a house, leash trained, housebroken although she just knew not to potty in the house and then I found her an AWESOME home. (it did take 2 tries before I found the right people who got that she was never going to be a "normal" dog) It was not easy but it just shows the power of these dogs to come from a snarling nasty dog into a princess and she is a princess. I learned tons from her and actually Rex taught her to walk on a leash. I tied her to Rex and then Rex and I went for a walk. I knew that troubled dogs can overcome alot and I also know that most people just do not appreciate what awesome creatures dogs are (sorry cat people). I will be eternally grateful for the experience. It was just so neat to watch her personality emerge and see her get it and get up on the couch and sleep in the safe, warm house and her new people just love her. So here is her picture and her name is Lyra.

Celeste

echoemb

Wow, what great stories! And what a crew! I cannot imagine the strength of character you have to be able to win over and train those furry ones. There's no doubt you are THE alpha of alphas. I am in awe of what you have done to help these beautiful creatures, and how their lives are so much better for having you in their lives.

Just reading about them has brought such joy into my day. I love all animals, but have to admit am drawn to dogs more. Are you one who helps people with behavior problem dogs?

quiltdoctor

I have always had terriers, but DH wanted a yorkie. (we have more than enough now. lol) The 6 pounders are pretty sturdy, but the tiny 3 pounders can be hurt so easily. We do trip over, trip on and wind around this busy crew. Guess after having so many little mill dogs, sewing machines are easy. They don't bark or poop or pp on the floor. lol

Texas Jan

Celeste

Funny. LOL!