callian german shepherds, etc.
As long as I can remember, there has been a dog in my life.
My first German
Shepherd was "Peppy". I was three, and she was
beautiful. Peppy was followed
by three more German Shepherds, all named
"Rembrandt" (my Dad's idea). I caught the show
bug when I was 12, but my parents
were not interested.
I settled for training Rembrandt Jr. through Open
Obedience.
Growing up we had other dogs - Bradley the Afghan Hound
puppy we found wandering outside
my dad's bowling alley, Jock the miniature
poodle, and Sugar Ray, the enormous cocker spaniel
who adored my mother.
My life evolved around the dogs - learning as much as I could, volunteering
after school for the
local vet and reading every book I could get my hands on.
Canine behavior was the topic of my
8th grade science project starring none
other than Rembrandt, and some of the neighborhood dogs.
I graduated
from
too unpredictable
making it difficult to keep a dog. I managed my dog fix by volunteering for
Greyhound Pets of America re-homing retired racing Greyhounds in the
The regional TV program,
"Texas Country Reporter"
with Bob
Phillips featured the efforts of program
leader Denny Baker and
I. I volunteered with other rescue groups as well -
Cairn Terriers, Poodles, and
a purebred rescue group which brought and
assortment of dogs in my door and later into good homes.
It was through rescue I met Margo Klingler
(Dimension Schnauzers), my first mentor and intro into the
world of dog shows.
Margo gave me a Miniature Schnauzer to learn to groom and show. Her name
was
Cricket - Dimension's Royal Secret. Margo taught me the craft - she took me to
shows, and let me
groom and show some of her dogs. I learned a lot from Margo,
who is now a well-respected AKC judge.
If you are interested in a Schnauzer, or
other terrier breed, I will be happy to forward your inquiry to her.
Around 1992, My Dad bought a German Shepherd puppy -
Rembrandt! He gave him to my Grandmother, who lived
alone. Unfortunately only a few months later,
Frammy
was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. She moved in with my sister, and
Rembrandt came
to live with me. I noticed almost immediately that getting up was
difficult for him, and he limped when he walked.
X-rays confirmed he had a severe case of ununited
anconeal process, a form of
elbow dysplasia, which is
passed down from the
parents. Click on this link to the
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for
more
information on this crippling disease.
Every responsible breeder x-rays their dogs' hips and elbows, and submits the
x-rays to OFA for evaluation.
Breeding certified dogs greatly reduces the risk
of subjecting future generations of puppies to this often
painful genetic
disorder.
If you get to know me, you'll know that I'm very straightforward, and live my
life as an open book. I
called Rembrandt's breeder to tell him about the elbows
thinking every breeder was as concerned
about dysplasia. He obviously didn't
want to hear it, and told me the dog was dysplastic
because
he had "stomach worms". He told me he was going to sue me if I ever
called him again. My vet and
the OFA confirm dogs do not get dysplasia from
worms.
I
do not recommend Heidelberg German Shepherds
nor Eugene Thompson, and warn anyone who
thinks their beautiful kennel
facility means they guarantee the puppies they sell. Their guarantee is so
tied
up in fine print, you'll be lucky to actually get a replacement or your money
back should something
go wrong.
Ch. Abraxas Blaze of Glory TC HIC OFA
My first
German Shepherd show dog was "River", Ch. Abraxas
Blaze of Glory TC HIC OFA Hips and Elbows.
His breeders are
Abraxas German Shepherds, Ken and Patty Downing.
Thanks to Marci Linn for referring them to me.
River was whelped February 14, 1993, and became my best friend, as well as my
first Champion.
He was my constant companion, following me from Jacksonville,
Florida and back to Texas. We dabbled in
Agility and Herding, but our favorite
activities were hiking and swimming.
River produced a few wonderful litters of puppies. His legacy lives on through
Ch. T-Ho Callian's All That "Sizzle",
Callian's Ultraviolet, Callian's
Mysterious Ways, Callian's Whispering River, Callian's Hugs and Kisses, and many
others.
He lived a long healthy life, passing just after his 10th birthday.
I currently serve as Public Relations Chair for the German
Shepherd Dog Club of America.
I am single, but am blessed with a wonderful niece and six amazing nephews.
Do you want to work at Microsoft? I'm a recruiter at Microsoft, specializing in
Marketing positions and am
the company online
advertising staffing specialist.
I
am fortunate to have great dogs, great friends, and great family. Please explore
these pages to learn
more about my favorite things.
Feel free to email me anytime! I look forward to meeting you.