Throughout my life I have had many dogs. Whether I knew it or not, they have all taught me something. I mention the dogs that I do here because they have helped to shape me the most in regards to teaching and training. They have inspired me to learn more about dog behavior, how dogs learn and why they do what they do.
Magic – Magic was the puppy everyone warns you not to get. Shy and hiding in the back on the kennel, but so cute you can’t resist. I purchased her from a breeder in Texas at the age of 4 months. I doubt she ever left the premises in those 4 months; she hid under the front seat of the car the entire way home. She turned out to be extremely bright, active, and a lightning fast learner! The next year was spent doing what I called “saturation bombing” socialization and she ended up being able to fall asleep in pit row at the Jet Ski races (a hobby I engaged in for 5 years). She was euthanized at the age of 6 due to uncontrollable epilepsy. Magic taught me more about the importance of early socialization than any dog I have owned, and for that I thank her!
Checkers, CGC, OA, OAJ – Never have I worked with a dog that had such enthusiasm and zest for life. To Checkers every new day was an excuse to play. When he was young, I found this trait completely annoying; it was impossible to keep him focused on the task at hand. As he matured, and calmed down, I envied his self confidence and happy-go-lucky personality. He approached every new challenge with a “can-do” attitude, whether it was obedience, herding, flyball, or Frisbee. What he loved, and excelled at most, was agility. He started his agility career later in life, around the age of 6, but was soon competing at the Excellent level. Checkers wasn’t just an agility dog, he was my buddy. He went to work with me, went on vacations with me and helped me teach puppy classes. Together we did presentations at elementary schools and visited hospitals and nursing homes. I lost Checkers to congestive heart failure at the age of 11. Checkers taught me to look for the fun in things, to enjoy life and never be afraid to try something new.
Kachina Mtn’s. Annie Oakley (Annie) CGC, OA, OAJ, JS-N, GS-N, RS-N – Annie is my current dog. Originally purchased to be an agility dog, her owners returned her to the breeder at the age of 15 months. A week later she came to live with me. Annie was shy and fearful, but desperately wanted to please and to do the right thing. She fit in immediately with Checkers and my 2 cats. I enrolled her in group obedience classes and in agility classes. Once she began training, her self confidence grew amazingly fast. So far, Annie has passed her Canine Good Citizen test and earned both her Novice and Open titles in agility. But, because of her sensitive nature, I have to be careful not to push her too fast in her training. Annie is teaching me about patience and relationship building.
Legend’s StarN Cordovan Cowboy (Cord) CGC – Introducing the newest member of the Manners for Mutts family, Cord. Cord comes to us from Legends Three Pine Ranch (Legends & StarN Aussies), a 480 acre ranch in New Mexico that raises sheep and Australian Shepherds. At barely 2 years of age he has begun a promising career in agility and on stock, helps me as a demo dog in my training classes, and provides comic relief on a daily basis. Cord has a wonderful, fun-loving personality and is wicked smart. We have high hopes for this boy!
