natenqen

Hi all, I thought I would tell stories about my big lug and a few others that I was luckly enough to meet.

Claudia,

Claudia is my sister's pug dog mix. They bought her when my sister and her family were in Idaho to finish the last of her college schooling and they decided they wanted a small companion dog. (My sister has had a pure bred pug dog before.) So it was only natural that she fell in love when she saw Claudia at the shelter. From the stories told to me by my sister, was that she was very skinny and very much abused by her former owner. It took a lot of work to get her to where she is now. So here is the first meeting.

My mother was visiting her when she was in Idaho and they were getting ready to move back within one year and a half. They've talked my mother into bringing back the pug mix claudia. And since I had a vehicle, my mother called me and told me her flight time and that she was going to bring this pug. Now, I have seen pugs before as my sister used to own one when she was younger and I loved him when I would go visit her. So I was thinking, awe, a cute litttle adult pug mix. My sister and mother said it was a small dog. (What they failed to mention was that she was over weight.) So, the day came and I went to our major airport to pick up my mom and the pug mix named Claudia. When we waited for the baggage area, I was somewhat shocked. The crate she was in was a medium sized. So I figured, okay, maybe they wanted the pug to have some extra room. So when I went to pick up the crate with one hand, (thinking it was lite.) but couldn't get her off the moving baggage claim. So, I used both hands and pulled her off.

"Mom, what the heck did you bring back. This can't be a pug, it's too heavy. What you brought back has to be an english bull dog." She started to laugh and I asked to let her out and I was surprised to see a fat, pug mix. I was blown away. So, that was my little story and we had her live with us for about a year and half and when her mommy came home, we said good bye, but we knew she was just a walk away.

Now, she thinks of her mommy's home as her second home and our home as her first. When they let her out in the morning, she travels down the street to our house where my mother will let her in. (Or I will when I leave for work and let my big lug out on the lead.) He just loves her and even though he acts like a little puppy still, she will often give him warning growls when he doesn't read her signs. In which I would step up and give my own warning. (I love the 'leave it.' command.)

natenqen

This is an alaskan husky I owned when I was little. He was one of the best dogs I have ever had. I had decided to try and walk him to go to the store to buy some candy. I was really enjoying the walk and my boy did nothing to drag me. He did not have training, but it was as if he knew I was not as strong as him and so he mind not pulling me. I used to own a small mushing sled and had hooked him up and he would pull me out in the tundra on the snowmachine trail. (Again no training.) What can I say, I was young. I didn't see him as needing a train, I saw him as my companion, comforter, protector, and playmate.

I had seen the movie Cujo. (the saint bernard that ended up having rabies.) But I didn't know that at the time and thought all SB's had that mean killing streak. (I knew better now when I began to understand pure breds.) I'm not off topic yet, this has to do with the story.

So I was walking my dog Buster and when we passed one court that had six houses. (Each owned by different people not related.) I heard a loud voice of a man calling a dog. I looked in the direction and that was when I saw this SB heading right for my dog. Before I could react, he was ontop of my dog and the two were fighting. I was so scared and afraid that I took up a rather huge stick laying on the ground and began screaming and crying and hitting the SB on the back when he was on top of my dog. Oventually the owners whistled and the SB ran back. Buster wanted to chase after him, but I guess when he realized I was crying, he came back to me and I hugged him. I decided to walk back home with him and from than on, I did not dare to walk him anywhere. Nor any other dog I had for that matter until I got Kryesor.


For a long while, I used to hate SB's until my ex-boyfriend wanted to watch Cujo and I reluctantly refused. But he convinced me and after watching it again, I realized the SB had rabies he got from the bat bite. (When I was a sophmore) After that, I decided to research the SB and found that they arn't the nasty, evil dogs that Cujo had portrayed. And there was also Beetohoven. (I know it's not spelled correct.) So, now I know that it wasn't the SB at fault. It was either the owners or they had purched a back yard breeder's dog. Now, I am not hating of the breed, but I am still a bit uncomfortable when I see one. Even one that's as big as the SB, but isn't a SB.

Mikey

Thanks for sharing And it's so neat to hear how you got over SB fear I was never allowed to watch Cujo and I have to say once I was old enough to be allowed I decided against it-so i haven't seen it. I think I won't

natenqen

Well, mikey, I wouldn't recommend it. The only reason I was able to watch it because when I was younger, I loved scary movies and it happen to be on after my bed time on cable and I snuck out of my bedroom to watch it with uncle.

natenqen

Same alaskan husky Buster. Hearing a story in an other post made me remember what my husky did.

When grandma, mom, and I decided to go berry picking out on the tundra. I think we were picking black berries. So, we went out of the small city's limits and out into the tundra. We brought Buster with us for protection just in case we happen to run into anything.

Buster was excited and running all over the place. But he managed to stay within eye sight of us and after he had his nice freedom of running, he sat started to eat grass and a few moments later threw it up and than he was done. After that, he sat down and watched us. (I had managed to look up to make sure he was still around us.) Content he was there, I continued picking the black berries bent down at the knee. (This was the first time we have ever decided to take him with us.) Before I knew it, he went to my grandmother and pawed at her hand as she tried to pick. Grandmother slapped his paw and he decided to move to my mom. Mom shushed him away and finally he came up to me. (I only knew this because grandmother gave a 'no.' command and grandmother told me she slapped his paw.)

I pretended to ignore him and continue picking and he watches me. (I was using the corners of my eyes.) So than he did something strange, he started to paw at the bache of berries I was picking at. I giggled and pushed him away playfully. He had jumped back and looked at me as I glanced up to him and went back to picking berries. So I started to see what would happen if he saw me eatting them. So, instead of putting them in my bucket, i started to eat them. I thought he had lost interest and I started to continue. (He had turned his back to me.) When I finally looked up, I noticed he had his head down and came up with a mouth full of berries and tundra. (He gave that mouthing of when you put peanut butter on the roof of their mouth thing.) I think to get out the tundra. Once he had gotten most of it out, he swallowed the berries.

I started to laugh because it was the funnies thing I ever saw. (When he was young, I was bad. I put peanut butter on my finger and when he went to eat it, I scrapped it to the top of his mouth.)

I think this was before my encounter with the GSD and the drama when I walked my first dog ever on leash.

natenqen

Okay, my sub-title I put Dog Show. The question marks are... well... listen and find out.

About 7 years ago, our city decided to try and have a dog show and I wasn't so sure about it. For one, it didn't really interest me at the time because I figured all the breeds would be strange mixes of the alaskan husky. I wanted to check it out a few times during the years but something always came up. Finally, this year, I was able to attend the 7th annual dog show here in our little city.

About 4 years ago, I wanted to try and enter my big lug into the show ring, but asked around town about mixes. A co-worker who owned an unusual miniature german shepherd. (It is actually a multiple mix to come out looking like a GSD only in a small package.) Told me that she and her hubby went to it and told me some of the categories.

I know what you're thinking... Categories? Well, she said they had working, non-sporting, toy, terrier, Non-working, and Delta Breed and the winners of each group would have a Best of Show... Aside from that, they had, best tail wagger, most independent, best obedient, best tricks, most noisy, best costume, oldest dog, mystery breed, and finally cutes dog...

I can hear your thoughts now. (What?) Needless to say, if you are one who follows show rings, you know that this is NOT an offical dog show hosted by any kennel club. It is a strickly dog lovers and their pets to do something, while win little trophies.

So yeah, I thought, well he isn't an old dog, and he does have a good tail wag, he's could compete in the Detal Breed and also most independent. But, when I took him to the vet for his annual check up, a rottweiler came out of the vets office into the waiting area where we were up next and my dog instantly wanted to attack. Growling, hair up, and lunging. Luckly I was able to get him focused on me and we walked outside and told the vet assistant that we'll come back when the rottie leaves. So, when the rottie left, we went back inside and my hopes to do this 'fun activitiy' went down the drain. (It doesn't help that my anexiety of the horrible experience doesn't help.)

So, this year, I borrowed my boss's digital camera. (Boss at work, friend not at work.) I was going to take some pictures and have you guys view this 'interesting' unoffical dog show. But the camera wasn't working. So I've decided I would try to explain to you all about it.

(I've got to go spend some 'exercise' time with Kryesor, but when I get back, I'll do the second post. Stay tuned.)

natenqen

I'll do a walk through of what I was doing.

As I approached the building with my sister's truck and parked, I saw a white colored looking dog go into the building. (I didn't get a good enough look to see what kind it was.) Once I parked, I went to the large ramp of the building and began to walk up. As I neared the double doors, there were a few people in the porch. As I opened the door, I was greeted by a dog in someone's arms with a kiss on the cheek. That got my attention adn turned after closing the door to see a beautiful white and liver colored spaniel of some type. I was in love. I asked the owner if I could pet her and see her and awe, it was just the cutest thing I ever saw. So lovable and gentle tempered it seem. I asked if it was a Cavelier King... (I was watching the dog show at the time and saw the cavelier king charles.) and she said yes. I was so in love I wanted to take the dog. (perhaps it will be on my list of hope to own one day.)

As I walked through the second double doors, I saw a long line to the right of me with a table where owners and their dogs were signing up. As I made my way into the sitting area, I noticed a few dogs. I stopped when I saw the Siberian Husky and I asked if I could pet the big doggy and gave me permission. I asked if it was a Malamute and she said no it's a siberian husky. I blushed. (Here I am a lover of huskies and I messed up on the breed... How embarressing.) I began to look on and saw an Alaskan husky. This was a real alaskan husky, not the ones with mixes. It's ears were up, it was black with a short double coat, pointed ears and the husky head and muzzel. (Almost looked like my big lug only a bit taller and more white than a soft liver tan color like my dog. Plus my dog's ears are floppy like the rotties.)

As I began to make my seat, I thought it was the best place to sit. (I later foudn out it wasn't.) As I saw down, I saw a door opening where the dogs and their owners were at. As I watched the door, I noticed what looked to be an aussie with a limp leg. (not sure what happened there.) what looked to be a border collie, a yorkie with a puppy cut and a yorkie mix looked like, but I heard in the back a stistinc howl which I knew had to be either the Alaskan husky or the Siberian. (I didn't know the malamute was there until it came out to show.) As they began to show the pedegree dogs first, my heart jumped a beat when I saw the dog that has caused me to be nervious. A Saint Bernard. When they were running in jogging in a circle, I nearly pushed myself away. (more of a reaction than anything else.) I had to calm myself down and remind myself this Saint Bernard is not the one that attacked way back when. After giving myself a prep talk, I started to relax and began to watch the volunteer judges look at each breed. (like they know how to tell the best representation of their breed.) I take it they were basing the dogs off of the look from an eye point of view. (ears and coat colors.)

I was somewhat bumbed because I was hoping to meet the owner of the Akita I saw and a few GSD's. I had also tried to convince my two friends who own Alaskan Malamute puppies to join, but they couldnt' get away from work. When it came to the Delta Breed, I was stunned by a chocholate colored mixed dog that no one knew what it was. (I could tell easily by it's eyes, the blaze on it's head and the curly tail.) It had to most likely be a chocholate lab, alaskan husky mix. This puppy was an orphan and they took it from the dog pound in hopes to get it rescued. (As I watched the puppy, when it came to the other dogs, it's hair raised and it lashed out at the other dogs that were of it's size.) It did not dare to try it's luck with a huge siberian or collie. When the announcer announced this puppy needed a home, I wish the announcer had stated, this puppy would do mostly well as a single dog family not a family with more than one dog. The puppy was wanting to jump and play with all the kiddies who were sitting on the floor and the puppy, from what I could see, did not show any signs or signals of nerviousness. I have brought it down to just too much excitement and over stimulated.

Oh, I have to say one thing, I met after the show, two beautiful pitbull terriers. The female was a sweet and gentle temeperment with a wagging tail. (she tried out for the best tail wagger and didn't win.) I would have to say, I think a lot of people view the pitbull terrier as an aggressive dog and didn't think they couldn't wag their tails. (Crazy volunteer judges!) I didn't get a chance to meet the male because they had left, but the female was just to die for.

I was surprised to see a tzh tzu (how ever you spell it.) It had a home made puppy cut, but it was cute. And the long haired dauchound was beautiful with a perfect puppy cut and it was all black.

There was this dauchound mix that as him and owner came out, the dog walked out in a jumping on hind legs. (It was just too cute and funny.) this belonged to an 10 year old boy. He obviously did training on this dog because he had it's full focus on him the entire time. The dog was very food driven, but even when he didn't have food. Some of the other dog tricks that a couple of them used was 'dead dog' command, but the dog just looked at him. (I figured this was because it was over stimulated or not used to so much attention and people.) the mix didn't show any signs of nerviousness, but it looked like it just wanted to sit there and wag it's tail.

And of course, the most independant was hilarious to watch. The rule is the judge has to take the command and give the dog a simple obiedience that the owner has (tried) to teach them. Most were sit and laydown. The dogs who entered for this category had obeyed the judges which was funny. When it came to the shaggy Alaskan Malamute, it didn't even care and just layed down. When the owner and the judges tried to get him to get up, he just layed there wagging his tail. It was funny and of course he won.

I wish I could show you pictures of some of these dogs. It would give you guys an idea of what I'm talking about. I was hopeing to see some labradors, golden retrievers, GSD's and Rotties, because they are the most common breeds out here. I was also hopeing to see the Akita which didn't show up.

Arrrggg, I was so angery when the camera stopped working because I got pictures of the building, the sign up, and the trophy's, but before the show started, the camera died on me. Plus, I was in the wrong place to take proper pictures anyways.

I know the person who was in charge of getting this event up and going and I will email her and see if she could give me some pictures of the winners of the categories. As I left, I left with a few breeds to add onto my list of future dogs to own. The Caverlier, Pitbull terrier (with it's floppy ears.) So cute!!!, and the Aussie.

So, if I get pictures, I will gladly share them with you all.

natenqen

Okay, I know I promised pictures of the winners, but I was able to at least get the names of the dogs and their breed. Once the pictures come up, I will modify them for all to see.

Category/ # of enterees/ winner/ breed/ owner

Sporting Group/ 5 / Zeke/ German Wirehaired Pointer / Kyle

Toy Group / 8 / Jonas / Cavelair King Charles Spaniel/ Christy

Working Group/ 5 / Avalanche / Alaskan Malamute/ Lee

Terrier Group/ 4 / Duncan / Scottish Terrier/ The Keplers (Family)

Non-Sporting Group/ 4 / Mishka/ Bichon Fraise/ Gula

Hearding Group/ 4 / Rex / Border Collie/ Aaika

Hound Group/ 1 / Bess/ Long Haired Dachshund/ Sarah

Delta Mix/ 7 / Rosie/ Dachshund mix/ Nate (The puppy who walked into the show ring jumping. Very cute.)

Best in Show/ of 8 winners/ Zeke/ German Wirehaired Pointer/ Kyle

And here are the fun categories.

Most Independent/ 6 / Avalanche/ Alaskan Malamute/ Lee

Most Unusual Markings/ 3 / Brother/ Austrial Shepherd/ Mike

Best Tail Wagger/ 10 / Neesa/ Red Nosed Pit Bull Terrier/ Richard

Most Mysterious Heritage/ 1 / Chica/ Unknown Mixed Breed/ Barb (I actually believe this was the puppy that was in the dog pound that a volunteer showed to get people to adopt her, two other dogs, and two cats. To me, she looked like a siberian husky or Malamute mix.)

Best Vocal Performance/ 4 / Avalanche/ Alaskan Malamute/ Lee They didn't want to howl or bark so we (the audience) began to howl and bark and they responded.

Most Obiedient/ 7 / Rex/ Border Collie/ Aaki

Best Old Timer/ 4 / Samson 11 3/4 year old Yorkshire Terrier/ Andrea

Most Origional Costume/ 9 / Kiska/ Schnauzer / Cindy (I believe was a standard size.)

Best Trick/ 10 / Rex/ Border Collie/ Aaki

Most Adorable/ 15 / Spotty Douglas/ Chorkie (?)/ Cindi (I put the question mark becuase to me, spotty did not look like your average Chorkie. he was all hairless unless the owner shaved him.)

Best in Show/ of 10 winners/ Spotty Douglas/ Chorkie (?)/ Cindi

There you have it. Once I get the pictures, I will post them up. I promise. So what do you guys think?