Hello From Alaska

[IliamnasQuest]

Hi all from the snowy north!

I'm Melanie, currently owned by five dogs:

Kylee, 14 year old chow, wonderful companion and working dog (five obedience titles, four agility titles, schutzhund BH and herding certified). Now a retired and happy couch potato.

Trick, will be 10 in May and is a German shepherd .. goes everywhere with me and is one of the world's best dogs. She spends a lot of time down at the fishing lodge greeting guests and fetching beer. She also has three obedience titles, two agility titles, a rally title, is herding certified and is working in open obedience, rally and freestyle.

Dora, 8 year old chow, goofy funny dog that is 50% couch potato, 30% clown and 20% willing worker. But she has two agility titles and is working on her first obedience title (has one qualifying score).

Tori, nearly 8 year old shepherd, one of the most agile and athletic dogs I've ever been around. Unfortunately had a rough start in life and so she has a few problems but overall she is a loving dog that lives for playtime and is wonderful with people.

Khana, 15 month old chow who is the light of my life these days. She's added a spark into the household and never fails to make me smile. Khana is almost ready for the rally ring and will be in obedience too, but also shows in conformation and has her first point (in her first set of shows at nine months old). Khana is also working in freestyle and does the most amazing back around me .. sometimes when I'm not expecting it! *L*

I teach obedience, rally and have taught agility in the past and I also do behavior consultations so I pretty much live dogs a good part of the time. All five of my girls cohabitate peacefully in my house (which is never hair-free, I will admit!). It's a wonderful way to live!

I will enjoy looking over the posts here and I'm sure I'll find things to say along the way .. *L*

Here's a photo of the five together .. This is a year old though, the puppy is HUGE now!

http://www.peninsulayardsale.com/dogs/5girls3feb.jpg

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

http://www.kippsdogs.com/kd.gif

[RD]

Hi Melanie, welcome! You have BEAUTIFUL dogs... 'Specially those Chows, I'm quite partial to the breed. Congrats on agility titles with them, it's awesome to see actual working Chows.

[IliamnasQuest]

Thanks, RD! Working with the chows has been a real learning experience for ME .. *L* .. but I have loved every minute of it. I never meant to have chows, but I was working at a vet clinic and we did a rescue on a chow that I was only going to keep until we found her a home .. and that's been 14 years ago now! Once I kept her for a bit I couldn't give her up. Now I'm hooked.

Having chows and shepherds is really interesting, because they are conformationally and mentally opposite in some ways. I can't always use the same techniques as they have different ways of processing information. But it's a blast figuring out what makes them tick.

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

[Barb04]

Welcome! I love your family photo!

[Cleverk9]

Welcome! im new here also, what a great family you have im sure that they get into alot of antics :D

Looking forwards too seeing some more pics and hearing some stories about them :)

[Fuzz Puppy]

Hi! Welcome to Chazhound! What adorable dogs you have there. :) :)

[IliamnasQuest]

Many thanks, Barb and Cleverk9 and Fuzz Puppy!

Cleverk9 - oh my, these girls get into ALL sorts of mischief! *L* They keep me amused, that's for sure. I'd be lost without them.

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

[blue]

Welcome to the board, nice to see another Alaskan. Great lookin dogs.