malmo
09-14-2007, 03:56 PM
Shoot. I was going to wait until the new puppy arrived to introduce myself and my pack, but darnitall, I am here every day and I keep posting. So, I figured that while I try to fend off puppy-oh-my-gosh-I'm-getting-a-puppy anticipation, I could at least introduce us.
I'm Mal. I'm a 32 y.o. psychotherapist in Los Angeles (a breed as common as papparazzi around here). I specialize in art therapy, and have also done some art commissions and classes on the side. I love my work. I have lived all over the world and I come from a crazy family of 7 siblings. I'm dating a really great guy who is a huge animal rights activist. I'm also going to try to go back to school next year and earn my PhD. That'll be Dr. Mal, to you. (Please oh please oh please oh please...)
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/miloboy.jpg
Milo is 5.5 years old, now. He's at least mostly Maltese, but he's large and sturdy at 11 pounds. Unfortunately, I bought him from a BYB before I knew any better. Milo's been with me through thick and thin over the past 5 years, including many moves, grad school, trips, etc. I have worked very hard on training him and, while he still has his quirks, I couldn't ask for a better companion.
For about 5 of those 5.5 years, though, Milo has been asking for a better companion. I noticed right off that bat that when we got to spend time with another dog (or if we had a roommate with a dog, or we were fostering a dog, or whatever) that he was infinitely happier and calmer. I've been talking myself out of getting a second dog for 5 years, and finally the timing is right and I have found a situation that makes sense for us.
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070903-mcgeemilo2.jpg
So, I will be bringing home our new puppy on the night of September 20th. She is tentatively named McGee and I have been posting weekly pictures of her over in the puppy forum. (Week 6 (http://chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60564), Week 7 (http://chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61189), and Week 8 with a little foray over to ask advice from the breeders (http://chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61193).) She's a rescue but we think she is mostly (if not all) chihuahua.
I found chazhound through google when I was looking for answers about positive training and socialization. For several weeks, I only read the training and puppy forums, but now that I've discovered the "new posts" button, there's no stopping me! Mostly, I wanted to thank you all for sharing so generously of your knowledge and time to help each other (and strangers) with their dogs. I have really benefited from my time here already.
Couple more pictures. First: Milo posing after a light trim. When I was in grad school, Milo was that poor baby the other kids picked on because his mom cut his hair.
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/milohair.jpg
And, the inimitable Miss McGee. Miss McGee wants love. McGee wants to come home with you. McGee will hypnotize you with her puppydog eyes to distract you from the mess she made in the other room.
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070903-mcgee2.jpg
Thanks, everyone.
I'm Mal. I'm a 32 y.o. psychotherapist in Los Angeles (a breed as common as papparazzi around here). I specialize in art therapy, and have also done some art commissions and classes on the side. I love my work. I have lived all over the world and I come from a crazy family of 7 siblings. I'm dating a really great guy who is a huge animal rights activist. I'm also going to try to go back to school next year and earn my PhD. That'll be Dr. Mal, to you. (Please oh please oh please oh please...)
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/miloboy.jpg
Milo is 5.5 years old, now. He's at least mostly Maltese, but he's large and sturdy at 11 pounds. Unfortunately, I bought him from a BYB before I knew any better. Milo's been with me through thick and thin over the past 5 years, including many moves, grad school, trips, etc. I have worked very hard on training him and, while he still has his quirks, I couldn't ask for a better companion.
For about 5 of those 5.5 years, though, Milo has been asking for a better companion. I noticed right off that bat that when we got to spend time with another dog (or if we had a roommate with a dog, or we were fostering a dog, or whatever) that he was infinitely happier and calmer. I've been talking myself out of getting a second dog for 5 years, and finally the timing is right and I have found a situation that makes sense for us.
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070903-mcgeemilo2.jpg
So, I will be bringing home our new puppy on the night of September 20th. She is tentatively named McGee and I have been posting weekly pictures of her over in the puppy forum. (Week 6 (http://chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60564), Week 7 (http://chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61189), and Week 8 with a little foray over to ask advice from the breeders (http://chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61193).) She's a rescue but we think she is mostly (if not all) chihuahua.
I found chazhound through google when I was looking for answers about positive training and socialization. For several weeks, I only read the training and puppy forums, but now that I've discovered the "new posts" button, there's no stopping me! Mostly, I wanted to thank you all for sharing so generously of your knowledge and time to help each other (and strangers) with their dogs. I have really benefited from my time here already.
Couple more pictures. First: Milo posing after a light trim. When I was in grad school, Milo was that poor baby the other kids picked on because his mom cut his hair.
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/milohair.jpg
And, the inimitable Miss McGee. Miss McGee wants love. McGee wants to come home with you. McGee will hypnotize you with her puppydog eyes to distract you from the mess she made in the other room.
http://www.malville.com/images/2007/20070903-mcgee2.jpg
Thanks, everyone.