Your Inspiration

[Zoom]

I've always had a soft spot for herding dogs and initially thought I was going to wind up with a BC because I loved my grandma's dog Patches so much, or a rough collie b/c Lassie. And my bf at the time had one and I liked him quite a bit.

Then I was in Petsmart one night and the local Aussie rescue had a table set up with a blue merle Aussie, lots of copper, sitting in front of the table. The dog had the two blue eyes most people associate with Aussies and that dog literally stopped me in my tracks. I mean it was an instant connection and I was madder than all get out that I wasn't in a position to adopt that dog right there. I spent the next 15 minutes petting him and asking a million questions about Aussies of the person. From there I did a ton of internet research, read a million dog breed info books, got hooked and realized it was the perfect fit for me and what I was looking for. Fast forward to me getting ready to graduate from college, contact Aussie rescue and ending up with Sawyer.

So yeah, one particular dog for 15 minutes.

 

[Kayla]

Really great discussion!

I didn't realize that the dog on true blood that Sam can shift into was an English Collie! Loving the breed more and more especially after reading sit stay's posts in this discussion.

Growing up I always wanted a dog, but we only had cats. (Which were still super awesome but still not a dog), I loved reading the Santa paws books (sort of looks like an english collie) about a Christmas time stray dog that saves the day and helps people. I've always been a day dreamer so I always used to imagine having a dog to walk through fields with.

When we moved to Ontario to our step families house my uncle and his son who lived upstairs in the shared house we moved into had a beautiful boxer! I was ecstatic! I got to walk her, play with her and finally had a dog in my life.

In my teens I worked at a small ma and pa pet store that did unfortunately sell puppies. I had been researching about kinds of dogs I wanted to adopt or purchase from a breeder (including GSD's, Rotti's and boxer's) when Duke's litter arrived at the store. They were allegedly Rotti/ GSD/ Collie crosses but mostly looked like GSD crosses. I don't know why but the moment I met the litter I picked out Duke and said if he's still here in two weeks I want to take him home (two weeks was very long for this store so I figured it was a safe bet to make that he'd be long gone). Turns out Duke was the last puppy of his litter left two weeks later so I took him home. I feel bad for supporting a BYB or mill but I don't regret Duke.

Duke is the love of my life, we have an amazing bond. Our adventures together is everything I always wanted to do with a dog: hiking, sledding, dog sports, Duke is amazing.

Recently our basement apartment so we had to live at a hotel for awhile. Duke, mav and I would greet Craig in the parking lot as he came out of his truck, and Duke all by himself now alerts to vehicles that drive by us with the same calm alert attention he gives strangers. It was so cool to see him pick that up. He's almost 8 now and this year had surgery for his torn cruciate but I think he's a very natural guard who is also well socialized with people and would have excelled at protection work.

We've just started training in tracking together and he loves it! We're not ready for any trials yet but I love working with him.

I adopted Maverick my border collie from my last work place training seizure response assistance dogs. A breeder donated quite a few all that had poor hips and could not go work. Mav was the last guy left un adopted, I knew how much work collies needed to thrive but also knew my current lifestyle already includes a lot of what he would need. The first day he was free to come home with me, I opened up his kennel door put his leash on and we drove to a hiking trail. It was such a peaceful experience, I think in my head I even said "You don't have to live in a kennel ever again". Mav really likes me, but he loves Craig and since he's met Craig, the two are inseparable.

I'm abroad volunteering right now and Craig tells me he wakes up every morning and Mav jumps up onto the bed, on to him resting his head on his chest an inch from Caig's face to kiss him. I never get such greetings from Mav but I'm happy for him that he has a human he loves so much.

I've been on Chaz for almost 9 years now and I've loved reading everyone's experiences with their dogs.