ooch Sc Issue No. 14
November 2011
p
M O NTHLY
Springwood diStrict dog training club inc.
The Rachael Wade Story‌ Our lovely instructor is now a mum!
M
y story with dogs began about nine years ago when I inherited two little mixed breed dogs, Angel and Jag. They were both about five years old when they came to live with me. I am not sure what it was about them that enamoured me of them, their own little quirks perhaps, Angel so hardy in body but so delicate in temperament and Jag the opposite. I had never experienced such devotion, as I received from the two of them, once when I had the flu Jag slept on my bed with me for five days he never left me, he was so sweet. The both liked to challenge me too however being dedicated escape artists, every time I found a way to keep them in or block off a new hole they would find another way out. Ultimately there was a concrete border around the fence line of the house we lived in at the time as that seemed to be the only way to keep them in. Unfortunately even that was not entirely successful and I lost Jag to a lack of traffic sense on one of their many expeditions, which was devastating. Angel had never been without a mate so she found the loss of Jag very difficult. My family researched what sort of dog would be a good mate for such a neurotic little creature as Angel and so Gaj came to live with
us, he was three months old and came from Leisure view. Gaj had a bit of a bumpy start with two hernia operations and a paralysis tick before he was a year old but since has grown up into a strong little boy. I was determined to do everything I could not to lose another dog which is what led me to SDDTC about seven years ago. When I joined the club like so many other beginners I never thought I would be able to get my dogs to do any of the things that were demonstrated to us. Angel, being about 8 years old when I joined the club, did not take well to training, although happy to learn at home she spent all her time at the club at the table being nursed by whoever was willing to hold her as she was so nervous and frightened. Angel is definitely the boss at home however and has run of the house to show for it! Gaj loves training and ultimately made it to the top class. I am sure he knows which day of the week Thursday is as he is always more excited than usual when I get home on a Thursday! When I joined the club it was at the time when the classes were run in colours. Gaj and I progressed to Orange class fairly quickly but we spent 8 long months in Orange class because the stand completely eluded us. Eventually though we got it, and Continued on page 6
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Bill, Ella, Mary-Anne & Mick