tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286733402811605546.post1614409936344406048..comments2023-04-21T10:05:07.777-07:00Comments on Friends of Portia: Responsible Breeder: Lucky DogJudith Lownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11483411554456743562noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8286733402811605546.post-46944062052334347572010-03-02T11:12:16.724-08:002010-03-02T11:12:16.724-08:00You might say that my first rescue was my first sh...You might say that my first rescue was my first show dog and started me on a lifelong love affair with dogs not to mention a life time career.<br /><br />I’m glad that Portia’s mom got to meet reputable breeders. Yes, there are reputable breeders, and I can’t stress enough for prospective pet owners to do their homework. Meet the breeders, visit with their dogs and their homes or kennels, ask questions.<br /><br />Before buying my first dog, I spent 6 months going to dog shows and talking to breeders of various breeds. However, I spent more time with German Shepherd Dog breeders because my aunt used to own GSDs and I always loved her dogs. It was a process of eliminating the breeders who weren’t interested in talking unless I was ready to buy. Others didn’t allow visitors to their homes or kennels. Some weeks it was very disappointing. Then I met a couple who took me under their wing and became my mentors. The first thing they told me was that they wouldn’t sell me a dog because I didn’t know enough and gave me a stack of books to read and ask questions. They quizzed me, too. I got to know them, their dogs and how they treated their dogs. By this time, I was past just owning a pet GSD, I was bitten by the show bug and joined the local dog club. I still didn’t own a dog, though!<br /><br />One day, I got a call from my mentor. He said, “Are you ready for a dog?” My heart stopped. Boy, am I ready! To this day, it brings tears to my eyes. “Here is the deal,” he said. “We just picked up a year old bitch from the K litter we sold 6 months ago to another breeder and show family (out of the area). We hadn’t heard anything from them or seen the bitch at shows so we took a trip to visit. What we found wasn’t acceptable and we refunded their money. The owners said that the dog wouldn’t eat, was snappy with their son and basically was a terrible dog so they just kept her in a small kennel run and would breed her.” Phil was in tears on the phone telling me about the condition of this dog. He continued, “Come up and take a look and if it didn’t work out and she was like they said, he would euthanize her.” He didn’t want any biting dogs with his name attached. I was to get her back into shape and show her. The price I was to pay was one puppy if he thought she was worth breeding.<br /><br />My son was 4 and I knew other dogs in that litter and they were great with him. However, I really wasn’t prepared for what awaited me. She looked nothing like her litter mates. Every rib and vertebrae were visible; her coat was barely a coat. She was so thin that her ears looked huge…more like a jackass. At one year of age, she weighed 50 lbs and should have weighed 75 to 80. My mentors said she was eating anything and everything in site and they had only had her for a few hours. She smelled of urine and feces, had cement burns on elbows and hocks. But, my mentors were concerned about my son and the biting claim. So was I to say the least. Not to worry. She sniffed him and started licking his hand. I put her in the backseat, she laid her head in my son’s lap and we went home. Three hours later, son and I were soaked and had a filthy bathroom but our new girl was clean! That was my introduction to grooming.<br /><br />It took months to get her in shape feeding 3 to 4 meals a day, going to doggie classes once a week and several walks a day. At the time I lived in ground floor apartment. I also started babysitting a friend’s young son. She took to the little kids as if they were her personal property and wasn’t keen on folks getting between her and her kids. She wasn’t mean about it but she would give strangers the ‘look.’ She did have issues with older boys around age 10 to 12 because of the former owner’s son. Within a year, I purchased my mentor’s home and kennel as they were semi-retiring and several dogs came with the deal. <br /><br />But my first rescue was the love of my life, and my son’s best friend, for the next 13 years.D Barnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13891489880391562601noreply@blogger.com