The Bob Behind The Tails

Sooooo, hate doing stuff like this - always makes me feel that I'm on a "big-myself-up mission" but sometimes it's good to get a feel for someone before you decide if they could be the one for you and your dog. I fully understand you have to "get" that person - especially when entrusting your dogs to their method, and if I'm not the one for you, then so be it, there will be someone else out there that you "click" with.

My love for dogs started when I was very young, but due to the commitment and the quarantine laws that were in place (thank GOD for Passports for Pets!) at the time, I was always told, "No, we can't have a dog, it just wouldn't be fair." Being knee-high to a grasshopper, I never fully grasped this , and was determined that at some point, a dog would feature in my life. That day came, when, at the ripe old age of 21, I got myself my first puppy - a Boxer/Munsterlander cross. Shannon was an absolute darling, but an absolute minx who ran rings around me!!

My canine interest was deepened, when I offered to help Animal Connexions, run by Sheelagh Dale. This lady was, and still is a huge inspiration to me, having given up full-time work, to care full-time for those animals, especially the babies, who needed help. She instilled a passion within me, that to this day, I will always thank her for, and am honoured to call her my friend. Already being a dog owner, to my shame, I arrogantly thought I knew it all....in fact, I knew very little, -if anything. In a bid to understand the canine mind, I read every book on dog "training" that our local library had to offer, but nothing could teach me as much as my foster babies did (or so I thought). I was blown away by the fabulous dogs that I offered a safe-house to, and despite the threat of divorce, managed to foster 36 dogs and 4 rabbits in one year, before "stepping back" slightly and helping with co-ordinating the foster carers, raising funds....and of course still picking up the odd stray here and there! My own pack, had now doubled at this point, with the addition of Cooper. The tiniest of an unwanted litter that had arrived at the Sanctuary, but it was my husband who picked him up in one hand, and simply said, "This one."

Life seemed complete at this point, until sadly in Dec 2004, I lost my beloved girl to cancer,... just before her 12th birthday, just before my anniversary, and just before Christmas. Devastated wasn't the word - I cried for weeks and couldn't function as a mother to my son, or to Cooper. Never have I felt so much grief, as all pet owners will understand - your life simply becomes a void where you part-function on auto-pilot. Time however, does heal - albeit slowly....

Then, in 2009 we decided to up sticks, leave the cold and wet and move to Cyprus....great weather, BAD animal welfare, if any. Seeing cats and dogs flattened on the road was a daily sight, as was seeing them chained up with a rope for a collar. Conditions were harsh for the strays - extreme heat during the Summer, and cold and incredibly stormy in the Winter, coupled of course, with snakes in the bondhu area. Just before Christmas 2009, I'd spotted a "stray" dog, very much like a German shorthaired pointer, who was only seen at night time. Rumours had it that she'd been running loose for a year, and was probably an ex-hunting dog, who'd been turned out after the shooting season had ended. Nobody had gotten close to this girl, let alone touched her. People had tried - either by trapping, chasing or trying to tempt her into an enclosed space...she wasn't just a stray.....she was feral.... and was WAY too smart to be fooled by humans. Challenge on! As soon as I was told that there was a possibility that the police would shoot her, and that I'd "never get her", it became an obsessive mission for me. Night vigils for up to 8 hrs each and every night, started in earnest on 25 Dec 2009. Starting by just leaving food out, to taking Cooper out and dropping bits of food behind me, progressed to laying, head down on the pavement, gently throwing bits of stewing steak to this stray, - I could not afford to threaten her in any way, despite this being the talk of the neighbourhood - I was the cracked up dog lady! Did I care what people said or thought? The answer was simply, "No" - sheer bloody-mindedness, and a need to get this girl to safety were paramount... and of course the point to prove that a little bit of time, dedication and patience could work wonders! In earnest, I returned to reading all the dog psychology and training books that were on offer, paid for information from a vet in the States, before finding my second canine inspiration - Pam Shaw (www.pamshaw.co.uk). She had trained in Amichien® Bonding with Jan Fennell and with over 10 years' experience, willingly gave me her advice, knowledge and countless emails. On the 24 Jan 2010, I got to write the proudest email of my life....I had finally gotten my girl inside! Looking back now, I could still cry with emotion - frightened, underweight, with no trust in humans and nothing to call her own, she entered our lives and began her journey. One month after settling in, and she was off to the vets - for the important things like vaccinations, chipping, blood tests and spaying - having worked so hard for this girl, there was no way I was leaving or re-homing her (despite the costs, and of course the protests from the aforementioned husband!).

On returning to UK, I swore to myself that I had to get a consultation with Pam - I owed it to my girl who had put all her trust in me....her recall was ropey to say the least, and I had to tighten things up. Endless calls on, and I got the confidence from Pam to take it one step further - I wasn't going to get a consultation, I was going to be a Dog Listener! So cheque written (and bank manager screaming at me!) in September 2011, I left the deepest, darkest South for the trip to Scunthorpe to attend the Foundation and Advanced courses to qualify as a Dog Listener. In October I took the online Graduate course and am now venturing out into the dog world professionally. It's a frightening step to take, but something that I just have to do....here's hoping at some point, your journey will cross mine......