Ethan and Robbie with their friends

Ethan and Robbie posed for these photos with their friends, Peggy Lee and Callie.

Thanks to Ethan, Robbie and McKenzie for helping Peggy Lee get over her fear of children. With their help, Peggy Lee just passed her final test to become a Therapy Dog!!

Rufus - A Foundling By Any Other Name

Well, no good deed goes unpunished.










I was on my way to work at the studio in Moreland on Thursday, and saw a big ole red hound dog ambling down the middle of the road. Cars were screeching to a stop to try and avoid hitting him. He would just look up and mosey on out of the way. I passed him up, but then thought he was surely going to be hit, and I would hate to see him on the side of the road on the way home.




Bottom line, I turned around and went back for him. I spent my “spare” time on Thursday bathing, de-fleaing him and posting Found Dog signs. My “spare” time on Friday was spent taking him to the vet and trying to source out some low cost medications for him.



He is in pretty bad shape. Heartworms, ehrlichia, whipworms, hookworms and tapeworms. On the plus side, he is already neutered, seems to have a great temperament, and is a handsome boy. He looks to be a bloodhound / redbone / coonhound cross. He weighs in at a petite 97.3 lb.


Hopefully, my husband will come around . . . I don’t know of anyone in their right mind that would take him, knowing that they’ve got to do a heartworm treatment on him.

What's one more?

Hombre Makes the Big Time

Hazzard at Friday Dog Training

This photo is from our Friday Dog Training class . . .

Left to right - Front Row: Hazzard (Pit Bull), Abe (Cocker Spaniel), Zippy (Papillon)

Back row: Sparky (Miniature Pinscher), Peggy Lee (Australian Shepherd), Callie (Aussie), Hombre (Aussie), Dibley (Dalmatian)

What you can't tell by looking at this photo is that Hazzard was feared by his owner, Brenda, to be "dog aggressive". She was absolutely astounded that he so easily adapted to being around other dogs. We walked him with my band of Aussies, and posed for this picture afterward. Life is good!!

Portrait of Ali and Rose (Rocky, too!)

Trisha Herring of NiteStar Australian Shepherds (http://www.nitestar.net/) has been one of my staunchest supporters over the years. She has commissioned me to do portraits of three of her dogs . . . so far :-) !! She also saw fit to let me have two of her beautiful girls, Peggy Lee and Callie.

The first portrait Trisha commissioned was of her "heart dog", A-BISS AKC/ASCA Ch NiteStar's Eye of the Tiger, "Rocky" . Here are some photos of that first portrait (my first dog portrait!).





















Here is a comparison of the portrait to the photograph:









Earlier this year, Trisha's husband commissioned me to do a portrait of Trisha's two foundation bitches. Rose and Ali also happen to be the mothers of my two girls, Peggy Lee and Callie. Following are the photos and drawings I used to work up the pattern for the stained glass panel.

ASCA/AKC Ch Navarro's LoveStory of NiteStar, STDs, RS-N, GS-N, JS-N, NAC, NJC, NGC, DNA-CP, "Ali"




















Hall Of Fame and ROMX-I, A-Ch Woodstock's Color Me "Rose" STDs, DNA-CP
















The drawing used to make the stained glass pattern:

Here is the completed portrait. Everyone who saw it in the studio thought it was a portrait of Peggy Lee and Callie . . . they are indeed chips off the old block!!

Dog Training Fridays - Play Time

Another Friday Dog Training Session.

Here is McKenzie working with Hombre:

Remember Dibley, the neurotic Dalmatian that spent a week with us? This is Friday, the last day of Dibley's Boot Camp. What a difference a week makes!!






























It is PLAY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!



















Peggy jumps straight up in the air when she's happy!!

Dibley in Boot Camp

Dibley stayed at Moore Manor for a week of "Boot Camp" while Carol was away on vacation. He did very well, learning a lot about doggie manners, as well as people manners. Here are some photos.

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He is initiating play with Callie and Peggy. What a leap forward for a fearful dog!!

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What a difference in this dog. A stable pack can work wonders on a dog in need of socialization and manners. Dibley is a testament to that fact. Look at the difference in him in the following photo. It is pretty amazing to me!

Dog Training Fridays

Did you ever wonder what a Glass Gal does in her spare time?

What spare time this Glass Gal has, is often spent in the company of dogs.

Some of my Stained Glass students convinced me to begin holding an informal Dog Training session on Friday mornings. We work with our dogs on obedience and manners, and try to address any problem behaviors they (the dogs and/or the owners!) may have. Sometimes we work hard, other times not so much! Deborah was kind enough to photograph one of our recent sessions.

Here is my pack:
WTCH True Grit Hombre

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Nitestar's True Blue Moore, CGC, TT
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Nitestar's Peggy Lee, CGC
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In this session, we worked on an orderly and controlled method of feeding. In this method, the dogs all sit and wait to be released before they eat. This is an excellent way to establish leadership within your pack, as the leader always controls the food.


It is tough being a "demo dog"!

Now Carol's dog, Dibley, will join us.


Dibley came to our first session as a very timid, fearful soul. He would panic and vocalize (snarl, growl, scream, show every tooth in his head in a very scary way!) if any dog or human got too close.
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Here you can see that Dibley isn't really happy with the situation, but he's working through it. That's all we are asking him to do.

It is interesting to note the difference in appearance between a sassy, confident dog like Callie . . .
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and a timid, fearful dog like Dibley.

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We are also letting the children get in on the training. It is good for the dogs, as well as the children. Keep in mind in the following photos, Peggy Lee has been frightened of children in the past. I'd say she is well on her way to loving kids now!!


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Here is Mary Beth's little guy, Sparky. He is all puppy, and is learning some manners!
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This last photo captures the essence of working with dogs to me. Peggy Lee is thoroughly enjoying our time together.
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That's what it's all about!!