Dogs and me

When I wasn't even a teenager I had my first dog-the first dog that was mine and to this day I remember her perfectly.  Fifi, yes, a poodle.  Not the full sized model that are quite impressive but a smaller one-I believe she would be classified as a Miniature-not as small as a Toy Poodle but no where near the size of a standard. 

Fifi wasn't a coddled, well groomed show dog. Nope, she was a hunting dog.  Even before I had a license to hunt, Fifi and I would go across the asparagus fields and she would chase up pheasants for me to marvel at.  She was a great dog and some forty years later I am happy I had her as my first dog.

Since then I have had a greyhound, a lab, springer spaniels, Black German Shepherds, a mutt and now White German Shepherds.  Most have been wonderful dogs and without them I doubt I would be anywhere near sane today!  With great dogs comes great friendships and sadly, great heartaches.  I had two black German Shepherds when I was in the Tri Cities but sadly, one was hit while chasing off a rottweilder that was trespassing and my female was stolen!  I got out of dog ownership for quite a while after that but eventually I came back into it!

When I had just graduated from Washington State University, I obtained a job as a park ranger at Chief Timothy State Park near Clarkston.  I bought my first Springer Spaniel.  George was probably the smartest dog I have ever owned and he stayed with me through the winter at Field Springs State Park where I stayed in a cabin which was not well insulated.   It got sooooo cold that the shower would freeze up.  But yet George and I managed to survive that winter together.  It was a great time. 

I then got a job in Texas and knew I couldn't take George with me.  That was more than fine with my parents as they both loved him.  My mom and dad and George spent many years together! 

Today, I have Hail and Snow.  Hail is only 4 years old and is absolutely beautiful.  He has the greatest desire to please since George.  He will catch a frisbee or a tennis ball a hundred times if I will throw it that many and he truly seems to know that he has done something spectacular when he catches the frisbee high in the air!

Bob