Coming Soon - Sandra's introduction......When she gets round to it!

I was given my first dog for my 6th birthday and have almost never been without one since. Having had Shepherds for the last 25 years, my last 3 have been rescues. I completed the BAGSD instructor’s course some years ago and have since completed a BIPDT instructors course and hope to take further courses in the future.

My current dogs are Jack, a 7 year old walking disaster area – you name it he has suffered from it but you would never know when he rushes round like a mad thing. He was removed by the RSPCA at 7 months old because he had been kept outside without shelter. He was completely untrained but very willing to learn. Since coming to stay he has undergone 6 operations, mostly for silly things and had numerous bouts of shoulder injuries (mostly because he is like a bull in a china shop) and cut paws. His last operation was to undergo an MRI scan, which revealed he had had a haemorrhage into his spine, which has left him with slight weakness in his back legs. He is now very fast in a straight line but can’t corner! I undertook a few competitions with Jack but he never managed to fulfil his potential due to health/injury problems.

Katie is 4 years old and was the perfect dog indoors when we got her at a year old but a complete embarrassment to take for a walk lunging and barking at anything that moved (perhaps that was why she was rehomed). Katie has also been a challenge but she will now walk quietly and is able to socialise whilst on lead. We started agility training to help with her social skills and she is now competing at agility, which she enjoys.

Margaret

I never had a dog  when I was a child.  My first experience of dog handling came when my sister and her husband took on an Irish Setter bitch called Pepper and, of course, we all loved her. She was a loony!

After Pepper came a GSD called Tasha.  This was my first experience of the breed and what a fantastic dog!  She was exceptional and so obedient but was tragically lost in an RTA.  After a long time mourning came another GSD called Sheba and a GSD puppy called Tarrent.  

It was not until some years later that I got very close to a Border Collie called Benji who belonged to my girlfriend at the time.  He was a real sweetheart.  He had been attacked by two other hunting dogs that had escaped from a garden - this resulted in the loss of one of his front legs.  It didn’t affect him in the least - he was a total loon and the first dog I really owned and took care of for about 9 years.  He stayed with me until he was about 14 but his memory will stay with me forever.

About 3 years after that, by chance, I discovered a GSD called Max.  He came to me through Last Chance Animal Rescue in a round about way.  He was 8 months old when I got him and has OCD or Elbow Displasia as it is now known.   It was love at first sight!  He is the first dog I truly own and I am entirely responsible for.  He changed my life for the better and I love him so much that it makes the girlfriend somewhat jealous.

He is the reason I started dog training and took on the role as one of the instructors at Reigate BAGSD (British Association for German Shepherd Dogs). 

Joe

I became a member of the BAGSD Reigate branch in 1980 when I bought my first GSD, Bruno.   Bruno and I attended ring craft classes and we went on to win many competitions together.  Since passing my instructor’s exams in 1989, I have held several posts on the committee and have been asked to stand as chairman for the second time.

Over the years, I have seen quite a few changes in dog handling and training methods and have attended various courses and seminars.

My current GSD is a beautiful Olderhill bitch called Leila.  Prior to Leila they were all males.

For many years now my wife Sue and I have been involved with animal rescue.  I currently sit on the committee of the Animal Protection Trust and I am also one of the trustees. The trust’s volunteers come from all walks of life but have one thing in common the desire to help animals in need.

Peter

Meet those lovely ladies who supply the tea and biscuits:

Coming soon - more introductions.....