CockersOnline Forum
General => Introductions => Topic started by: spettadog on November 05, 2007, 07:25:21 PM
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Hi there
I suddenly realised that I was being very rude and replying to posts before I had actually introduced myself. So here goes!!!
My name's Annie and I live just outside Edinburgh in the countryside. The name spettadog comes from my kennel name which is Spettacolare - Italian for spectacular!!! I have a wonderful house surrounded by fields that the dogs just love. My main hobbies are gardening and interior design but my main passion is my dogs. I have 5 dogs (eek!!!!). I have 2 x collies (the oldies!!), Megan and Bazil. Megan is 11 years old and Baz is 10 years old. Baz I got from an abusive family and I have worked very very hard to get him to the stage he is at now. He is a wonderful dog loves everyone and everyone loves him. Then there's wee Jack my working cocker. My first ever puppy and hence is still my baby!!! I had always had rescue dogs before I fell in love with the working cocker. He is now 5 years old and we go beating on the local estate every second Saturday. The wee dog that loves his home comforts ie snuggling into the duvet, sitting in the front of the car etc., turns into a little working machine when we are there. He can be very obstinate at home and basically does what he likes at times but when he is working he is the most obedient, driven little dog and he absolutely loves it. He runs through the undergrowth with a huge grin on his beautiful little face. He is by far the most intelligent dog I have ever owned and for little things to do I have trained him to bring me my slippers. At night we have little games where I hide things and he finds them. He is absolutely adorable.
I also have 2 Bracco Italiano pointers (Italian Pointers!). For anybody who doesnt know the breed they are large gundogs; thought to be one of the oldest mediteranean breeds. They are very majestic and very loving. Stella is now 16 months and I have shown her once where we got 2nd place at a champ show. Nothing to do with me by the way, just to do with Stella Bella. She is a very beautiful example of the breed and such a show off. :lol:
I have a keen interest in dog behaviour and have a diploma. I do not practice as such but prefer to help people on forums and the like. I am a moderator on a dog behaviour forum. I also have an interest in nutrition. I used to own a natural dog treats business but sold it last year. I now work for the NHS for a living!!!!!! It fits around the dogs which is the whole reason I work there. Wouldnt do it if it didnt suit my pooches.
I hope this gives you an insight into my life and my dogs. I look forward to speaking to everybody in the future.
Kind regards
Annie
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Hi Annie :blink:
Your dogs all sound amazing :luv: Welcome to COL and im sure you will be an invaluable lady to have around :blink:
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About time you introduced yourself! :005:
Welcome! :D
Do post pics!
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Hello :D What a fantastic collection of dogs. :shades:
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Which area do you work your dogs, just im from outside edinburgh and know most places ;)
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Thank you for the warm welcome!!! I know I have been rude not introducing myself before but I didnt see the introductions forum. Sorry!!!!!
Re the dogs. You know what its like!!! You start off with one and then you get hooked. :lol: I used to have a fairly normal life before I had them but have had to change absolutely everything in order to accomodate them and their needs. I love them to bits though and wouldnt change them for the world. I forgot to mention Ruby, my 3 year old Brac. She's an absolute darlin! The thing about the Bracco which is very different to the cocker is that they like to range. I got a rude awakening when I got Ruby. I felt like I was only walking 3 dogs - not 4. Now I have 2 Bracs, I still feel I am walking 3 dogs at times - not 5! I'm currently training Stella up for working but they do tend to mature very slowly so its hard going. We're going to another show on Saturday so here's hoping we do well there too. Is it OK to post photos of all my dogs or are we just restricted to Cockers? I have a wonderful photograph of me and wee Jack that was taken by my friend who is a professional photographer but I'll have to check out the section on how to do it before I try that.
I'm looking forward to posting and I hope I can be of help to peeps who have behavioural issues. I tend to go more for the reasons why a behaviour is happening and try to fix it that way and also how emotion affects behaviour. I attend a lot of workshops and this is actually a very new phenomenon but something I have been doing for years with my own dogs.
When I got Bazil I was told to do lots of different things. Eventually, I just went with my gut instinct and worked with his fears and feelings and he is totally transformed now. Bless his little cotton socks!!!
Thanks again
Annie
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Sorry Cazzie, I was posting as you were writing. We work at Bonnington House which is between Newbridge and Wilkieston. I have the lodge house there so its literally on our doorstep. We just moved there in June and I absolutely love it. Where abouts are you. What lines is your cocker. She looks familiar. Was she bred by June Laing by any chance? She has lovely dogs.
Annie
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Sorry Cazzie, I was posting as you were writing. We work at Bonnington House which is between Newbridge and Wilkieston. I have the lodge house there so its literally on our doorstep. We just moved there in June and I absolutely love it. Where abouts are you. What lines is your cocker. She looks familiar. Was she bred by June Laing by any chance? She has lovely dogs.
Annie
I know where you are exactly :shades: As far as Sweepies lines are ph34r ive not got a clue but her pedigree is on here under pedigree's. :005: She was bred by a super girl who has just won her first FTch with one of her dogs :shades: She owned Sweepies mum. Her dad is a Mordor Gun Dog of who sweepie is of the same mould, she is a fantastic little dog just Miss understood :005:
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H and welcome to COL.
My boys and I are in Edinburgh too ;)
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Hi... welcome to the forum!
I LOVE Bracco's so yes please.. photos! :luv: :005:
Your gang sound great.
I live in Warwickshire with my boy Baxter.
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Hi Annie from me and Jarv :D (liver working cocker)
Feel like I've been getting to know you a bit already talking vaccines ;)
please can we see pics of all your dogs (am a bit partial to bracco's :luv: )
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Hi and welcome
I am just outside Edinburgh and work for the NHS too!
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Hi,
I'm in Edinburgh too.
Does anyone have any ideas for an east coast meet?
B
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HI to you and yours from me and mine Thats Bailey 23mth old Choc roan show cocker boy and Minstrel 11and a half black and white working springer.
Lv Ann
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Hi Annie and welcome, your dogs sound great, looking forward to seeing their pics. I have Paddy, 7 yr old liver and white springer and Milly 13 mth liver working cocker, she is my first cocker and I just love her to bits. The name Kingcott was ringing bells with me, I just checked Milly's pedigree and her grandmother is Kingcott Yen, it's a small working cocker world ;)
Enjoy col
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Hi Annie!
Welcome! Can't wait to see some pics of ALL lovely your dogs :D ! I have a 5 month old blue roan show cocker called Dave who's my second cocker after loosing my 6 yr old soul mate earlier this year very suddenly :'( I've also recently re-homed a gorgeous 2.5 yr old Weimaraner bitch called Storm who I'm trying to learn how to work with, but it's extremely early days for us yet! :shades: :005:
Pics... pics... pics... Please!
Hannah x
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An officail hello and welcome to COL. Might I ask how and where did you study for your diploma? I would be intersted in doing something similar just so that I am well informed!
Claire
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Hi Annie, welcome to COL. I'm another one from Edinburgh (well broxburn but thats close enough..), do you ever walk your lot at Almondell? I'm positive I've seen someone with your types of dogs down there! I've got a working cocker, a show type cocker and a lurcher (bearded collie x greyhound) and they are menaces with waggy tails!
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Welcome Annie. Sounds like a lovely bunch of dogs you have! I have a working cocker, Jagger and a show type Molly. I am sure having read your post that you will be invaluable on here with all your experience. Photos are a must on here lol we like dogs of all shapes and sizes.
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Hi and welcome :D ..your babies sound gorgeous :luv: and your life sounds fab :shades:
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Hi Annie, I have read and enjoyed your posts on the behaviour board which is where you'll normally find me when on here.
Your dogs sound fascinating and like you I love to watch my workers doing what they love. One day my OH might even let me have a collie!
I have three cockers and they are all rescue, Oliver an Old show goldie who I do some stooge work with and Douglas and Bayley two working cockers with various hangups.
I am in my last year of an FdSc in canine behaviour and training and I am a member of the APDT.
I look forwrd to reading some more of your well informed posts and chatting with you in the future.
Mark