Indeed, at 72 years of age I have loved my personal K9 companions. Sadly, dogs do not live as long as we humans. Saying that, I remember each and every dog I owned over almost 50 years. This page is devoted to their memories. As you will see, I've owned every type of dog ranging from the toy breed to the herding breed. I trained some of my dogs to the highest levels of off-lead obedience and a few were trained as personal protection dogs. I invite you to review this page and feel free to contact me with any comments or questions you may have.
Bella - First Personal Working Dog - Female Doberman
My wife and I purchased Bella in 1975. She was from a German bloodline and show quality Doberman with excellent confirmation to AKC standards. However, training Bella to do almost anything was a real challenge. She had been bred for her "looks" not a working dog. Thus, she was "high-strung" by nature and at that time the only recommended method to gain her respect was brute force from me. I literally willed myself on Bella. It took nearly 3 years to train her to a level I was satisfied with while she and I formed a real bond between us. I trained Bella in basic off-lead obedience using the early skill set in training dogs I first learned with the U.S. Army. I lost this great dog in 1979. A few years later, I purchased two Doberman Pinchers that I trained to a higher level than Bella but both were killed in the street simultaneously by a motorist. The motorist was NOT at fault. I eventually drew the conclusion that I was at fault for not being able to properly control my dogs while playing off lead. I vowed to never make that mistake again. After 3 Doberman dogs I decided to try my hand at training and breeding Boxer dogs.
Breeding Quality Boxer Dogs
After I lost my Boxer dog Boot after only 7 years to a brain tumor I immediately felt compelled to buy yet another Boxer dog but this time I was determined to buy the best female Boxer I could find. This new female would be the foundation dog to my Boxer breeding program. I knew what I was looking for and I wanted a balanced female Boxer who had excellent AKC breed standard characteristics but also was a bit less playful or aggressive as my first Boxer. Finally, I found the gal I had been looking for in a female Boxer I named Brandi. Not only did I expect Brandi to throw great Boxers but I wanted her to be the "poster child" of my Boxer breeding program. I intensly trained Brandi to a high level of obedience and she had the mental stability to learn extremely fast. Indeed, matched with a fine Boxer stud dog, she produced beautiful Boxer puppies both brindle and fawn coat with the perfect amount of white markings. I was devastated when at only 6 years old, Brandi was killed by hunters whie she was visiting a farm near Vanceboro, nc. After that experience, it would be several years before I had another dog.
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German Shepherd Dogs - Emma & Genny
Facing the silent house as my Pekingese, Max, aged, I knew my heart needed the steady presence of a working dog once more. My choice was the steadfast German Shepherd. I sought a breeder who valued health and lineage as much as I did, leading me across North Carolina to Emma. She was a marvel of stability and grace, a natural who mastered off-lead obedience by her first year and became my devoted service dog by her second. Emma was the silent protector of our home, gentle yet vigilant. Soon after, I brought home her biological sister, Genny, to train for my sister. The bond between the two sisters was deep, though Genny was a free spirit; she marched to the beat of her own drum, resisting formal obedience with a stubborn yet lovable independence. For ten years, these two souls filled our lives with loyalty and strength until aging bodies finally called them to rest. They remain two of the most significant partners I have ever had the honor to handle.
Current Mixed Breed Dog - Luna
When my GSD Emma left me I was 67 years old and Ihad an important decision to make. I knew I was not going to go through my last years without a dog. So my first instinct was to stick with the gold standard of dogs, the German Sheherd. I knew that I wanted another female dog and I had already made up my mind that I would train my last dog in this lifetime to the highest standard of my training abilities. I also knew that I wanted this last dog to be more than just a highly obedient, trained companion. I set my mind to training my next dog as a registered service animal in the State of NC. As I did my research, I recognized that a Belgian Malinois or a Dutch Sherpherd would be much smaller dogs yet powerful in a smaller package. I was set on buying either a Belgian Malinois or preferably a Dutch Shepherd because they are even more compact than the Belgian. That's when I was directed toward Mr. Joel Ryals and his dog training and breeding program Fortress K9. This company trains obedience and protection dogs at the highest level. Additionally, Fortress K9 has an extensive breeding program that emphasizes the stability of steafastness and in general "nerves" of the dog. Although the Fortress dogs are beautiful, it is their suitablity to assimilate training at any level as well as protection work that is most important. Fortress K9 is not breeding AKC registered "pure breed" dogs. Mr. Ryals is breeding combinations of German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois for best performance. Ryals is who picked out Luna for me. DNA testing on Luna indicates that she is 40% German Shepherd, 30% Dutch Shepherd, and 30% Belgian Malinois. I cannot recommend Joel Ryals and Fortress K9 enough at https//fortressk9.com At four years of age, Luna's obedience training is awesome both on and off-lead. She is currently registerd with the NC Dept of Health & Human Services as my service animal. Luna is classified as a psychiatric service dog as recommended by my medical doctors. Service dog for me is her primary mission. However, her secondary mission is to serve as my personal protection dog. With Luna, training never stops. She will continue to train the rest of her life because frankly, this is what she lives for. Luna is "hard" active about 1.5 hours per day. Each day she works a custom agility course that I've designed for her. I have never encountered a dog more agile than Luna and she lives to show her skills off. Once a month or so, I brush-up on her protection work. I use Luna during many of my training sessions. She is an excellent example and teacher to other dogs I am attempting to train. Primarily, Luna only bites on my command but she will also react independently when she sees a perceived threat. Despite her protection training, Luna's behavior is soft and laid back with both children and adults. She has never bitten without command.
Boxer Dog Training
To this day, I consider the Doberman Pincher to be the "cadillac" of protection dogs. After all, the breed itself was meant from the beginning to be a protection dog for humans. However, the Doberman is not what I call a hardened animal. Dobermans don't do well in extreme heat or cold. They are a super dog of high intelligence but also high maintenance. So, the next breed of dog I purchased was a male Boxer dog I named "Boot". Boot was an AKC registered dog but he was a far cry from a perfect example of a pure bred Boxer. I selected him out of a large litter of puppies because of his aggressiveness compared to his littermates. By now, I was far more experienced in training dogs and other than their natural playfullness, the Boxer is extremely easy to train for nearly any purpose. I trained Boot to an extremely high level of obedience and he was more than an adequate personal protection dog for me. I bred Boot one time and that produced a "pick of the litter" female puppy that I never really trained and I sold her to a lovely couple who were a perfect match for me young female Boxer.
The Toy Breed Era & Pekingese Dogs
Around the turn of the millennium, my life was consumed by building a consulting firm in North Carolina, leaving little room for the rigorous training of working dogs. Yet, the house felt empty without a canine soul. When I met my wife, Gwen, she brought Damien into my life—a graceful Pekingese. Soon after, I found Max, a tiny, midnight-black puppy who defied his lineage by growing into a sturdy, big-boned 25-pound companion. Though they were perfect gentlemen in the home, these two stubborn spirits resisted every attempt at formal training, humbling my ego as a trainer. My decade with these "Pekes" was filled with laughter and a different kind of love, teaching me that some dogs are born to be masters of their own will rather than pupils. They occupied my heart for twelve beautiful years, providing comfort while I quietly yearned for the day I could return to the discipline and deep partnership of the working breeds.
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