|
By Wendy Pirochta I was born in Chicago, IL, and lived there until 1979, when I moved to Tampa, FL with my parents. They did not want to endure another blizzard like the one that hit Chicago the last winter that we were there. After graduating from college, I began work as a Probation officer. It was a very interesting and challenging job. I worked in this field for 10 years. While I was working there, I met Andrew. I was given the task of training him when he first started working as a Probation officer. Andrew is still doing this type of work. Andrew & I were married 2 years after we met. I got my first sheltie several months after graduating from college in 1985. I was still living at home at the time and I finally talked my parents into getting a dog. My father and I researched many different breeds. We went to all the local dog shows but we just couldn't agree on a breed. He wanted a sleek shorthaired sporting dog and I wanted a smaller cuddlier longhaired dog. We eventually each chose our own dogs. He got a Vizla and I got my Sheltie. My mother was less than thrilled! My first Sheltie was a deep mahogany sable that I named Ted E. Bear or Teddy. I found him through the newspaper. It was at this time that I met Bill & Irene Munsey, as one of their Champion dogs was the sire of the litter. My father insisted that we see both sets of parents. I chose Teddy because he seemed the most outgoing and feistiest one in the litter. Little did I know, this really meant he was a very dominant dog who soon had me wrapped around his little paw. Thus began my start in obedience and I have been hooked ever since. I never did get a title on Teddy, but it sure was not from the lack of trying. I moved out on my own a short time
after getting Teddy. This allowed me to keep adding to my Sheltie
family. My second dog was Eddy, a sable, which I got from Bill
& Irene. It was with Eddy that I got my first obedience title.
Eddy will be 13, June 28th. Our next sheltie was Smuckers, a blue merle who was our first female. With her, we experienced the joys of a female in season with a house full of males. We bred her, and with the help of Bill & Irene, our first litter of puppies was born. Our newest dog is Molly, a cute little bi-black female form Lorrie Reed & April Dunford. Molly thinks she is the top dog of the house and has been trying to convince everyone else that she is top dog. Andrew & I currently share our home with 6 shelties, 4 birds, 3 rabbits and some fish. We train and show in obedience. Several of the dogs are certified Therapy Dogs. I have been taking them to nursing homes and to Tampa General Hospital for many years. I have been a member of TBASSC since 1986 and Andrew has been a member since 1996. We are also longtime members of the Dog Training Club of Tampa and members of Obedience Plus in Lakeland. This year we helped to establish the Ye Muttley Krewe, Tampa's first canine crew. Our best advice to newcomers is to be patient ask a lot of questions and to volunteer and be as active as you can. These are the best ways to learn about shelties and other aspects of showing dogs. |
Back to Meet Our Members
