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Sighthounds Sound Off Brenna Fender |
| My first dog training experience was as a ten year old with my family poodle terrier mix. Bright and patient, Muffin learned every thing I taught her, and was soon playing dead, rolling over, jumping things and climbing step stools. While in college, I showed my parents Shih Tzu in conformation, but it was the first dog I was completely responsible for, Gabby, who really got me in to obedience. Gabby was a fast growing bundle of mixed breed misbehavior. Taking her to class at the Dog Training Club of Tampa opened my eyes to a whole collection of dog sports. Although Gabby's temperament prevented her from going further than a CGC, it was through my experiences with her that I developed training ideas that I would use on my next dog. Jordan, otherwise known as UCD UAGII Ch. Hookside Vlly Hntr Brenrich JH, MX, MXJ, AD, PD1, OJC, NGC, NAC, CGC, was that dog. He is my once-in-a-lifetime friend, and surely no other dog of mine will ever be so varied and successful in his accomplishments. With a novice handler, Jordan completed all of his titles and was among the first ten Vizslas to obtain the MX and MXJ. I was delighted to have him listed in the Front and Finish agility rankings and the Vizsla Club of America agility top ten repeatedly throughout his competitive career. Unfortunately, Jordan had to be retired just as our teamwork was really clicking, due to an injury. While learning the ins and outs of agility with Jordan, my husband and I added a Doberman Pinscher to our home. Hogan was looking to get out of a negative situation and Rich and I were suckers for a sweet face. Adding a one-year-old male was very hard on our pack, but Hogan, who came to be known as Brenrich's Given to Fly OAJ, CD, WW-RN, CGC, is now an integral part of our household. I wanted Hogan to be an agility dog, but his fear of heights and wobbly places made him a Jumpers with Weaves dog only. His enormous size (nearly 30 inches at the shoulder) and lack of exercise as a puppy made him less agile than I had hoped, but I enjoyed the new experiences Hogan brought me: my first AKC CD and my first Rally title. In fact, Hogan was the first Rally titled Doberman in the Worldwide Kennel Club (the first registry to offer Rally as a titling class). When I could see that Jordan might need to end his agility career early and that Hogan wasn't going to be my next competitor, I decided to look into a breed I was interested in even before I got Jordan. When I went to play with the litter, I knew that a whippet was the right dog for me. Yorktown's Busy at Brenrich JC, OA, OAJ--Payton--is my pride and joy. I am totally hooked on sighthounds! I love their intelligence, sense of humor and independence. Payton's agility career was interrupted by the birth of my son, Hayden, but it has resumed on a limited basis. I am disappointed that she won't achieve quite as much as she could if I had the same amount of time as I used to, but I know that Payton doesn't mind! In my non-dog life, I teach part time with the Mendez Foundation, which provides anti-drug education to middle school students in Hillsborough County, Florida. I am also pursuing a career as a freelance writer, which so far has been a pleasant merger of my dog pursuits with my so-called real life. |
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