How did you first start off - Page 3

For me it was all about dogs as long as I remember.

It became an obsession around 12. I wanted Boxer so bad it was all I could think about. Mom said I couldn't have a big dog so I ended up with a Beagle. He was my little buddy. Ran with me in the morning on my paper route. I would take him to the river and he would run any animal he came across. The Sacramento County Sheriffs training facility was backed up to the levee. I would sit on the levee with my Beagle and watch the K9 guys train. I thought that was the collest thing in the world.

At 19, I finally got my Boxer. I read The Koehler Method of Guard Dog Training and taught him how to bite a sleeve (my arm rolled in a bunch of towels) then went out and trained for awhile with an old german guy named Heinz Peters. Just about everyone in Sacramento went to him at some point in time. I had no idea what I was doing and was far to immature to be doing bitework.

27 I was ready to get serious. I still had my Boxer and went looking for a female GSD. Now I was dangerous because I thought I knew what I was doing. Probably one of the luckiest strokes in my life was when I came across Janis Howard and Doug White. I was looking for a GSD but they sold me a female Malinios named Bretta. She was a much better dog than I deserved. That's when it really began. I could not afford advanced training so I went to work for them in trade. Cleaned kennels, worked on their property, then started decoying and training their in-board pet OB dogs. I also started decoying for the Sacramento County Sheriff's department.

Doug and Jan were outstanding trainers. They competed in French Ring Sport and had the top dogs in the country. They won the 98 US and 99 Canadian French ring nationals. I was able to learn how to decoy with the best dogs. Like I said, I thought I knew alot more than I actually did. One day Doug took me aside and told me if I wanted to continue training with him I better shut my F*&king mouth and open my ears. I wanted it so badly I did just that. What mentors I had in them.

Next I went on to compete in NAPD. I joined Deisthund of Greater Sacramento where I met Lucillano Oliva and Gregg Tawney. I was the club training decoy for about 5 years. Here is where I learned how to do table work (among many other things). Lucillano probably taught me more about training dogs than anyone. Gregg taught me many aspects of law enforcement K9 training. During my time with them I was able to win a National championship in NAPD and took 2nd place in the first PSA Western Regional. Great trainers who taught me well.

Oh forgot to add...

I have German Shepherds now because I met some girl you all know as 4-pack but will have my Malinios again someday!

I remember that Sacramento K9 training field, just off Richards Blvd/I-5. Is it still there?

SS

Sure, yea sure, you'll get a Malinois again someday...not as long as I'm around! Godforsaken ugly creatures. He can't see that right?

HA HA HA HA  that is too funny  4 pack  but I do agree