Memories..how we started

 This is CJ , Showtrail Calmaity Jane, born May 1, 1990. She was my first Dalmatian.  She was the keeper puppy of her breeder Sue and I happened to meet CJ and her mother dog and owner at a dog show. Just by accident,  we struck up a conversation. Within a week, I was taking CJ to handling classes..she was 4 months old and soon I was going with Sue and her 4 children to dog shows around Saskatchewan.  By 10 months of age, CJ needed a new home and we were asked if we could take her. 

Having a dog was not in our plans with both of us in University but soon CJ came to be with us.

 When CJ was about 11 months of age, we met up with a long time friend who had gotten a Shetland Sheepdog named Jessie. Those two dogs had such a wonderful time together!

Part of the plan of CJ coming to us was that her breeder would get her first litter. We raised the litter and she placed them. We kept a little girl we named Cleo.  About five months later, a boy who had been pretty badly abused was returned to the breeder and he came back to us. His name was Tango.

When Wes graduated with his BEd degree in 1993, I gifted him with a black Labrador Retriever name Schooner. Schooner was 17 months old and already a show champion. He and CJ had a wonderful relationship.

Schooner loved to carry things, socks in particular. At that time in our house, dogs were not allowed in the living or dinning rooms. Schooner and CJ would lie on the rug in the hall and slowly creep onto the hard wood. We would just say they names and they would crawl back..it was hilarious. Unfortunately, 10 days after Schooner came to us, he has his first seizure. All further plans of showing ,hunting  and breeding him  were put on hold. Schooner lived a happy and full 13 years with his seizures. Although he eventually could not abide other dogs near him, he was always wonderful with people. 

Tango was from our first Dalmatian litter in 1992. Tasha was from my one and only 'litter'. This wonderful photo of these beauties was taken in 1993 in Saskatoon Sask.