I snapped the picture below of Delilah over the weekend on our zillionth walk through the pasture. It was just so pretty I wanted to share it with you all.

Thought I’d also introduce myself while I was at it. I’m pretty new to the board and tremendously grateful to have such a great resource.

I live with:
-Husband of 26 years
-Eleven year old daughter going on 9 years via Tver, Russia
-Three Chihuahuas various ages and coat type, I'll always have one on my pillow
-One Min Pin rescue, not sure of her age, she adores my DD
-One extraordinarily smart, beautiful, 5 month old GS I adore to the nth degree
-One LaMancha goat, 10 years, he’s a pain in the butt, we love him anyway
-Two Quarter Horse, both are 9, fat and sassy
-Normally a bunch of chickens but coons got em all

I’ve been training and showing horses since I was a kid. I bred and showed Chihuahuas for fifteen years and had a nationally top ranked Smooth Coat (Solo) for two years solid. I’m very proud of my accomplishments with Solo. If you know anything about doggy show politics you know the breeder, handler who spends zero dollars advertising their dog has a very steep hill to climb. That’s just how good he was. Here’s a head study of him and the Best of Breed photo was a show with over 300 Chihuahuas entered. It was at that time the largest Specialty Show in history for that breed.

http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q582/Delilahwhitepaw/Solo.jpg

http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q582/Delilahwhitepaw/Solobestofbreed.jpg

I’m finding my experience with the horses is paying off in the training of Delilah. When I first got my girl I was worried about everything. Honestly I have to shake my head over the things I fretted about. I’m much more relaxed with her now and she doing great at home and at work. My competitive juices are flowing and I can’t wait to see where we end up. Right now we're just having a lot of fun.

What kind of competition are you thinking about?

Delilah sure is good-looking!

Not too sure, I first thought about competitive heeling and Delilah is well on her way for that but I find myself searching youtube to watch schutzhund. It's totally something I never thought I would be interested in but I gotta say Delilah makes me think it's possible. I'm not sure what we have in the area for clubs and I would definately need someone to work with us to get from here to there.

She is pretty, isn't she.

What a beautiful girl and welcome to the board.

Some of the best dog trainers/competitors I know had a strong background in horses.

 Quote: David Eagle

David and Betty, Thank you very much for the feedback! That's exactly the kind of information I hoped for. I plan to do selection testing, I DO NOT WANT spooky or weak nerves. I've had spooky and it's a barrel full of headaches because of how deeply it impacts all the dog's behavior. I'm going to be getting a male, unless neither of the males is satisfactory. We don't really have "weather" in Southern California, it's just this really tedious parade of perfect days, all lined up back to back.

David, if you should decide against a Viszla and want a sporting breed that tends to have a sharper temperament than say a lab, check into Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

Lynn- LOVE THE CHIHUAHUA!!!!

Oh my Lynn, Delilah is a very pretty girl!!

She reminds me a lot of my boy, right down to the two tan eye brow markings.

And your little guy is so cute. So that's what they're supposed to look like. Very nice representation of the breed.

Welcome!

AJ, your pup too, what an interesting coat, very good looking boy.

And a big warm welcome to you to David.

Thank you Betty and CJ , I wish I had video of his movement. I used to have to elbow my way to the front of the pack in the group ring. I made a lot of handlers mad doing that but when we finally got moving there wasn’t a toy breed there that Solo couldn’t stay out in front of. Some of the nicest complements I got were from large breed exhibitors who would tell me until they saw Solo they really didn't think of a Chihuahua as an athletic breed.

He's fifteen now and actually has outlived many of his get. We probably should say good-bye to him but I just can't bring myself to it. One thing that amazes me about Delilah is that she's always so careful when we walk by him on the way to the door. Somehow she knows how fragile he is and makes sure she doesn't bump into him. Now the others, that a different story.

 Quote:

David, if you should decide against a Viszla and want a sporting breed that tends to have a sharper temperament than say a lab, check into Chesapeake Bay Retrievers

Beautiful dogs! Thank you. I'll keep that in mind if the guys I look at on monday aren't up to my expectations.

I like Labs, they're sweet, but I wouldn't want a lab as a pet. They certainly lack all sharpness.

I have to second the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. NOT a "lab", not a "golden" at all. Smart, loyal, hard working, tough as nails, no OCD compulsive tennis ball craziness (but fetch and love it) plus they will EAT the burglar. Solid temperament, nerves of steel, at least ours was. Not silly, serious. Ours didn't shed much either, an odd coat, easy care.
Our dog also had a nice smell when wet, a peculiar plus. Kind of smoky.

If they herded cows I would have one.