David, I'm sure in the back of your mind when she first licked you, "is this affection or is she sampling me like a sausage on a toothpick at Sams Club?" (She'd already had one taste).

LOL.

Gotta love workin' dogs.

Signed copies for all LB members. That is putting the cart WAY before the horse, but it sounds like a plan to me.

Thanks for the links Tracey! You all have me wondering now I'm currently deciding on tense. I tell stories in the present tense, but it seems more appropriate in past tense. I switch up from time to time to see what is going to work. Any thoughts anyone?


Speaking to the ahhhh moment, yes. It was wonderful to just BE with her for the first time. I think the honesty you have with a dog stems from the fact that you can not lie to them. They are experts in body language and non-verbal communication. You HAVE to be honest with them, and it's not in their nature to be deceitful. They just Are who they Are, and that allows us to have a relationship with them that is seldom possible with another person.

Fama and I make a great team because we listen to each other. There is an understanding in her eyes that I haven't seen often. I can work that dog from 150 yards away and never make a sound or wave my hand. A nod of the head or turn of the shoulders is all it takes. I think humans talk too much LOL

Tanya: there was a time when everyone except my trainers was scared of my dog. Even after she decided that daddy could do the fighting and people were nice, petting her was like an X-Game event to the guys. They would come over and test their nerve, and then scamper back to their buddies and tell the tale of petting Fama. The joke was that if she came up behind you and licked your ear, which she likes to do, she was just basting it for later.

 Quote: David Winners

Tanya: there was a time when everyone except my trainers was scared of my dog. Even after she decided that daddy could do the fighting and people were nice, petting her was like an X-Game event to the guys. They would come over and test their nerve, and then scamper back to their buddies and tell the tale of petting Fama. The joke was that if she came up behind you and licked your ear, which she likes to do, she was just basting it for later.

lol - EVERYONE is scared of my dog, even when he finally decides they're ok. Ok for him is: leave me alone, do not look at me, do not touch me and do not talk to me; this must occur at least 1/2 dozen times before he finally decides he no longer wants a piece of you. Once you do all these things, he may give you a drive by and let you touch him for a second. Then you know you're ok. And then he still may even mess with you and try and take a piece here or there.

I love, "They would come over and test their nerve," - emphasis on their! My dog is such a jerk he wears what I call his walking billboard - a harness with 3 patches that say - DO NOT PET, Not FRIENDLY, AND I BITE! I have to say, and I'm sure you will probably agree, once you have a "butthead" dog, it's going to be very difficult to go back to anything less than what we have. Enzo has spoiled me; working with him is some of the most fun I've ever experienced although I have to keep my eyes on him 24/7 when we are out in public, I love it!

In fiction it is suggested that the author talks in the 'third person' tense, but when I read the Herriot books, he goes back to the beginning of his career, and though not sticking strictly to a time line, it is generally written chronologically.

I can't recommend them strongly enough for just a brilliant read, obviously the Characters of Siegfried and Tristan are exaggerated for poetic license, but the core of the working relationship and enduring friendship shines through; like most good books, the story is in the telling, and I think you have the makings of a best seller!

David, this definitely needs to be a book, whether you decide to make it non-fiction or fictionalize it as Heriott did (great books btw), it's a great story and you definitely have writing talent.

I can hardly wait for the next episode.

http://www.publishamerica.com/ David, you might check out these people. Supposedly they publish new authors and are a regular, not a vanity publisher.

Just got back from vacation and this is the second post I opened up to see what I've missed. Wow, David! I just blew by an hour of being non productive at work reading your story. You are truly gifted as a story teller and a writer. Sign me up for one of those autographed book copies. Can't wait for the next episode. What a fantastic account of your experiences!

Sign me up for a autographed book too please! Just like everyone else I have should be helping my mother cook but I got off track reading your stories! They make me smile thinking about how this may be what it will be like when I get my dog in a year or two! Man do I have a lot of preparing to do ! Can't wait for the next chapter...

GREAT STORY! love reading about MWDs

I'm still addicted!