110 degrees magazine - Index

110 degrees magazine - magazine - Index

BLOOM I PERSONA
ing. The only thing I could think to do was to lay
my book and car keys in the trail as a marker for
searchers who would come in the event that
the pig killed us all. And then I went charging
down the hill in the direction that I had seen
the pack disappear.
I discovered that the dogs had once again
pinned the boar against a couple of trees. My
alpha bitch was on point and giving orders to
the other three champions. The dogs were
absolutely having the time of their lives!
Finally, after realizing that I was never going
to kill the pig no matter how long they kept him
at bay, the dogs submitted to their leashes and
we worked our way back up the hill.
Watching my dogs revert for a short time to
their ancient instinct to hunt and attack was the
most frightening and, at the same time, most
exhilarating experience of my life.
I’m opposed to blood sport of any kind, but
that day I came to understand the emotions
that drive animals and people to participate in
such things.
BELOVED RIDGEBACKS
I bought my first Ridgeback, named Banga, from
a breeder in San Ramon. I was permanently
hooked. Over the 13 years since then I’ve owned
13 of these; half of them offspring from one of
my own pairs.
When I started out I was merely looking for
a dog as a companion and not to take to shows;
but all my dogs are show dogs and all of them
wonderful. I finished the Bench Championship
for my first two in 2000.
Once they are champions the dogs compete
for national ranking as Specials. All the dogs
you see on television are competing in this
Specials class.
64 www.110mag.com September/October 2008
“BOTH OF THOSE FIRST TWO DOGS WENT
ON TO EARN DUEL CHAMPIONSHIPS,
BECOMING FIELD CHAMPIONS IN THE
SPORT OF LURE COURSING.”
Both of those first two dogs went on to earn duel
championships, becoming Field Champions in
the sport of Lure Coursing, which is a simulated
rabbit hunt in which dogs pursue a mechanical
rabbit in a pattern across a field. Dogs are judged
on speed and agility.
One of the greatest dogs I ever owned was a
rescue dog named Cabba. She was perfect in
both appearance and temperament. Cabba had
lived in two other homes before coming to me.
I’ve never understood what circumstances could
ever cause a person — let alone two people — to
give up a dog like that.
I gave Cabba up myself when she died almost
five years ago of natural causes; I miss her to
this day. Her loss reminds me of the great
passage from Kipling a friend recently gave me:
When the body that lived at your single will
When the whimper of welcome is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone — wherever it goes — for good,
You still discover how much you care
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.
Kipling was right. Cabba’s going tore at my heart.
But I feel so lucky to have been her companion.
She gave me more than I ever gave to her.
MY WHOLE DOG BARKERY
AND PAW SPA
I worked in a business environment for decades.
For a while I worked on Wall Street for prestigious
companies where we would do things like
buy loans from mortgage companies and pool
them into mortgage backed securities.
If you knew what you were doing you could make
money playing in that market. But I was doing it
too much. I was working 50 to 80 hours per week
and my whole life seemed to be working and sleeping
so I cut bait and bought some dogs.
We moved to Brentwood eight years ago because
it was a dog-friendly community. I’m a big whole
foods market fan and used holistic approaches
to raising my dogs. I searched for the best possible
diet and care and learned about grooming a
dog and keeping it at peak physical condition.
My entrepreneurial skills, along with the
knowledge from my research and my love for
dogs came together to make my Barkery A Perfect
Storm. The fact is, making this go has been an
exhilarating challenge. But more and more
people are catching on. They realize that a
healthy dog is twice the companion of one who
is malnourished or infirm.
Whole Dog Barkery and Paw Spa is not so
much a place for pampered pets as it is a place
for healthy dogs — for owners who want to maintain
their animals in peak condition. We care for
our client animals like they were our own.
People walking in the front door for the first
time often have a difficult time believing their
eyes. We have a great sales floor filled with
amazing products including foods, grooming
products, and accessories. We sell the industry’s
best dog kibbles and canned food products.
“You are what you eat” is as true of dogs as it
is of humans. A shiny coat, cheerful behavior,
sweet breath, and good teeth are largely functions
of diet.
Only a healthy dog can become the companion
we were hoping for when we acquired the
animal. A healthy Shih Tzu, for example, is an
incomparably better companion than is one with
an earache or diarrhea. Healthy dogs listen better
and obey better. They will seek their person out
for companionship.
I also sell a line of dog treats under my own
label. Last month I began taking the products
wholesale. They are called Belly Bakes. My current