| Taylormade Pet Care "Because Animals are a Joy!" |
| (c) Tamara Taylor 2004. All rights reserved. |
| Thistledo's Tony Soprano |
| Tony's Stats |
Tony lives up to his name as he definitely is the "boss" of the
family. He likes to tell the other dogs what to do, and
surprisingly, they listen. I decided to get Luke a friend to
keep him company while I was busy during the day. I also
wanted a little buddy to play agility with. Little did I know
that I would end up living with a real life mobster in a wee
dog body.
I put the word out that I was looking for a second dog. In
June 2001 my agility instructors called me with the details of
a puppy they had picked up from the SPCA. He was small,
feisty and probably a Jack Russell cross. I told them I'd take
him.
family. He likes to tell the other dogs what to do, and
surprisingly, they listen. I decided to get Luke a friend to
keep him company while I was busy during the day. I also
wanted a little buddy to play agility with. Little did I know
that I would end up living with a real life mobster in a wee
dog body.
I put the word out that I was looking for a second dog. In
June 2001 my agility instructors called me with the details of
a puppy they had picked up from the SPCA. He was small,
feisty and probably a Jack Russell cross. I told them I'd take
him.
Born: Dec 28, 2000
Nicknames: Toners,
T.dot, Yoda, Piglet,
Mr. Nibbs.
Breed: The amazing
Mississippi Ridgeback
Height: 15 7/8 inches
Weight: 21 pounds
Colour: Pure white
Favourite Food: liver,
meaty bones, bananas.
Least Favourite Food:
he likes to eat
everything, even if it
isn't edible!
Favourite place: in the
middle of the bed
under the blankets,
racing around at the
farm.
Favourite person: his
Mom.
Favourite Activities:
going for car rides,
quad rides, playing at
his Grandparents'
farm, musical
freestyle.
Least Favourite
Activities: Baths and
nail trimming.
Best Doggy Friends:
the labbies Nestle,
Twig and Vez.
Best Trick: Jumping
through my legs in
freestyle.
Favourite words: "Car
ride?", "Hungry?",
"Where's your
leash?", "Where's
your dish" and
"Wanna go?".
Favourite Toy:
Wiggly Giggly duck.
What Tony has taught
me about life: Tony
has taught me to
value all life, to be
patient and kind, that
love can work
miracles, not to give
up and that rescue
dogs will repay your
efforts 100 times over.
Tony's Dogster Page
Tony's AAC Stats
Nicknames: Toners,
T.dot, Yoda, Piglet,
Mr. Nibbs.
Breed: The amazing
Mississippi Ridgeback
Height: 15 7/8 inches
Weight: 21 pounds
Colour: Pure white
Favourite Food: liver,
meaty bones, bananas.
Least Favourite Food:
he likes to eat
everything, even if it
isn't edible!
Favourite place: in the
middle of the bed
under the blankets,
racing around at the
farm.
Favourite person: his
Mom.
Favourite Activities:
going for car rides,
quad rides, playing at
his Grandparents'
farm, musical
freestyle.
Least Favourite
Activities: Baths and
nail trimming.
Best Doggy Friends:
the labbies Nestle,
Twig and Vez.
Best Trick: Jumping
through my legs in
freestyle.
Favourite words: "Car
ride?", "Hungry?",
"Where's your
leash?", "Where's
your dish" and
"Wanna go?".
Favourite Toy:
Wiggly Giggly duck.
What Tony has taught
me about life: Tony
has taught me to
value all life, to be
patient and kind, that
love can work
miracles, not to give
up and that rescue
dogs will repay your
efforts 100 times over.
Tony's Dogster Page
Tony's AAC Stats
Tony had been an owner
surrender to the SPCA.
There was no reason
given, and very little
background. He was not
dealing with the shelter
environment very well
and didn't have much
time left when he was
adopted by my agility
instructors. I brought
him home in a little crate
and the adventure began.
surrender to the SPCA.
There was no reason
given, and very little
background. He was not
dealing with the shelter
environment very well
and didn't have much
time left when he was
adopted by my agility
instructors. I brought
him home in a little crate
and the adventure began.
Upon releasing Tony from his crate he began to cower, snarl
and pee on himself. He didn't want to be touched. This
continued for a few weeks. I began to seriously question my
judgement. I went to two different vets for behaviour
consultations as Tony was fear aggressive and had terrible
separation anxiety. On top of that he was your typical busy,
chaotic terrier puppy. Both vets told me it would probably be
best to euthanize him. I was furious and stubborn. There
was no way I was going to do that! I couldn't believe that I
paid someone to 'help' me and all they could come up with
was euthanasia.
and pee on himself. He didn't want to be touched. This
continued for a few weeks. I began to seriously question my
judgement. I went to two different vets for behaviour
consultations as Tony was fear aggressive and had terrible
separation anxiety. On top of that he was your typical busy,
chaotic terrier puppy. Both vets told me it would probably be
best to euthanize him. I was furious and stubborn. There
was no way I was going to do that! I couldn't believe that I
paid someone to 'help' me and all they could come up with
was euthanasia.
I was determined to give Tony a
good life and work through his
issues. I found a clicker trainer
who came to our home for a
behaviour consultation. She told us
that Tony was incredibly intelligent
and that there was indeed hope for
the little white mobster dog. I set
out to find a way to help Tony
trust people again.
good life and work through his
issues. I found a clicker trainer
who came to our home for a
behaviour consultation. She told us
that Tony was incredibly intelligent
and that there was indeed hope for
the little white mobster dog. I set
out to find a way to help Tony
trust people again.
I started to work with positive reinforcement and clicker
with Tony. He began to gain confidence and come out of his
shell. I also enrolled him in agility which he took to like a
fish takes to water. He enjoyed playing on the equipment and
being lavished with praise and treats. His improvement
astonished me.
We continued to deal with Tony's issues as they also
manifested themselves physically. Tony's anxiety caused his
immune system to be weakened. He had several bouts of
demodex. He also took to chewing on himself when he was
stressed. His hair fell out in patches and his skin became red
and raw. I worked with a homeopathic vet, and continued to
strive to keep Tony's life fun and as stress free as possible.
In 2003 Tony started trialling in agility. He had clear hip
xrays and the thumbs up from the vet so we entered several
trials. He did fairly well considering only a few years ago he
was a cowering mess. The trial environment was stressful
for him though. Being crated, and all of the noise and
activity made him anxious and tired. Tony's first Q was in
Team Relay with his friend Nestle, the chocolate lab. It was
Nestle's first Q as well so it was extra special. We continued
to work at making the situation a pleasant experience for him.
with Tony. He began to gain confidence and come out of his
shell. I also enrolled him in agility which he took to like a
fish takes to water. He enjoyed playing on the equipment and
being lavished with praise and treats. His improvement
astonished me.
We continued to deal with Tony's issues as they also
manifested themselves physically. Tony's anxiety caused his
immune system to be weakened. He had several bouts of
demodex. He also took to chewing on himself when he was
stressed. His hair fell out in patches and his skin became red
and raw. I worked with a homeopathic vet, and continued to
strive to keep Tony's life fun and as stress free as possible.
In 2003 Tony started trialling in agility. He had clear hip
xrays and the thumbs up from the vet so we entered several
trials. He did fairly well considering only a few years ago he
was a cowering mess. The trial environment was stressful
for him though. Being crated, and all of the noise and
activity made him anxious and tired. Tony's first Q was in
Team Relay with his friend Nestle, the chocolate lab. It was
Nestle's first Q as well so it was extra special. We continued
to work at making the situation a pleasant experience for him.
Tony gained a bit of a
reputation of being an
entertaining little fart on
course. He liked to do his
own thing and was quite
the social butterfly with
the ring crew. Tony's
runs were always good
entertainment for
spectators.
reputation of being an
entertaining little fart on
course. He liked to do his
own thing and was quite
the social butterfly with
the ring crew. Tony's
runs were always good
entertainment for
spectators.
In the winter of 2003 Tony began Musical Freestyle. This
truly is Tony's passion and talent. He loves to ham it up and
do amazing tricks. His tail always seems to keep time with
the music, no matter what the song! Freestyle was a
wonderful way for Tony and I to bond even closer, and to
train in a fun, stress free way. Tony entered a fun match in
spring 2004 and took home 1st place! Hopefully we can
continue Freestyle and compete in the future. Tony and I
took a break from freestyle for a few months during our
move to Alberta. I found Tony's freestyle CD and put it on.
I didn't say a word to Tony as I wanted to see if he'd
recognize it. He sure did! He came racing to me, jumping,
spinning and bouncing excitedly. He knew it was HIS song!
In October 2004 Tony went to the vet for xrays again. His
agility performance seemed "off" and I suspected he may
have luxating patellas. What the vet found came as a shock
to me. Tony has degenerative joint disease in both hips. We
have decided that it is in Tony's best interest to retire from
agility. The vet said that I could continue to run him on
medication, but I feel my dog is worth too much to me to do
that. As long as Tony is happy and pain free, I'm happy. We
are beginning physio to see if it will help alleviate some of
the discomfort. I hope Tony is able to continue Freestyle
and tracking as he seems to enjoy those activities the most.
Tony has been the most challenging dog I've ever owned.
He's taught me so much about love, life and how patience
and TLC can turn a scared, snarling puppy into the best
friend I'd never want to be without. It makes me so proud to
see how far he has come. It is also nice when people tell me
what a sweet, funny little dog he is. I'm glad I'm no longer
the only one that feels that way.
truly is Tony's passion and talent. He loves to ham it up and
do amazing tricks. His tail always seems to keep time with
the music, no matter what the song! Freestyle was a
wonderful way for Tony and I to bond even closer, and to
train in a fun, stress free way. Tony entered a fun match in
spring 2004 and took home 1st place! Hopefully we can
continue Freestyle and compete in the future. Tony and I
took a break from freestyle for a few months during our
move to Alberta. I found Tony's freestyle CD and put it on.
I didn't say a word to Tony as I wanted to see if he'd
recognize it. He sure did! He came racing to me, jumping,
spinning and bouncing excitedly. He knew it was HIS song!
In October 2004 Tony went to the vet for xrays again. His
agility performance seemed "off" and I suspected he may
have luxating patellas. What the vet found came as a shock
to me. Tony has degenerative joint disease in both hips. We
have decided that it is in Tony's best interest to retire from
agility. The vet said that I could continue to run him on
medication, but I feel my dog is worth too much to me to do
that. As long as Tony is happy and pain free, I'm happy. We
are beginning physio to see if it will help alleviate some of
the discomfort. I hope Tony is able to continue Freestyle
and tracking as he seems to enjoy those activities the most.
Tony has been the most challenging dog I've ever owned.
He's taught me so much about love, life and how patience
and TLC can turn a scared, snarling puppy into the best
friend I'd never want to be without. It makes me so proud to
see how far he has come. It is also nice when people tell me
what a sweet, funny little dog he is. I'm glad I'm no longer
the only one that feels that way.
| It is hard to believe Tony is the same dog I brought home years ago. |
Rain or shine, Tony is always
the best dressed dog I know.
the best dressed dog I know.
| "Whatchya looking at?" |
| December 28, 2000 - September 1, 2006 |