Hi all, I just found this board. I'm Pre Op waiting for insurance approval. I show German Shorthaired Pointers and Cardigan Welsh Corgis in the SW. Any other dog show junkies out there? How long did it take you to get back in the ring are RNY-Lap? Jinnie

Hi Jenny, Chiquita is doing very well. She and Balto are getting along famously. She will be heading to the vet on Tuesday to be spayed and to have a growth removed. She has some sort of soft growth on her underside. The vet is confident that it is just the result of feeding too many pups.

Hi, I'm a dog groomer too in TX, although I work out of my home part time and groom on the weekends. I got into grooming because of my 4 dogs, it became cheaper to do them myself. I took a course through Candy Cares, a non-profit organization for Vet Students, then enrolled in Thompson Education Direct, and have 2 more lessons to get my certification from Thompson. I started charging in Dec. for grooms. Prior to that I was doing free grooms, to help with my training. I also have a very good library of tapes and cds to help in grooms. Since I have 2 ****er spaniels, I'm most qualified on them. I haven't done a poodle yet and I might have to do a few free before I'm ready to charge. However my course has 1 full section on Poodles and I have a poodle grooming vhs tape. Are you familiar with the clippin swing, I bought one and found it really speeds up my grooms. I can do all 4 of my dogs paws, pads and nails, cut and grinded, in less than an hour with it. I also bought a airforce cage dryer to speed up my drying time, and a I have top performance table top hand held dryer to finish off . Since, I'm also an artist, and do stained glass, acrylic and oil painting. I find my time limited and don't advertise my grooming services. I decided if I ever need to advertise and start grooming full time, I'll be ready..

Hi Everyone! I have a brindle Boxer boy, with natural ears, Doyle (named after a guitar player in the band Misfits) He is such a lover and a fighter - beat cancer of the bone last year... He is big brother to Beamer, our 2 1/2 yo Boston girl... they are such a treat to have - unless they both have gas at the same time... arghhh yucky. Was wondering if anyone out there would like to talk about either breed.. I love 'em to peices! ~Starr~

Have you ever seen the poem, "The Rainbow Bridge?" It tells of how they are waiting in Heaven for us to play with them again. I don't know what I will do when I lose one of my dogs. I dread the day, but I know God has just lent them to me for a few years, and I am so grateful I have them as long as I do. I still miss my German Shepherd and my mutt, Sunny Bones that I grew up with. Hang in there, she knows you love her still!