My Journey : Dogs- Medicine For The Soul by Brenda Richardson

My Journey: Dogs – Medicine For The Soul by Brenda Richardson

Let me premise this story by stating that I knew nothing about the dog show world as a kid, I learned about the existence of dog shows as a freshman in collage. However, I believe my love for dogs has been in my heart since the day I was born.

When I was a kid, I always wanted a big dog, one that would play fetch and run around the block with me. My family owned a Pekingese named Suzy. I am not exactly sure where Mom got Suzy, probably from some backyard breeder or family that decided to breed their two dogs. It was the sixties and Suzy was a part of the family before I existed. Suzy was a good dog. She was Mom’s dog. Dad was a truck driver and on the road most of the time. Mom kept the business and the house running smoothly from the home base with Suzy at her side. One day Suzy was gone with no explanation from Mom. Mom would not bring another dog into the house despite how much I pleaded and begged for that big dog. I always thought Mom was not a dog person, but I later learned that was not the case. I know realize how losing Suzy broke part of Mom’s heart.

The time came when I left for college, an out-of-state college. By the second semester, I had changed colleges, met the person that I thought I would be with forever and found a way to have a dog. Next step – find the perfect dog. Where? Newspaper classified ads (the local internet of the eighties). For those that were not alive in the eighties, no internet, no laptops and no cell phones existed.

I started the search for a Siberian Husky. Why a husky? Call of the wild? Resemblance to wolves? Balto? I just wanted a Siberian, black and white with blue eyes. I found an ad in the newspaper, called her and went to her home. I found a bi-eyed black and white male and was introduced to the world of dog shows. The breeder that I found in the newspaper ad was a show dog breeder with dogs related to some of the historically great Siberians, including Cinnar, the first and only Siberian Husky to win Best In Show at the Garden. At the time, I did not know what the “Garden” was. Now, I have had the pleasure of attending the “Garden” several times.

Long story short, that breeder was my mentor in Siberians and the dog show world. Our relationship continues today having gone through many highs and lows along the way. My efforts gave her a Best In Show Siberian Husky bred by her. Her efforts taught me about dogs, structure, movement, line-breeding and much more. I took that knowledge, added knowledge from many more along the way and have had many successes in the world of dogs in several breeds since that first dog show I attended in 1988 and I am grateful to everyone that has helped me and hurt me along that journey. The wins and successes are easy to deal with (just remember to be humble and be kind in your wins/successes). The losses, the pain, the hurtfulness of others always remind me how my dogs are my medicine to deal with everything that life has to offer.

I think back now about how Suzy was medicine for my Mom to help her get through the lonely nights that my Dad was on road and probably kept her from strangling me and my brother at times. Suzy was not a show dog, just a dog whose loss left a hole in my Mom’s heart. I think about Zach, that black and white, bi-eyed Siberian that was with me the day the person I thought I would be with forever, left. I think about Beau, the red Siberian that gave me the thrill of owning a Best In Show dog. I remember the dogs that got my Mom to drive three hours to my home to dog sit, so I could go to the next dog show. My Mom, the one that would not let me have a dog, truly became a dog person because of her love for me.

Many dogs have left their paw prints on my heart over the years. This Whizz is a very special dog and not just because of his record-breaking show career. Whizz was imported from England in 2013 by a friend of mine. My friend had lost her Mother and Whizz became medicine for her to get through the pain as best that she could. Whizz wo year, I am attending the “Garden” with Whizz, the Finnish Spitz. In the National Specialty from the classes and finished his AKC championship at his first set of shows in the States. My friend then had her own health issues and Whizz was with her through those health issues.

In 2013 and 2014, I had my own “issues” with some dog show folks and I was looking to move in a different direction. One night in 2014, Whizz’s photo popped up on Facebook and it led me to contact my friend that I had not spoken to in a while to see if she wanted to start showing Whizz again. Whizz returned to the dog show ring and as the say “history was made”.

Whizz is not just a special dog in the show ring, Whizz has been my medicine for the past three years. First, he was my medicine that got me away from the hurtful dog show folks and brought me back to the dog show world that I enjoyed when I first started many years ago. He brought back the fun. Forget the ones that are just out for themselves and enjoy your true friends through both wins and losses. Remember to be kind no matter the situation.

Dogs, pet or show, are our medicine to help with our ailments and the events occurring in our lives each and every day. Their actions make us smile and laugh to make us forget our worries for that one second or minute. Minute by minute as we go through the trials and tribulations of life. The warmth of their breath and the sound of their snoring as they lay beside us on the bed or the couch comfort us. The knowledge that they need us to take care of them, make us get out of bed or off the couch and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Dogs are the medicine for my soul. I also believe that the many dogs that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge are medicine for my Mother’s and others’ souls in heaven.

Now go give your dog a hug.