updatedvickisdogs

2123 Marina Blvd.
San Leandro, Ca 94577
(510) 483-2631
braveheartdogs@sbcglobal.net

This page is dedicated to my own dogs

, both past and present

. Check out

dogs and

learn a little bit about my favorite breeds.

Over the years, I have lived with many different breeds including

Rottweilers,

a A

ghan Hound,

boxers, pugs, poodles,

Chow Chows,

Shih

Tzus, a

Clumber

Spaniel

a Havanese,

Dachshunds, Cattle dogs and

various

mixed

breeds.

Dachshunds

I love all dogs, but

Dachshunds are

my favorite breed and for the past

years

have

not been without a Dachshund in

home.

I currently

Dachshund rescue,

and

have my

own standard smooth

and

standard

longhair dachshunds.

I c

ompete with

dachshunds in

conformation,

field

trials, obedience,

earthdog, and rally. I have bred

and produced

several

champions, and show my own dachshunds as

well as those

belonging to

friends and clients.

Visit my

Braveheart Dachshunds!

I am a member of the Golden Gate Dachshund Club (for

which I am also

President

and breeder referral contact

), the Northern California

Dachshund

Club and the

Dachshund Club of America.

I am an AKC dachshund (and

basset

hound)

field trial judge.

I do

achshund rescue

and write a Trainer

Blog

for the

Dachshund

Rescue Web Page (

www.drwp.net

Dachshunds are sometimes labeled "stubborn" and "difficult

to train",

both

labels that make me crazy. Dachshunds are

not stubborn, they

are

simply

bred to do a specific task (

o to ground or do scentwork

) and

when we

attempt to

interfere with their work by

asking for something

else,

it is

sometimes

difficult to

convince them that we are right

. I call

this

commitment

and

dedication. Dachshunds tend to have a pretty

strong

work

ethic and

asking them to stop when they are working can

challenging. So, I will

admit that they can be challenging at

times,

but all

that means is that we

need to be better trainers

and more

creative in

convincing them that we

are

worth

listening to.

Blaming the

animal for our shortcomings as trainers is

unfair and unreasonable.

I teach my dogs several behaviors including to come when

called.

Because

I train them in a way that makes sense to

them and is

reasonable

to them,

they do what I ask of them.

My dachshunds are

trained using

the same

positive

reinforcement methods that I train every

other breed

with,

and it

works just as well with them.

Australian Cattle Dogs

In addition to my dachshunds, I also live with cattle dogs.

While the

cattle

dogs have a very different type of work ethic

and learning style

than my

dachshunds, they get along

together very well.

I love training and working with cattle dogs. They are a

brilliantly smart

and

clever breed. These dogs tend to be

problem solvers. They are

hard

wired

working dogs, and they

need a job to do. If you don't

provide one,

they'll

find one,

and you might not like it. They require a

great deal of

exercise

and mental stimulation. They are a fantastic

breed,

but they

aren't for

everyone. If you don't have time to

interact

with these dogs,

don't have

one. I hate breed

generalizations because

all dogs are

individuals, but it's

appropriate to say here that most cattle

dogs are

smart,

clever, hard

working, high energy dogs.

Contrary to popular belief, cattle dogs do NOT need to be

handled

roughly

or trained harshly. These dogs are some of

the most

responsive

and

responsible dogs I have ever met. I

never manhandle

dogs and cattle

dogs

are no different. They

need an understanding

owner who respects

these

dogs and

can provide them what they need.

I occasionally do cattle dog rescue, but typically only young

puppies. I

am a

member of the Gold Coast Australian Cattle

Dog Club.

Pekingese

I have always liked Pekes. One my close friends Sherry Fischer of Toadilly

Pekingese used to breed and show them. We were very close and involved

in one another's breeding programs (mine with Dachshunds and hers with

Pekingese). And now, I have a tiny warrior of my own.

Pekingese are an interesting breed. They are small dogs and they are a

toy dog, but they are NOT sissy or dainty dogs. A Peke should be bold,

courageous and full of self esteem. In fact the breed standard reads "A

combination of regal dignity, intelligence and self-importance make for a

good natured, opinionated and affectionate companion to those who have

earned its respect."

Pekes do great with clicker training as it allows them to make their own

choices and be rewarded for them. They are resistant to pressure and so

allowing them to try things and be rewarded for them seems to work very

well.

Rottweilers

Over the years I have also lived with Rottweilers. My soulmate dog, the

dog

who taught me everything I know, Boris, was a Rottweiler. I rescued

him

from

the backyard of the home he had been abandoned at. He was my

first

competition obedience dog and the dog responsible for teaching

about dog

training.

Boris passed away when he was about 12 years old in 1998. I am

still not over him and cannot fathom having another Rottie this soon.

In addition to Boris, we also had Poker a Rottweiler who I bottle raised from

one day old. Poker's litter was given to me by his "breeders" when they

realized that the mother dog was killing the puppies and they didn't know

what to do or how to raise them. I took all of them and only Poker and his

brother Ajax survived. Poker died at 6 years old from degenerative

myelopothy.

I do not live with any Rottweilers at this time, however I do spend a great

deal of time with Capone, a Rottweiler friend of mine. I also work with

many

client Rottweiler

I love th

is breed and still

consider myself a "Rottie

person".

I feel that Rotties are one of the most easily trainable and sweetest

dogs out

there. They just need to be in the hands of responsible

owners. Luckily,

most of the ones I work with are and they are a

pleasure to work with.

Slater, my dear old red
dog. Now 13 years old.

Ivy, the Matriarch of
Braveheart.

Winnie has her CD title,
is a field champion, her
CGC and is a therapy
dog.

Ribbon is a breed
champion and has her
Rally Novice title. She
will hit field trials next.

From Rescue to Royalty,
Sir Thomas James

Billy the Kid. My heart
dog...

Vicki's Dogs

Braveheart Dog Training
"Dog Training from the Heart"

"Boris"

"Poker"

Hong Kong Fooey, my
beautiful Pekingese.

Carrot, my miniature
smooth Dachshund.
She has the biggest
heart in the tiniest
package!

Sonic the Hedgehog,
my Pomeranian boy!