I am owned by 4 dogs

Kara and Kyra - Keeshond sisters that I adopted a year ago from an all breed rescue. Kara is a doll, but Kyra has some issues that worry me. My vet has recommended that I rehome her into a home with no other dogs. I haven't decided if I'm willing to do that or not yet. We'll see - if I see no improvement I may consider that.

Spirit - My heart dog, she is very special to me and is my best little girl. She's an Aussie/Keeshond/? mix I adopted October 2000 from the shelter where I work. I took her home right after I lost my furkid, Snickers, suddenly and unexpectedly. I UKC/AMBOR registered her as Snickers' Evil Spirit in the Sky. I had planned to compete in obedience with her, but her heart is not in it so we'll try to get her certified as a therapy dog.

Mystic - My new puppy, well she's about 4 months old now. Her full name is Raid the Winds Mystical Spirit to incorporate Spirit's name into hers. I'd love to do competitive obedience with her if she's willing. She's in kindergarten right now and doing pretty well. Mystic is a rare breed called a Shiloh Shepherd. They are not an AKC breed, but are recognized by ARBA (american rare breed assoc.) and have their own registry as well.

All of my girls are spayed and Mystic will be at 6 months of age. I'm not interested in breeding/showing at this point, but I might in the future as I'm only 25 right now. I'm going to vet tech school and working part time at a Humane Society. You can read more about my current furkids and my bridgekids at my website listed in my signature.

Here's a picture I took of Mystic today so you can see what she looks like:


Here's Spirit:


Here's Kara:


And lastly, Kyra:


Michelle

Furkids:
Kara & Kyra (rescued Keeshonds)
Spirit, CGC (rescued mixed breed)
Raid the Wind's Mystical Spirit "Mystic" (Shiloh Shepherd)
www.fuzzybutts.com
"Don't let them get laid until they get spayed!"
Please help find Rumble www.globalspan.net/lost.htm

Hi Michelle I'm so happy you joined us. Your Mystic is really mystic!! What a beautiful dog -- they all are.

Kyra sounds like she's worrying you a bit Is it an aggression issue? She's beautiful!! I hope you get to stay with her.

I'm glad you're here. It's a great opportunity for others to meet and get to know a very little known breed: Shiloh Shepherds.

Looking forward to seeing more photos. Let me know if you have any questions.

Welcome!! Your furbabies are so adorable!! Keep the pic's coming!

Proudly owned by Honey, Licky & Mee Mee

Kyra's issues -

Not to get too long here, but I'll go over them a bit. She had fear aggression when I first got her and when cornered (when she felt like she was) she would snap and growl. I had her evaluated by 2 behaviorists and 1 said to put her down, the other said she could be rehabbed. She WILL bite a child, I know that for sure. When my neighbor's kid has to come over Kyra has to be put away because she will bite him.

She now developed some obsessive behaviors towards our other neighbor's dog. She only wants to run up and down the fence with him and that's all she thinks about when she's outside. She'll stare at his house if he's not out. She is so focused that she will no longer potty outside, she does that inside now.

She also is becoming more dog-aggressive to my other dogs, her own sister included. They had always been the best of buddies - that was why I adopted the both of them instead of just one. They haven't had any serious brawls, yet. But I think it might happen soon as Kyra's tolerance has sharply decreased and any little thing (like another dog bumping into her) sets her off.

Both dogs are products of extremely bad breeding, almost on a puppy mill scale except their breeder only had Keeshonds and had somewhere between 50-100 if I'm not mistaken. They are inbred, which if you know what you are doing can produce good dogs. On the other hand, if you don't know what you are doing (like their breeder) it will produce strange dogs.

I got the, when they were 6 months old. Their previous owner had bought them from the above mentioned breeder with the intention of breeding them with her (pet store purchased) male Keeshond. She believed she could make some money doing that since she was retired. She did not raise them to become nice dogs, most of the time they were shut either outside or in the laundry room. They never left her house and never saw new people or dogs. When they were dumped by her into a shelter because they started being barky and unruly they were overcome and withdrew. The shelter was going to put them down, but a rescue that works with them stepped in a saved them and that's where I adopted them from.

So Kyra has bad genetics and poor (nonexistent) socialization working against her and I think those 2 factors are why she is the way she is. I don't know if she'll ever be normal, it's doubtful. But I also don't know how much more of it I can take. Kara is a very sweet and pleasant dog, she can get a little aggressive with other dogs too but she's not as bad as Kyra. They are very different dogs even though they were from the same litter and were both raised incorrectly. Kara seems to have no damage from either, whereas Kyra is a mental mess.

That's why the vet recommends placing her, her thinks she is stressed in my multi dog household (I have 4, my mom has 1) and so she is acting out in her obsessive and aggressive behaviors. He thinks both would be lessened in a single dog home. I want to only do what's best for her, so I have considered the idea. My only worry about that is her aggression towards kids. In the wrong home with people who didn't watch her and keep her away from kids, she could cause damage. So I don't know what to do.

Michelle

Furkids:
Kara & Kyra (rescued Keeshonds)
Spirit, CGC (rescued mixed breed)
Raid the Wind's Mystical Spirit "Mystic" (Shiloh Shepherd)
www.fuzzybutts.com
"Don't let them get laid until they get spayed!"
Please help find Rumble www.globalspan.net/lost.htm

puppy mills ~n~ backyard breeders should be punished for what they do to the animals. its not kyras fault shes like that. u have one tough choice to make but u sound like u really luv her so i know ull make the right choice.

Welcome to CFP! Hope you enjoy this site. Can't wait to see lots & lots of pics!

Mother of Lucie Lue, Kenzie, Tigger, & Starr!

Hi Michelle & Welcome to CFP!
I'm Anna & I also live in Ohio, Piqua to be exact. I'm sure you know where that is if you got Kyra & Kara from the Shelby County Animal Rescue
It's great to have you here! Needless to say I've checked out your site...it's wonderful and I must say that Mystic is quite a beauty, and growing more beautiful everyday
I understand what it's like to loose a memeber of the family so suddenly, I lost my Keisha (chow) almost 2 years ago to canine bloat & I've still never gotten over it & still sometimes feel it was my fault.
But anyways, it's great to have you and your furkids here, I hope all works out with Kyra & will be looking forward to many more pictures & stories of all of them!

Anna & the furkids!

Yup, I know where Piqua is I just don't get up that way very often. A couple years ago I made the mistake of checking out the animal swap meet that Troy has 2x a year. Well, I ended up buying for $50 a brother/sister pair of terrified Border Collies. I shouldn't have, but they were intact and I hated to see someone else buy them and breed them. Besides they had just been a couple strays that the guy had found, they weren't really his pets. Anyway, I sent them off to Border Collie rescue and I think they are still there, haven't been adopted yet because they are still terrified. Needless to say that was the first and last time I went to that swap meet, it was very depressing.

The Shelby County shelter has sent a few dogs down to us recently for adoption so we try to help them out when we have room. I read that they euthanized all their dogs a little while back for kennel cough, that was so sad because it's so treatable.

I have to go check out the new Bark Park that just opened by the Montgomery county shelter. It's supposed to be huge and has an agility course too!

Michelle

Furkids:
Kara & Kyra (rescued Keeshonds)
Spirit, CGC (rescued mixed breed)
Raid the Wind's Mystical Spirit "Mystic" (Shiloh Shepherd)
www.fuzzybutts.com
"Don't let them get laid until they get spayed!"
Please help find Rumble www.globalspan.net/lost.htm

I'm sorry to hear that the brother/sister pair you got are still at the rescue and are still terrified, that is just so sad. I don't think I'd be doing it again either.
My husband told me aboout the Shelby County shelter putting all their dogs down, I just coldn't belive it. Like you said,it's treatable, but I guess they didn't want to have to spend the money to treat it
A new Bark Park? We usually go to the one in Findlay, it's about 1 1/2 hour drive. Where is the one in Montgomery county (I'd like directions if you have them)? Do they have a website? It sounds like alot of fun with the agility course

Anna & the furkids!

Here is a link to the Bark Park website. It's just up the road from the Montgomery County shelter. I haven't been there yet, but I know people who have and they loved it - plus it's free! I believe it's at the corner of Webster St and Wyse rd. Shouldn't be too far off of I-75 and that would be easier for you to get to. Findlay is where the Border Collie rescue was that I sent Felice and Schon to so I know how far that is! I did hear that there is a drainage ditch in the park that gets gross after it rains and lots of dog like to roll in it and get filthy so beware of that!

http://www.co.montgomery.oh.us/AnimalShelter/BarkPark.htm

Michelle

Furkids:
Kara & Kyra (rescued Keeshonds)
Spirit, CGC (rescued mixed breed)
Raid the Wind's Mystical Spirit "Mystic" (Shiloh Shepherd)
www.fuzzybutts.com
"Don't let them get laid until they get spayed!"
Please help find Rumble www.globalspan.net/lost.htm

Thanks so much for the link to the park, I'm sure the girls would love to go! Maybe sometime we could get together & meet with our furkids!

Mark,Anna,Angus,Huney & Roxey

That would be great! My college classes are almost over and then I'll have more time to be able to go there. It'd be nice to meet your furkids!

Michelle

Furkids:
Kara & Kyra (rescued Keeshonds)
Spirit, CGC (rescued mixed breed)
Raid the Wind's Mystical Spirit "Mystic" (Shiloh Shepherd)
www.fuzzybutts.com
"Don't let them get laid until they get spayed!"
Please help find Rumble www.globalspan.net/lost.htm

Well, you just let me know when your classes are over & you have a little time to spare. I'm sure Roxey & Huney would be excited to meet you all (and so would I )

Mark,Anna,Angus,Huney & Roxey