My name is Linnea Shirley and I've dedicated this website to three things: my dogs, Baxter and Isabella; my fight against Breed Specific Legsilation, and my hobby, collecting resin model horses. A little bit about myself: I grew up in Atlanta, Texas, a small town of 6,000 people. It was fun and interesting, I've always had a love for the outdoors and nature in itself. When I grew up, lol, I joined the Air Force and it's been 6 years now. (Boy, time goes by!) I love to travel, and see new things, different cultures are fascinating to me, and the Air Force has given me that, along with stability and a steady paycheck. (grin) I love taking photographs, I suppose photographs are another hobby of mine, and black and whites are quickly becoming my favorite style.
Taking point... MOUNT training exercise at Ft. Hood, TX
Ever since I was a kid, there have been two things I've dreamed about, horses and dogs. It's obviously that one of my dreams have come true, since I have my dogs, Baxter and Isabella, but before I had my dogs, I did tons and tons of research to find out as much as I could on both horses and dogs until the time came. I studied a lot on wolves and how they acted with each, whether it was borrowing books from the library, buying a "wolf" book at the bookstore or watching a documintary on wolves on the Discovery Channel, I studied, I watched, and I learned. I also grabbed as many books as I could on how to "obedience" train a dog, the steps and process it takes to teach your dog how to do something. Of course, the dogs in my life starting as a teenage heavily influenced my learning about dogs and behavior... I have always been fascinated with learning as much about them as possible, and firmly believe that each one will tell you his/her story if you open yourself up to listening and paying attention... Dogs are very open creatures... I feel like I bring a mixture of both worlds to my "trainings" of my dogs and have suceeded in both. Baxter, being a rescue, it was reported that he was abused, and when I got him, he had a cigeratte burn on his paw and a butt load of issues. He could barely walk on a leash, because the sights and sounds of the normal world would scare him. I would soon call his training, "Baxter Bootcamp" because I focused more on rehabbing him than teaching him to sit, stay, down. That would come later. Instead, his training was directed more at dog behaviors, being able to read him, redirecting unwanted behavior, and challenging him on his daily 3 mile walks. Isabella on the other hand I purchased from a breeder in Chicago when she was nine weeks old. She had no baggage like Baxter did, so her training was more obedience than dog behavior. Isabella is probably the easiest dog that I have ever trained, she picked up everything very quick.
Me and my sister, Alisha
Christmas 2006
I suppose the main thing I would stress is that dogs can be rehabilitated, regardless of breed, obedience training can also work side by side with dog/pack behaviors and that BSL affects the responsible pet owners. ( go to my BSL page for more info.) I'm a firm believer you can't save all dogs, but I also believe that a dog, if able, meaning a rescue or someone is willing to give the chance to help, a dog should have a opportunity to be evaluated unbiasedly, regardless of breed. I sincerely hope you enjoy my website. Thank you!!
Donald Rumsfield and I in a overseas location in 2002.
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