Hello, and welcome to my new page.I'm the one on the left - I'm a salt & pepper miniature schnauzer

My name is Maisie and I'm now nearly 11 years of age. I was fit and healthy until April 20th 2007. On that dreadful morning, I was unable to walk, stand or even sit.

I had to spend a week in the animal hospital, during which I got daily vists to help me learn to stand again. I had some brain damage although the cause was never found, other than it was not a stroke. The vet originally thought I had a slipped disc but X-rays and MRI scans ruled this out. 

I love to do training and have tried all sorts, obedience, a bit of agility and even a day doing gundog training! I loved the retrieving but couldn't understand all the other dogs wanting to go for a swim in the cold stream - I mean it's bad enough having a bath, but at least it's nice and warm. I hate water and don't even like to go out in the rain. I do enjoy a day out at the beach though - you find all sorts of interesting things to pick up and smell - like this dried dog-fish which I found on a beach in South Wales.

I'm a much travelled dog, I have been all over England, Scotland and Wales and this year we're off to Ireland, which means we have to go on a ferry. I like boats and made my first trip when I was 5 months old around Ramsay Island in Wales. That was very exciting and even included a bit of white water rafting - did I need a snooze that night!

This is me as a puppy, on the left is me at 13 weeks following my first groom - all my puppy fluff got pulled out and I was ready to face the world. The next day I started puppy class. After 8 weeks I moved on to juniors and had to do tests - walking nicely, sitting and down staying, retrieving and lots more. I still go to classes and really enjoy all the new things we do, although I've never really got the hang of right and lefts for directed positions - I think it would help if my trainer could tell her right from left!

I'm not a show dog, unlike show off Kaska, but I did enter a fun show in Cornwall and won a first prize. I thought it was best to quit while I was ahead and so I gracefully retired and now follow other pursuits - like rock climbing.

This

Here we are again on Bodmin Moor, but at a lower altitude.

When I'm not mountain climbing I also like to jump. Agility is very good if you like to jump and I have my own jumps that we can use at home and in the garden.

We mini schnauzers are quite intelligent little dogs and I enjoy hearing tales of other dogs - this is a picture of me with Anubis the Egyptian jackal god.

And I like making new friends so I hope that you have enjoyed my nearly new page. Please sign our guestbook, or send us an e-mail.