[Maren Bell Jones]

Greetings everyone! I was referred by Patrick Murray a while back but Mike Schoonbrood finally kicked my butt into registering! I'll try to be around as much as I can, but it seems I've got at least half a dozen forums that I go to on a daily basis already and that darn masters thesis of mine still needs writing so pardon me if I'm not super active. 8) I am a behaviorist and I plan on probably becoming a veterinary behaviorist if I don't go into zoo vet medicine or surgery when I start vet school next year. I'm also very active in volunteering my time as a trainer and doing behavioral/personality profiles of the dogs I foster and work with at the local humane society.

I'm a novice in Schutzhund, but both me and my fiance are already enjoying it a lot! He hasn't been quite inspired to get his own dog to train (although I'm drooling over this Dutch/Mali/GSD mix on the Dutch Shepherd Rescue site) but he has started training as a helper, which our trainer/main helper is very excited about so it gives him a break as it gets hot with scratch pants on in Missouri even early on Saturday and Sunday mornings!

My Schutzhund dog is Zoso (triple brownie points if anyone knows the reference to his name). He is a Malinois in looks, though he might have a GSD as a grandparent or something as his ears look a wee bit too big for his head. Or he might just have big ears. Suffice it to say he's not going to win Westminster or Crufts. He is of unknown pedigree as he is one of those fairly rare shelter dogs that has the drive to do Schutzhund. To what level, I don't know and I don't really care as we're just having a lot of fun with it!! He's a fabulous dog. Absolutely loves people and most other dogs. His only fault is he's destructive if he's not mentally and physically exercised hard just about every day (go fig) and he's a crate breaker. He's 17 months old and still very much a puppy in the head, but he's getting more mature.

My other two dogs are Buck (the black and tan husky/Rott mix) and Strider (the reddish merle and black Aussie/husky/probably something else mix). I also have a ferret, two rats, two rabbits, and a jungle carpet python. Here's a rare (and pretty poor) profile shot of Zoso and a group shot of me, future hubby, and the dogs.

 

[Bob Scott]

Hey Maren! How ya doing? Did you ever get the ILP on Zoso?
You'll like it here!
Who's your TD in Columbia? Mike B?

 

[Maren Bell Jones]

Howdy Bob! I'm still working on taking a good set of photos for Zoso. As is typical, the darn dog never holds still for a good shot on my digital camera as I suspect the camera is too slow. I might just have to borrow a friend's brand new Olympus.

Yup, I ended up joining up with Mike and Vicki. Mike is so thrilled I got Sam into it as a helper in training so he can take a much needed break!

 

[Woody Taylor]

My Schutzhund dog is Zoso (triple brownie points if anyone knows the reference to his name).

Led Zeppelin IV, I hope. :!:

Welcome to the board.

 

[Sarah Hall]

Perhaps it digs a little deeper than Zeppelin, is it because Zoso is really an occult symbol more than a word? Commonly interperated as a demon, a three-headed dog that guards the gates of hell, right? I know Jimmy Page was into occult subjects, but I've also heard Zoso is/was the symbol for saturn, the planet that rules Capricons, which Page is. Like I've said before, I store way too much crap in my head!
Edited to add: Stairway to Heaven is on the "Zoso" album (called that because it's called the "nameless" album).

 

[Maren Bell Jones]

Triple brownie points awarded to Sarah and Woody! Yes, it's Jimmy Page's symbol, which I've also heard is an alchemical symbol combined with something else as well. With Jimmy, who knows...and he's sure not telling! There's a Led Zeppelin tribute band called Zoso who comes through town pretty frequently that I've seen a number of times. I should wear one of their T-shirts to help people in our club remember my dog's name.

My Aussie mix named Strider is also both a Led Zeppelin song reference and a Lord of the Rings reference. Anyone know the song? 8)

 

[Sarah Hall]

I don't know anything about Lord of the Rings other than there's a "Sword of Strider", but I know that "Strider" is the name of Robert Plant's dog (aussie or aussie mix), mentioned in the song Bron-Y-Aur-Stomp: "...ain't no companion like a blue-eyed merle."
I swear, I should play Rock ' n' Roll trivial pursuit.

 

[Maren Bell Jones]

Right you are, Sarah! And yes you should play Rock n Roll trivial persuit! There is nothing quite like putting on Led Zeppelin III in the car after a trail hike with the dogs and listening to Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, especially the live version where Robert Plant ends the song by yelling "Strider!" The best dog song ever, IMHO!

Ah caught you smiling at me,
That's the way it should be,
Like a leaf is to a tree, so fine.

Ah all the good times we had,
I sang love songs so glad
Always smiling, never sad, so fine.

As we walk down the country lanes,
I'll be singing a song,
Hear me calling your name.
Hear the wind within the trees,
Telling Mother Nature 'bout you and me.

Well if the sun shines so bright,
Or on our way it's darkest night
The road we choose is always right, so fine.

Ah can your love be so strong
When so many loves go wrong
Will our love go on and on...

My, my la de la
Come on now it ain't too far,
Tell your friends all around the world,
Ain't no companion like a blue eyed merle.
Come on now well let me tell you,
What you're missing, missing, 'round them brick walls.

So of one thing I am sure,
It's a friendship so pure,
Angels singing all around my door, so fine.
Yeah, ain't but one thing to do
Spend my natural life with you,
You're the finest dog I knew, so fine.

When you're old and your eyes are dim,
There ain't no old Shep gonna happen again,
We'll still go walking down country lanes,
I'll sing the same old songs,
Hear me call your name...Strider!

 

[Connie Sutherland]

Welcome, Maren, and GREAT new CM quote you have there!!

 

[Connie Sutherland]

Welcome, Maren, and GREAT new CM quote you have there!!

And yes, that is one great set of lyrics, too.

 

[Maren Bell Jones]

Thanks Connie!! Nice to see you on this neck of the woods. You can't keep a good fan girl down! 8) :wink:

 

[Connie Sutherland]

The only thing is that the song makes me cry on its own AND makes the Elvis song "Old Shep" come into my head so clearly and so stickingly....

Old Yeller and Old Shep, both beyond medical help, both put down at the hands of their loving owners in the days before the friendly needle........ GAH.

 

[Connie Sutherland]

Old Shep he has gone
Where the good doggies go
And no more with old Shep will I roam;
But if dogs have a heaven,
There's one thing I know:
Old Shep has a wonderful home.......





That's enough lyrics. :>(

 

[Woody Taylor]

Triple brownie points awarded to Sarah and Woody! Yes, it's Jimmy Page's symbol, which I've also heard is an alchemical symbol combined with something else as well. With Jimmy, who knows...and he's sure not telling! There's a Led Zeppelin tribute band called Zoso who comes through town pretty frequently that I've seen a number of times. I should wear one of their T-shirts to help people in our club remember my dog's name.

My Aussie mix named Strider is also both a Led Zeppelin song reference and a Lord of the Rings reference. Anyone know the song? 8)

Misty Mountain Hop

 

[Woody Taylor]

Triple brownie points awarded to Sarah and Woody! Yes, it's Jimmy Page's symbol, which I've also heard is an alchemical symbol combined with something else as well. With Jimmy, who knows...and he's sure not telling! There's a Led Zeppelin tribute band called Zoso who comes through town pretty frequently that I've seen a number of times. I should wear one of their T-shirts to help people in our club remember my dog's name.

My Aussie mix named Strider is also both a Led Zeppelin song reference and a Lord of the Rings reference. Anyone know the song? 8)

Misty Mountain Hop

I was born in 1972 so no old guy jokes, btw.

 

[Woody Taylor]

Triple brownie points awarded to Sarah and Woody! Yes, it's Jimmy Page's symbol, which I've also heard is an alchemical symbol combined with something else as well. With Jimmy, who knows...and he's sure not telling! There's a Led Zeppelin tribute band called Zoso who comes through town pretty frequently that I've seen a number of times. I should wear one of their T-shirts to help people in our club remember my dog's name.

My Aussie mix named Strider is also both a Led Zeppelin song reference and a Lord of the Rings reference. Anyone know the song? 8)

Misty Mountain Hop

I MEAN, Misty Mountain Hop refers to a section of Lord of the Rings.