OREGON RAIN DOGS

Claudia Van Gee

PO Box 3454
Hillsboro, OR  97123
clvangee2@aol.com


My love of dogs started at an early age with a Beagle mix named Ginger.  As a teenager I became a 4H member with a very wild and out of control Labrador Retriever puppy named Cindy.  Cindy and I needed more intense training.  My mom drove me to Pocksha Canine Club in Lakeville, Massachusetts for weekly classes.  At the end of one particular session the trainer mentioned a training show that we all should attend.  Cindy and I didn't exactly set the obedience ring on fire but I came away from that match totally hooked on dog obedience shows. 
My first competition obedience dogs were Golden Retrievers, Gaewind's English Brenda CD TD, and her litter brother, Gaewind's Englishman of Eaton CDX, (Trevor).  Trevor was extremely easy to train and a joy to show.  We attained a CDX and competed in the Gaines Regional in Sacramento, California and the Gaines Classic in 1980 at Denver, Colorado earning a tie for 11th place with a 196.1666.  Brenda did not enjoy obedience shows but was a great tracking dog.  It was because of her that I still love to track with all my dogs.  In the 1990's I had two Golden Retrievers, Kindred Fast Tasha Rose CD TD CGC, Can CD (Tyra) and Kindred's Corporate Raider CDX TD CGC, Can CD, (Logan), followed by three Shetland Sheepdogs, U-CDX Wrottirons Brombie of Totar CDX TDI Can CDX CGC (Briggs), Glenesk Indigo Wynn CD TDI (Indy) and Glenesk GQ (Hamster).  Presently I live with three Border Collies, U-CD Claudia's Never Ever BC CDX TD CGC (River), Claudia's High Anxiety BC (Levi) and puppy Mick. 

I'm a current member of Portland Dog Obedience Club and have been a board member, treasurer, and either tracking Chairman or Chief Tracklayer at most of their tracking tests.  In the past I have been a member of the Pacific NW Shetland Sheepdog Club, holding the office of treasurer.  I taught obedience classes for Top Dog Training Center in Cornelius, Oregon at one time but now prefer to use my spare time training my own dogs.

The UD title continues to elude me either due to my dog's health problems or just life getting in the way.  There's going to be a big party when the day arrives! 

In real life I have been working for the Washington County government since 1986.  I am starting to think more and more about retiring so I can devote all my time to, of course, dog training.