Where did you learn your dog info from?

My mentor, who I bought my very first show dog from, was, at the time, going to UC Davis in the veterinary program. She taught me pretty much everything I needed to know, right through whelping my first litter. She showed me how to do dew claws and everything. Good thing I had her, because my Irish Setter had 14 freaking puppies and I had to tube feed them. LOL! Talk about being thrown to the wolves. She taught me how to do vaccinations and teeth cleanings, and all the maintenance. I learned about diet from her (she was actually a Greyhound breeder that had a lovely Gordon Setter bitch that she bred, which produced my puppy) and I had a lot of sighthound background from her that I brought with me 20 some years later when I bought my first Saluki. I learned soooooo much more when Rose became ill, and I was able to keep her alive against ALL odds for 3 years with knowlege that I obtained from the internet and vets that were willing to answer all of my questions. Plus, I think 30 years competing in shows, field trials, obedience and lure coursing, pretty much gives you a lot.

Some of it I just picked up by having a dog & some came from assorted books.  By far, most of it came from just being on this forum.

Joyce

I ask a lot of questions!  I learned empathy from my parents and growing up with animals.  I learned a lot about health from caring from my horse as an adolescent, and lessons learned from paying necessary and unnecessary vet bills as an adult for all my animals. Educationally, I have read a lot of books, been to clinics, shows of all sorts, and of course surfed the internet.  Behaviorally, I learned a lot from interaction with my animals, as well as my profession of being a human therapist.  Animals and humans are so similar...everything is done based on needs and wants.  We can gather a whole lot of resources from clinics, vets, events, internet and books, but by simply paying time and attention to our animals we can learn a whole lot more!  By respecting our animals, as well as ourselves, everyday is a learning experience...if we choose to learn from it!

I read, read, read and read.  Everytime I come up against a dilema, I do research here and on the web.  I observe my dogs and see what works the best.  We go to obedience and agility.  If something isn't working in class, I try hard to find out why.  If there is a medical problem that my vet doesn't answer to my satisfaction (actually, even if he does), I do research on it and ask other people. 

I've gotten a lot of good advice and answers here on this very forum.

I picked up a lot of information from books and magazines.  I also learned a lot about training from all the classes I had my doberman in.  Health I have learned from my dogs and having to take them in for what ever reason.  I have picked up information from being a part of this forum and some other ones.  I do a lot of reading on anything that is dog related (dog breeds, health, training, care, etc.).