Hello all, I'm new to this forum so I figure the first thing I ought to do is introduce my dogs. Wasn't sure what section this goes in, but seeing as I'm posting pictures, I figured it could just go here.
Before I introduce the hounds, I'll give a little bio on myself: I'm a reluctant college freshman and pet portrait artist. I love my pets to pieces (part of why I don't like school so much - no critters allowed there) and first discovered the idea of forums when I signed up to a pet rat forum (rats are my other love besides dogs). I'm in the process of working with my dogs to improve their behavior (they've got some bad habits) and felt the need to make sure I'm doing the right thing, hence the need to sign up to a dog forum. : )
Anyway, on to the dogs! I really could go on forever about them and probably would if I didn't know how long it takes, so I'll try to be brief.
Nikki was my first dog; technically the family dog, we adopted her from an animal shelter in Salem, MA when I was just going into 5th grade. She was originally from West Virginia as, due to the lack of mixed breed puppies in the New England area, the shelter she came from imports puppies from other areas that are overpopulated. Nikki is, as far as we can tell, a Golden Retriever/Saluki mix and very submissive and independent. She loves her family but doesn't go crazy showing it - she prefers a gentle headbutt as opposed to a slobbery, enthusiastic greeting. She loves her food, boat rides, and goes crazy when I take her for bike rides around the neighborhood. She's about 7 years old now (8 in May).
Cairo is my own dog, adopted from the very same shelter as his older sister (came from the same state, too), and is quite the clown. Just to give you an idea of how in-demand puppies are here: the morning of the day we got Cairo the shelter got in a shipment of 32 puppies...by 5 in the afternoon, there were 7 left (one of which was my silly little pup). He's 4 now, and definitely one of the silliest things on 4 legs. He's half black Lab and half Basset Hound which gives him a rather dorky looking appearance. We affectionately call him our "Bassador"...if labrador-poodle mixes can get fancy names, why can't labrador-bassets? [
] He's got the 'little brother syndrome" big-time. Anything Nikki can do, he can do better...which can get sort of annoying at times, but he's so cute you just have to forgive him. : )
( ^ my favorite picture of him I think...he looks so much like a dorky Corgi! Note his cute little tummy heart [
])
I look forward to meeting you all : )