Sue Barlow Dog Training Instructor

During my early years I lived at Farnsfield where we had a smallholding and my dad had two German Shepherds. Judy the bitch was quite protective towards me and when I was naughty I used to hide in the back of the kennel where nobody could get me. We moved to Brinsley when I was 5 years old and at 7 my mum and dad bought me a West Highland Terrier called Scamp. Scamp went everywhere with me and even rode on my pony and donkeys with me. She was my best friend. When I was aged 16 we moved to Horsley Woodhouse where I met my husband Mick, and when we got married Scamp came to live with us. Mick also bought me a beautiful puppy from the RSPCA - we named her Katie. Scamp and Katie got on very well, with Scamp seemingly returning to her puppy hood. Sadly, however, she died at the age of 18 yrs. Katie was lonely so we had a German Shepherd called Sheba and got into dog training – nineteen years ago! Sadly, and as a result of ill health, Katie died when she was only 8 years old. I missed her so much that my dad bought me a Border Collie called Bonnie. It was then that I started to get serious about training, joined the Derwent Valley Dog Club and started working obedience shows. As time went by however, Bonnie started to suffer from arthritis so I retired her when she was 11 years old.

Mick bought me another Border Collie called Twist. He is absolutely wonderful, so devoted and loving, our aim is to qualify for Crufts - still a long way to go but we will do it! Currently we have five dogs: Bodie - a German Shepherd (13 yrs), Bonnie – a Border Collie (nearly 15 yrs), Kim - a Cross (13 yrs), Arnie - a German Shepherd (7 yrs) and of course Twist.

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