Kimberly J Egan
Bio
Welcome to LoupGarou/Conri Terriers and Not 1040 Farm! I try to write about what I know best: my dogs and my homestead. I currently have dogs, cats, dairy goats, quail, and chickens--and in 2025--rabbits! Come take a look into my life!
Stories (45/0)
What on Earth is a Toy Fox Terrier?
If the Airedale is the "King of the Terriers," then the Toy Fox Terrier (TFT) perceives itself to be the Emperor of All Terrier Kind. TFTs are typically slightly larger than a Chihuahua, with show-quality dogs not exceeding 7 pounds or 11.5 inches at the shoulder, so they need to pack all of that confidence into a truly tiny package. They can be fun, exasperating, loving, exhausting, sweet, and challenging dogs. When someone comes to me looking for a puppy, the questionnaire they are required to fill out asks if they have previous dog experience. TFTs are small dogs but they are not beginner dogs. They are still terriers, with all that being a terrier implies.
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Petlife
Preparing for Obedience, Part 3
Doing Things Differently I learn something new with every dog I train for competition. Beau was the hardest dog for me, because he was the first one I ever put in competition--save for the Doberman Pinscher that preceded him by a good decade. I'd entered Carnelian into a match show many moons ago, but never pursued more training due to his horrible car sickness. Glitter, my late rough collie, was a joy who worked for all the cookies and praise I could dole out. Our trainer actually used her as a demo dog more than once! My sweet, distractable Badger has been a challenge from the word "go." He will continue to be a challenge until I cry "uncle."
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Lifehack
Fulfilling a Dream
The Texas Classic! I've already talked about the bad time that Widget had at the Texas Classic. Now it's Badger's turn! When I learned that the show would have conformation, Rally obedience, AND traditional obedience, I jumped at the chance to bring him. If he had a successful weekend, then he would come away with at least two titles and, quite possibly, that coveted Total Dog title that I'd been questing for over twenty years! (Read more about that quest in the embedded link!)
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Petlife
Preparing for Obedience, Part Two
Getting Back to Basics As I stated in a previous article, it is my belief that every dog should have some very basic obedience training. Even for a dog that is "just" a pet, like Joy, can enjoy life more fully when they are able to ride quietly in a crate, walk quietly on a leash, and demonstrate their ability to be good companions even away from home. Even mixed breed dogs can show off their accomplishments with their Canine Good Citizen (AKC), Socialized Pet Obedience Training (UKC), Canine Good Neighbour (Canadian KC), and the Good Citizen dog scheme (UK). While the registries obviously would like these to become gateway events to more advanced training, they also serve a stand-alone purpose: to teach humans and dogs to interact better with the non-dog owning public.
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Petlife
The "Sandwich" Method
I have a dear friend who is a retired dog show judge. The final time he renewed his license, he was required to attend a judging seminar. At that time in my life, I wanted to be a judge, too, so I offered to drive him there. We would both attend the class. Afterward, while he was completing his judging assignment at the host show, I would be competing with Beaudog in agility. It was a win-win situation for both of us. It also turned out to be an eye-opening experience.
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Petlife
Preparing for Obedience, Part One
Widget's New Goals A little while back, I mentioned that Widget would have new goals. I would love it if he could be a conformation show dog. He's turned into a stunning teenager. His side gait is amazing, with lovely angles and smooth motion. His color is brilliant. His markings are so well-placed they almost make me cry. He might be a bit big for UKC conformation competition, but he's bang on for AKC and can still compete in UKC companion and performance events. Still, there's that barking/growling/biting thing. He needs time to get over it and a diversion for his mind to help him do it.
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Petlife
Little Hot Pink
What I do! I spend a lot of my leisure time with my dogs, on my homestead. My hobbies include training, competing with, and occasionally producing a well-bred litter from my dogs. In order to make my living, however, I work outside the house and off the homestead. I'd love it if the homestead were completely self-sufficient, but it's nowhere near that yet.
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Petlife
Widget Tries Again
Did he show? No. Widget's experience back in November was terrible. For whatever reason, his little brain could not take in the activities at the Classic, even though he had been to a large show hall like that one on a previous occasion. It will be at least a few more months before he goes back into the show ring to compete for points.
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Petlife
Want to Do 'Gility, Beau?
Heart Dog Many people say they have a "heart dog," that special dog that touches them down to their very core. Beau was mine. I purchased him in 2001 from Kajun-Fox kennel not because I thought that dogs from breeders were superior in any way, but because I had a specific dog that I wanted in mind.
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Petlife
Widget's First Dog Show!
Why the Texas Classic? I'll be honest. The Texas Classic is no place to start a puppy, not even a puppy who has hung around at dog shows before. As a rule, I will start a puppy one of two ways. The first way is at a United Kennel Club (UKC) dog show, which will offer "non-licensed" puppy classes for registered and listed puppies starting at the age of three months. UKC shows are smaller than AKC shows. They are generally more relaxed and more family oriented than AKC shows. They also permit puppies to start at a younger age than AKC shows, which allow puppies to start at four months of age.
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Petlife
A Prolonged Absence
I apologize for the length of this article, but it has been growing in my head for a period of a couple of months now. The truth is that you must always be careful when buying a purebred, registered dog. It is no different with registered dogs than it is with horses or cats or goats or even any high-value inanimate object. Always, always, always get the paperwork in hand before driving off with your new dog or horse or cat or goat or car or whatever. I know this fact. I have always, always, always followed that rule. This time, I did not.
By Kimberly J Egan2 years ago in Petlife
Weathering the Storm
If you have been following the news at all, you're probably aware that Hurricane Ida swept through the Deep South and continued up the coast as a major tropical storm. She was even more powerful than Katrina, hitting on Katrina's 16th anniversary. As I write this, over 500,000 people in Mississippi and Louisiana are still without power from the storm. We were among the lucky ones. Even though we lost power, it was only for a couple of days. We had no structural damage and only a few trees came down. We were blessed.
By Kimberly J Egan3 years ago in Petlife