My first year: 1990

My mom picked me out of my brothers and sisters when I was 8 weeks old. My full name is Hallmarc Finesse of Oakleaf. Tara is my everyday name, I have been called Tara-riffic, Tara Dog, T dog and Grandma Dog. Mom and I started training in conformation classes and going to fun puppy games when I was 9 weeks old. My first show was in Arlington Texas at the Scottish Festival. I was the youngest pup there, it was hot, I went home with my first tape and had a ton of fun. We trained in class and at home for several more months. We got a lot more tapes of the matches and the class. I trained mom pretty well, enough not to be embarrassed at shows, when she made mistakes she acted like she didn’t even notice her, I love her too much to hurt her feelings. At home I played with my older brother Max, he was 2 years older than me. I got used to all the fixes mom did, I even learned to hold my feet to cut my nails with a grinder.
When I was 6 months old, my little sister Cher joined our family. She had the beauty, I had the brains. We were inseparable and best friends. Mom, Cher, and I traveled all over Texas to dog shows. Cher wasn’t old enough to be in shows, so she became my best cheerleader. She was the shadow of mom, a soft little touch and a gentle soul.

1991

Things changed a lot when I turned one year old. My little sister Cher started getting more attention from mom and I guess she was jealous. I started picking fights with her when mom was around her. He still loved her, but he didn’t want to share mom with her. She was still training, now it was fun, we were doing obedience. I loved it because it was more of a tomboy and I liked sporting events more than beauty pageants. Cher came to show herself in conformation as she was a beauty. I wasn’t a good cheerleader for her, but I was still able to tag along.

1992

I got my CD title at 3 shows in a row. Everyone was so proud of me. He was still picking fights with Cher. We were still traveling all over Texas. Mom had a surprise this year. She had a 7-month-old sheltie, Tex, that she was trying to place into a home. She knew I was in heat and she wanted to raise me. Well, Tex and I take care of that. She was in such great shape that it wasn’t obvious she was pregnant until 2 weeks before the babies were due. This was the only litter I had. Tex was busy; Cher also had a litter from him. Mom had 16 weeks of puppies in her bedroom. Mom didn’t know that a 7-month-old baby could father a litter. Tex was neutered before Cher’s puppies were born.

1993

Mom started taking me to a nursing home every Sunday. Her grandmother lived there, Mamaw didn’t like dogs, but all her friends loved my visits. We started to slow down at dog shows. Mom had to change jobs and she just didn’t have free time to travel. It was a fun year playing with Max, Tex and Cher (if mom wasn’t around). We still trained a lot, we went to the parks to play, we brought tennis balls and we played a lot.

1994

Mom had to change jobs again. She worked nights, but her sister lived with us, so someone was still with us all the time. We had our dog gate, we lived in the country, we could bark all we wanted, and we had a perfect life. Mom had to go to New York for 3 months to work. After that, she met a very nice man from Minnesota, so Mom, Cher, and I moved to the coldest place I’ve ever been. It was a big change living in the city after being a country girl for so long. I’ve got mom in trouble with the police for my barking. It was cold with all this icy white powder. Cher and I got used to everything and we love the new man in our life. He even let us sleep on the bed and tried to protect Cher from my attacks. It was a year of adventures.

nineteen ninety five

My new dad played with me a lot, took me to the bank, and loved Cher and me. This year I spent a week in the hospital when my uterus ruptured. Mom was so worried that she wouldn’t come home. I recovered quickly after I got home. Cher was sterilized while I was in the hospital to save her from the problems I suffered.

I’m taking a break now from thinking and writing, but please come back soon to find out more about me. I’m glad you stopped by and I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about my life so far.

Wow Tara