Eileen Hoskin

Home base: Actually, most at home in the woods, or wherever else the dogs happen to be.

Dogs: Brigid, Caili, Padrig, Barrett and Chili

The first dog to really take over my life was Benny The Wonder Dog, a Benji-look-alike, who came to stay with us when my father-in-law became too sick to care for him. Now understand, this was in the days when the house had certain "Dog Free" zones, when pets rightly belonged on the floor & slept in the kitchen, and when cold gooey noses that left smeary noseprints all over were gross, and, well, you've met the type. Ugh. Dogs were just Dirt Devils! But over time, Benny completely re-educated me about these issues! Yessir! My heart and my house both were remodeled in Benny's furry image.

When he died at age 14, it was a CRISIS! I WAS DOGLESS!!! By now, somehow, that thought was unspeakably, unbearably dreadful. So we talked to our vet, Dr. Terri Nord, and asked her a question: Would we make good parents for a Border Collie? It seemed like such an innocent question at the time! Oh boy. Brigid & Brenden came to us, littermates, and did we ever have our work cut out between the two of them! Fortunately, we admitted it...(the first step towards any recovery)...and took them to puppy kindergarten, and later to all levels of competitive obedience classes. We met lots of new friends, learned a lot, and were exposed firsthand the extreme things those wacko dog people seemed willing to do for their dogs!

And as is so often the way in the dog world, the obedience friends introduced us to agility friends, and we went through all that training and puttered our way about the courses. Then the agility friends introduced us to herding friends, and we took herding lessons too. Each dog, meanwhile, developed their favorite sport & area of talent. So soon it seemed perfectly reasonable and logical to me to be driving each dog hundreds of miles to their favorite activity! (But honey, Brenden likes it...) When the agility friends finally introduced us to flyball, ah well! That was that! We had discovered the TRUE religion! It was VERY clear that was Brigid's passion. So we've been zealously playing ever since.

It was later, up in Canada, that I began to really admire the athleticism, ability, and drive of those small and whippy, fast and intense Border Collies, the real sportscar models. Low to the ground, big engine, 4-on-the-four, paws-attraction, antilock brakes….and comes with a racing stripe on the hood! Someday I hoped one of those would find me. My fantasy dog. So when Caili finally came along, she was my dream come true! That Wild Thing! She makes my heart Sing! And one of the deepest dog bonds I've had yet...

So now, I am a true convert. Yep, a certified dog wacko, heart & soul! I've turned down jobs to be with them. In fact, I love my doggy kids so much, that if I could have them permanently Velco-ed to my side, I would! My dogs are my constant, preferred companions (as well as a wonderful wardrobe motif and a chic interior decorating theme!)

And you know, Benny, I wouldn't change a thing.

Some rumors have it that I'm a Lead UI Designer/ Information Architect for Fidelity Investment's websites, but psst! Between you & me, I'm just in that racket for the dog food money...