Morgan's Dogs
Morgan began training in January, 1989. His first three dogs were Shetland Sheepdogs. As you will see, he has gone a rather startling transformation in breed preferences, and now is immersed in pit bulls. At present Morgan has five dogs: Dylan, Skipper, Lucky, Rosie and Katy. Dylan is the only purebred dog remaining in Morgan's life (Rosie and Lucky appear to be pure Amstaff, but we can't prove it with paper). All the others Morgan rescued or adopted.
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Morgan with UCD Rose City Woodland Dream CDX, CGC ("Woody"). Woody was Morgan's first obedience dog. This picture was taken at Woody's first trial where he went first in Novice A under Bill Phillips with a 197.5. And just who is that skinny guy with dark hair and a beard? Woody died just before his 5th birthday from Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He is still deeply missed. |
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Morgan with UCD Sunset Rose Sam-I-Am CDX, CGC (Sam -- right) and Sunset Rose It's Your Call CDX, CGC (Dylan -- left) two of his competition dogs. Sam was Morgan's second competition dog. Morgan had to put Sam down at 13 years of age in November 2002 after a long bout with cancer. Dylan is now 10 and still active. Sam and Dylan both achieved their CDX with multiple placements. Dylan is again in training for his UD. |
| Skipper is about 11 years old; he is a Golden/Belgian Tervuren mix. Morgan rescued Skipper from a group home for children when the home was about to have Skipper put down for being too aggressive. Skipper is not and never was aggressive. He is big and protective, but completely loves people and is a walking encyclopedia of canine manners and body language. |  |
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Morgan and Lucky, Morgan's first pit bull. Morgan and Michael rescued Lucky at the Antelope Valley Mall in January 2001 when a teenager told them that she either had to give the pup away or dump him. This picture was taken at Groom Expo in February 2001 in Burbank, California. As of this date Lucky is not yet titled. Morgan intends to put an ILP on him and also register Lucky with UKC. Morgan presented a clicker seminar at the Groom Expo and used Lucky to demonstrate basic puppy work. |
| In May 2003 Morgan adopted two more pit bulls, both from the Pasadena Humane Society, one of the few shelters in Southern California that will place pit bull rescues. Here is Michael with Rosie (tan adult) and Katy (black puppy). Rosie is about 2 1/2 years old; Katy is 3 months as of mid-June 2003. Katy is reputed to be a pit bull/Labrador mix, but so far she shows all the signs of being a full-blooded pit bull: inquisitive, active, strong and completely loving. |
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As you might gather from all of this, Morgan has become an ardent fancier of the pit bull. He sees them as the complete dog: strong, honest, loyal, loving and easily trained (especially with the clicker!). We not only hope to contribute to the ongoing efforts to counteract the horrible misunderstanding of the breed perpetrated and perpetuated by media coverage of so-called "vicious dog attacks", but generally to be ambassadors for the breed and to demonstrate that clicker training does indeed work with all dogs. All Morgan's pit bulls are calm and social and get along easily with adults, children and other dogs (cats are sometimes another story).
Lucky traveled with Morgan to Hailey, Idaho in April 2003 where Morgan worked with several of Fran Jewell's clients and presented a one-day clicker training seminar. He is a great traveling companion and a wonderful exemplar of the gentle, social and loving dog that the pit bull is and can be.
