About me

About me

My name is Imke Groenier and I was born on Februari 6, 1986.

As long as I can remember I have been in love with dogs. This love was caused by the first dog I knew: Arwen our Doberman.

Arwen made me want an own dog to train and play with, but because I was only 5 years at that time and my parents came with different excuses (the one even more rediculous than the other) every time I asked for a dog. I started to try and teach 6 year old Arwen some things. She was very patient and let me get on with the so called "training" as long as she got the cookies for everything all was fine with her!

When my brother was younger he always was into horse riding, and at one point , when he was nine, he got his own horse. I thought it was very unfaire he could have a horse and I couldn't have a dog, when I explained this to my parents they had run out of their excuses and finally thought it O.K. for me to have a dog. By this time I was eight years old and Arwen nine already! My mom and dad sort of decided for me that I should have a Golden Retriever because they were known as dogs that were easy to train and listened very well. They contacted the breed club and we had to wait for about nine months for a puppy bitch. In the time we were on the list for a Golden Retriever puppy Arwen died. I was devastated, after all the time Arwen and I had spend on our "training sessions" there had grown a very strong bond between us. She had become such a good friend of mine and now she had died. It was a difficult time for me, also because it was the first time I experienced death. I had half expected Arwen to be around as the Golden Retriever puppy grew up and as I grew up. Never had it crossed my mind that she wouldn't last forever, she had always been there so why wouldn't she be than. Arwen has been very important to me, and she still is. She may well be the most important dog in my life, my love for dogs started because of her and I am ever so greatful for that. If I look at all the joy my dogs have given me, I am very happy that Arwen made me fall in love with dogs.

Now I own beardies, or actually: I am owned by beardies. They mean the world to me and I can't imagine my life without them, they are my life.

Before I had my beardies I started showing dogs, for the first time I showed my Golden Retriever and after that I started showing dogs for other people, and so I handled Irish Red Setters, an Irish red and white setter, Basset Hounds, Bloodhounds and after that I started going to shows with my own beardies, since than I have also shown a standard poodle a couple of times, and other peoples beardies.

We (my beardies and I) go to the dog school two times a week, and the weekends are also filled with doggy things, either shows or long walks or brushing or a combination of these. I go to obedience, and show classes (I have also done agility with Cippy & Maggie, but we were missing to many lessons when they were in season or having a litter) with my beardies and I don't know which I enjoy most. I love to spend time with my dogs, doesn't matter if we're doing obedience or watching a movie as long as I can be with them.

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