Our new FireAndIce LOGO!!! Designed by Melanie Bunnell and a wonderful job she did of it!! :) Thank you once again Melanie!!
Love me, love my dog. ~John Heywood
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Feel free to check out our blog ~ The Voice Box.
FireAndIce kennel is currently located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. My love for all dogs runs deep but the Doberman and the Alaskan Malamute have a special place in my life and in my heart. Both the Dobe and Mal are working dogs and I aim to keep the integrity of their lines and their heritage while maintaining that drive that makes these breeds unique. Regardless of what their job is, I want them to excel at it. Whether it be family protector, champion weight puller or even as a Service Dog.
Although FireAndIce is still very new in the dog show world, but are certainly not new to dogs, especially the working breeds. I have worked with anything and everything from Akitas and Jack Russel Terriers, to Great Danes and Yorkshire Terriers.
My name is Sandy Allen and I have been actively involved in all things canine for most of my life. The last 15 years more so, as I have been especially busy at Shadowlands Canine Training, as I am the Owner and Head Trainer there.
For as long as I can remember, I have read all I could about various breeds and pretty much anything with a dog on the cover or in the story. As I grew up, my obsession/passion about dogs didn't go away and my world expanded and exploded into life the first time I took in my very first dog show. I didn't know where to look first. I felt like I had come home with all the hustle and bustle of everyone getting to the right ring on time; those leaving the rings and not to mention the noise. Oh, the glorious noise of the dogs, the people, the vendors and in the grooming area, the clippers and blowers. Life was good. I knew this was what I was going to do. One problem...I couldn't decide on which was my favourite breed. They all have thier special talents that make each breed unique. And it is not like there is only a handful of choices. My only decision was to learn about as many breeds as I possibly could and visit many more shows to see these magnificant creatures in person. It was like torture all that research and dragging myself to the dog shows. :)
It was worth it. The first time I saw that plumed tail, I knew I had to see the rest of him. My first up close look at the Alaskan Malamute and I was hooked. The first woowoo in greeting was the icing on the cake and that great big head butting me for more attention was all it took. I didn't care that I was now covered in fur, I knew right then and there the Mal was the one I had been looking for.
That fateful day, oh so many years ago, has lead me to have an extensive library on the Alaskan Malamute, not to mention many training clients since then. Working with them I came to love and appreciate them as a breed. Their quirky sense of humour can lead to frustration aplenty as they really do know when to bring their independent streak out to the fore. Usually at the time when you least want them to. Lol!! Mals, no matter their age, are always puppies at heart so they never really outgrow that "they don't know any better" stage. 'Expect the unexpected' should be every Mal owners personal motto!! Mals are intelligent, "class clowns", mischievous and loving all rolled into a very furry package. With all the research I have done and continue to do, learning of their extensive and turbulent history, I have learnt to respect them too.
It takes a particular person to be owned by a Malamute and having a fantastic sense of humour has got to be a top five requirement! Oh, and not minding sleeping, eating and breathing fur helps too!
My first introduction to a Doberman was probably not the best one. We went to a family friends' to visit and they had two dobes; a male and female. We were warned not to touch the males' ears as he was very sensitive. Not the best vibe to have walking into the house. So there my sister and I sat on the couch...face to face with these two dobes as the sat in front of us, right at our feet...staring. They stayed there all night, just staring. My mother commented that we were very quiet that night. LOL! You've got to be kidding!! What kid would dare move with not one, but two large dobermans sitting there staring at you? We later found out that they usually lay on the couch where we were sitting.
After that, I made it my goal to find out more about these dogs. The more I delved into their past, the more I loved them. And that was the beginning of my love affair with the doberman. Like with the Malamute, I have an extensive breed library and have also had many doberman and doberman mixed training clients.
Now having a sense of humour is also a good requirement for Doberman ownership too!!
I love the strong sense of honour they have ingrained in their souls and the strong sense of what is right and wrong. They are intelligent, mischievous, elegant, protective, and delightful all rolled into one beautiful velcro package. The Doberman also has a turbulent past, present and possibly future with the current Breed Specific Legislation issues we have.
My goal is to have my Dobes and Mals excel in the show, obedience and working venues. I feel that if they cannot do the job they were originally bred to do, then they should not be in the breed ring, as they are not to the breed standard (what all dobes or mals are compared to).
As a Canine Good Neighbour Evaluator, I am very passionate advocate for safe and responsible dog ownership and husbandry practises.
Both the Doberman and the Alaskan Malamute are true working breeds. These two breeds have so many similarities, yet so many marked differences. Both are awe inspiring to watch when working. With the Doberman it could be working in Schutzhund while the Malamute could be weight pulling or sledding. Either one can give you goose bumps of sheer pleasure to watch, let alone to participate in.
As a Canine Good Neighbour Evaluator, I am very passionate advocate for safe and responsible dog ownership and husbandry practises. Regardless of what breed or mixes you may have, please practice responsible dog ownership.
We are not expecting any litters within the next 5 years or so as we are working on gaining a solid foundation from which to work with in conformation, obedience and the working venues.
If you are currently looking to purchase a puppy, you can contact me and I will gladly recommend a breeder or two for you.
We hope to see you again! Check back later for new updates to our website. There's much more to come!
Dogs love company. They place it first in their short list of needs. ~J.R. Ackerley
The FireAndIce LOGO was designed by Melanie Bunnell!! And what a fabulous job she did of it!! :)
The line art designs of the doberman and the malamute were designed by Maya Preisler.
The fireAndIce banner was designed by Stacey of Omega Dobermans.
Copyright © 2011 Sandy Allen/Shadowlands/Shadowlands Canine Training/FireAndIce Reg’d Doberman Pinschers & Alaskan Malamutes. All rights reserved. Revised: ALL PICTURES AND CONTENT ON THIS BLOG ~ THE VOICE BOX ~ AND WEBSITE, ARE THE SOLE PROPERTY OF Sandy Allen/Shadowlands/FireAndIce Reg’d
Dobermans & Alaskan Malamutes and may not be used, copied or reprinted without express permission from the owner. Copyrighted 2011
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