When I was in college, I acquired a fuzzy miniature poodle puppy from my mother's neighbors that they had found abandoned with two littermates at a picnic area in the Angeles Crest Mountains north of Los Angeles, California. He was about 9 weeks old and he shared my life for 13 years. "Rufus" got me started in the dog show world when, upon taking first place in a novice graduation class, the judge (Ture Johansen) said "you should show that dog". I had no idea what he was talking about so he told me how to get an ILP number and about obedience matches and trials. I never looked back. Rufus earned a CDX, was on a scent hurdle team for two years, won numerous high scoring awards and introduced me to the wonderful world of dog sports.

Then I got into Dobermans for about 10 years, concentrating on Schutzhund and obedience. I trained and titled the 6th Doberman in the country to earn a Schutzhund III - Reward's Rough n' Rowdy, CDX, SchH III. When "Rowdy" was about 5 years old, I purchased my first Boxer puppy from Bea Stacy of Cherokee Oaks Boxers. She became Ch Betsy Rose of Cherokee Oaks, CD Since "Betsy", I have owned and/or bred Obedience, Schutzhund and Champion titled Boxers.

My most exciting moments in the dog show world were 1) "Rufus" and I being on the winning Scent Hurdle Team at Top Dog (a USA western states obedience club competition) in the 1970's, 2) putting a Schutzhund III on my Doberman in the 1970's when all the German Shepherd trainers (that's all there were then) said it couldn't be done, 3) going High in Trial from Novice B at the 1995 Regional in Pleasanton, CA with Am/Can Ch Treceder's Jazzy Jet, CD who I trained and titled for his owners, Jim and Wendy Bettis and 4) handling my home-bred Ch Reward's Esquire of Bix-L to Group I at Beverly Hills in 1996.

In 1995, I was in a serious auto accident, resulting in back and neck injuries. These injuries, combined with a brutal work schedule, were preventing me from training and exhibiting my dogs. I needed another interest, a "stay-at-home" interest. My friend, Kathie, was a quilter. She suggested I take up quilting. I had no interest in cutting and sewing all those little pieces together but then she showed me rotary strip cutting, speed piecing, and more. I made my first baby quilt in 1996 and was hooked. I haven't made a lot of quilts because of time limitations, but I'm pleased with the ones I have completed. See my quilts.

Currently I have for the first time in nearly 15 years only one boxer, 9-year-old Ch Reward's Ropin' the Wind, "Windy". She is currently in excellent health and still can act like a puppy when the mood moves her.