The American Working Dog Museum

01/22/2022

Since I haven't yet shut down this page, I had to share this.

11/23/2021

You may have noticed that this page has not been active for quite a while. I am sorry to announce now, with a heavy heart, that we will not be creating the American Working Dog Museum. City Hall has recently moved out of the building, but we are nearing retirement and no longer want to create something that will require so much of our time. Instead, we are renovating the building to establish a co-space/private office membership community. If you would like to follow our progress, please go to our new page for "CoMingle" in Colfax. We will be posting photos of the renovation as it progresses. Thank you all for your support through the years. I will be selling the freight dog sled, if anyone is interested. Please message me if you are.

11/23/2021

This is the freight sled for sale. It must have been converted to a snowmobile sled at some point in its life.

02/25/2019

I wrote this for a friend a few years ago. Now I find it is meant for me:

How?

How to say goodbye when you fear that it’s forever?
How to be yourself when he is gone?
How to find another when you think that you could never
Be able to replace him and go on?

How to feel a brush against your leg and not remember
How he used to shadow you each day?
How to find another with those eyes so sweet and tender--
That puppy love that never went away?

God sent him as a gift for the briefest span of time
To teach you how to love with all your heart.
Give him back for now to the One who is divine,
And know that souls like yours can never part.

02/24/2019

A EULOGY

Yesterday morning our oldest Sheltie, Toby, gave in to pancreatic cancer. He began having seizures in the morning, which only became worse over the next hour. We decided to do the humane thing and help him cross the Rainbow Bridge. He was my animal therapy partner, canine soulmate and best friend for 14 years. He was also a loving family dog to my two sons. As a therapy dog, he brought comfort to hospice patients, joy to nursing home residents, and confidence to young readers. He was on the stage in two different productions of “Annie,” playing Annie’s dog Sandy the second time. He worked with Santa as a “reindog,” helping children overcome their fear of the big man in red. He had a wonderful life, and I am privileged to have spent it with him. I believe that our loving God knows how happy our animal friends make us, and will let us see our beloved pets again. I rest in the faith that Toby is waiting in Heaven for me to join him someday. Run fast and free, my sweet, beautiful Toby, until that day. I love you.

12/05/2018

Here's a fun working dog, helping Santa as a "tiny reindog" a few years ago. Trooper enjoys working with Santa whenever he is invited. It helps parents get that coveted Santa photo when their kids are afraid of him. If children can pet a cute, fluffy dog, they will put up with the big man in red long enough for mom and dad to get the Christmas card shot.

11/15/2018

I found this at a thrift store a few years ago, and fell in love with it. Who knows us better than our dogs, in all the ways that really matter? They love us even after a hard, stinky day of physical labor. I sometimes think they must love us best when we smell the strongest. After all, who else will lick our dirty feet?

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09/28/2018

A working dog....

07/14/2018

We recently took a road trip to see other small museums in the Midwest, looking for ideas. We accidentally found the "Jim the Wonder Dog" museum in Marshall, Missouri. It is a very small museum in the Marshall welcome center, with a lovely garden, dedicated to Jim, attached. Jim was purported to be psychic, as he could obey complicated commands in any language, including Morse code. He flushed a record number of quail, and always knew exactly where the covey was hiding without ever casting about for them. He might get a spot in our PERFORMING DOGS exhibit!

06/10/2018

Toby and Trooper went to Tulsa with us on a business trip last week. Needless to say, they were a hit everywhere they went! Lots of oohs and ahs, and requests to pet the "little Lassies." They obliged with tricks and doggy kisses. Great ambassadors for therapy dogs everywhere. (This statue celebrates the Rotary Club's dedication to digging wells to provide clean water in third world countries.)

05/23/2018

Yesterday we attended a Copyright workshop, held by the Iowa Museum Association, at the Des Moines Art Center. Afterward we took a tour of their amazing storage vaults and a couple of galleries. I spotted this sculpture in a side gallery, and was struck by its resemblance to the Egyptian god Anubis. Just had to share it with you!

05/18/2018

I wish I could do this for my dogs. A little crazy, but look how much fun!