ABOUT ME
I am married to Mark Grabowski, and am the mother of a teenage daughter, Kaycie Nicole. As a child I grew up with Dobermans and competed successfully in Obedience and Schutzhund. I personally have titled two dogs to CD and CDX titles. Later with two different Dobermans they earned a Level I, and Level II Schutzhund titles.
As a young adult I started a lucrative show horse training business, and operated it for over twenty-five years. The horses I trained, and the riders I coached competed in 4H shows, Open horse shows, Quarter Horse and Paint Horse breed shows. Throughout those years I’ve produced horses and riders earning many championships, and placing amongst the top ten at the prestigious World Championship Quarter Horse Show.
My versatility as a horse trainer was proven by my ability to produce winners in Halter, Western Pleasure, Reining, Hunters, and Jumpers.
During the years 2002 and 2003 I trained and showed a Paint gelding named “Dirty Rock N Robin” (aka Ronnie) to the number one horse in the nation for the American Paint Horse Association’s Six Pac Division (PAC). While training and showing Ronnie his PAC lifetime points are 120 Halter points, and 1,144 Performance points with the American Paint Horse Association. These points were accumulated in thirteen different divisions.
Also in 2003 Ronnie was named Horse of the Year in Hunter Over Fences by the American Pinto Horse Association.
I was drawn to Jack Russell Terriers over ten years ago after spending time with the Jack Russells I had met while showing horses. Even though I had notable success' with training dogs in my past I had never dealt the mindset of the Jack Russell Terrier. I have to admit the past ten years have been filled with educational, emotional, and life enriching experiences.
Not long after I purchased my first Jack Russell Terrier (Jacquelynne), did I realize that Jacks view the world differently than most of us. By seeing the world through their eyes I feel I have gained knowledge and insights that could only be taught by a Jack Russell Terrier or by someone who accepts their personality and understands their desire to work.
I began rescuing Jacks while I was volunteering at the local animal shelter. Overtime Jack Russells would come into the shelter (after being picked up as strays and Owner Surrendered) and I saw them quickly deteriorate, both mentally and physically.
It sadden me that their former owners didn’t come forth and reclaim these wonderful dogs. Several of these Jack Russells were S.A.F.E.R. tested by shelter employees that are uneducated in how to perform this test, which resulted in the majority of these dogs failing. A failed test means, that dog will not be put up for adoption, and will be euthanized. The odds are stacked against these dogs, and they don’t get a second chance at a forever loving home which adoption provides.
This shelter also considers Jack Russells to be “hard to adopt” because many adopted Jacks are returned to the shelter for exhibiting traits that are considered desirable by those of us who want to protect and preserve the working Jack Russell Terrier.
When I pull a Jack Russell from a shelter or accept an Owner Surrendered Jack Russell, they live in my home and are treated the same as my personal Jacks. I will not adopt to just anyone, and have a certain criteria which potential adopters must meet before completing my adoption process. If I haven't found the ''right" home for one of my adoptable Jack Russells, they will stay with me and my family until I find the “right” home for them, no matter how long it takes.
When Jack Russells Terriers come into the shelter I want to offer them the second chance they so deserve. So I pull as many Jacks from that shelter as I have room for. That’s the least I can do for these tenacious Terriers.
I currently train my Jack Russells for Terrier Trials, and Flyball tournaments. I also dabble in Agility, Obedience, and Dock Diving. When requested, and time permits I do offer private training sessions. I am always willing to discuss with people who are considering bringing a Jack Russell Terrier into their lives, issues involving training, understanding and accepting these dogs for what they are.
Living with, training, and rescuing Jack Russells has taught me patience, and many other things, as well as enriching my life as my companions.
Robbin's Rescued Russells is a member of Rescue Alliance of Hairless and Other Breeds a 501 (c) 3 Organization