Janet Medinger, Browntown, talks about her best friends Blue, an 11-year-old blue merle border collie, Riley, a 7-year-old red and white border collie, TJ, a 4-year-old springer spaniel and Skip, a 4-year-old springer spaniel-Boykin spaniel mix. 

Medinger said she loves the border collie breed and got Blue from a breeder in Oregon. Later on, she found herself ready for another puppy, so she found Riley online. Medinger’s husband Harvey picked out TJ for hunting. While her husband was picking out TJ, she fell in love with one of the brown puppies in the next pen and that’s how they came home with Skip.

Medinger is involved in agility dog training and has competed with Blue, who is retired, and currently competes with Riley and Skip.  

Describe Blue, Riley, TJ and Skip’s personalities. 

Blue is very gentle. He’s the one that will never jump on a person. He never really went through a puppy phase. He’s very calm. 

Riley has high drive. He’s much more excitable and loves to perform and learn things. He likes competing in agility. 

TJ loves to hunt. She’s a really nice dog to have in the house and to have around

Skip wants to play ball all day long. He loves to hunt and compete in agility also. He is a busy boy. He competes in the highest level of the American Kennel Club agility. He’s not as fast as Riley, but he’s a good boy. 

What do you like to do together?

They’re all high-energy breeds. I’m glad we have 80 acres for them to use and we do use it. Agility and hunting is pretty much what we do together. We go to about two competitions each month and a training class once a week in Middleton. I also like to train them to do tricks. 

What has it been like having Blue, Riley, TJ and Skip in your life?

I can’t begin to imagine not having pets. I used to train and show horses. I just love training animals, especially with my husband being a veterinarian. They certainly make it a lot happier to come home at night.