Tricia Thomas, owner and manager of Rockin’ Roxy’s Dog Stop and Association of Pet Dog Trainers member, was inspired by her daughter’s crazy herding pup, Roxy, to start a gentle, encouraging daycare for smart, curious dogs of all ages and sizes.
At 5 years old Tricia got her first dog, Snoopy, when she lured Snoopy’s pregnant mother, Chiquita, to her home using just a piece of Velveeta and her coaxing manner. Tricia’s parents found Chiquita’s owners and Tricia was rewarded with her beagle mix pup. Snoopy was a 4-H trained, blue-ribbon winning dog and was Tricia’s companion into high school.
Since that time Tricia always has had a four-legged companion. She and her daughter currently reside with 11-year-old Littleman, a terrier/Chihuahua, and one-year-old Roxy.
Tricia had dreamed of starting doggy daycare and had gone as far as a business plan and a partner back in 1997 when she discovered she was going to be a mother, so she put the plan on the backburner. 2007 looked like the perfect time to pull that plan out and
Portland looked like the place.
Jeka Trees, Association of Pet Dog Trainers member is a
Portland native whose first dog, a Bichon Frise named Snowball, bit her on the hand when she was 6. The next day at school, Jeka gave Snowball to a friend but Snowball was returned and a peaceful truce was called. Under Jeka’s tutelage Snowball learned to “sit like a bear” for treats, but her favorite pastime was sunbathing in the yard. Little Jeka became the queen of stupid pet tricks, teaching her dogs and friends’ dogs to play dead, sit pretty, dance, shake and high-five.
Jeka’s schnauzer, Jay-Jay, is the apple of her eye, and has added hugs and kisses to the bag of tricks.
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