My career path.
Life is like a box of chocolate, you won't know what’s going to happen next! I can’t agree more with Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump; most of us realize how true this quote applies to our daily lives. I received my Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in 1995 majoring in Accounting & Finance. When I came back from London, there were much excitement in the Asian stock market and it was the most happening thing; everyone wanted to be part of the overwhelming Bull Run market and there were richness everywhere. I worked hard as an Investment Analyst for almost 5 years and garnered as much knowledge as the market was willing to offer. Post 1997 was a nightmare for many of us in the Investment Banking line. We witnessed our stock market crashed within days and our money devalued in lightning speed. Firms were downsized and jobs were insecure. Political and racial equality were not at all favourable. Finally, in 1999, I decided to bite the bullet and pursue my hobby by venturing into pet related career, specialised in the establishing of pet grooming salons, show dogs breeding and became importer of quality pet products. Pursuing my hobby and turning it into career was a fulfillment. Although the switched of career seems pretty simple, it was not an easy transition. Like all businesses, decisions were cautiously made, mechanics of the business were planned properly and carried out.

I came from an established family, all my siblings are professionals, my eldest sister is a Director in an international investment bank in Bangkok, my other sister is a Hematologist and an Associate Professor in Malaysia largest hospital and University, my elder brother is a Nephrologist, acting as Head of Department for 3 private hospitals and my younger brother is a bond and derivatives specialist in an international bank. Though my mum was almost half-shocked to learn that I gave up my white collars and ties for jeans and T-shirts, my dad was very encouraging and with his support, I made this my career and never look back ever since. Without him, I would not have achieved what I am today and I have got him to thank for! Today, I own a pet grooming academy, 2 pet salons and still expanding, spoke-person and sole dealer for a major American pet food in Malaysia and Thailand, sole importer and spoke person of American top pet grooming products, breeder of multiple breed champions and President of Malaysian Pet Groomers Association. I believe I am in a resilient industry and this career if done right can be very rewarding and pleasurable.

Dog & Family history
I was born in the early 70’s to a family which own and be owned by dogs in about every stages of my life. My grandma owned a German Shepherd Dog which was fondly known as Sheba. Sheba lived in a well built wood kennel stationed near where my grandpa parked his Mercedes Benz baring number MB3. Back in those days, a continental car with a single digit registration number and a pedigree dog distinguished the privileged few. During holidays, my cousins and I often helped clean or should I say meddle with my grand pa’s car, therefore, I am always in close contact with Sheba. Sheba was a gift from my grandpa to my grandma who loved dogs, guess this runs in the blood. My grandpa was educated at English Boarding Schools and spoke fluent English. He mingled with British Officers and District Officers frequently and most of the British Officers owned dogs. At that time, dogs were to serve and protect family members and stand guard their properties. As a child, my grand parents told me so many great stories about dogs serving in the army during war time and how it would sacrifice itself to protect their masters in trying times. My grandpa told me once, if a dog will not come to you after he has looked you in the face, you ought to go home and examine your conscience. When I was a boy, Sheba was a dog I thought larger than life and will protect us from any danger and could easily jump over my grandma’s gate if provoked. Sheba stayed with my grannies for a good old 8 years. When grannies left us to the rainbow bridge, they kept Sheba’s pedigree to me. A legacy I hold dear till today. Sheba is registered as Charman Rose, 26,945/68 with Malaysian Kennel Association and was born in 7 June 1968.

My dad owns a couple of great stories about his childhood pet dogs too. He once owned a dog fondly known as ‘Ko-pi’ who was a great fighter, a tenacious small dog with a heart of a warrior. Though smaller in size, in his most fighting encounters, he won in every battle with much larger dogs! He once attacked a Boxer belonging to a British Army away from my dad’s place and was shot, Ko-pi managed to come home with a bullet wound and breathe his last breath at the corridor of my dad’s home. No wonder our country's Independence was an ineluctable destiny. Back then, how brilliant a dog is weighed and judged by its fighting ability. A far cry from today’s champion specimens, in fact, aggression in conformation shows is a disqualification! Where my dad came from, dogs are dogs, they were no pussies! His days of “juara” were a far cry from today’s champions.

When I was younger, we adopted a female stray; she was a black small size dog. We called her “Doggie”. Doggie really lived a dog’s life. She was mostly fed with whatever left-over and scraps our dinner table has to offer and she roamed freely whenever or wherever she wished. On second thought, she lived a free-dog; pee wherever convenient to her, socialized all the time with her compatriots, went sight seeing with her many boyfriends, enjoyed her BARF diet at the surrounding dumpsters and came home at whatever time she deemed necessary! She was a spayed bitch and as far as I can remember, my dad did most of her bathing, tick wash and feeding. Wonder if she has ever been de-wormed or vaccinated!?! Back then, I guess the town council people and neighbours were friendlier and more tolerant.

How it all started
Now, I will share with you my journey of discovering the greatest breed of all, the Golden Retriever. I have admired Golden Retriever for a long, long time. My first encounter with a Golden Retriever was decades ago where a friend of mine back in Port Dickson owned one. Port Dickson is best known for its beautiful beaches and its oil & gas activities. It is also a town I grew up knowing many expatriate friends (with their parents working in the oil and gas industry) who brought along their pure bred dogs from all over the world. Back then I had a Doberman and he was a gift from my uncle to my brother and I; as kids below ten years of age, we socialized our dogs at a nearby field, exercised him with our bike since he was a puppy (thank god Dobermans are not predisposed to hip dysplasia) and show off the tricks we taught our dogs to friends. Though my brother and I trained our dog daily, the Golden Retriever owned by our childhood friend tends to out performed him in commands and tricks. Even then, I had admired Golden’s working ability tremendously.

When I was receiving my education abroad, I visited many dog shows including one of the world largest and most prestigious dog shows, The Crufts show. It was at Birmingham, which is only about 2 hours train ride from my place at Cricklewood Lane. There were always impressive Golden Retrievers in the UK and witnessing the lines from Stanroph, Stenbury, Sansue and Nortonwood was quite an experienced. Whenever I have a school break, I would volunteer to work at Pet World Store which is only 5 minutes walk from my hall of residence located at the end of Food Giant Hypermarket. I was exposed to many British breeds of dogs and also tarantulas and Snakes. With the amount of exposure I received then, my interest and enthusiasm into owning pedigree dogs grew together with the collections of 8 leggeds. I had a Mexican Red Knee and a Red Chilean as my roommates since dogs are not allowed at my hostel!

Like most of us, my first purchase of a Golden was in 1997 when I settled down in Subang Jaya, she is my first pet Golden Retriever, call name "Eva". Eva is a very average bitch. You can’t fault her much neither can you merit her much. We showed her in 1997 and finally finished her as a Champion. She won a Best of Breed under a Japanese judge in Malaysia most prestigious show, the Asian Kennel Union show in 1998, I am sure it was my good handling, professional grooming coupled with my undying enthusiasm that won the day! My interest in dog shows grew more intensely when another of my home bred dog, a Miniature Pinscher achieved his Championship. By then, I was severely bitten by the show-dog-show bug!!

Along came Shadow, registered as Asian Malaysian Grand Champion Kelakye Meant For Clangan CGC. Shadow is very special to me; he possesses a true Golden Retriever temperament, which is ever so eager to please and so easy to train. Shadow is the most heavily titled Golden Retriever in Malaysia up till date. Shadow came to me after a long wait of more than a year. He was picked by Ms. Cindy Pischke as she owned Shadow’s sire, American Canadian Champion Wingate Allmylove Allmykissn OS and it was a choice of pick rather than stud fee. I flew to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to bring Shadow back to Malaysia. It is within weeks at Wisconsin that I was taught professional dog show handling, large-breeds' grooming, dog's anatomy and movements, courtesy of Ms Cindy Pischke, my friend and a great teacher. I was introduced to many great mentors in America, names you find in books, magazines and show dog hall of famer. At the same time, I was given a chance to witness top American Golden Retrievers bred by Asterling, Faera, Wingate, Goodtimes, Nautilus, Landican, Goslings, Malagold and many more great kennels and their professional handlers. In order to excel in the career of dog show, it is inevitable to learn to be a fantastic groomer, it give us that cutting edge. Winning in dog shows is all about great dogs, fantastic handling, superb grooming and brilliant showmanship. After the American experienced, Shadow traveled with me and did not complain one bit in the whole 27 hours of excruciating flight and stopovers at various airports. He is a dream come through, finishes his Championship at a tender age of 8 months, went on to obtain his Asian Championship at one year old and was awarded his Grand Championship below 2 years of age. He received the Canine Good Citizen award the following year. To date, Shadow has produced multiple champions, his offsprings became top Malaysian Bred dogs in year 2002, 2004 and 2005, a daughter who became the number one Golden bitch in 2003, one of his sons won the top Gundog award and was the number 1 Golden Retriever in year 2004 and a grandson who was honored as the number 1 Malaysian Bred Golden Retriever and top 10 all breed (Malaysian Bred) in 2005. One of Shadow’s young daughters was titled champion in 2006 at a tender age of 10 months. Shadow himself was the number 1 Golden Retriever in 2001 and 2002. There are no other Golden Retrievers in Malaysia who could compete with the titles Shadow has achieved. Shadow is not only a showman; he stamps his qualities to his offspring.

To improve on my breeding lines, I later purchased other great dogs to improve on what I already have. As the buying starts, it doesn’t stop, more importantly, it is about the number of quality dogs we are able to produce, groom and handle not how many champions we buy from other breeders! I hope my story serve as motivation to all aspire to be dog groomer, breeder, handler or individuals planning to own a dog and a Golden Retriever. May god bless you and if more of us were to learn from dogs' good traits (loyal, trustworthy, honest, brave and determine), I am sure the world we live in will be a better place. In dogs we trust.

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