Collieston Family Members
although certainly of show quality in looks and breeding, and their paws & genes have been sought after on several occasions, but they don't have what it takes any more and live as our beloved pets... not 'just' pets as pets are the most loved and valued members of canine society, but pets nonetheless : their only responsibilities are to be themselves, and thus bring us joy ( with occasional competition success being appreciated too of course) and that they do with charm and generosity.
and he wasn't meant to be here at all ....
He suffered major injuries at the age of 8 weeks, just as the ten pups were about
to go to their new homes, but as his prognosis was very poor, he stayed with us here for the rest of what was expected to be his short life; but it was not to be !...
I had no expectations of him as a result, and entered him in the Collie National Obedience trial here in 2003 just to make up numbers, as he's never been trialled up till then .. and he won with 183/200 !.. and proceeded thereafter to his CD title without a fail, the only dog I've ever worked to achieve that ... I believe he has no imagination, so he just does the set exercises, unlike his Mum & sister who more often than not apparently considered it their duty to spice up their performances by improvising 'variations on a theme' ....
Given 'Bo's limitations, he's done extremely well, and has proven a delightful big
brother to puppies, and a wonderful 'teddy' bear' of a companion dog to me and 'his girls'.
'Angus' was 'Magic's singleton son sired by Sharyn Ely's Ch. Joshwyn One More Nite
in late 2004. He lived a wonderful double life with an Adelaide suburban family, but
spent one day a week as a member of the Collieston performance team, in which he
did remarkably well given the part-time nature of our relationship
& training opportunities : in the one year during which he's strutted his stuff in Obedience & Agility rings, he breezed through his CCD & CD titles with high scores, winning both the Novice Obedience and Novice Agility classes at Adelaide's Royal Show in 2007, and moving with good humour & poise between his 'real' home' and the slightly crazy
world of
his canine family.
I was very fond and proud of this boy on several fronts, but sadly we all lost him to an
aggressive cerebral tumour in October 2009, aged just 4 years old. He was handsome and hopeful to the end, and it was one of the saddest things I've ever done to accompany him on his last journey and say my farewell to him so young..
Many thanks to the Brehmer family for 'lending' him back to me for all the good times. and for letting me into their lives to the extent they did : he was a credit to their love and care.
ulie & 'Angus'with the Novice Agility
award, Royal Adelaide Show, 2007
J