We started showing him and he took first points rather quickly. However, I sent him off on a circuit and, due to a quirky set of circumstances, he developed a strong dislike for judges touching his mouth. This became enough of a problem that his breeder, who had showing rights, decided she didn't want to show him any longer. So Joseph sat home for a couple of years just being a "buddy" dog.

One day I took a long, hard look at him and he looked great. I subsequently found a handling class with a gal that was willing to put in the extra time and effort to get him over his snapping problem. I gave him good, firm corrections and, on the way home, an ice cream cone. Nutrition to the wind, it worked and after only three sessions the problem seemed solved. I entered him in a Match the following weekend where he not only tolerated but went Best In Match. Back in those days that was a really big win for me and I was flying high and ready to try a point show

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To make a long story a bit shorter, Joseph finished his Championship in very short order. I was not, at that time, into specialing a dog. The natural thing for me was to put him into obedience training. He did quite well and got his degee in three shows. He was on the Top Dog Competition Team for Pasanita Dog Obedience Club and participated in parades, drill teams and with a therapy group. He was the seventh Schipperke in the nation to pass the ATTS temperament test. Alfons' comment on his guarding performance was that it was a shame he was a small breed because he would have been fantastic in Schutzhund competition.

As a personal companion/family dog Joseph was tops. One night Jerry, my first husband, fell asleep on the couch while smoking.and, as things seem to follow a certain pattern in life, managed to set the couch on fire. Joseph was in the bedroom with me and barked and carried on until I finally got up and opened the door to a houseful of smoke. Fortunately, we were able to extinguish the fire with damage only to the couch as it was still in the smoldering stage. I later joked that the Collies just lay there waiting to die. But all kidding aside, I was thankful for my hyper little bumblebee.

After a lengthy retirement my second husband and I decided to take the old man along on a circuit to Utah and put him in Veteran's class in the obedience trial one club was holding. Joseph and I worked diligently and were as ready as we could be. The day of the show I had an allergic reaction bad enough that the AKC rep came and pulled me out of the Basenji ring. There was no way I could show Joseph in obedience that day. So Ted, my now ex-husband, who had never been in an obedience ring in his life, worked Joseph for about five minutes and took him in. As he said, "The old man is gonna get his shot in the ring one last time even if we blow every exercise."

Once again, Joseph carried the day and managed to lead Ted through the exercises to first place in Veteran's Obedience Class. In many ways this was the highlight of Joseph's career. No matter what the circumstances, Joseph NEVER let me down.

Joseph gave me many firsts. He was my first Best in Match dog. He was the first dog I, myself, put points on. He was my first champion, my first T.T., my first and only dog to make a Top Dog Team and he sired not only my first homebred champion, Ch. Teybar's Play Misty For Me, but also the dog, Wilderglen A Few Dollars More, that my daughter, Gina, showd to three Best Junior Handler in Show wins from the Novice class.

Joseph was with me until he was almost sixteen years old. Then a series of small strokes left him with too many problems for him to maintain his dignity. When his equilibrium failed, we did the only thing left to do for a beloved, faithful friend and in 1989, shortly after we moved to Utah, we sent him to the Rainbow Bridge.

Wait for me, faithful friend, and, until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.