Let me tell you about my Sheltie Family:
 
   I've had dogs since I was young and raised German Shepherds for 10 years before moving on to the Shelties. In 1988 I got my little Mandy, a real sweetheart. She was my first real show dog and we went up to Canada dog shows with friends maybe 5 or 6 times a year. Competition was pretty fierce in the breed ring, so we switched to obedience and she obtained her Canadian C.D. title on a Mother's Day. I almost had her American C.D. when I quit showing her. She was getting to "ring-wise" and did what she wanted and knew that I couldn't correct her there. At practice & fun shows --- she was still almost perfect. I lost my poor little girl when she was 10 yrs old of congestive heart failure and she had a massive heart attack right in my arms. I still feel so badly about it.

 

HONEY 

 I got Honey a year after Mandy. She was the runt of the litter and stayed small, but was the "Queen of the house". She even tried to boss my old shepherd, Ember, around when she was just 6 months old! We took her up with us to Canada also and she got her Canadian C.D. too and also needed one more score for her American C.D. I used to show both of them as a "brace" (2 dogs hooked together as a team and doing commands in unison). That was fun and they both really liked that. Honey is now going on 16 yrs and hobbles around a bit like a little old lady. She still tries to be bossy, but the young ones don't pay any attention and she can't really nip them as she only has one eyetooth left. We have a lot of good memories.....her & I!                                     

SABRINA

  Sabrina is the adopted little girl. I got her when I lost Mandy so Honey wouldn't be so lonesome. Yeah, right! They have never really liked each other. Sabrina came from a one-dog-home and wanted to push her weight around. She was 6 yrs and Honey was 9 yrs, so they both wanted to rule the roost. They are both small so it wasn't a big problem and they did come to a truce. Sabrina has a bad habit of running off as soon as she escapes from the house. She runs for maybe 10 min and comes back on her own. It is scary as she doesn't look for cars and won't come when called. Now that she is 13 yrs old she hasn't gotten out lately, except on a leash. For being so smart, she doesn't know why she is the only one that has to be tied while the rest can run loose. I can't believe that she is so independent and unlike the rest of them. Her bloodlines are different and the others are all related, could that be it?

MICKEY

  Mickey is my baby boy and he just turned 4 yrs old. That's a long time to be a baby! When he was only 3 months old he broke his hind leg while playing with Sabrina. I think he got it caught in the expandable gate. That is what really did it and I felt so sorry for him with his little red cast. It didn't bother him a bit, but we couldn't get it wet and it was spring and raining all the time. I had to cover it with a bread bag every time he went out and that was a lot!!! He looks and acts a lot like my Mandy but is closer related to Honey. I can't believe how fast he learns things and if I only had the time to train him right---he could be great. He is my buddy and always with me....here at the computer, down with my violets, and up to bed. He watches me constantly and looking into his eyes you can see all the love there. To him, I am everything!

                                                         
RYAN

Ryan is the 10 month old "puppy"! He is slowly maturing but is such a livewire still. I don't remember my others being as rowdy as him, but he is the largest of them all. I think it may come from playing with the dogs all day. Mickey is his half brother and is so kind to him--lets him get by with almost anything. He has pulled most of the hair out of his tail by trying to drag him around. He does put him in his place once in awhile, but not often enough. Sabrina plays for a short while, but then gets cranky and doesn't want to put up with him. He, too, is very bright and has learned a lot from Mickey. When he was quite young he would walk up to the edge of the curb with him and when Mickey wouldn't go off the grass and out into the street, neither would he. I had to reinforce it with a leash a couple times when he got older, but will only need a refresher in the spring. He just loves throwing his toys up in the air and trying to catch them.


  

As you can see I really love my Shelties and they are a part of my family that live right with me. I do firmly believe in spaying & neutering as there are so many homeless dogs & cats. All my pets have been taken care of as I leave the breeding to the knowledgeable.

Joan Baker