I want to share something important with all of you.
First of all, so many of you have written me personally and to the list
sharing and helping me cope with the loss of Chase over the last
several days. THANK YOU! I was totally unprepared for the level of
grief I have been experiencing and hearing from so many of you not
only with similar experiences but also with the kindness to share how
your wonderful fur kids have been such important parts of your life.....
and the knowledge that a piece of Chase is in many of them.
Here is what I want to share. Chase was one of the most accomplished
all around sheltie's ever. He accomplished things that no other sheltie
ever did in terms of the magnitude of his competitive accomplishments
across all venues. We went to conformation nationals after placing 9th
in the country...handled by ME...a novice handler. We went to agility
nationals and placed 5th overall in ISC, again handled by me, a person
who really did not have much experience at that time. Herding,rally...
everything he did was in the top of the class, as a team with me, at
that time, a novice...in everything.
As I sit here now and reflect the ONLY things I think about and remember
are things like the time he stole all the eggs from my neighboors
chicken nest, the way he would bite the covers every night as I would
move my hand beneath the covers playing with him, his soft quiet bark
asking to get up on the bed when he got too old to jump up himself,
his kisses, the way he rolled over for belly rubs, the last time we
played together last week when he bit my gardening gloves as I moved
them around for him to catch and then when he broke into zoomies
literally pouncing on the gloves, picking them up in his mouth and
encouraging me to play more, the last stroll into the filed in his
stroller and the way he sat in it regally enjoying his life and
surveying his souroundings.
I do not remember one single time I stepped up to the agility line with
him, one single win nor the way it felt when we earned those very top
placements. His awards and plaques are on my wall, but they feel like
nothing more than pieces of paper. They are absolutely no consolation....
in fact my only thoughts about them were to wonder if a little less
time could have been spent in the ring and a little more cuddling in
the bed and sharing an everyday life.
My relationship with chase was with the being, the dog, the friend.....
not the competitor. While I acknowledge the fact that the training and
competing made our bond more intense, without the everyday sharing of
his life and mine, it would have meant nothing.
So...as those of you with these incredible dogs go out there day in and
day out, do yourself and your dog a favor......have a life, give a
life and share a life. Play and love and appreciate who your partner
is. Before you know it, it will all be gone and I can tell you first
hand that had I not spent a quality life with chase outside of
competition, I am not sure I would be able to get over losing him. At
least now, I have a chance as memories of the precious moments he and
I shared together are starting to creep in between the grief.
Chase is the only sheltie ever to compete in both the agility national
championships and the conformation national championships.

Chase getting his Award of Merit (ASSA 2000)
Chase is our definition of "sheltie"- a very driven very
beautiful dog who's sweet expression and love of life is
contagious. Chase is a very competitive working dog and a very
top breed dog as well.
Chase finished his breed championship with 4 Specialty Majors at
7-l/2 months. While earning his ASSA Award of Merit for
versatility (VCX-CH) we decided to special him some. As a
special, Chase consistently won BOB and Group placements. In his
first 7 shows, Chase won: 2 Group-1's, 2 Group-2's, and a Group-3.
In addition to having the ASSA "VCX-Ch" designation, he also won a merit
award at the national specialty for being one of the highest quality
representatives in conformation at that national breed championship.
In addition to being a very top breed dog, chase also achieved top results
in agility. Chase is the only sheltie ever to compete in both the agility
national championships and the conformation national championships. He is a
true achiever who competes at very high levels in all we ask.
At the 2005 AKC national Championships, Chase placed 5th
overall in the 16 inch ISC competition out of 91 of the best 16 inch
competitors in the country. He also had one of the highest combined scores
of all dogs in Florida.
Unfortunately Chase was injured at the national championships in 2005. At
that time he had 10 double Q's and all of his championship points for his
agility championship. The agility story ended there for Chase. He is now
my best house buddy and is mentoring his young grandson, Maverick, and his
young great grandson. Mason, to follow in his foot steps. So far both
Maverick and Mason show incredible potential. With a mentor like Chase, how
could they go wrong?
Luckily for us, chase has seemed able to reproduce his qualities and has
sired both breed and agility champions. His kids are competing in all
venues, performance and conformation, and doing it extremely successfully.
In herding, Chase has done a nice job on the sheep, quickly
finishing his HT and PT titles. He is very eager to work stock.
Chase amazes us with his beauty and his enthusiastic working style.
He earned the elusive ASSA "VCX" distinction at barely 3. Chase
ranked #16 in the country for the year 2000, he has also ranked
in the top 20 in 2002 (Canine Chronicle).
Chase is normal for: OFA, Thyroid, vWD, and CERF.
Chase does not stand at public stud, but is a large part of our
foundation blood line here at sheltieranch.
See our Elsewhere page to meet some of
Chase's multi-talented kids.
Austin, Chase's son