It is hard to describe how enthusiastic we are about this little guy.
Maverick is the 4th generation of our perfromance/versatility line and
as such he combines the gene pool and qualities of our favorite dogs,
Chase, Charlie and Billy. On the Dam side, Maverick comes down from the
Bitch line behind Charlie- a bitch line that has been extremely
dominant for working ability as well as a line of top quality
conformation dogs and ROM's who have produced working ability for us in
the past. On the sires side he comes down from our Chase (VTCh BISS Ch
Barwoods The Paper Chase PT MX MXJ RN AOM VCX), through his son, Austin (Ch
Willowcove's Final Answer).
Maverick is well versed in the intricacies of life at sheltieranch. He loves
to herd and has recently started formal herding lessons. In agility he is a
very responsive, fast worker with an intensity in his eyes that is
incredible. Mav SCREAMS when watching other dogs work..."IT IS MY TURN!".
He has the body he will need for a long run competition career, and a face
that will charm you. Maverick has filled a very special place here in our
hearts. He reminds us a great deal of his grand dad, Chase. We will always
be by the side of our "Wingman."
Maverick's first agility trial was fast and furious....a little too furious
at times! Maverick put in times of 6 YPS in jumpers. In spite of all of the
enthusiasm he did manage 2 first place wins in jumpers and 2 in standard.
Over the next three trials he finished both novice titles and both open
titles, almost all legs have been 1st placements For such a young dog (19
months) Maverick showed an amazing amount of speed AND control. He went
right on to the excellent classes and finished those titles right away and
now has his first masters legs, all placements in very competitive B classes.
In the other venues, Maverick is equally enthusiastic. He has been trained
in Rally and finished his first rally title. While his rally commands are
very crisp and extremely fast (he literally throws himself into a down on
cue) he gets frustrated while heeling and in his first few rally trials
resorted to antics such as biting the cones and jumping over the signs. He
did manage respectable scores and his title, but we will leave rally where
it is ad proceed on with Agility, herding and backpacking.
We plan to enter him in the herding trials when they return to Florida in
the spring, and soon after to earn his versatility title. Conformation is
a possibility, as like his dad, and grand dad, he possess the
characteristics necessary for a breed championship. Hopefully, this boys
performance career will include a break somewhere to visit the breed ring.
Right now we are having way too much fun to take a break!
