Back-to-Back Specialty Wins for Nora!

 The Shetland Sheepdog Club of Anchorage held 2 specialties in one day.  The husband and wife judging team of Al & Liz  Bianchi came out from Virginia to judge. They are dedicated to this breed. They both have been very active sheltie breeders and judges, and more importantly they have been active members of the ASSA for decades, including holding the prestigious positions of President.      Al Bianchi just judged at the ASSA National this year (see Windsor's win photo) and Liz judged at the ASSA National last year.  They are knowledgeable and well respected.  

It was with great honor that Nora won Winner's Bitch at both shows.  The entry was large enough for 5 points each show, and at the end of the day, Nora had a total of 14 points, 3 majors.   She is now at the "dreaded last point" spot.   For some unexplained reason, that 15th point can be a bugger.   It is so common that I have gotten to the point were if I have a dog that wins a 1 point win to start, I say, "well, that is the 15th point- now we can begin."   I am keeping my fingers crossed that Nora will finish this weekend, but she didn't win the day following the specialties....... *sigh*  if only last weekend's show had been 5 points instead of 4.......   

Read more...

Congratulations Renee and Nora

 Congratulations to Renee Morgan!  She purchased Acadia Trust Me, "Nora", to show and today they won a 4 pt major under judge Mr. Gordon William Hayburn at the Tanana Valley Kennel Club show.

I had Nora for sale a year ago and Renee contacted me right away, but we had a hard time connecting.  This year I brought Nora with me to the ASSA national and Renee came to watch for 1 day and pick up Nora.   I am so glad that it is working out.   I really like Nora and I am proud to be able to share her with someone interested in showing and I am proud they were successful today. 

Acadia Trust Me  (Ch. Acadia Trusted Opinion, FDC x Ch. Laureate Meiomi)

Read more...

Acadia Trust Me "Nora"

Acadia Trust Me  (Ch. Acadia Trusted Opinion x Ch. Laureate Meiomi)

 Mike and I are by no means professional photographers, but today we took a few pictures of Nora and then played around with some of the simple "edit" tools my computer has to offer.  I wanted to blur the background.   I liked it, but often, in our pictures, the background is too close and too in focus.  After several attempts, I decided that I liked this well enough.  It still looks like an amateur did it, but I think it is better than many of the pictures we have taken where we didn't do anything to the pictures.

Over the years we have gotten lucky with some of the pictures we have taken and when that happens, I am over joyed.  Who knows, maybe I will learn new skills and improve the images I post on the blog- or perhaps I will just end up with a few lucky good ones as before.

Read more...

New ROM !! Ch. Acadia Opinion Provided, ROM

 Chica is now a Register of Merit (ROM).  This designation is for females who have produced 5 or more Champion offspring and males who have produced 10 or more champions.   Chica is the first ROM for Acadia although others have come close. 

Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come, "Carrie", should have been my first.  She produced 4 champions, 1 additional son with 12 points, 1 major (1 major short of the championship), and another daughter with a major.  Six show winners in all, but only 4 champions.   While she did not achieve the ROM status, Carrie is the anchor of my breeding program which consists of 9 consecutive generations of champion girls on the tail-female line.  This line is on Carrie's Page and Dove's page.  

Chica is the 8th consecutive generation of Champion girls. Her father is "Aidan"-  GCh. Acadia's Stage Director and her mother is the Best In Show winner, Century Club member, GChS. Acadia Stage Presence, CC.  

Chica is the mother of:

GChB Acadia Gregarious, BCAT

Ch. Acadia Peggin Iced Latte, RA, PT, OJP, FDC, VCX

Ch. Acadia Trusted Opinion, FDC

Ch. Acadia Everyone's Opinion

Ch. Peggin Acadia Breve, PT, RN, NJP, TKN, FDC, CGC, VCX

and..

Acadia's Celestial Mystery, MX, MXJ, MJG, NF

Acadia October Skye, ACT1, ACT2J, TKI

Read more...

Ch. Acadia Opinion Provided-

Ch. Acadia Opinion Provided - judge Bob Futh

 Chica is proving to be quite the Producer!   She is the daughter of GCh.S. Acadia Stage Presence, CC- "Liza" and I am so excited to have a Liza daughter that is carrying us forward so successfully.

Chica is the mother of, Ch. Acadia Peggin Iced Latte, HT, GChB. Acadia Gregarious, BCAT, Ch. Acadia Trusted Opinion, FDC,  Acadia's Celestial Mystery, AX, MXJ, NF, Acadia Popular Opinion, Acadia Everyone's Opinion.  Chica is the 8th Consecutive Generation of Ch. bitches and the 6th generation of Acadia breeding.

GChB Acadia Gregarious, BCAT

GChB. Acadia Gregarious, BCAT

Ch. Acadia Trusted Opinion, FDC

Acadia Popular Opinion

Read more...

25 is a nice milestone

Today I received an AKC championship certificate for my 25th homebred champion, Ch. Acadia Trusted Opinion ("Tristan").   It is also 25 years ago that my first homebred champion, Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, NA, NAJ, RA ("Payson"), was born (10/17/1998).  

Payson's mother was a cutie named Dana that Shirley Vicchitto, Zion shelties, leased to me for a litter.  I was hoping for a boy, and Dana had a litter of 6 boys.   I kept two brothers, Payson, and Rocky- who would also be one of the 25 champions bred by me.  He became Ch. Acadia Rock Solid, HT. 

1982- Ch. Parker of Mirluc, CD with
future Ch. Arista's Abbey Road (bottom)

Both Payson and Rocky produced champions.  Rocky can be found in Tristan's pedigree.   Payson can be found in many of the pedigrees of Sharon Crawford's Sunburst shelties. 

I have also had 10 dogs I purchased that completed the championship- for 35 champion dogs as of today.  Shirley met me because of my very first champion, Ch. Parker of Mirluc, CD, who I purchased from Betty Ieronimo, Mirluc shelties.    It was because of Parker that Shirley sold me Tucket, Ch. Zion Acadia Town Heroine, CDX, PT, VCX and it was because of my success with Tucket that Shirley leased Dana to me.  Tucket did produce 1 champion daughter- also a multi-titled dog, Ch. Acadia Another Story, UD, PT, NA, VCX.   

    I was living in Arizona, as was Sharon Crawford, and Sharon fell in love with Tucket.  Shirley sent Tucket's mother, Tuffy to me to show and Sharon loved her too.  Tucket had a brother, Ch. Zion's Man About Town, HT, NA, VC, 5CC ("Jamie"), who was THE hot winning dog at the time!  Sharon bred to Jamie which was very successful for her.  Subsequently I was able to purchase Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come, ("Carrie") a descendant from these successful pairings who became the anchor of my breeding program.  

    It is so interesting how these dogs and people weave together.  I love looking back and seeing how the family is still going strong- thanks to good breeders who care about the dogs.  Many of the dogs in this family have titles in multiple venues.  They are smart, happy, and good "Shetland sheepdogs".   I look forward to the next 25.

Read more...

** New Champion** Acadia Trusted Opinion- aka Tristan

 Tristan finished today by winning Best of Breed over multiple champions from the Bred-by-Exhibitor class.  He topped the day off by winning a Herding Group 4.    He was only in 6 total shows.  I can't believe how quickly this happened! 

Tristan is the 3rd Champion for his mother Chica.

Chica- Acadia Opinion Provided, had a good weekend too.  She earn 5 more points, 1 major towards her championship.   What a Great week of shows.  So Proud of this family. 

Read more...

Proud Breeder Moment - Acadia Trusted Opinion wins under respected breeder-judges, and Cassia gives her blessing

Tristan went to his first dog show and had a Great Day! The Colonial Shetland Sheepdog Club held 2 shows in one day. 

 The morning started with a Puppy Sweepstakes.  A fun competition open only to puppies and it is a great way to get them in the ring and "loosened up" before the "real" show starts.  Tristan began the day by winning Best In Sweepstakes.  The judge, Linda Loring, said, "he is the total package".  :-)

The AM show had Breeder-Judge Ellen Worthington. She has bred many top producing and top winning dogs including an ASSA National Best of Breed winner, many important and influential ROM's and dogs that I have long wanted to incorporate into my pedigrees. One of the many traits I have valued about her tri-color dogs is the truly black pigment most of them have. 

 I have shown to Mrs. Worthington before. The last time was when Gregory and Warren were in the 6-9 puppy class. It was the weekend they were both turning 6 months old- so they were "Babies". There was one other puppy in their class, and he was closer to 9 months. He won the class, but before handing the 2nd and 3rd place ribbons to Gregory and Warren (in that order) she said, "these are both really beautiful baby boys". That meant a lot to me. We didn't win, but it was so nice that she thought they were worthy of being at the specialty show. 

 The time before that I was showing Cassia- GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind in the Bred-by Exhibitor class and Mrs. Worthington awarded her Winners Bitch for a specialty major. I was on Cloud 9! Yesterday, Mrs. Worthington awarded Cassia's grandson Winners Dog at a specialty. When we were taking pictures she asked me if he was related to "those lovely bitches of yours". I am SO Proud that Yes! He is!. She told me that she felt Tristan "favored his mother's side"- What a Wonderful Comment! Such a Proud breeder moment. 

 The PM show had Breeder-judge Lyn Leininger, also a breeder of top producing and top winning dogs. Her dogs have also won big awards at the ASSA National including Winners Dog (more than once). I love the distinct family traits of her shelties. She has not been judging long, but she has fast become a respected judge and has had assignments all over the country. For example, just last weekend she was judging in Minnesota. Just before she handed out the final ribbons, she told everyone how lovely the entry was and how she enjoyed the assignment. Again, really nice to hear that the judges felt they had good dogs to choose from. I was so honored that she awarded Tristan Winners Dog and Best of Winners! 

 In one day Tristan won both majors for a total of 8 points. Pinch Me! That never happens (to me)!! Not only is the hard part over (winning the majors), but he won them under breeder-judges that I really respect. That just makes me feel so good. I sure had a "Proud Breeder moment" yesterday.

Addition:  GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind, Cassia, passed away 6/2/2022- exactly 1 year ago on the day that Ellen Worthington awarded her grandson WD.   Sometimes things occur that make my heart skip a beat, my eyes tear up, and I say an Extra Prayer of gratitude. 

Read more...

Fun Time pictures with Tecla, Trestle, Tristan 6 weeks, 4 months, 8 months

Tecla and Trestle

Tecla, Trestle, Tristan- 8 months

Teddy, Tecla, Tristan, Trestle- 6 wks

Tecla, Trestle, Tristan- 4 months

Trestle, Tristan- 8 months

 

Read more...

GCh. Solange Ultravox X Acadia Opinion Provided puppies at 4 months

 I am very excited about these three.  The fourth boy- now Teddy- could have been shown, but a perfect pet home came along and claimed him.  I posted pictures of this litter when they were 6 weeks old.   Tecla really reminds me of Liza.  I just love looking at them- and they each have super temperaments.   The ones remaining here are Tecla, Trestle, Tristan.  These are the GCh. Solange Ultravox (Graham) x Acadia Opinion Provided (Chica)  puppies.  I hope they are my next show prospects.

Read more...

GCh. Solange Ultravox x Acadia Opinion Provided- I hope these puppies are going to be future champions

 boy-girl-boy-girl

boy- unnamed right now.   Girl- I am calling her Techla right now.  This one reminds me of Liza as a puppy.  I sure hope I am right.  boy- I am calling him Tristan. I think he and Techla look very similar.  Girl- this girl I am calling Trestle.   I really like this whole litter.   They have a lot of growing and changing to do- but at 6 wks., I am very please.  

Read more...

Puppy Fun !

 These puppies are 6 weeks old.  Today was a beautiful fall day, warm and sunny, so we decided to take a short trip to an under-used park.  My friend Linda and I were planning our trip, but as you can see, a few additional people saw the puppies and asked if they could visit them as well.  Of Course!!

Boys

Girls & Linda

Read more...