Today is January 6th. Today is the day — seven years ago — that I flew from Medford, Oregon to New Mexico with THE PUPPY. January 6th is the day that Chase became a part of my family. What a fun seven years we have had. I cannot thank Carolyn and Tom Cannon enough for letting me buy Chase from them. He has been a dream-come-true dog — there is nothing I have asked of him that he has not done. He is a High in Trial Herding dog with both his American Grand Championship and his Canadian Championship. He has earned his Companion Dog and Rally Novice titles, his Herding Started title on sheep and ducks, his Herding Intermediate title on sheep, his Herding Advanced title on sheep. He is well on his way to his Herding Championship. He runs Agility like a wild man and has earned his Preferred Novice Standard and Jumpers, Preferred Open Standard and Jumpers titles. He lacks one Q for his Preferred Excellent Jumpers title. His children have been beautiful and talented enough to earn Chase his Register of Merit Silver award. With two more progeny, he will have earned Gold. He has earned his Versatile Cardigan Excellent award. He has multiple Group placements and was chosen as Best Brindle at the Houston National Specialty. He is a splendid house and office dog, my constant companion. He raises his puppies — teaching them to use the dog door, to play tug, to come when he calls them (which does not transfer over to when I call them). Chase is so sound and genetically healthy . . . what a gift he is.
Mostly, he is CUTE!
Chase at 7-1/2 weeks — photo by Tom Cannon
Chase at 5-1/2 weeks — the photo that determined his fate — again by Tom Cannon
Tonight I will hug him — as I do every night — and tell him how special he is to me.
