Australian Cattle Dogs are a big part of our farm
I’ve bred and trained dogs for over forty years. First English Springer Spaniels and German Shepherds, then when we moved to Alaska in 1982 I owned and trained Chesapeake Bay and Labrador Retrievers. While in Alaska my daughters complained that my very hot field trial Labradors kept knocking them down when they were playing ball in the yard. I got them a herding dog to play with and I haven’t looked back since.
When we moved back to Michigan in 2000 I began looking for a herding dog to replace my daughter’s aging pet Rocky. I contacted Carl and Mary Wieland of Dreamtime Kennels, got on their list, and waited for a bitch puppy. After a couple of litters with no females we finally got Trixie (Dreamtime Trick or Treat) in the fall of 2006. By then our daughters were grown and gone so Trixie has been constantly at my side and is a truly amazing workmate and companion.
In 2008 I bred Trixie to American and Canadian Champion Kurpas’ Hunker Down. Trixie had five puppies. Three were neutered and placed on farms here in Leelanau County. I kept two, Grand Champion Rick’s Blue Magic (Blue) and Champion Rick’s Magic Tricks (Maggie). Both are great dogs, work hard here on the farm and love to go to dog shows.
I bred Maggie to Canadian Champion Reddenblu’s Let’s Smokem’ Out in Thunder Bay, Ontario in March of 2010.She had a litter of eight pups on May 24, 2010. I kept one of the pups a male CH Rick’s Smokin’ Thunder (Goose). The other puppies are neutered and in their new homes.
Grand Champion Rick's Blue Magic
Blue is an eager and tireless worker here on our farm. Blue is shown in conformation by Tim and Gretchen Conradt (above). In limited showing he is a group winner and multi group placer. He finished 2010 as the fourth highest ranked cattle dog in the USA group and all breed points and 2011 ranked 8th. Blue’s health information can be found at Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. His pedigree is available at The Australian Cattle Dog Pedigree Finder.
CH Rick's Smokin' Thunder
Goose is a hard worker here on the farm. Goose completed his championship at 17 months with 3 majors, 3 BOB over specials, and 4 group placements. He finished 2011 as the thirteenth highest ranked cattle dog in the USA group and all breed points. Goose is not affected for progressive retinal atrophy. He will be x-rayed and tested for all recommended health clearance when he is two years old.
His pedigree is available at The Australian Cattle Dog Pedigree Finder.