I was a dog and horse lover from childhood. My family got
our fist dog “Smokey” because of me when I was eight and we rarely were apart
from that day on. She was a rescue from a humane society in the Midwest where
we lived and was thought to be a German Shepherd and Collie cross. What she
turned out to be, I believe was a Border Collie cross. Black tri, looked like,
size of, brains of a BC. I’m guessing that’s why I love Aussies today. She was
the best companion, intelligent, active, patient, and a protector when she
needed to be. When I was 19 and left home for the beautiful state of Vermont, I
loaded my car with all my belongings and Smokey and off we went together. She
attended my wedding and saw my first child in infancy before she left me. I owe
a lot to that little dog. I will never forget her.
In 1989 I went to work as a vet. tech. That is where I saw
my first Aussie. I had never heard of an Australian Shepherd, but was drawn
immediately to them, the aesthetic quality, the look in their eye, you could
tell they were intelligent and ready to go. The bitch’s name was “Velvet” and
that’s just what her coat was, black velvet. I watched her grow up, watched her
first litter as they came to the clinic for first vaccinations. I got to see a
few of those pups grow up. Saw her second litter and got to see a few of those
grow up also. It was then, that I said to myself; you know, those are really
nice dogs. I should get one of those dogs. And so it was that with Velvet’s
third litter, I got a black tri female “Cosmos”. And the rest, as they say, is
history.
