Winthrop Firefly Caper OA OAJ HSAs NADAC Novice Versatility CGC
OFA Hips Good, Elbows Normal, CERF Normal, CEA Normal (parentage), MDR1 Normal
"Fly" Herding High in Trial 4/19/09!!!
Herding HIT, RHIT B Course 11/21-22/09!
Fly is third generation Winthrop breeding, daughter of Myrrh (sired by Claudia Frank's JusDandy Jaydee), and granddaughter of Belle. All of the pups in the litter had "color" names; she was the "Red girl." Born 6/11/2007, from the first day she was the dominant puppy in the litter, and I was NOT planning to take on that challenge! However, between 5-7 weeks of age, some of the other pups in the litter began to gang up on her, which temporarily shook her self-confidence, blessedly modifying her personality. Some of my puppy buyers surprised me with their choices and at 8 weeks the "Red girl" was still mine! I began to think, "Why shouldn't I keep the pick of the litter?"
One week old Three weeks old
Six weeks old
October 2007 4 months old, graduating from Puppy Class. Fly "won" the Puppy Rally test, completing the course flawlessly in 32 seconds! And she didn't even mind wearing the mortarboard cap...
December 2007 Firefly at 6 months: We are working daily on basic manners and self control, some agility ground work, down on the table, contacts, and starting some retrieving! She goes out to the barn with me to feed about once a week, so is getting exposed to sheep, ducks, geese and cats. Fly just had her first "real" introduction to herding sheep the end of December, and did very well! She showed a great deal of interest, circled both directions, and when running across the field toward the sheep, she flanked out around them all on her own! Mentally she is still very distractible so we will lay off a while before starting any serious training in herding. Right now she is still all legs and length, and her ears can't decide WHAT they want to do! At 6 months, Fly weighs 27.5 pounds, is about 19" tall, and still wears a red collar!
June 2008--1 year old! At 1 year old, Fly weighs 36.4 pounds and is about 20 1/2 inches tall. She is enjoying training in agility, obedience and herding, and she's showing great potential in each sport. She has a delightful personality!
July 2008 Fly competed at her first AKC Test, qualified both runs and earned her first title: Herding Tested!
April 2009 Fly competed at her first AKC Herding Trial, Q'd and placed 5th for her first HSAs leg, then came back the next day with a beautiful run, scored 93.5, which won the class and earned her High in Trial! Her mother Myrrh was HIT on 4/18, Fly was HIT on 4/19, and they both have new matching black leather collars with silver conchos as prizes!
July 2009 Fly competed in her first agility trial, earned her first agility leg in NADAC Weavers, of all things, and placed second in the class. She was perfect on the tunnels and weaves, lost time due to re-sends through those new hoop-thingies on the course! However, she learned quickly that they ARE obstacles and also earned a Hoopers leg. And she passed her CGC test quite easily!
November 2009 What a month! On 11/14/09, Fly Q'd in NADAC Novice Weavers and Novice Touch N Go. On 11/15, we practiced at a "mock" herding trial all morning, then raced back to the NADAC trial in the afternoon. Fly and I literally ran from the car into the ring, where she Q'd, won Novice Regular, then Q'd for her first Novice Chances leg!
The following weekend at her second AKC herding trial, Fly finished her Herding Started A Course, sheep title and also got a 4th HSAs leg with an 89 and 4th place. On B Course, she Q'd with a 95, first place and B Course High in Trial for her first HSBs leg! The next day she Q'd for her second HSBs leg with 92, first place and Reserve HIT! Good girl!
Judges Bob Ewing, Marie-Paule Gherardi with Fly, Margie and Myrrh--and about half the ribbons for the weekend!
We finished out the month with 3 days of Greg and Laura Derrett agility seminars--I learned a lot and both dogs did well!
February 2010 Fly Q'd 6 of 10 runs in NADAC Novice classes, all with first places and we are now just 1 Tunnelers and 1 Weavers Q from Novice Versatility! Thinking about moving up to Open soon...
June 12, 2010 First trial since February, one day of a games-only NADAC trial, and Fly was a star! Q'd 5 of 6 runs, all first places, finished her NADAC Novice Versatility title with a couple of legs to spare, and got her first Open Touch 'N Go leg!
Oct/Nov 2010
I have sold 1/2 interest in Fly to Ken Kennedy, and she is now living with him and his Italian Greyhounds that he competes with at AKC National Agility Finals. Ken writes: "Fly is doing awesome!! She's the greatest little girl!! No problems whatsoever with anything. She has great manners, and a very good recall. I've been letting her sleep on the bed with us at night, and she's happy to do that, but for some part of the night she gets off the bed, and goes down into her own bed which is at the foot of the bed. She's very curious about everything and all the dogs here. Very well socialized with other dogs. We've been playing fetch, tugging a lot, doing some single jump work, 3 or 4 obstacle sequences, weave poles, but no contacts yet. She's awesome, and very fast and happy to play!! Right now she's curled up under the table at my feet as I type this on the computer." They continue to take agility lessons from Stacy Winkler, and went to a Greg Derrett seminar the end of November for 3 days!
Memorial Weekend 2011 Fly earned her Novice Agility title with 1st place, and her 1st Novice JWW leg! Awesome runs with Ken!
Oct/Nov 2011 Fly and Ken finished her OA/OAJ titles, went to a Greg Derrett seminar, and played at the beach! You never met a happier BC...
