I have run across pics of Ringo, and am adding them with a little bit of Ringo's history. The first four pictures are of Ringo doing his herding instinct test. Before the test started that day, the fellow testing us looked at the information sheet I'd filled out on Ringo. He saw that Ringo was one leg shy of a Utility Degree and told me that I'd trained all the instinct out of him. Well, as you can see, Ringo had no problem passing the instinct test with flying colors. The rest of them are explained as we go along
Ringo joined our family in November of 1979. My youngest brother, Jon (then 13 ... I was 21), had wanted a dog of his own for some time. My dad liked collies but didn't want a large dog. So, as my mom and I were shopping one day, we popped into a large chain pet store, on a whim. A while and lighter check book later, we were on our way home with a ten week old male sheltie puppy. Puppy Mill Note Mom and I split the cost of the pup right down the middle and planned to do the same with all his expenses. Thus, I embarked on an endless and exciting journey of learning about responsible dog ownership.
Beatlemania was a big hit on stage in those days, and I had always liked the Beatles. The pup had big rings around his eyes. He had only been in our home a few hours before he was dubbed "Ringo", a name he would carry for the rest of his 14+ years with us.
Ringo just an hour or so after joining our family
Now, Ringo may have officially been Jon's, my mom and I were both on his AKC registration papers. What's more, Ringo slept in my room, was paper trained in my room, fed in my room. I did his grooming and shuttled him back and forth for his vet visits. In
fact, it appeared that he was MY dog in every way ... except one. Because he was technically Jon's dog, I had not allowed myself to become attached to him. There was no emotion from me to him. When he was six months old, I took him through obedience
training. Twelve weeks later, at graduation, we failed our test, miserably. There was no bond between us, and there needed to be. In the mean time, poor Ringo had no idea where he fit into our family. No one was the ultimate boss, there was no leader of the
pack.
Then came Sheba. One afternoon, when Ringo wasn't yet a year old, Jon walked in with a tiny puppy. She was a Doberman/German Shepherd Dog cross ... and only 4 weeks old. Yep, my dad hadn't wanted a large dog. Well, this pup wasn't large now, but, she
grew to be a big 80 pound beauty. Heavier boned than a Dobe and with the lighter eyes of a Shepherd, she still had most of the characteristics of a Dobe. It became apparent, not long after she arrived in our home that she was going to take up a lot of resources just in food alone. My mom said she'd sign over her part of Ringo's ownership if I would take on all of his expenses. That was a deal I relished. I spent the next several months bonding with Ringo, and by the time Sheba was old enough to go through obedience class, the change in the relationship between Ringo and I was extremely evident. We went back to obedience class, too, and graduated first in our class. I also caught the bug .. the one that makes a person want to go far with obedience training and trialling.
Sheba never finished that class, but was a very obedient dog, nonetheless. She and Ringo would be put on down stays and the cat, Snickers, would cuddle up with them. They never moved. But then, both of them liked the cat. She was like one of them.
Sheba, Snickers, and Ringo - truly 2 sisters and a
brother
Over the years, Ringo had many things he really enjoyed doing. He loved the beach...
... and he loved playing Frisbee. Nothing, not even food, was more important to him.
He loved to jump and always wowed spectators with his enthusiasm in the obedience ring.
Golden Gate Kennel Club Bench Show - He was benched as an Honorary Rottweiler, as we were members of the Western Rottweiler Owners in Northern California.
Ringo's best friend in his younger years was a sweet Rottweiler named Ruffian. It was because of Ruffian and her owners that I became interested in the Rottweiler breed. With the intent of learning as much about the breed as I could before purchasing one, I joined the Western Rottweiler Owners. That is how Ringo ended up an "honorary Rottweiler" and benched with the Rotts at the Golden Gate Kennel Club show. There were other little perks to being an honorary rottweiler, too. At the annual club picnic, one year, Ringo won the obstacle course set up for the games. He ran it with one of Ruffian's young owners at the end of his lead.
Ringo and Ruffian
Ringo & one of Ruffian's young owners doing the jump in the WRO Picnic obstacle course
Ringo in the 1st Place position for the obstacle course at the WRO picnic. His best friend, Ruffian, was a close second.
Another of Ringo's friends was a great little border collie named Morgan. On a whim, one day, I called my friend, Morgan's owner, and asked if she'd like to go to San Francisco for the day. The City was about an hour's drive from where we lived, so not too far. And the day was one of the rare absolutely clear days in The City. It was gorgeous. So, Ringo, Morgan, my friend and I went and walked across the Golden Gate Bridge. We did some exploring on the SF side of the bridge and walked back. It was a great day.
Morgan & Ringo on the Golden Gate Bridge
Among Ringo's other activities, he liked to spend time with me. If I was going hiking, he went, too. And he loved getting filthy dirty. One thing he did NOT much like, was getting a bath.
Ringo in the saddle pack I made for him. He and my Husband (Bryan) and I hiked through the snow to Bryan's family's cabin in Lake Alpine, California
Just after a good roll in a mud puddle
After the roll, comes the bath
One of the strangest things I ever did with Ringo was dressing him up. When we went to a fun match that had a costume category, I pondered and pondered over what to dress him as. Then it hit me square in the face. I'd dress him as Ringo .. the Beatle. He could carry a drumstick in his mouth and pull his wagon with Ringo's drum in it. We had a great time with it and won first prize for the costume, too.
Ringo!! This costume took first prize in a number of canine costume contests
.. Ringo's Page .. 
