Chevreherd's Precious Gem STD-d,s,c, RTD-c

This nearly perfect little fur ball is as tough as she is cute. Just ask the cattle she's had the opportunity to visit. Gem has an unbeatable temperament; it is truly a joy and an honor to live with this miraculous aussie.  Her fans continue to multiply as we travel the countryside.

Early 2002, Gem and I started her serious training on sheep. She's a strong fetch dog with lots of eye concentration, that will go in and loves to hit heels also. Gem is a natural on sheep. She doesn't usually circle, but fetches so well to the point of bringing them in so close to me to even have sheep under my feet. We were ready to try to earn some titles.

In just a few short months, she has acquired all the above titles under various judges across the Midwest. 

Her first trial was in September, 2002 at Hado-Bar-Farm in Ohio under Judge Jerry Rowe. She qualified in both sheep and ducks. This judge is looking forward to seeing a great outrun from this stylish dog with additional training. 

The next weekend we traveled to Imagine Farm in Michigan with Becky Beckman and Ken Silvera judging. Gem completed her sheep and duck started titles. A leg was also earned in started cattle. She also got "Most Promising Started Aussie for the weekend". We were ecstatic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

The last weekend in September, which was the following weekend, was a trip to the Conroy's Minnesota Farm. Judges this weekend were James Bergert and Joan Carrillo where we finished the triple STD. 

The calendar showed that the first weekend in October, 2002 was the RRV-ASC trial up in Portage, Wisconsin. We decided to tackle Ranch Dog Trial on cattle, so we headed back north. Gem got RTD-c under judge Dana McKenzie 10/4/02 and we were pleased to get 3rd place out of the 8 dogs who trialed that day in the cold windy rain. The weather did not affect Gem's work, but a half hour of steady work in a strange place was stressful for this young dog and her handler. It was only her 5th time to be asked to work cattle and she completed her outrun across the pasture. I was so proud of her. Overall I thought the Ranch Trial was a great experience. 

Once again the weekend found us on the road and in West Lafayette, Indiana where we advanced to open classes on sheep and ducks under Marie Murphy and Rachael Vest. Saturday brought drizzly rain and Marie Murphy awarded us an open leg on sheep. She said she loved the way Gem grinned all the way through the course. Sunday morning dawned cold and brisk reminding us that winter would be here all too soon. Gem froze the ducks into the corner, just as she had the day before (we've got to help her learn to overcome this trick that stock loves to pull, but with ducks, they are especially susceptible to pressure and Gem is a little too enthusiastic in her work on these little critters. The sheep run that day was a demonstration on handler error, but we have the winter to practice.

We attended the USASA (AKC) Nationals in Michigan in April 2003 where we had a wonderful time in spite of some of the weather. Gem achieved her started herding title on course A sheep in a steady manner, as when climbing the rungs of a ladder, exerting more effort all the way.  On Saturday, 4/19 Judge Dana Hasemeier awarded Gem a qualifying score and commented, "Nice dog."  Sunday's run was under Judge Cappy Pruett and had a couple rough spots including completing the second half of the course in a downpour of rain, but we still qualified and got a 3rd place ribbon!  A spectator said it looked like real work on the farm, when you just put your head down and do what has to be done, even when the weather is not cooperative.  Monday, 4/21 was Aussie Only day with Judge Marie Murphy, who awarded Gem first place started with a score of 89; many thanks to Marie for helping us win the great herding crook and aussie note cards.  But the thrills were not over, Gem's efforts earned Reserve High in Trial on Monday and many thanks to USASA for the gorgeous Julie Rogers framed herding print and huge ribbon.

At the ASCA Nationals Fall 2003 in Wisconsin, Gem competed in ducks, sheep and cattle and earned some qualifying scores.  We then traveled to Michigan and Georgia in the following month and completed Gem's open titles.  As of January 2004 Gem has OTDscd, RTDc, HASs, CGC and DNA-CP.

This year we'll keep working on more advanced herding training, with some driving & outrun work, looking forward to more advanced titles later this year, continuing to work towards that WTCH!  We'll be at a stockdog trial near you soon!