PREMIUM LIST & JUDGES
JUDGES SCHEDULED FOR 2012 are SHELLY FRITZKE from British Columbia and CINDY GHENT from Ontario.
Cindy Ghent has always admired the ability of working dogs. Her first exposure was through a Border Collie mix she owned as a teenager. Her dog Sadie exhibited herding instinct rounding up hogs and horses on friend’s farms. She was determined to find a purebred dog that was not only an exceptional companion but also a useful stock dog. She believed she found it with the Australian Shepherd. In 1990 she purchased her first “Aussie” and so began her foray into the world of dog sports.
Initially stock dog instruction for a non Border Collie owner was hard to find. Living in a city, access to livestock was difficult but, determined, Cindy traveled to Michigan to obtain instruction from Jeanne Weaver, Lori Middleton and later Becky Bailie. It wasn’t until the late 90’s attending clinics hosted by Gina MacDonell at Cherrydale farm that Cindy was able to attend more local instruction. Wanting to support herding in Ontario, Cindy purchased an Australian Cattle Dog and joined the Australian Cattle Dog Club of Canada . It was with her ACD Savvy that Cindy was first able to compete in CKC, ASCA and AHBA trials. Later she also competed with several Aussies too.
Cindy currently resides in Harriston Ontario with 2 ACDs, an Aussie and the new pack member a Border Collie. She offers instruction in stock dog training for both competition and farm use on sheep and ducks.
As a judge what Cindy looks for is calm control of the livestock. Cindy likes to see “team work” between the handler and their dog. The handler communicates their wishes to the dog but it is the dogs experience and instinct that controls
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One of the earliest memories Shelley Fritzke has of herding dogs was going out to the fields with her Uncle, as a young child, when it was time to bring in the cattle for milking. His favourite herding "dog" was a German Shepherd crossed with the Blue Heeler (name many on the prairies used for the Australian Cattle Dog).
Shelley started herding with her German Shepherds almost 20 years ago after attending a herding instinct test with her dog Cheyenne. Cheyenne was a tough dog and most trainers encouraged Shelley to start with an "easier" dog. Cheyenne went on to become Canada's First Advanced Herding German Shepherd in the CKC program. She earned this title with numerous High in Trials and High in Trial Combined scores. Shelley has trained and titled numerous German Shepherds of her own as well as other breeds through CKC AHBA, ASCA, and also in Stock Dog Trials put on by the B.C. stock Dog Association.
More recently Shelley has been working and trialing her German Shepherds in the Tending/Boundary style this breed was bred to work and was active in getting the Tending Course officially accepted by CKC. Through working the GSD and seeing it's intelligence and the natural boundary instinct Shelley became interested and active in preserving the GSD breed of the "old days" through breeding, training and working. Her puppies and dogs have been sold throughout North America and many are actively being trialed and used for working stock. One even works with a Conservation officer in B.C. to herd Bears out of the local towns and back into it's natural habitat! In addition Shelley has a border collie she has trained and trialed through to Advanced in numerous avenues and is a few points short of his Championship through AHBA.
One of Shelley's greatest loves is Instinct testing! Through the years she has tested over 1,000 dogs and over 45 breeds of dogs. She continues to work a variety of breeds/dogs through herding lessons, giving clinics, and Judging. Shelley is a Licensed CKC and AHBA Herding Judge and has been invited to Judge across Canada and the Western U.S. She has received the honour of judging National Specialties for a number of parent clubs as well as at the Canadian National. She continues to attend Herding clinics from various clinicians and is one of the few people in the area working the upright breeds.
Shelley lives in Chilliwack, B.C. Where she maintains a small flock of sheep and shares her home with numerous dogs and cats. She breeds the occasional GSD litter and looks forward to spring when the young lambs are out playing in the fields!
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