~ Ailea Stardust of Ishmael
~
~ "Willie" ~
Willie
(Can Ch Whitegates Beam Me Up x Ailea's Heather Winona), whelped March 22, 1998, is a nicely balanced,
sound young man. He is a Peerless great-grandson via his dam, Dawn (her sire is Ch Crystalove
Camouflage), and is a Peerless great-grandson via his sire (his sire is Ch Tall Timber
Far Out Frisco). This first picture, left, was taken when Willie was about 10
weeks old and visiting with my friend, Nancy, in New Hampshire. Being as he was
born in the northern reaches of Ontario, Canada, he made a circuitous route to get to
Ailea's Place in central North Carolina, but
it was all, good, good, good! Nancy brought him to me on one of her forays to
Carolina when Willie was about 12 weeks old. Even at this young age he was quite
the card, proving his mama's temperament was living quite strong in him.
All grown up at 15-3/8" tall, Willie is
beautifully balanced with a truly elegant neck and tremendous, correct coat. He
is nicely angulated both front and rear and is pretty to watch move. He boasts
an exceptional profile and is one beautiful dog! Pictured here following his taking Best of Opposite Sex to Best in
Match at the January,
2000 Greater Charlotte SSC specialty match in
Charlotte.
Considering the Best of Match ribbon went Katherine, now widely known as BIS,
BISS Am/Can Ch Sunway Chartin Unforgettable, CC, this was a huge acknowledgement
of Willie's quality. Huge thanks to match judge, Susan Wolf of Cub Hill, for
this wonderful win. This was a proud day for Ailea's Place, no doubt of that!
Willie has a high passion for the retrieve, and loved retrieving squeaky toys, plush toys, Frisbees, and mostly, tennis balls (actually, anything you would throw for him!). He played endlessly if permitted, chasing or catching, and returning. He is very interested in pleasing, and learns quickly.
Willie was a sweet youngster who, due to unexpected reasons, was placed as a pet in a home in the mountains of NC. Though Willie was to be a show dog, guess now he will be a HORSE show dog (which is just as nice for him, I think)! I was told the one thing he had the hardest time doing was accepting the horses, a little more animal than he had ever seen before in his life with me, but I understand it took him no time at all to accept the four-footed equines as he does his food bowl.
Ever the exception to every rule he could break, Willie was very eager to make his human pack the best friends he could ever had. He talked, that Willie, and I mean more than just barking to go outside... Willie spoke to you with a wide array of different noises from guttural near-growls from deep in his throat to tiny, high-pitched yelps, and all the many things that fell in-between the two. And there was never a doubt Willie understood most everything we said to him. He was a great smoocher, that Willie, and though a decision made of unanimous votes, it was by far the hardest to let this boy go. We still miss him at Ailea's Place; I suppose we always will <sigh>.
Of all the shelties who have graced my door, Willie's was the most beautiful full coat and he and he alone truly enjoyed being brushed (and oh, what a coat he had!). And his enjoyment in turn made it my enjoyment. He would lie on the floor in front of me for hours at a time while I combed and brushed and misted his beautiful coat. Many times he would groan and sigh in clearly unmistakable pleasure as I moved from one area of his body to another. It is these kinds of things (and oh, so much more!) that helps make these shelties a joy. We miss Willie, but we know he has a wonderful new home and is fully enjoying his new life. THANK YOU STEPHANIE!!!!!!!!!!
Pictures taken of Willie and his new home can be seen here.
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Please feel free to e-mail Amy with any questions or comments
