For those who don’t know me, I thought I’d introduce myself here. I’ve been in Shelties since 1966, starting with both performance and conformation, and then breeding from 1968 on. I’ve been very fortunate. My college background fed right into this sport. My field of study was comparative evolution, and I had study programs and NSF CAST work grants at L.A. County Museum of Natural History, CIT Pasadena in the chromosome mapping lab, and biochemical research in a Burbank hospital laboratory. Then I bred and showed fish before showing dogs.

I also fell into the performance group with Companion Dog Training Club that met at San Fernando park with the Weatherwax directors that invented flyball and scent discrimination hurdle racing. We had a Sheltie team that was tops and did a lot of PR work for the sport. I was also a member of the Top Dog Team for CDTC for 3 years - this was the event that pre-dated Gaines Superdog competition. Most people don’t know that I’ve also owned a few Australian Shepherds over the years, always only one at a time, and never bred them, but showed some in ASCA. I’ve judged conformation for ASCA since 1978, and Shelties, then Collies and Aussies for AKC since 1984.

My philosophy and breeding program have always reflected my belief in the all-purpose dog; the Sheltie that can do it all, as I have experienced it. It is also my pleasure to serve as a mentor to breeders and judges when asked, and have helped develop programs for education of both types of individuals through the Sheltie and Judges Study Group clubs. Our NWDJSG did some of the original pilot Form Follows Function seminars over a decade ago that are so popular now. I’ve now done over 40 programs for various groups, including all-breed clubs.

What is expressed here are my own views based on some unique data gathered from many sources. I hope you will enjoy the articles and that they will offer different ways of looking at some concepts to provoke new ideas or rethinking of old ones.

Articles:

Theories of Color and Pattern Dominance in Shelties             Using Your Pedigrees

For information on Cheryl's 2 day seminar "Stamping the Look" contact Cheryl at cherden11@netzero.com The next seminar will be in Lansing, Michigan, August 27/28 2005.
Visit her website at www.cherdensheltie.com