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2004 VCD2 Award Winners by Elaine Osmun,Versatility Editor
Four Australian shepherds earned the prestigious Level 2 Versatile Companion Dog title in 2004. Two of the four earned both VCD1 and VCD2 in the same year.
Pam Smith and Basil
First of all, congratulations to my good friend Pam Smith from Las Cruces, New Mexico, and her “doggy soul mate,” O- NATCH, ATCH, U-CDX Sin Colita’s Spice of Life, VCD2, UDX, MX, MXJ, UDX, ASCA UD, AD, TN-E, TG-E, WV-O (Jubilee’s Wild West Eureka TD x La Chispa de la Plata). As you can tell from Basil’s titles, his first love is agility, but he is also an accomplished obedience dog. Tracking was their only stum- bling block on the path to earning the VCD awards. In their first tracking event, Basil was whistled off the track while still tracking and within six feet of the glove. After that devastat-
O-NATCH,ATCH, U-CDX Sin Colita’s Spice of Life,VCD2, UDX, MX, MXJ, UDX,ASCA UD,AD,TN-E,TG-E,WV-O “Basil”
ing experience, it took Pam four months to get re-motivated enough to start training any of her dogs for tracking again. Basil passed easily in their next event, earning TD, VCD1 and VCD2 in January, 2004.
Basil will turn 11 years old in 2005 and is currently work- ing on his S-NATCH, but Pam says her most important goal for Basil is for him to stay happy and healthy. Basil was bred by Estella Levy-Calderon, and from the first, Basil chose Pam as his lifetime companion. As Pam was writing the check for the black tri bitch she had picked from the litter, Basil crawled into her lap...and Pam took that as a sign that she should take the blue merle boy instead. It was a decision she has never regretted. Basil is her constant companion and shadow and often seems to read her mind. He is an intelligent, willing and devoted partner in whatever event they are participating in.
Karen Nenow and Sydney
Karen Nenow from Kansas City, Missouri, and Miss Congeniality Sydney Sharmayne VCD2, UD, MX, MXJ also earned VCD1 and 2 in 2004. Sydney is a special dog for several reasons. First of all, Karen adopted her from a local shelter when she was eight weeks old—and second, Sydney has been Karen’s Novice A dog in everything they’ve done. It is even more impressive when a novice dog and handler go on to achieve top-level awards and titles.
Karen says that Sydney is a very enthusiastic performer, often doing things her way but always with her tail wagging furiously (she has a natural bob tail) and with a big grin on her face. Her favorite event is agility, where she quite often is the crowd favorite, making up her own courses and head- ing off on her own. Despite her age of 11 years, she is still a Jumpers dog, turning on a dime and rarely knocking bars. In the obedience ring, her drive and enthusiasm combined with independent thinking very often get her into trouble. For instance, on a utility go-out, instead of turning and sitting
May/June 2005 The Australian Shepherd Journal 17