Page 22 - Demo

Ch Sered’s Lady Day CDX HOF ROMII ROMXIII ROMa “Billie”
LP: I graduated from college with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Landscape Architecture and Environmental Sciences. I have worked in the title insurance industry for years as a manager and escrow officer/closer.
Oh yes, I work to support my habit. I would love to retire and just work with the dogs. My husband, Geoff Withers, just retired and does consulting work part time.
ASJ: How is your mom doing?
LP: My mom, Dorothy Patrick, is adjusting to the limitations that age is imposing on her. She no longer drives and now uses a wheelchair at the shows. Both Billie (Ch Sered’s Lady Day CDX HOF ROMII ROMXIII ROMa) and Schooner (Ch Heartfire’s Prairie Schooner CD AX AXJ RS-E JS-E GS-O) live with her. She still loves to come to the shows and visit with everyone. I refer to her as the Forrest Gump of the dog show world, only because she knows everyone. A few years ago at our big Denver show, Moe Miyagawa had just taken Best in Show with the Doberman, Repo Man. He was headed back to his set up with his entourage following. When my mom gave him a little wave from her chair at our set up, he stopped everything to visit and fuss over her.
Crown Point’s Mr. MD (Doc) with Geoff Withers
Another time, I had just taken my first points with Bea (Ch Lyric’s Luck Be a Lady CD, OA, OAJ, RS-O, JS-O). As I was having my picture taken with the judge, Carl Anderson, he said to me “You’re Dorothy Patrick’s daughter, aren’t you?” Mom raised Dobermans for about 20 years and probably whelped about six litters. She bred a number of champions, including the group winner and top twenty finisher Ch Lyric’s Chardonnay. She didn’t do her own handling but has used many of our top handlers, including Andy Linton, Dick Shelton, and Gary Steele. She has some great stories about traveling to dog shows, and I think one that includes skinny dipping in some forest stream. You’ll have to ask her for the details.
ASJ: What area of Colorado do you live in, and how long have you lived there?
LP: I moved to Colorado in 1991 to marry Geoff. We first lived in Denver, but the dogs necessitated moving farther out, and we are currently living near Parker, Colorado, which is about 30 minutes southeast of Denver. We have five acres and a barn with dog runs and agility equipment in it. I’d love to level an area to set up a full agility course. (Maybe Geoff has time to do that now, hmmm...)
ASJ: Have you always had Aussies, or have there been other breeds (as if there are any other breeds!)
LP: I did have a couple of Welsh Corgis in the 80s, but I was unlucky with the Corgis, and they both died fairly young. I still love the breed. I didn’t show them but each went through a basic obedience class.
ASJ: How/when did you get your start in Aussies?
LP: I got my first Aussie in 1970 from Mellis See, a friend from my horse riding days. Rain Dance was a beautiful blue merle, a granddaughter of Sheila Polk’s Tri Ivory’s Buster. She was a classic Aussie; very smart, easy to train, and she liked to herd the mailman.
ASJ: Who did you get your first Aussie from and when? Who was the dog, what titles did/does this dog have? Has this dog influenced the dogs you have today? How?
LP: When I first moved to Colorado, we were burglarized, and the Corgi and Geoff’s Lab did little to deter the burglars. I felt an Aussie would never have let that happen. My stepson and I found and purchased a puppy from Kay Harris of Crown Point. His name was Crown Point’s Mr. MD (Doc). He was a handsome, intelligent boy, but with very little white. I wanted a flashy girl and about a year later in July of 1993, I bought a puppy from Libby Graham of Sered Farms. She was supposed to be a pet, but she was so pretty that I took her back to Libby to be evaluated when she was about four months old. She thought she had show potential, and I asked her if she would show her for me. She said, ‘No, you can show her.’ At first I’d just show up for my class and Libby would groom her for me, but eventually I got hooked. This was Billie (HOF Ch Sered’s Lady Day CDX , ROMII, ROMXIII, ROM agility), my founda- tion bitch.
ASJ: How did you come up with you kennel name?
LP: I asked my Mom if I could use her kennel name (Lyric), and she graciously agreed. I always loved it and wanted a short name.
ASJ: What lines have had the most influenced the dogs you currently have in your breeding program? Any particular dogs you would care to mention?
20 The Australian Shepherd Journal May/June 2005