BIS/BISS Am/Can Ch Rhys Sunday With George CGC
George-- The Incredible Journey comes to an end!
Owning a dog like George is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we have enjoyed every second of it!
George's show career included Best in Show and Multiple Specialty Winner; Multiple Herding Group Winner in the US and Canada; Best of Opposite Sex at Westminster Kennel Club 2008; Award of Merit at Westminster 2005, 2006 & 2007; Award of Merit CWCCA National Specialty 2006; Runner Up Best Brindle Dog- 2006 Megan and Best of Opposite Sex AKC/Eukanube Invitational Dog Show 2005. George has been ranked in the top 10 Breed/All-Breed since he began his specials career, at just 14 months of age!
Even more important than all of the ribbons and awards, however, is the positive impact George has made on so many lives!
George is a wonderful ambassador for the breed; we are continuously complimented on how happy and content he is. George is Lisa's schools' mascot- and even marched in the Halloween Parade as a Bumble Bee- in honor of the schools motto: "Bee Positive"!
Thats a perfect motto for George, as well! No matter where he goes, or what he does, George makes people smile!
Its been the trip of a lifetime!
BIS/BISS American Canadian Ch. Rhys Sunday With George CGC
George retired from All-Breed competition at the Christmas City Cluster, December 15 & 16, 2007.
We all celebrated with a beautiful cake, complete with Georges photo on it, among our friends and Georges greatest fans! Of course, George got to have the very first piece of cake!!
George celebrated by being awarded BOB/Group III on Saturday under j; Linda Robey and BOB/Group II on Sunday under j; Wendy Wilhauck!
We are all going to miss having George out regularily, but it is our opinion that 3 years as a special is long enough for ANY dog- its time for him to earn performance titles- and its time to make room for the younger dogs coming up!
George will come out for specialties and an occasional supported entry- and, of course, will make one last trip to Westminster, for old times sake,this February!
George enjoys his piece of Retirement Cake!!
George had a wonderful time among all of his friends at the Christmas City cluster. He particularily enjoyed his cake!
In the ring, George never put a foot wrong- he showed like the very special dog he is! Its almost like he KNEW he had to give it his all, one last time! He has never shown better- I was so proud of him!
Of course, what you can't see in the photo is the tears that were running down our cheeks!
George as a Father
George has been bred very selectively, and will continue to be used only with very special ladies. To date, there have been only three litters sired by George.
In those litters, he has consistently produced beautiful type, movement and incredible personality. We have been very pleased.
Best Puppy In Show; Noteworthy Nutz About You and junior handler, Juliet Doddo
Cashew is one of the George kids from Diane Hilperts litter, out of her Ch Noteworthy Red Cedar. He has inherited a great deal from his father- including his ability to make everyone laugh! He also has more than a little bit of his dad's attitude and many of his expressions. Cashew is in a wonderful home, where he is loved and cuddled on a daily basis- and it shows!
Ch Aubreys Eyes of Mystery
Another George son, from the Mystery litter, shown winning Best In Sweeps at Monmouth Kennel Club
Bailey was owner handled to finish by co-breeders Vince and Cindy Savioli.Bailey has many very strong virtues and has many of his fathers endearing qualities...
Reflecting on what has been, and what is yet to come...
One of the greatest joys of being a breeder, and owning a dog like George, is having the opportunity to share what you love with others.
Lisa and I are very thankful for having had the opportunity to own, love and compete with a dog of this magnitude. Having George to show has been an incredible journey- we have laughed- and cried- many many times along the way!
We have made wonderful friends, both in this breed and in other breeds, who have shared Georges career with us every step of the way.
On the flip side:
We had the offer, several times, to send George out with a Professional "Big Name" handler. Undoubtedly, had George been on the road with a Pro, he would have done more winning- he would have had many more Best In Shows- he would have been better known by the judges.
But I don't think he would have been as happy. Time and time again, we were told by spectators and judges that they just loved watching George in the ring- he always was having so much fun! It was always obvious that there was a deep bond between George and I- and that wouldn't have been the same, had he lived out his career in a handlers box truck. With us, he was always #1- the very top of the "string"; a position he wouldn't have had with a professional.
Looking back on Georges wonderful career, we have very few regrets; the decision to handle him ourselves was never one of them (ok- well-- maybe sometimes)!! We know, without a doubt, that none of his wins were political- none of them had anything to do with the handler! Without exception, George won because of who HE was- and is! One of the absolute greatest things a judge ever said to me was Mrs Denise Cornellson- as she handed me the Best In Show ribbon, and I quote: "I don't know WHO you are or WHERE you came from, but you CERTAINLY have some BEAUTIFUL Cardigans."
And that, as a breeder- owner- handler, is something we are DAMN proud of!
Lisa and I would like to thank EVERYONE who supported George along his Incredible Journey. Your praise, encouragement and friendship helped to make the last 3 years very special-- and we could not have done it without you! Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!
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