My Aussie addiction
began with a small blue merle pup that was purchased for my husband’s birthday
in 1975. She was backyard bred, small and not particularly pretty but her
intelligence and loyalty immediately won us over and sold us on the breed.
“Tilly” as we called her, was later bred to a “show dog” which produced
our first titled dog - Firecreek’s Justa Waltzing Bear, CD. Even though he was
not of show “type”, Bear patiently allowed me to sharpen my handling skills
by successfully competing in and winning many adult handling classes.
He also introduced me into formal obedience training and competition. While
attending a Las Vegas show, I happened across a pen of puppies. One youngster caught my eye, a
stunning black tri male. He was lying regally amongst his siblings, front legs
crossed and uncaring as they
bounced over and around him. At that moment, I knew I was in trouble. Even
though we were not looking for another dog I knew this pup was coming
home with me. That darling ball of fluff eventually became our first champion
and one of the foundation sires of our kennel - Ch. Temblor Creek’s Night
Drifter, CD (“Mork"). Many years have passed since
the first Australian Shepherd crossed our threshold. As my knowledge of the breed and handling
skills increased, competition expanded to different venues. As with any
endeavor there have been heartaches and rewards. The rewards in combination with
many new friendships and accomplishments have outweighed the heartaches
ten fold.
I have always maintained that my dogs and
breeding program would not change just to satisfy current trends or passing fancies.Intelligence, willingness to please, as well as a balanced temperament
and
structure, with the ability to cover ground with the least amount of effort are
traits we strive for and that have enabled us to achieve ASCA Hall of Fame status. Our dogs are OFA certified and have normal eye exams prior to breeding.
Verification, stud and purchase contracts will be provided upon request. Litters are produced on a limited basis and
only after careful consideration of the parents and pedigree. I stand
behind my dogs 100%, for life.
All of our personal dogs are "HOT" dogs (handler, owner, trained).
We have had the
privilege to have the following dogs grace our kennel in the last 29 years. They
are listed in chronological order, many are waiting for us at the bridge. The dogs listed have been our personal companions and do
not include accomplished Firecreek dogs owned and titled by others. Please check back as
photographs will be added when time permits.
Tilly was our
first Australian Shepherd. Her intelligence, loving and loyal personality was the reason I became an Aussie
addict.
Firecreek’s Waltzing Bear, CD (Bear)
Tailor Made Just A Sample
Fisk's Waltzing Matilda
Bear was our first
titled Aussie. As a youngster, he received a number of BOB puppy wins. Bear patiently allowed
me to sharpen my handling skills, introduced me to obedience competition
and as my partner we took several Best Adult Handler awards.
ASCA Ch. Temblor Creek’s Night Drifter, CD (Mork)
Ch. Sundown's Maize of Bonnie Blue Brassfield's
Sure-I'm-Sugar
A regal dog with
lovely reach and drive, a lovely personality and our first champion. Mork had numerous BOB wins at major shows. These
included ASC San Diego, West Coast Silver Specialty,
SoCalASA Silver Specialty, ASCA National Specialty Open Black Dog class winner in
1981. Sire of
champion and obedience titled, field dog and search and rescue offspring. Photo
by Pamela Levin
ASCA Ch. Sundown’s Midnight Serenade (Cookie)
Ch. Sundown's Maize of
Bonnie Blue Ch. Winchester's Music of Sundown
Cookie became our
second champion as she and Mork completed their championships on
the same day at the same show with the same handler! Multiple BOB winner, ASC So Cal Silver
Specialty WB/BOW. Dam of champion offspring including Ch. Winchester's Rollin
Rapids.
ASCA Ch. Firecreek’s Here’s 2 U
Adelaide, CD (Risky)
Ch. Temblor Creek's Night
Drifter, CD Hopscotch of Adelaide
Multiple BOB wins, ASCA National Specialty Open
Black Dog Class winner. Sire of Champion offspring. Photo by Terry Fisk
ASCA Ch. I Am the Song of Firecreek (Amy)
Ch. Temblor Creek's Night Drifter, CD Ch.
Sundown's Midnight Serenade
Amy was a multiple BOB/BOS winner, ASC SoCal
Silver Specialty winner BOS 3 years running, ASCA National Specialty pre-show
BOS two days running and runner up to BOS at the Nationals. Defeated over 1500
dogs in a single show season at only ASCA sanctions shows.
This lovely gal won in coat, out of coat and with any handler. Photo by Eddie Rubin.
Art Blackford (
Winchester Kennels), picked Rollin out of our litter as his payment for a stud fee.
Rollin returned to us when Art became terminally ill, requesting only
that I finish his championship, and we did. Rollin was WD/BOW at the ASC So Cal
Silver Specialty a
BOB winner and
sire of obedience, champion andHOF
offspring. Photo by Mari Carlo 1987
ASCA Ch. Winchester’s Spring Thaw, CD (Spring)
Ch.
Winchester's Rollin Rapids Winchester's Tippy Lou Anderson
Spring came to us
from Winchester Kennels when her owner became terminally ill. She
started her career with a RWD at six months of age and went on
with numerous BOB/BOS wins. She was patient as my daughter
learned to handle, WCASA high point winner, Pre-National Premier Champion and ranked in the top ten with ASCA. Dam of champion and agility titled offspring.
ASCA Ch. Firecreek’s Wishful Thinking (Tinker)
Ch. Firecreek's Here's 2 U
Adelaide, CD Firecreek's Melody of Keepsake
Tinker rapidly
completed her championship and with numerous BOB/BOS wins was ranked in the top 20standings
for ASCA within several months. She was elegant, and possessed a fluid ground
covering gait. Tinker is the dam of champion
and agility titled offspring.
ASCA/AKC Ch. Firecreek’s Rollin Thunder
(Thunder)
Ch. Winchester's Rollin
Rapids Windhill's Tracey
A true gentleman
of a dog. Multiple BOB winner at well
attended AKC and ASCA events from Arizona Silver Specialty Best Puppy to So Cal Silver Specialty
BOB, Pre-National Specialty Premier Champion. Sire of agility and obedience titled
offspring. Sadly, we lost Thunder in February of 2002 at the age of 12 1/2
years.
HOF Casa
Blanca's Rollin In Clover (Clover)
Ch. Winchester's Rollin Rapids
Rocky Oak's Blazing Star
Red factored, Hall of Fame
Dam producing exceptional agility, champion and obedience titled
offspring. Clover was residing in Ohio with
Cheryl Bradley, Keepsake Australian
Shepherds until she recently crossed over the bridge. Photograph of Clover (left) and littermate Grover (right)
at 10 weeks of age.
ASCA Ch. Firecreek’s Talk is Cheap(Dale)
Ch. HOF Levi Dockers of Heatherhill Ch. Winchester's Spring Thaw, CD
Dale
achieved his first points (AKC) from the 6-9 puppy class defeating
a large entry ofmature dogs. His ASCA record was even more
impressive. At 7 months of age he won 2 out of 3 of his Novice classes during the 1994 ASCA National Circuit and the Novice dog class at the Nationals.
Dale went on to easily finish his ASCA championship earning the
WCASA high point adult dog in 1995.
ASCA/AKC Ch.HOF Firecreek’s From Outta The Blue
DNA-CP (Otto)
AD, AX, AXJ, RS-E, JS-0, GS-O, EAC, OJC, OGC
Ch. Just a Gigolo of Royalty Ch. Firecreek's Wishful Thinking
Otto is a dog with a wonderful sense of humor and possibly the most
intelligent dog I have ever owned. He is a multiple
BOB/BOS winner at major AKC and ASCA events, Southern Cal Silver Specialty BOB winner, adult
and junior
handling dog. ASCA Hall of Fame sire. Sire of champion, agility and obedience titled offspring.
Otto's
get are also talented and in training for herding and tracking.
Click his photo for more images.
Otto went to the
Rainbow Bridge on March 6, 2007 at nearly 16 years of age. Read
comments about memories of Otto.
Ch.
HOF Firecreek's From Outta The Blue Ch. Winchester's Spring Thaw, CD
Buddy started his competitive career with a BOB puppy win. However, he
much preferred agility to the breed ring. Buddy has multiple agility
titles and High in Trial agility awards including the 1996 ASCA Nationals.
Buddy passed over the bridge on April 8, 2005, we miss him dearly.
ASCA/AKC Ch. Firecreek’s Mercury Blues (Chip)
Ch. Indian Kellye of Starcross, CD Firecreek's Trace O' Forgiveness
Multiple BOB
wins at well attended ASCA and AKC events, junior handling dog. Sire of champion
and agility titled offspring.
Cherri, a happy
dog that has never met a stranger. She gave her all in competition,
leaving me in the dust on many occasions until arthritis terminated her
career early on. Cherri was consistently in the ribbons, a USDAA Grand
Prix qualifier in 2001, Top 10 (5th place) Novice B 20" USASA 1998 and Top 10 (2nd place) Open 20" Standard USASA in 2000.
Photo by Tien Tran.
Ch. HOF Firecreek's From
Outta The Blue
HOF Casa Blanca's Rollin In Clover
Ethel possesses multiple
agility titles, has qualified for the USDAA Grand Prix and the ASCA agility
finals on multiple occasions . Ethel also enjoys an occasional outing of
herding or tracking. She recently was shown in altered conformation for the
first time at age 8
taking WB. Click her photo for more images.
Int. Ch. Firecreek's Outta The Past (Blast) RN,
DNA-VP
Ch. HOF Firecreek's From Outta The Blue
HOF Casa Blanca's Rollin In Clover
Intelligent, animated and
willing to learn. Blast earned his International Champion in one weekend
with several group wins. He is a consistent Bred By Group winner, AKC
major pointed and is currently in training
for rally obedience, tracking and herding. Blast's lack of titles is only due to my
lack of competing with him. 2005 USASA Standings 2nd Place Rally
Novice A with an accumulative score of 301
Firecreek’s Full Throttle "Grace" NAC, NGC, NJC, TG-N, TN-N, RS-N, GS-N, JS-N
nt. Ch. Firecreek's Outta The Past (Blast) RN,
DNA-VP WTCH
Bar JHs Red Sparrow Hawk, RD, DNA-VP
Nirro, BH, SchH1, TR1, TR2
Not an Australian Shepherd but a
wonderful dog none the less. Nirro has been training for the sport of
schutzhund since he arrived at 10 weeks of age and possesses an
outstanding temperament. Even though he takes the sport seriously, he is
very sweet dog with a wonderful, stable temperament. Click photo for
more images.
