U-CDX Windridge's Cool Hand Luke, UDX, HS, WWKC CD
DOB 10/13/89

Luke was a registered Therapy Dog with TDI (Therapy Dogs International) and routinely visited hospitals and nursing homes. Additionally, Luke sired two litters for Leader Dogs which contributed to their breeding program, as well as producing six working guide dogs.

Luke received the 1999 #1 Sire from the German Shepherd Dog Club of America in their training achievement award program. This award came from a litter he sired out of OTCh/OV Ashmead's Sizl'n Pyrotekniks, UDX, TD, HS. This litter produced one OTCh, 1 UDX, 1 UD, 4 CDX's, 5 CD's, one Herding Started and multiple agility titled dogs. Luke received a Dog World Award for obtaining three obedience titles within a year.

Luke's sire was Ch OTCH/OV DeBruts Butch Cassiday, UD, TDX, whose career I had been following. I contacted his owner, Lori Nickeson, in August of 1989 and there was a puppy available! Luke was shipped from Oregon at 8 weeks of age. He came out of the crate at Tampa International Airport and entered my heart. He gave his all in every venue we attempted...tracking, herding, and competitive obedience. His temperament was above reproach. People at obedience trials would always comment when seeing this large GSD approach."Oh, it's OK, it's Luke."

One of my fondest memories comes from our trip to Scottsdale, AZ for the GSDCA Nationals in l993. We took a side trip to the Grand Canyon after the show. Since Luke was a registered therapy dog, he was allowed on the tour bus and all over the hotel, etc. He was a hit with all of the tourists and must have had his picture taken at least l00 times. People kept wanting to get close to the Canyon edge for "effect." I knew Luke would hold his "Stay," but I wondered about some of them going over the edge!

Luke is no longer with us, but I cherish every memory of him.

U-CDX, OTCh/OV PAM Ashmead's Sizl'n Pyrotekniks, UDX, TD, HS
DOB 7/2/92

Nikki (pictured on the right) was all I could have hoped for in a competition dog and family pet. She also was a registered Therapy Dog who loved giving demonstrations at local nursing homes. Nikki was honored as the 2000 #1 Dam by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. She had three litters in her lifetime and is responsible for two OTCh dogs and three MACH dogs, and multiple other obedience and agility titled dogs. Her temperament and work ethic was passed on to her offspring.

Nikki's Dam was OTCh LuJon's Dulcimer of Ashmead, UDX, owned by Amy Vose. Dulcimer remains the #1 Dam in the cumulative ratings for producing many titled dogs. She was an exceptional dog and did great things for the breed. She certainly changed my life by producing Nikki.

Nikki and I reached heights I could never have imagined, including winning the l996 German Shepherd Dog Club of American Obedience Victrix award and scoring a perfect 200 score in the Open B class at an all breed obedience trial. She was invited to the prestigious AKC Invitational two years in succession and competed at many Gaines Regional and Classic events during her career.

She earned a Dog World Award for obtaining all three obedience titles in one year.

Nikki had a great time in any competitive event, but she especially liked herding sheep. She tended to be a little too pushy at times, but got them where they needed to go.

Nikki's legacy lives on at J_Mar. I have her daughters, OTCh J-Mar's Dulcimer Legacy (Dulci) and J-Mar's Hot Stuff, UDX (Spice). I also have her grandson, J-Mar's American Dream (Dylan) who is just beginning his training.

BluSky's Absolutely Spoiled, UD

Abby came by her name honestly. She was Joe's first dog and was hand-picked by him. He went to a jewelry shop to purchase a gift for my birthday. The owner had a litter of German Shepherd pups in the back office which he showed to Joe. Abby stole his heart.

Abby showed in obedience to the level of Utility Dog. She, in fact, did a complete Utility run at a state competition (DOCOF) where Joe didn't give her any commands. He just moved from exercise to exercise...Abby followed along and did everything right!

She was a registered Therapy Dog and made many people smile over the years. Abby left us at 12 years old.

Trommel's Cruiser v Woodhaus, CD, BH

We drove all the way to Wisconsin to get Cruiser (shown here babysitting Solo) when he was 8 weeks old. Cruiser had a limited show career because we were involved in showing other dogs in many different venues at that time, but he was a registered Therapy Dog.

He loved it when we moved to the country and he could protect us from any and all predators, real or imagined. Our daughter lives next door to us and Cruiser went to live with her as her protector. He took his job seriously.

Cruiser left us at 12 years old, and he will always be missed.

PAM Trommel's Born To Fly Solo, UDX, HS, AX, AXJ
5/20/95 - 5/9/08

We are sad to announce that Solo left us just 11 days short of his 13th birthday. Solo was my first dog to be awarded a PAM (Performance Award of Merit) by the GSDCA. He was the #l sire for producing performance dogs in 2003 and 2006. His careers in herding, obedience and agility hold many happy memories for me. He was "his own man."

A good friend once said that if he was a human male, he would be on the beach with a surfboard. That description fit him well. Things (exercises and the way they were taught) had to make sense to him or it would be a waste of time. I cherish the thoughts of us in the various venues and wouldn't have missed it for the world. I was always proud to be at his side.

I miss him so much.