GV bCH. Pinewood's Lil-Shelby of Zion

Once upon a time Tina Barber, breed founder of the Shiloh Shepherds, decided that a match between bCH Pinewood's Lil-Shelby of Zion and Artus would be ideal. After much discussion with Shelby's owner, Pamela McCloskey, it was decided that Shelby would spend several weeks at our home. Pam told our young son Bobby to make sure that he took special care of Shelby.

Thus challenged, Bobby played with Shelby daily. He fed her, took her out for walks, and played ball and frisbee with her incessantly. By the time Homecoming came, when Shelby would be reunited with Pam (and named Grand Victrix), the two had formed a deep bond.

The much anticipated litter was born on October 1, 1999. Tina was to take pick male, to help recreate Laz.  Bobby was to accompany Tina and me to Long Island to do the litter evaluation  Thanksgiving weekend so he could be reunited, if only briefly, with "his" Shelby.

Unbeknownst to Bobby, Pam had decided to present him with one of the females from the litter.  He was to have one of the pups to raise, if the temperament was right, provided he agreed to a very special arrangement. 

The litter evaluation began Friday night with Tina doing conformation and me madly scribbling notes that only I could read afterward. Bobby wasn't very interested in the litter but wanted to spend time with Shelby. Saturday was spent temperament testing the puppies. Tina agonized over who T-Rex would be. Tina and I  had found the puppy ("Scrappy") we felt would be ideal for Bobby but Pam DymondWeed had first pick. Pam DW heard the evaluation from Tina and decided which puppy  would be best for her (Daphne).   After what seemed like hours of picture taking, at last it was time.

Normally we start training class in late April, but due to Tina's fire and the abnormally busy schedule we had in the late winter, spring and summer  (litter evaluations in Canada,  Maryland, New York, Maryland, Florida, Oregon and California, with three additional trips to Canada) there were only a few classes. Bobby trained and worked with Shelby2 on his own.  

On Thursday, Shelby passed her temperament test, taking time out to kiss the "aloof stranger" on the nose. Friday came...the first show. It was Bobby and Shelby2's turn--her very first show--and much to our shock she took Best in Show. She was champion pointed!  

Then, suddenly, it was Thanksgiving. We were due to go to the Rare Breed Club of Southwest Ontario's show at the International Centre in Toronto. This was our first specialty held in conjunction with RBCSWO   (hopefully the first of many). 

We rushed on Saturday morning to reach the Centre before the 8 AM specialty was to begin. Before we knew it the specialty had begun--and Shelby and Bobby again worked their magic. Shelby won! The regular shows began and she won BOB again, placed first in group and took Reserve Best in Show. The same scenario was repeated that afternoon. By the end of that magical weekend, Shelby2 had completed her championship and earned a Canadian one. It was with great pride in Shelby and my son that I was able to call Pam Sunday morning and tell her that Bobby and Shelby had done as she asked him to, exactly one year before. He had cared for her, trained her and he had championed her! (And I was very proud to have accompanied the boy and his dog to Canada!)