Rusty is the first sheltie that I have ever owned. He has personality plus and is a dog that never gives in. Rusty was a slow developer where obedience was concerned - he prefered to sit and watch me do heel off lead. He eventually got his C.D. at six years old.After achieving that he was definitely on a roll and last year at seven years old he achieved all three tracking titles in the one year. He is the first sheltie Tracking Champion in South Australia and the first dog of any breed to achieve all three tracking titles in the one year. The following poem is one I wrote while we were struggling to get the C.D. title before we found Rusty's real passion for tracking:

'Believe in Your Dog'

Mum was very good at trialling - her heelwork was the best
It always did impress me and I had to sit down for a rest
Completely on her own I watched mum do right turns, sits and stands
She really was quite good - I was one of her biggest fans.
I really didn't think she needed me as she did a left about turn
But the judge said "failed" so I guess she still had much to learn.

Sometimes I didn't sit and watch - I lagged a bit instead
I admit the thought of 'What's for tea?' was going through my head.
At stands and stays and recalls I was really very good
But mum let us down in heelwork - try hard though she would.

Then one day mum sat me down and in me she did confide
She said "Rusty your heeling position should be always at my side".
Well, to be told this at six years old was quite a shock you see
So now I knew heeling was a partnership - not just mum but me!

I was really quite determined the next trial we went in
And do you know we passed and a trophy we did win.
I know I made mum happy, of this I could clearly tell
And I was also very pleased that I had done so well.

So three straight trials - together - we did eventually pass
and in doing so acquired my treasured C.D. at last.
The moral to this poem as you can clearly see,
Is 'Believe in Your Dog' as my mum believed in me.