Fancy celebrated her 14th birthday on Sunday. I created a facebook album of her here. This should work for you even if you aren't on facebook.
I got Fancy when I was 12. I already had my Border Terrier, Peanut, and was looking for my next dog. I was planning on getting an NSDTR - Tammi Stone (Skillman then!) was going to be breeding her Cede who I just adored. However, I was offered the chance to raise, train, & show a Sheltie for Claudia Frank. I was even going to be PAID to do it!!! Seemed pretty awesome to me, and I loved Claudia's shelties and knew I'd have a great time running on in agility. The Sheltie would also need to be shown some in confirmation and eventually bred and would have pups for Claudia's program. I gladly accepted this offer.
It was a very cold night in April, when BRAG was still training at the Franklin County Fairgrounds. Claudia had picked up this little ball of fluff and brought her to me. I was anxiously anticipating her arrival, and when she came, I just couldn't believe how adorable she was. Tiny, freezing (she had come from North Carolina where it was much warmer!), and fluffy - she stole my heart in an instant. I had to finish running in the class I was participating in but couldn't focus - my mind was with that tiny pup. After class I cuddled her up and nuzzled my face in her soft puppy coat. I was totally in love.
Fancy grew up, and was great to train. I don't remember anything being particularly difficult to teach her, and she was speedy (especially compared to my epileptic & on drugs Border Terrier!). She taught me so much throughout the years. She sure told me anytime my handling was off, that's for sure. Peanut always did agility for her love of me. Fancy loved me too - but she has always done things for herself first and foremost. I learned how to work with her sassy attitude.
Fancy and I had tons of great runs together. One of my favorite memories was a snooker course with all tunnels - it was fast, furious, confusing, and a blast. I will also always remember her first Steeplechase leg. It was very early on in her career and came as a total shock to me. I felt elated to be running with such a great agility dog. Another great moment was her first masters gamble. Fancy did OK at gambles, she was fine at them but it wasn't her greatest skill. However compared to my velco Peanut, she was certainly much better. Peanut and I never did get a Masters Gamble in her entire career, it was our biggest struggle. When Fancy completed that first Masters Gamble with ease, I cried I was so happy.
When I went off to college, Peanut was nine and Fancy was five. When I returned on breaks my Freshman year, Peanut would just fall all over herself to get to me and spend every waking second cuddling until I had to return to school. Fancy, on the other hand, told me where to shove it. She would lay in the corner with her back facing me, and occassionally glance over her shoulder as if to prove to me how she had moved on without my daily presence. I would try to reconcile and pet her - she would get up and give me a disgusted look and go lay down in another corner.
This continued for several visits before she realized it wasn't making me stay home - I would inevitably have to leave after the weekend was over. She caved eventually and would start greeting me with her fluffy tail wagging once again.
Fancy never was able to have puppies for Claudia, so she was spayed and ownership transferred to me. Another example of Fancy doing things "her way". If Fancy were a person, I am quite certain she would not be settled down with a husband, 2.5 kids, and a white picket fence.
Fancy had somewhat of an early retirement from agility. At some point she started avoiding weave poles - I'm not really sure why, I originally thought it was due to me walking her out of the ring for bad a-frame contacts when she was already charging at the weave poles. However looking back I'm pretty sure her long back (for a Sheltie) caused her some early arthritis. For a few years she was pretty sore, although these days does not seem too stiff, espeically for her age.
She still has plenty of spunk left. She is the only herding dog in our house and takes pride in ensuring all the dogs come in when they are called. She is sure they need help understanding this task, and barking at them and rounding them up is the only way to do it. When we throw balls for the dogs in the backyard, she runs nearly as fast as Panic as she chases her. Still the only way to keep her from barking is to ensure Fancy always has a ball stuffed in her mouth. One of Fancy's greatest joys in life is killing the water that comes out of the hose. She'll tear at the grass where it's pointed or if you make it shoot up in the air she'll run and snap and bark at it. She just loves (or hates) that hose water.
Unfortunately last week we found out Fancy's kidneys are declining. This is not surprising - she's been drinking and urinating more frequently. I don't think her values are too bad so I don't think anything will happen imminently. But when the time does come, I will feel good knowing Fancy has had a very fulfiling life. She definitely had a purpose in coming to me, and she has taught me so much. I have learned how different it is to own a dog who does not feel as though her well being necessarily depends on mine, and how rewarding it can be to develop a bond with a dog like that.
Fancy, I love you, and I thank you for everything you have done for me. Now it's our turn to take care of you.
