Can-UKC CH Willow Layne Rising Son OA NAJ CGC
Mike was purchased as a young puppy from Linda Voorhees, a breeder in lower Michigan. We placed 10 AKC points on Mike that included a major win. He also was shown to a UKC Championship title and a Canadian Championship title. Don most of all enjoyed running Mike in agility competition. Mike liked it too! He had to be restricted from his favorite competition until he learned that the conformation ring could be fun too!
Mike was retired at the middle of his show career to become the traveling companion of a single lady college professor. His life became that of sitting in classrooms, visiting the nursing home, and traveling out of state with his new owner. Mike loves to sleep on motel beds! His new life was really just what he would have chosen for himself. Since what is best for the dog is our first concern (plus the fact that Mike really didn't like to have young pups chasing him around) helped us decide to let him make this move.
We were told that one time when he and his new owner were visiting a family member in the nursing home, Mike sat beside an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair during the entire visit. When it was time to leave, Mike refused to leave his self appointed "post." A nurse went over and discovered that the gentleman was having a heart attack! Perhaps Mike has that ability to sense medical issues in people? His granddaughter Melody is a certified therapy dog! Other of his offspring also visit the nursing homes and hospitals near where they live. What a wonderful trait of sensitivity to human needs these beautiful Shetland Sheepdogs often possess!
Mike continues to be part of our family through the heritage he has left with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren that are living with us. Luci and Clancy are his granddaughters, and their pups often look very much like their maternal great-grandsire, Mike.
