My first dog was a Boston Terrier, when I was six years old in 1930 (you do the math). In those days he was called a Boston Bull. Even though there was no formal Obedience at the time, I always made my dogs behave and taught them a number of exercises. I've had a number of different breeds and a few mixed breeds throughout my life. All were kept until they died, except for one. He was a black and tan Dauchshund, which was the first one I had in an Obedience class in Langley AFB in Virginia. One of the Air Police Sargeants gave a class in Northhampton, Va in 1958. About the time my daughter and I were ready to do something with him, we were sent overseas to Germany. I let my Uncle keep the dog and he literally fed him to death.

When we returned to the U.S. in 1965, my daughter decided we should have Shetland Sheepdogs. We've had them ever since. Even though I trained several of them, my military duties didn't allow time to do anything with them in the way of showing because I worked almost every weekend.

When I retired in 1974, after over thirty one years as a fighter pilot in the Air Force, I went completely to the dogs. I trained one Sheltie briefly in Washington, D.C., then continued in Melbourne. I joined the IRDTC in 1976, attending the first Membership meeting of the club in January.

I started teaching basic Obedience as an assistant to Doris Remaley in 1977. My Sheltie, Laddy, was the first CDX and UD for the IRDTC in 1979. My second UD was Max in 1989. Now I have Reggie, who's working in Conformation.