Tyler was purchased as a show prospect puppy in 1991. He was a beautiful blue merle, very smart and loving temperament (pretty typical aussie). Tyler did very well in Novice obedience competition, and has 1 high in trial win. He was competing in open, doing outstanding on everything except the long sit. He laid down 100% of the time. Oh well. He also has a fabulous nose, easily passing his ASCA and AKC tracking tests. He was trained for TDX and was almost ready to be tested. He won the 12-18 month old class at the 1993 ASCA Nationals in Puyallup, WA. Tyler has 12 points, all his majors in ASCA. He also passed all the Delta Society tests to achieve Pet Partner certification. He has just one serious fault and that is severe dog aggression. This was a gradual thing, each fight made it worse. When he tried to kill Willie, whom he had grown up with and lived side by side with his whole life, I was faced with the decision of whether to put him down or not. After all, who would want a beautiful dog that with no warning would attack other dogs?
The solution came from my good friend Cindy Horsfall. She has an elderly aunt (almost 90) who lives in Connecticut, and had recently lost her very large german shepherd. She had not looked for a replacement dog, she did not want to go through the rambunctious puppy stage and risk getting hurt accidentally, and still was grieving for her dog. Her friends and family urged her to consider getting another dog, maybe of a bit smaller breed. After all, she lives alone, and has had canine companions all her life. We sent her his picture, and she fell in love with him. She had never heard of aussies before. After many phone calls, she decided she would be willing to try it. I flew with Tyler to Connecticut. Tyler has always been approachable, but aloof with strangers, again, typical aussie. But not when he met Bobbie! It was a miracle! After a traumatic day of flying across the country and a night in a hotel to recover from the drugs (he did not do well flying), we went to meet Bobbie. Tyler walked right into her house, full body wiggles, and made himself at home. Because of his talented nose, I had Bobbie send me a cotton sock that she had not washed. For a few days before his trip, this sock with a ball inside it was his exclusive toy. This could explain his instant ease with her, but dogs meet (scent) people all the time. Tyler certainly had met a lot, and never before had evidenced this type of recognition joy. As I sat in her living room talking with her, Tyler would sit on or lay at her feet. When that was not enough for him, he would very carefully climb up into her lap with his front feet in order to wash her face. He did not go back and forth between us, unsure of who he wanted to be with, but showed very clearly that he was now "home".
I cannot adequately describe how amazed and relieved I was! It was truly meant to be. Tyler has always had the best manners of any of my dogs. He would never dream of pulling on the leash, or not coming when called. These traits were essential for an elderly person who is reluctantly dealing with increasing frailty. Bobbie and Tyler are inseparable. Except for in the heat of the summer, he goes everywhere with her in the car, laying on the front seat of the car with his head within reach of her hand. He goes into the bowling alley with her after the league is finished to greet her friends, and watches her closely from the car when she goes to the post office or to the store. Bobbie takes him out in her very large back yard everyday, regardless of the weather to play. She has even mastered clipping his toenails. He has an incredible vocabulary that he understands, and they have learned how to anticipate each others needs. This is a match made in heaven, and I have to believe now that Tyler's aggression was a way he had of telling me it was time for him to leave my life. I still miss him even though he is now where he was meant to be. Thank you Cindy for making this match possible, and Thank you Bobbie for being there for Tyler.
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