The Story About Ebbtide

There have been repeated whinings that I don't have a website. This is one woman's answer: The home of Ebbtide Australian Shepherds is located in Cloverdale, California in Sonoma County. I started showing Aussies in 1970: I started competing primarily in obedience and some conformation. I bred my first litter in 1973, and for many years averaged one litter a year, but I'm taking longer gaps between litters at this time - it's exhausting raising puppies! Especially without my kids here at home to help out. I was 17 years old and lived in Saratoga, CA with my family when I started in Aussies. Over the years, I have put many Championship titles (ASCA & AKC), Obedience titles (CD, CDX, UD) and herding titles (STDd, OTDd, STDs) on my and other dogs I have trained and handled. Most of the obedience titles were earned by dogs that were also High In Trial winners, as well as a few High Score herding awards (in the 1980's). My conformation dogs have earned many Best of Breed, Group and Nationals awards, and one AKC Best In Show BBX winner and continue to do so. I personally handle and show in conformation, obedience, and hope to be back in the herding arena in the unknown future and, possibly, agility and Rally. The dogs and I also enjoy: camping, traveling, hiking, swimming, snow play and hanging out with friends - dogs and people!

I also judge conformation dog shows for ASCA as a Senior Breeder Judge and am licensed to judge ASCA obedience. I am on the sxelf-imposed "slow track" for my AKC judges license..lol. I have been honored to judge at multiple ASCA National Specialties,USASA National Specialty, all across the USA, many provinces in Canada and several judging trips to Europe.

I am fortunate to have had and currently have quite a few Ebbtide dogs in wonderful competition homes that have accumulated many national rankings in Conformation ("Champions"), Agility, Obedience, Rally, Herding, Freestyle, Nosework and have also won High In Trial and other awards. Many, many thanks to all the Ebbtide owners who love and compete with these dogs, and make us look so good to the masses.  And to all the Ebbtide dogs "just" being wonderful family companions - I treasure these people and dogs no less. Because I believe: It's all about the dog, and what is best for them. I am not looking to produce X amount of Champions or X amount of High In Trial winners: I want to see great ambassadors for the breed I love so much and people enjoying their Aussies as much as I have, in a happy, well-matched home for each and every dog I produce. Those are pretty lofty goals right there.

Genetic health clearances, pedigree research and producing a dog with intelligence, trainability and a high desire to please who lives easily in many situations is tops on my list. I don't "do" kennel dogs: we live on 3.3 acres, all fenced, and the dogs live as part of our family, with house privileges and lots of exercise time as they meander and patrol the one acre area that is theirs to explore around the house. All dogs get herding time on sheep. I do not breed specifically for a super high drive/high energy dog - it's just not the kind of dog I personally want to live with 24/7. But I have produced dogs that could be considered high drive. What I enjoy most is an easy to train, intelligent dog with a high desire to please, very biddable, athletic, intelligent, healthy AND is structurally correct and pretty to look at, hence: "Performing ..... Beautifully since 1970".

Our current resident dogs are AKC/AKC CH Ebbtide Careful What You Wish, "JJ" (Eukanuba-qualifying conformation dog) and ASCA CH Ebbtide No TIme To Lose "V.v.".  As I negotiate past middle age,  I'm hoping to stay physically sound and get busy with them and put some performance titles on both these very talented dogs.  I also co-own a few Ebbtide dogs that live with generous owners who allow me the privilege of using these dogs in my breeding program.  Other animals that live mostly in harmony with the Aussies include: 2 cats and 5 Katahdin/Dorper/Barbados mix sheep for herding training. I am  married to Dave, and have two adult sons, Emmett and Marshall - Emmett is the owner of Ebbtide Roll The Dice "Maggie" and he is doing a great job training her for agility. Hoping to see these two in competition in the future.  Maggie may have a litter,  if the stars align.  Son Marshall has Jin (black tri male) from Vv's last litter. A "Pandemic puppy" that continues to enjoy Marshall's work from home job as well as frequent hikes with Marshall and fiance Dri and daily walks to the park for big fetching games, camping and visits to the old home for good times. Though my sons never shared my enthusiasm for canine competition, they do love and appreciate the dogs that live here, and both boys were instrumental with the socialization of the puppies when they lived at home.  A litter of pups usually means an increase in visits back home from them ;-)

    I hope all our wonderful Ebbtide puppy owners will return for a visit (real visit - not just virtual!). If you would have told me 50 years ago that showing dogs would lead to such amazing, kind, funny, generous, caring, and genuine friendships with families that now span 2 generations, I would never have believed you. But, hey, I was a teenager back then...