JFCoventry

Australian Shepherds & Vizslas

Cara's Pedigree

Coventrys Cover Girl Magic Blue C/W RF AS-15719G37F-PI F=10.11% F E94388 HE494520 3/15/1998	Lobos Dixiana Dance King DNA-CP Red C/W AS-5340G26M F=15.98% E39591 DL41341501 4/14/1989	Ch Bluecrest Creme D'coca of Lobo Red C/W AS-3426F24M F=16.98% E24899 1/19/1986	Bluecrest Rocky I of Windridge E14130	Ch Suns Mark of Windermere CD
				Ch Bluecrest Somethin' Special CD STDcs OTDd
			Ch Bluecrest Topic of Conversation E4626	Behrends Butch of Comstock
				Bluecrest Seme Fox Ya'
		Ch Dixie Dance Queen of Royalty Blue RF AS-2744 F=21.62% E16713 11/3/1983	Ch Royaltys King of Desert Hills E3408	Behrends Butch of Comstock
				Desert Hills Saguare Flower
			Royaltys Queen of Shadbriar E10324	Ch The Chessman of Shadbriar
				Hallmarks Southern Comfort
	Powerpaks Misty Blue Magic Blue C/W AS-6684G24F-T F=10.97% E50797 1049414 3/2/1991	Ch Tailored By Carousel Blue C/W RF AS-5169G45M F=7.36% E31091 5/27/1987	Ch Headliner of Sunny Brook CD E985	Ch Papillon of Meshlacon
				Ch Summer Breeze Of Sunnybrook
			Chrisdavas Shanna of Carousel E9338 DL42454801	Ch Las Rocosa Ricky Taylor
				Carousels Blaze of Glory
		Firesides Cosmic Interlude Black C/W AS-5477E26F-T F=10.60% E46698 3/20/1989	Firesides Space Age Hero E33268	Ch Aristocrats Repeat Performance
				Higgins Coty
			Harmony's Fireside Wind Chime	Ch Windhills Aristocrat
				Happy Days Holiday Cheer

 

Cara was my agility dog, although it took a number of years for us to get our act together enough to be a team! She certainly challenged me. We were members of the All Sorts Dog Sports team and then with the Inner Drive flyball team. We participated mostly in agility - ASCA, CKC, NADAC, USDAA, & AAC.

Cara was my pick from Maggie's last litter - born Mar. 15, 1998. She was a beautiful blue merle, moderate size, bone and coat. Cara was CH JFCoventry's Cover Girl Magic, HIC, AGI, AAC and NADAC titled (my kennel name with ASCA is Coventry and with the CKC is JFCoventry). Cara finished her CKC championship with ease but agility took a bit longer to "get". We tried flyball, but her heart wasn't in it. After a few runs, she'd just look at me as if to say, "OK, been there, done that -- now what?" So, she wasn't to be my flyball dog and that was fine.

We concentrated on agility and Cara really made me work hard to open that door for her, but when the lights finally came on, we had such a great time. Everyone always commented on her smiling face - she was truly having a good time. I think a lot of it was just the fact that we were spending time together. Cara took me to the AAC nationals in 2005 and considering the extreme talent we were up against, we placed a respectable middle of the pack. I was just happy to be out there playing amongst all that incredible agility talent and Cara had a wonderful time.

Cara got to two ASCA nationals, one as a pup in 1998, along with her mom, Maggie, and the second time in 2003 with her daughter, Flury. Several other of her kids made it to nationals to play, too. Cara's true colors emerged in the herding arena at nationals - but unfortunately, she was stuck with me as her handler - and we'd only practised a few times on sheep and NEVER on ducks before we went. We had a blast and I received so many wonderful compliments on cara's herding ablities, from many of the big names we always read about in aussies and herding - I was very proud of my little blue girl.

And then in April, 2008, Cara was diagnosed with intestinal lymphoma and it was finally time to give up. That was the hardest day of my life - and I don't think I will ever get over it.

When Cara died, she broke a lot of hearts. She impacted so many lives - and I think what people remember about her is her smiling face as she flew over the jumps in agility. I remember how she and Emily just floated around the conformation ring; I remember how determined Cara was to overcome my handling faults to bring the sheep to me - she just never gave up. So I never gave up.

Cara was just 10 years old when she died. She has left a HUGE hole in our lives. I miss her so much. Flury misses her and is more than ever, my velcro dog. I think even our vizslas miss her. I miss her cool blue touch of fur - Flury, being a red merle, is so warm to the touch - Cara was always so silky and cool.

I miss her smile and I really miss our agility time. It will take me a long time to heal.