Here's Johnnie Walker Blue at right,
Mom Becky tells his story:

I was taking my golden to obedience class and one night in the class before us, I saw the most beautiful blue merle sheltie. I asked the lady where she got her dog and she told me theWI Sheltie Rescue in Chilton (this was Linda and Foxy by the way, I’ve always wanted to thank you!).

We had our golden for almost a year and I was thinking about an addition to the family. I’ve always wanted another sheltie. The very first dog I ever had when I was on my own was a sheltie and she was so smart and so pretty. My husband said OK (we lived in a VERY small house with two cats and a big dog already, but had a nice big back yard). So I lookedWSR up on the Internet and emailed Lisa (who has become my hero and a great inspiration to me!) one day took a ride out to see the dogs.

I was looking for a bigger sheltie about the same age as Kessler. He needed a playmate and I wanted another “fur child”!! Lisa had two in rescue at that time that fit what I was looking for, a sable named Jingles and a blue-mix (?) J named Lindy. I had been looking at them for a few weeks online before we actually went to meet them. Jingles was already adopted, so there was just Lindy. He met Kessler and all was fine, but he was extremely attached to Lisa and wouldn’t even come by us (remember those days, Lisa?). He sure was sweet though and I totally understood.

We decided to foster him for the few days Lisa went to the Chicago show. He instantly adjusted and totally adopted us!! When Lisa came to get him, one of the first things she said to him was “Boy, you gained a lot of confidence!!” We brought him “home” the next weekend and had the backyard fenced in for the boys to play.

We decided to change his name to Johnnie Walker Blue, Blue for short. Although a sweet dog, he did have some issues. He did not like men and fast movements made him nippy. We had a behaviorist meet him, because I thought he was being aggressive, but she told us he was a submissive dog, so we just kept working with him. He has gotten much better around men, but the fast movement/nippy thing will always be a part of him, so I have to always watch him around kids and strangers. Even fam- ily and friends comment on how far he has come. He will never be the perfect dog, but that’s OK with me!!!

Blue has become my Velcro dog, my shadow and my protector. He is 100% a mama’s boy and still prefers females over males. He is Kessler’s best friend, always tries to play with Buddy, one of our cats and generally loves to play with other dogs. People comment all the time on how beautiful his coloring is, on his big fluffy tail and how soft his fur is. He is very smart. He has completed many obedience classes (always at or near the top), does agility (has his NAJ), has his CGC and is a registered therapy dog. And that nose of his will give any retriever or bloodhound a run for his money (we’ll be trying tracking soon!). He is a dog with many talents, which I’m very grateful for, because I have the time & energy to work with & utilize them.

Both Blue and Kessler have helped to give me confidence to try different things and therefore I have met a lot of new people, they have taught me to greet every day enthusiastically, that giving of myself or doing volunteer work is fun - as long as we are together, to laugh every day, to act like a “puppy or kid” once in awhile, to relax and not worry about things, that naps are not just for cats and to love unconditionally.

My dogs are truly my best friends!!!!!!!! The bond I have with them is more than I could have ever imagined. I love them more than life and am truly grateful to them and to EVERYONE who has helped bring them into my life. I know Darren, my husband, feels the same. My life is now complete!!!!!!