Tyler came home to us in Wasilla one very, very cold November Alaskan night. As a 10 week old puppy, he was coddled in a crate lined with sheepswool and heated hand warmers because our Subaru had no heat at the time.   He was toasty warm and our teeth were chattering.   As my very first purebred dog, I had great plans for this little ring-leader.  I am forever grateful to Simco - Sherri Sims and Corrine Finney  of Anchorage, Alaska for sharing this great boy with me and taking a risk on a novice owner/handler.

I immediately began training him for obedience.  Ty is my Novice A dog.  He practiced agility Ty-style.  The first week he was with us we thought it was quite charming when he admired himself in the reflection of our windows and mirrors.  Even the oven door had a handsome tri-colored pup looking back at him.  He never passed an opportunity to check out his little buddy who appeared on every reflective surface.  At his very first fun match when he was only 4 months old, Ty received applause for his antics in the mirrors during our ring time.  I was assured he would outgrow it.  All can be assured that at nearly the age of 7 he has NOT outgrown his adoration for his own reflection.

Knowing that Shelties aren't necessarily the best retrievers, I worked night and day for months to teach myself how to teach a Sheltie to retrieve.  With Tyler I was quite successful and he will retrieve almost anything from anywhere anytime.  Of course the nurses in the care facilities we visit as a therapy dog are most amused and will drop things just to see Tyler spring over, pick it up, take it to them and sit awaiting his praise.  Also, anticipating his future in therapy work, I was determined to make this Sheltie outgoing and comfortable in all situations.  As part of that training, we befriended several people in wheelchairs who liked to have Ty sit on their lap.  At one of his first breed shows, he was headed fully groomed to ringside when all of a sudden he spied someone nearby in a wheelchair and he leapt into their lap.  Thankfully, they welcomed his presence.  His outgoing personality has served him well as he has flirted with many a judge in the obedience ring.

Tyler was awarded two conformation breed points taking Best of Opposite Sex over several male specials before he was obviously over the 16" disqualification height for the breed ring.  He was always a challenge to show  in conformation as he could be over animated or completely flat.  He continues to enjoy the grooming and will demand to be brushed. 

My handling skills in agility cannot keep up with Tyler.  He will be competing in agility as soon as I can figure out how to handle him at a great distance as he is very fast and motivated.

Tyler is a talented herder as well.  He goes in where cattle dogs fear to tread.  He will readily grab a duck or goose by the beak and redirect it if it needs correction.  It has taken me most of these 6 years to learn that I must keep my mouth shut while working with Tyler.  He is so focused that too many verbal interruptions tend to be distracting.    
During the last few years, I have been very ill.  Tyler has been at my side helping me nearly every minute.  He has picked up nearly anything I ask for and will retreive things from under the bed or the back of crates.  He is quick to bring a new diaper or fetch the dropped pacifier.  He is not too impressed with the toddler; but has taken first place in 4H obedience competition with my teenager.  Showing him in any venue is a pleasure whether or not we quality.  We always have near perfect performances with just one little glitch occasionally disqualifying us.  With Tyler I am always assured a good time and either a placement ribbon or a NQ.  He put so much effort forth in a few of our Open performances that he had to slink into a down on his sit stay during the last few seconds NQing scores in the high 190's.  Whether we go on to show in Utility depends on the availability of the hours to train and proof.  Ty is certainly ready; but, I'm not sure I am.  He tells me the signal exercises will be his favorite.  Now, if we could just retrieve only ONE glove at a time, please Ty (He seems to think they all need to be picked up or it isn't much fun at all).

Tyler's dam is Ch Northsong Winter Frost CD "Winter" owned by Sherri Sims and Corrine Finney of Anchorage, Alaska.  His sire is Ch Virgo Charlie Chaplin.  He comes from a prestigious pedigree of ROMs and breed Champions predominantly from MacDega Kennel.

MacDega Renatta
- Tyler's Grandma (the last MacDega Montana daughter)

Tyler was featured in the 2000 Brown Trout Shetland Sheepdog calendar and was the first dog photographed by Randi Hirschman as she began her professional career photographing dogs for publications.