Cody was given to us by Carol Rodriquez of Amarillo, Texas and sired by our Tony, Confederates Regal Heir UD, a Mario son. In November of the same year, the first Fanfare Shelties were born and Cody became their Nanny. He taught them to play ball, tug-of-war, and how to use their "voices".
Two years rolled by before we knew it and Cody had stayed home while show prospects went to the shows. One hot summer day in 1986, I filled out and mailed an Obedience Trial entry form and took Cody shopping for his own crate, a training collar, and leash. Six weeks later Cody went to his first dog show and brought home the First Place blue ribbon. So-we entered more shows and he came home with another blue, a yellow (3rd place), and a white ribbon (4th place) out of classes with a full entry of 64 dogs. Novice scores were 196.5, 196, 195.5, and 197 (the fourth place!). Other conformation shows had Cody stay home again for a few years. With only a couple of months of training, Cody entered the Open ring in 1988 and scored 191, 194 (fourth place), and 191.5. Five years slipped by and it was 1993 before I realized that for Tony's sake, his son should get the UD, thus making 4 straight generations of Utility Dogs. Cody was the easiest dog to ever train at this level! Just show him something a couple of times and it was done. Cody thrilled me with finishing the UD title in but four shows. The scores were 189, 191.5, and 193 with two first placements and a second. Cody re-joined the Fun-Tier Kennel Club Drill Team and was a wonderful Canine Ambassador until he retired. In 1996 cancer took our "Big Guy" from us. He was such a good boy, the perfect pet with the heart and soul of what I would wish every sheltie to have. Cody is our "Rose Beyond the Wall".
A rose once grew where all could see,
sheltered beside a garden wall,
And, as the days passed swiftly by,
it spread its branches, straight and tall...
a crevice that had opened wide---
The rose bent gently toward its warmth
then passed beyond to the other side...
be comforted---the rose blooms there---
Its beauty even greater now,
nurtured by God's own loving care.
Applet created by Sandy Staffan