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Our first Aussie was a heavily Flintridge (an early line of Australian Shepherds) bred, blue merle female. While looking for an appropriate match for her we happened upon Barbara (Nielsen) Hager of Blue Isle Aussies. She offered us the option to purchase Ch. Blue Isle Peacemaker of Auriga / GUNNER and our history began. GUNNER not only gave us our first champions from our first two litters, Ch. Touchstone Pzaz Extraordinare / JAZZ (multiple Breed and Match wins) and Ch. Touchstone Show Gun Annie / ANNIE, but on the way to ANNIE's championship she won the 1985 Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) National Specialty Best of Breed Puppy with Barbara Hager on the lead. GUNNER went on to create his own successes often with the help of friend and mentor Barbara. He earned multiple Best In Specialty Wins, multiple Top Ten cuts at ASCA National Specialties and multiple Records of Merit. He fired our enthusiasm for the breed and the pursuit of the Aussie show dog. We built our foundation on blending dogs from GUNNER's pedigree with dogs similar in type, trainability, soundness and instinct. Over time we have incorporated various foundation lines that offer strengths to compliment and complete the goal of the versatile Aussie-successful in the show ring, pleasing and devoted as a companion, ready to take direction / instruction, a superior athlete and maintaining the basic herding instincts / stock sense to call upon when requested. |
