The Michigan Consfords

Sheriff is an Australian cattle dog or Red Heeler. Many years ago when the aborigines needed a herding dog that could handle their rugged mountains. They bread the border collie and the dingo and the Dalmatian, just to name a few, to come up with a dog that would herd as well as be able to handle the rugged terrain and be able to care for the herd.

He loves to swim, and play Frisbee as well as baby-sit the other dogs who choose not listen. He also loves to search the corn fields for lost cattle.

Shasta is a mixed breed dog that we rescued from a neighbor who wanted a dog like Sheriff. After having her for only a few weeks, she couldn't get her potty trained and gave up. I saw a lot of potential in this dog and rescued her before she ever made it to the pound. After only a few days we had her potty trained and my daughter Stephanie is now working with her on obedience.

Rizzo is a Jack Russell Terrier. He is my daughter Stephanie's Champion Show dog. When our family first started getting into dogs and 4H and showmanship. She wanted a dog that was already potty trained. We rescued this dog from a pregnant women who just didn't have time for this loving companion. He was over-weight when we brought him home however, with his now big yard and other dogs to run with he soon lost the weight and my daughter has trained him to be a champion show dog in her 4H class. You can read more about their accomplishments here on her 4H page.

Katie is a pure bred border collie. She has very good herding instincts however, we rarely work on herding training. She loves to sit and watch the chickens for hours, but she has been known to handle them a little rough sometimes. She is my wife Denise's dog. Katie also loves Frisbee only instead of chasing the toy, she loves to run circles around the other dogs and tries to knock the Frisbee from their mouths while they run. We bred Katie once and the other border collies that we still have (below) are her offspring.

Blinxx was the largest of Katie's pups. and he can be very aggressive around other dogs. Most people he is very friendly with but he doesn't get along with other dogs very well. We have tried all the tricks with socializing but he just isn't interested in any other dogs being on his turf. For this reason I had to make a second fenced yard to keep him separate from our other dogs. Blinxx has caused the most vet bills of all our animals. He especially hates Rizzo, and two separate occasions those two dogs have had to be taken to the vet after a dog fight. He is loving to people however and I have never had a dog like Blinxx before that loved to cuddle. He should have been a lap dog. Blinxx is my son Gary Jr's dog. I am sure that when he goes away to join the service I will have to keep him here. Maybe then I can get him trained better.

The Goddess of Darkness:
Nyx is a petite fraigle looking border collie. She does however love to go for rides in the car. She loves to socialize like any teenager would and she is a joy to have around.

She doesn't care for people who have been drinking and on two occassions we have had her nip at people who came to our house a little on the tipsy side.