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Sire: CH Bel Reve's Carpetbagger Dam: CH Inchallah's Desha VU CD HIC Birth Date: February 8, 1989 Home: Wisconsin, USA

CH - HCH Bonntyme's Diamond Solitare CD HX ADVsd STDc HTDIII, Gem, was the first puppy born out of my first litter of Belgian Sheepdog puppies from my first Belgian Sheepdog. I didn't want a female. I wanted a male and had already chosen her brother as the puppy I intended to keep. No one wanted Gem. I tried giving her away to my friends, but they didn't want her. So, I kept her. She and her brother, Riot, finished their AKC conformation championships easily. I had been playing around with herding for a while. But since I didn't have what I considered a workable flock of sheep, we really didn't do much. Add that to the fact that I didn't know anything about teaching herding.

When Gem was about 2 years old I started putting some time into training her to herd sheep. She caught on quite quickly. I very clearly remember the day she understood that her responsibility was to keep the sheep to me wherever I went.

We entered our first AKC Herding Test and passed. From there is was all up hill. I had no idea how to train herding and the closest instructor was 200 miles away. Through her internal instinct to herd and my knowledge of training dogs we proceeded.

In March of 1996 Gem competed in her first Advanced trial for her HX (Herding Excellent) title. She had her title in four tries (three qualifying scores are needed). Then we began competing for her Herding Trial Championship. Gem either placed or won 7 out of 8 times while competing in advanced for her HTCH title. Her last 4 trials, during one weekend in October, Gem won all 4 advanced classes and won High in Trial twice.

Gem is now the first Belgian Sheepdog to carry Dual Champion titles from conformation and herding. She is the first female Belgian sheepdog and the first black Belgian sheepdog to earn this title. I am very proud! Now I can start working on her son, ACE.

Who are the other two?

CH Inchallah's Desha Vu CD HIC
CH A- Yacht's Ben x Inchallah's Flashdance
Birth Date: - January 6, 1985

Desha, was my first Belgian Sheepdog. She is from one of the last litters produced by the late Great, CH A Yacht's Ben. She is the dog that truly got me hooked on herding. When we, Desha and I, were first introduced to herding I believe she knew more than I did because she had the instinct. Her drive and desire to herd was tremendous. Unfortunately I didn't know what to do with all that speed. Desha's herding career pretty much ended up being four or five herding instinct tests over as many years. There just wasn't anyone around training herding Belgians. I can, however, credit her with starting that first herding germ in me. Thanks Desha.

Bonntyme's Ace High
CH Inchallah's Hard Copy x CH-HCH Bonntyme's Diamond Solitare CD HX ADVsd
STDc HTDII
Birth Date: October 19, 1995

Ace is the son of Gem and the Grandson of Desha. At this writing he is only one year old. When he was just six months and two days old he went to his first conformation show and went Winners Dog - Best of Winners for 3 points. Two months later he received his first Best of Breed over a dog special for another 3 points. Ace was one of a litter of 5 boys. I wanted a girl. I had it narrowed down to three of the boys. Gamble had this very pretty movement. A friend of mine said definitely keep him. But he wouldn't even go in the barn let alone near the sheep! Gamble was placed in a show home with a good friend of mine in West Virginia. Player had tremendous reach and quite a personality. He not only went in the barn but followed me out by the sheep. But then he just sat and watched from my feet. Ace was just a nice puppy not really flashy, but nice. But out in the barn yard he came alive. At the ripe old age of 3 months he was already standing up to our cranky old ewe. Ace stayed. He is so full of desire and confidence in the herding field he is such a fun dog to work.

Looking back I believe Ace actually has the same drive and desire for herding that Desha had when she was young. Problem was back then I just didn't know what to do with it on Desha. Now I'm having a great time with Ace. And I'm looking forward to having two generations of Champion / Herding Trial Champions.