Our Judges

Herding

Ron Forbes Ron was born and raised on a dairy farm where dogs were always used to move stock in and out of the barn. The dogs were a mix of herding breeds, basically coming from whichever neighbour had a litter of pups on the ground at the time. Ron and, his wife, Heather purchased their first purebred Australian Shepherd in 1995 and currently own 3, along with 1 Border Collie. Selling the dairy cattle in 1996, Ron started raising sheep. These few sheep have now multiplied into a commercial flock of 285 head, which are pasture based, and the dogs are a huge part of the day to day workings on the farm. Over the years Ron has trained under clinicians such as Lynn Leach, Becky Bailie, Cappy Pruett, Scott Glen, Larry Painter, Tenley Dexter and Steve Shope. Ron has also competed in CKC, ASCA and AHBA herding trials, becoming a CKC herding judge in 2010. Along the way Ron has worked with many breeds through lessons and herding instinct test days, held on his farm in Ingersoll, Ontario. Besides the sheep, Ron also keeps a couple of cattle and some ducks for training purposes. Shelley Fritzke One of the earliest memories Shelley Fritzke has of herding dogs was going out to the fields with her Uncle, as a young child, when it was time to bring in the cattle for milking. His favourite herding "dog" was a German Shepherd crossed with the Blue Heeler (name many on the prairies used for the Australian Cattle Dog).  Shelley started herding with her German Shepherds almost 20 years ago after attending a herding instinct test with her dog Cheyenne. Cheyenne was a tough dog and most trainers encouraged Shelley to start with an "easier" dog. Cheyenne went on to become Canada's First Advanced Herding German Shepherd in the CKC program. She earned this title with numerous High in Trials and High in Trial Combined scores. Shelley has trained and titled numerous German Shepherds of her own as well as other breeds through CKC AHBA, ASCA, and also in Stock Dog Trials put on by the B.C. stock Dog Association.   More recently Shelley has been working and trialing her German Shepherds in the Tending/Boundary style this breed was bred to work and was active in getting the Tending Course officially accepted by CKC. Through working the GSD and seeing it's intelligence and the natural boundary instinct Shelley became interested and active in preserving the GSD breed of the "old days" through breeding, training and working. Her puppies and dogs have been sold throughout North America and many are actively being trialed and used for working stock. One even works with a Conservation officer in B.C. to herd Bears out of the local towns and back into it's natural habitat! In addition Shelley has a border collie she has trained and trialed through to Advanced in numerous avenues and is a few points short of his Championship through AHBA.  One of Shelley's greatest loves is Instinct testing! Through the years she has tested over 1,000 dogs and over 45 breeds of dogs. She continues to work a variety of breeds/dogs through herding lessons, giving clinics, and Judging. Shelley is a Licensed CKC and AHBA Herding Judge and has been invited to Judge across Canada and the Western U.S. She has received the honour of judging National Specialties for a number of parent clubs as well as at the Canadian National. She continues to attend Herding clinics from various clinicians and is one of the few people in the area working the upright breeds.  Shelley lives in Chilliwack, B.C. Where she maintains a small flock of sheep and shares her home with numerous dogs and cats. She breeds the occasional GSD litter and looks forward to spring when the young lambs are out playing in the fields!

Regular & Non-regular Conformation

Alice Brock Alice always had a true love for animals from as early as 5 years old. She would drag home dogs she would find. She discovered horses by age 11 and followed that dream for many years. Her first introduction to Aussies was at a horse show. Shortly after, a Quarter Horse breeder she worked for brought back two Aussies from out West. It was love at first sight.  However, it would be twenty years before she actually owned one.  The thought of owning one of these dogs, never left her mind. When their living arrangements and activity in life made it such that an Aussie would fit, they found a breeder in Georgia that had NSDR Aussies. She and her husband chose a blue merle girl that changed their lives. Mattie loved anything athletic, but excelled in Obedience and Frisbee.  As they became involved with the Greater Atlanta Australian Shepherd Club (an ASCA member club), Alice and her husband discovered that many Aussies were being abandoned in local shelters. They became involved with the rescues and enjoyed placing dogs in proper homes.  Five years later they began a breeding program under the kennel name – Sailaway.  Alice has been President of the local ASCA chapter, a columnist for the Australian Shepherd Journal, secretary to numerous dog shows, an obedience judge and trainer. She enjoys judging, especially Australian Shepherds. She states that our breed has come so far with improving quality and health. She has bred and owned numerous conformation champions, obedience titled, agility titled, and herding titled Aussies. They have had a multiple Best in Show, Westminster Winner and top AKC Australian Shepherd in the U.S.  When not judging or showing dogs, Alice is a full-time Personal Trust Officer with a major Regional bank. She also enjoys whitewater kayaking, collecting antiques, and dog art.

Juvenile & Veteran Sweepstakes

Garth Gourlay First of all I would like to thank the CNASA for allowing me the privilege to judge your National Specialty sweeps. Many of you know me as “the show photographer guy” some may have seen me in the ring with our English Setters or Viszlas and there may be a few that remember our roots in Aussies. It all started with a move to our farm in Freelton.  My wife Karen and I had 4 English Setters at that time, and property to run them on. It soon became evident that we needed sheep to cut the pasture down so we could find the Setters!. And in order to work the sheep I needed an Aussie. We got our first Aussie, Rio, in the new year of 1987. And not too long after that joined with a group of dedicated owners and breeders of the time to form The Trillium Australian Shepherd Club (an ASCA affiliate). Our farm was host to herding clinics and the the first shows and obedience trials that attracted fantastic entries over 3 day weekends in the summer.  And a little known fact - when Aussies were first recognized by the CKC the first show of the year was in Orangeville and I thought how cool would it be to be the first to walk in a CKC ring with the first Aussie. So we entered a 6-9 month male puppy named Max and the rest, as they say, was history (with little or no fan fare ).  Anyway, our last Aussie - Bandit - passed away a few years ago when he was 16. We had a number of litters that produced some titled dogs, some ended up working on farms but most were simply awesome Aussies. We still live on the farm with all of our animals. We have 4 great sons and a new daughter–in law. June marks my 39th year in dogs. I am CKC approved to judge the Sporting Group.  We are currently without an Aussie but, hey…… that might change after this assignment.!!!!  GG

Conformation Junior Handling

Michelle Therrien Michelle has been a Professional Handler since 2000, but she started her "dog career" almost 30 years ago in Juniors!  Pictured at right is a very young Michelle getting a Best Junior win under a well known handler of today.     During the years of her apprenticeship she worked for, and traveled with, many top Canadian and US handlers including Ed Henderson, Garrett Lambert, Jim Gerarge and Alan Waterman just to name a few....   She's been successful with a number of different breeds in her handling career, and is also a talented and accomplished groomer.     She's also bred several different breeds including Bedlington Terriers, Old English Sheepdogs and currently Bichon Frise, which she breeds under the Mitee prefix.

Agility

Ingrid Mills-Knight I live in Clandeboye, ON, a small hamlet ½ hour north of London, ON with my husband and 3 young children and two Australian Shepherds.  I have been involved in agility since 1993 with my first Australian Shepherd, Scarlet. I have been a Masters judge with AAC since 1997 and grandfathered in as an Excellent level judge when CKC began its agility program.  I am an active parent volunteer at my children's school and I am a part time dog groomer. When time permits I enjoy cycling, swimming, karate and reading stories to the children.

Contents of this site are the property of the Canadian National Australian Shepherd Association.
No part of this site may be reproduced without written permission.

Copyright © 2006 -
Canadian National Australian Shepherd Association

Design by

Last modified
16 April 2012