Istari Shelties

03/03/2025

We have had a few inquiries about puppies and young adults. We do not anticipate having any puppies until the end of 2025. And all of our adults are remaining here.

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If you are looking for a puppy, the Mid-Arizona Shetland Sheepdog Club has 2 sable puppies available - one male & one female (around 13 weeks old). They are up to date on shots and worming. I added their pictures to this post. Jesse (boy) is on the left and Gracie (girl) is on the right. Call Phyllis if interested 602-421-8992.

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If you are looking for a young adult, contact Tammy Riggs at 623-824-5226 or [email protected]. Also, Janet Lindsay has two 3-year-old bi black Shelties available. She can be reached on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janet.lindsay.16

Feel free to share this information.

02/03/2025

Behind the scenes at the shows:
#1 - Hollywood is almost 3 years old, and he LOVES to show. He'll do whatever you need and doesn't turn off. Thursday we're grooming beside Wendy Retzer who has her 10-year-old spayed veteran girl entered in the Specialties. Hollywood takes one look at her and he's in LOVE 😍They are both in the show ring - do you think Hollywood remembered any of his training? Nope, all he wanted was Sizzle.

Sizzle isn't entered at the all-breed shows so everything should be fine, right? Well, if one blue girl isn't there, there's always another. Kristin is in heat and also in the Best of Breed ring. He wanted to make babies right in the ring.

#2 - On the other hand, we had Dexter. Dexter wasn't having any of this show stuff this weekend. He wasn't going to put ears up and show for anything - not for chicken, not for ham, not for apple treats - absolutely nothing.

Today before going into the ring, Beki Vale opened a bag of "lite" popcorn and Wendy Retzer (who's been showing Dexter) offered him one. He sniffed it, nosed it around, licked it and then ate it. He baited and showed for popcorn today! Sometimes I really wish I could talk to him and just ask "what's on your mind?'

02/03/2025

I'll have 2 posts on this weekend's shows. This first one will talk about our dogs' show results and the second will relate a few funny stories.

Hollywood (AKC CH/UKC GRCH Shenell Istari Sunnyvale Hollywood) received an Award of Merit from Sue Healy at the Mid-Arizona Specialty. Then today he was chosen Select Dog by Del Richards at the all-breed show.

All was not lost, however, because one of the girls picked up the slack. CH Sunnyvale Istari The Escapologist (Kristin) was Select Bitch at both Mid-Arizona Specialty shows (judges Randy Sheets & Sue Healy) and at the all-breed shows under judges Mr. John Shoeneman & Mr. Larry Adams. Along the way she finished her AKC Grand Championship. Kristin is pictured here with her coowner, Kelly Mihok.

23/02/2025

Superstition KC - Shelties Ring 7 all weekend
Arizona State Fairgrounds

Friday 10:45 10-17-6-3
Saturday 9:05 (after 24) 11-18-5-4
Sunday 10:40 11-17-5-5

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23/02/2025

MASSC Judging 2/27/25 - Ring 7
Show 1: 9 a.m. Randy Sheets
14-18-6-3 2Vd 1Vb

Show 2: 11:30 Sweepstakes 3
11:45 Suzanne Healy
14-17-6-4 2Vd 1Vb

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19/02/2025

The Mid-Arizona Shetland Sheepdog Club Rescue just took in a pair of 11-week-old sable and white PUPPIES (1 male, 1 female). The information we have is that the individual who bought them is allergic to them and the breeder in California won't take them back. They are current on their puppy shots.

Phyllis just got them today so no photos yet, but if you are interested, I'm sure she'd be happy to talk to you about them. 602-421-8992. They will have to be spayed/neutered.

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19/02/2025

The Mid-Arizona Shetland Sheepdog Club Rescue has a pair of older Shelties available. Pepah (10) and Zuko (9) have had a medical checkup, their dental work done, shot updated and groomed. They are looking for a home together. Contact Phyllis at 602-421-8992 if you are interested in this pair.

16/02/2025

Our next shows will be the Mid-Arizona Shetland Sheepdog Club Specialty Shows on February 27 at ARIZONA STATE FAIRGROUNDS (1826 W McDowell Rd • Phoenix AZ 85007). There will be 2 shows that day. A little bird told me that the first show should start at 9:00 a.m. This will be followed by lunch, a really tiny sweepstakes entry and then the afternoon show. After all the formal stuff is finished, we host a "whine & cheese" get together. You are welcome to come, watch the judging and then enjoy the hospitality.

The Specialties will be followed by all breed shows February 28, March 1 & 2. Judging times haven't been published yet. We will have Dexter and Hollywood there all weekend.

03/02/2025

4 days of shows are in the books and Hollywood & Dexter did quite well.

Friday: Judge James Fankhauser
Best of Opposite S*x: Ch Blue Heavens Dangerous Decision (Dexter)
Select Dog: Ch Shenell Istari Sunnyvale Hollywood (Hollywood)

Saturday: Judge Patricia Taylor
Best of Breed: Hollywood

Sunday: Judge Vicki Allenbrand
Best of Opposite S*x: Hollywood
Select Dog: Dexter

Monday: Jon Titus Steele
Best of Opposite S*x: Dexter
Select Dog: Hollywood

Hollywood was bred by Janell Lowman & Beki Vale. He was shown by our daughter Rebecca Porter.

Dexter was bred by Lloyd & Lisa Graser. He was shown by Wendy Retzer with Kelly Mihok stepping in to help.

29/01/2025

Another weekend, another set of dog shows. This weekend's shows are at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. Shelties show outside at: Friday - 8 am Ring 3; Saturday 8 am Ring 2; Sunday 11:15 am Ring 3; and Monday 1:05 Ring 1.

We will be there with Hollywood and Dexter.

26/01/2025

The 2025 Kachina KC shows are now history.

On Saturday, Wendy Retzer handled Dexter (CH Blue Heavens Dangerous Decision) to Select Dog for one more point towards his Grand Championship. BRADLEY K. ODAGIRI was the judge.

On Sunday, Hollywood (CH Shenell Istari Sunnyvale Hollywood) was awarded Best of Opposite S*x by MRS. DEBBIE L MELGREEN. Hollywood was handled by our daughter, Rebecca Porter.

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23/01/2025

Dexter went into "time out."

Dexter loves people food (like most dogs do). But if he gets more than a tiny bit, he won't eat his own food. Yesterday he got some scrambled eggs and then didn't finish his dinner.

So today he got NO treats. Keith put his bowl of dog food in the crate with him. Before Keith could close the door, Dexter had looked at the bowl and looked at Keith...then he tipped the bowl over and shoved it back at Keith.

Time out!

18/01/2025

These are Dexter's favorite toys. They all squeak and the smaller ones also crinkle. He lays there in the middle of the front hall where he can see into the kitchen, living room and down the hall to the bedrooms. In other words, he can monitor our every movement and not miss out on anything.

And we can hear the squeak squeak, crinkle crinkle and know he's not getting into any trouble.

11/01/2025

Desert Southwest Shetland Sheepdog Association All-Breed UKC Shows

Saturday: 01/11/2025

Show #1 Lynn Martin
Winners Male: AKC CH Blue Heavens Dangerous Decision (Dexter)
Best of Breed, Herding Group 1, BEST IN SHOW: AKC/UKC CH Shenell Istari Sunnyvale Hollywood (Hollywood) Hollywood earned his UKC Grand Championship at this show.

Thank you to our daughter, Rebecca Porter, for showing Hollywood.

Show #2: Matthew Proctor
"Sometimes a dog walks into the ring, and you can't take your eyes off him. You just know..."
Winners Male, Best of Winners, Best of Breed, Herding Group 1, BEST IN SHOW AKC CH Blue Heavens Dangerous Decision (Dexter)

Many thanks to Wendy Retzer for showing Dexter in Breed, Group & BIS!

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26/12/2024

Did you know that the Istari were the wizards such as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings?

Goals for 2025:

1. Finish Hollywood's UKC & AKC Grand Champion titles.
2. Finish Dexter's AKC Grand Champion title.
3. Finish Sindy's AKC Championship when she gets back into coat.

16/12/2024

4 All breed United Kennel Club (UKC) Shows - 12/14/24 & 12/15/24

AKC/UKC CH Shenell Istari Sunnyvale Hollywood

* Judge Janet Fink: Best In Show
* Judge Rick Gann: Herding Group 3
* Judge Kathryn Baxter: Best of Breed
* Judge Larry Hansen, Jr.: Reserve Best In Show

Hollywood was bred by and is co-owned with Janell Lowman and Rebecca Vale. He was shown by our daughter, Rebecca.

21/11/2024

We end our 2024 AKC shows with Viper going Best of Opposite S*x on Friday, Saturday & Sunday at the Tucson & Greater Sierra Vista KC shows.

09/11/2024

Mid-Arizona Shetland Sheepdog Specialty - Judge: Al Bianchi

Best of Opposite S*x: CH Blue Heavens Dangerous Decision (Dexter)

Award of Merit: GCHS Trilliant Coming In Hot (Viper)

Many thanks to Bekka Watkins & Rus Mumme for handling these 2 to their wins today.