My first dog, Honey, was my heart dog. She was everything to me. I got her from a wonderful breeder in Oregon who bred for looks but especially for temperment. When she died at age 15, I was beyond devistated and said, no way, I could not possibly get another dog. That resolve lasted about 4 months.
I had moved to a different part of the state by then and figured that I would find a local breeder. I contacted Honey's vet and asked her if she knew of any Sheltie breeders (BTW, vet's are excellent sources for finding a good breeder). She said yes, and recommended a breeder to us who has beautiful puppies that always received the best of care and always got all their tests for genetics, etc. I called this very nice lady and explained to her what I was looking for and she said she didn't have any dogs available right now, but her mentor and friend did. She told me his name. I almost dropped the phone. It was Honey's breeder.
With shaking hands I called the breeder and told him my name. He said, "Oh, yes, Honey!! The red bitch with the bad bite!" This was fifteen years after we got Honey! Imagine how many dogs had come and gone by then! He remembered me and Honey both. I asked him about a puppy and he told me that he had a four month old puppy that was a direct realtive of Honey's. He said that he would be her great-grand nephew. I wanted another female, but Don said, "when you see this puppy, you will see Honey's face."
We drove four hours one way to see this puppy. When we pulled up and went to the backyard, five puppies were in a child's playpen. They were all from different litters, but close to the same age. Don said, "look for Honey." The puppies all piled up to the edge of the playpen and draped their paws and faces over the side peeking at us. There was a puppy with Honey's face. I burst into tears and picked Jazz up and hugged him. He kissed my tears.
Jazz was with us for 13 years. He looked like Honey, but he had a personality all his own. I have never met a happier dog. He was laid-back and gentle and sweet. When Jazz died, I looked for his breeder again and was so sad to find that he had passed away from cancer a few years before.
Sorry, it was such a long story, but sometimes things are just simply meant to be.
I had moved to a different part of the state by then and figured that I would find a local breeder. I contacted Honey's vet and asked her if she knew of any Sheltie breeders (BTW, vet's are excellent sources for finding a good breeder). She said yes, and recommended a breeder to us who has beautiful puppies that always received the best of care and always got all their tests for genetics, etc. I called this very nice lady and explained to her what I was looking for and she said she didn't have any dogs available right now, but her mentor and friend did. She told me his name. I almost dropped the phone. It was Honey's breeder.
With shaking hands I called the breeder and told him my name. He said, "Oh, yes, Honey!! The red bitch with the bad bite!" This was fifteen years after we got Honey! Imagine how many dogs had come and gone by then! He remembered me and Honey both. I asked him about a puppy and he told me that he had a four month old puppy that was a direct realtive of Honey's. He said that he would be her great-grand nephew. I wanted another female, but Don said, "when you see this puppy, you will see Honey's face."
We drove four hours one way to see this puppy. When we pulled up and went to the backyard, five puppies were in a child's playpen. They were all from different litters, but close to the same age. Don said, "look for Honey." The puppies all piled up to the edge of the playpen and draped their paws and faces over the side peeking at us. There was a puppy with Honey's face. I burst into tears and picked Jazz up and hugged him. He kissed my tears.
Jazz was with us for 13 years. He looked like Honey, but he had a personality all his own. I have never met a happier dog. He was laid-back and gentle and sweet. When Jazz died, I looked for his breeder again and was so sad to find that he had passed away from cancer a few years before.
Sorry, it was such a long story, but sometimes things are just simply meant to be.
Wait, which one was Indy? The boy puppy with the white blaze, he is my pick preformance and breed dog and he needs to go with someone who will show him, my friend replies. I don't know who was more suprised myself or my friend when I said I might be interested. 
. I think I made it 2 hours when I called up my friend and told her, she was never getting him back. I changed his name to Justice and I become a sheltie person. Oh and the girl puppy that elbowed Justice out of the way was Liberty, Ember's mom. Now you know where she gets her spunk.
Fortunately, matt, here at Sheltie Nation, there room for us both! 