A HISTORY

NEVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAMS

Megabucks Aussies began in 1970 in Central California. We lived on a ranch with two aged Labradors and many chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, horses and ponies. We had heard of those 'little blue dogs', but had great difficulty finding one. The rancher behind us had a big rawboned blue male Aussie. We wanted a dog just like that and so our search began. In the early 70s it was not so easy to find an Australian Shepherd. We found many mis-marked and excessive white puppies, but could not find that one little blue dog just for us. 

Finally we received a call from our rancher with the blue male, he had found us a wonderful little two-year-old girl named 'Missy'. We visited and found her to be just what we wanted, so Missy came to live with us at the ranch. Then we found out she had one very severe problem ..... she loved chickens to death. This would never do for a ranch dog. We bred Missy to the rancher's Blue and were rewarded with six Aussie puppies. This became the start of our genetic learning. Missy produced one solid black bobtail bitch; one big rawboned blue merle male; two full white collared blue merles, one male one female. Now, for our learning the hard way, we also had two lethal white females, we cried as we had these put down. After weaning the puppies, we placed Missy in a city home without chickens. The rancher took his pick of the litter; we sold the blue girl, kept the big blue male and named him BLUE (everyone needs an Aussie named Blue once in their lives). We intended to sell the black female. Whenever anyone came to see her, she disappeared; we knew then that Bear had chosen to own us. These two were the beginning of our love of Aussies. Blue remained with us until he was 15. We lost Bear to an accident at 7.

In the 80s we found out that my uncle had 'Registered Australian Shepherds'. 'Registered' we said, 'they come registered'? To top it off, these dogs were red. We had never seen red Aussies. His dogs were from Cathy Jones of Rough and Ready. The male was 'Rough and Ready Trapper M' and he was a stocky little working fool, and a dark liver red bi to boot. The female was 'Rough and Ready Samurai M' and she was a lovely dark red merle with minimal white. A breeding took place and produced four red puppies. Two merle, and two bi. We had the privilege of being chosen by 'Clark's Trapper M Jr'. We named JR after JR Ewing on Dallas (you know they had the same temperament) and he came to live with us on our ranch (this time in Oregon). JR became a constant companion, he went everywhere with us. Learned how to hide hot dogs in the car and loved to work the stock on the ranch. He was line bred on 'Jones Ready Teddy' and had that strong working ability. When we went to work we had to leave him in the house to stop him from rounding up the stock and holding them in the corner for us until we came home. He was so proud of himself <gg>, but the stock hated him.

In the late 80s we moved to San Jose to become real money earners as the ranch failed and the outside businesses that employed us moved from Oregon. JR came with us to become a Yuppie City Dog. Did he adjust? You bet, remember he was an Aussie. JR loved to herd the pool sweep and keep all the neighborhood cats out of the yard. During this time our son went to Kathy Jones to acquire a little girl. He drove to Colorado for a red girl. But when he got there the red girls wouldn't give him a second look (typical females huh) and he kept tripping over this blue girl. Of course we taught him not to be 'color blind', so the blue merle became his. He named her 'Rough and Ready Teddy Bear Clark', Bear. 

We left San Jose (always hated the city), and moved to Truckee, with our JR and Bear, our son's dog.  Bear was bred by our JR and produced a red merle male and a black bi female. The male went to our first son. Since the black was more working than show we sold her to a ranch, but my mother (now living with us) wouldn't be parted from her, she purchased her back and presented her to me as a birthday present. Her name is Gingersnap and she joined the crew: JR, Bear, and my mother's Aussie Samantha (a littermate to JR). We wanted a mellower line so we never registered Gingersnap and had her spayed.

Now it was time to get serious. I really wanted to show. While on the ranch we did 4-H, FFA and livestock shows. We showed everything but the dogs, now it was time to show the dogs. I acquired 'Las Rocosa Sassy Girl', she is a nice big red merle, but was spayed for health reasons. We moved to Reno (Truckee had way too much snow for dogs and ME). We moved into a rental home while we looked for ranch land. 'Of course we only have three dogs and they are perfect', paid a BIG deposit and moved in. We then acquired 'Las Rocosa Hunter', a replacement for Sassy, Hunter too had to be neutered, but we love them just the same. Hunter is our fun dog, a pushy little prick-eared red dog. Small man attitude and a herding fool, but still no show dog. Today he is Hunter the neutered stud muffin, loves all the girls. During this time my mother moved out and took her dog and JR passed to the Rainbow Bridge.

It was time to built our ranch house. We actually designed the house to accommodate a large herd of Aussies. I could tell stories of how to crate and maintain four Aussies in an 8-foot camper while building a house, but that story could go on forever. Finally the home was built and another Aussie joined us. 'Pura Hazel', Hazel is a red merle bitch, now spayed. She joined us as a three year old, produced two litters, then suffered a compressed L3 spinal injury in a Frisbee leap, she was spayed and joined the Couch Crew. We consider ourselves lucky to just have Hazel with us now (Note: Hazel passed to the Rainbow Bridge in 2000). Then came RJM Las Rocosa Bo Tyler "Tyler". Tyler is a bi-eyed large blue merle, sent as a replacement for Hunter. He is my soul mate, my bud, my friend. He was diagnosed with autoimmune, and was neutered, he is now my buddy and shares a big piece of my heart..  

We acquired a four-year-old black tri, 'Firethornes Royal Wish', and Di joins the gang. She is going to be my foundation bitch for my new show line. Di was bred and although we really wanted to keep a puppy, we weren't able to, my mom was living with us and was terminally ill, so sadly we sold the entire litter. We were hoping to breed Di again, However, before Di was bred again she was diagnosed with Pyometra. Di was so ill we had her spayed, so she too joins the Couch Crew (I think I need a bigger couch now, or maybe two couches, my husband suggests a room for just the dogs (LOL). 

We bring another bitch to Reno, 'Fantasia's Being In Da Gold', Chia joins the gang, a wonderful little blue girl, two weeks here and she tears her cranial cruciate ligament and undergoes reconstructive surgery (are we lucky or what). It has been a year and she is finally recovering (maybe).   Now I am thinking should I quit. I am overloaded with Couch Dogs and I am still not showing, eight years after my first show dog acquisition. But NO! I am not a quitter (my husband is supportive, but wonders about my sanity).  The cranial cruciate tear is the most common injury dogs can have, some dogs have been known to just step off the couch and tear the ligament, but it doesn't make us feel much better knowing she was injured.  Some dogs recover all the way.  Even though we took special care after Chia's surgery, 4 months of limited exercise, it looks like she may have torn a ligament too.

Two more females. 'Firethornes Gold Bearer', Eve (1/2 sister to Di) the active, exuberant 'Fantasia's Red Hot Megabucks', Meg.  Eve  settled in as queen bee, and Meg has captured the heart of my granddaughter Brittney.  She has been spayed and is planning to join Brittney, Katy and Brent to bring love to their home.

All MEGABUCKS dogs are home raised. We built our bedroom extra large to accommodate a fair number of crates. A big walk in closet has crates and sheepskin beds; the room is lined with crates and dog beds. Ten are crated; four are loose (they like our bed too). They all have access to a large fenced dog area at the side of the house with a 'Fido Shock' hot wire. Did I mention Tyler could jump? 

This has not been easy, I have thought many times of giving up, but how can I after 30 years with Aussies. My husband (Terry) tells me I suffer from MDD (Multiple Dog Disorder). I also promised him I would not consider disposing or placing any dogs that fell out of the show program, they will be here for life. Many came as adults and won't ever return to their former lives. My friends tell me when they die they want to come back as my dog. I am not 'anal' <ggg> about my dogs, they are just so important to me. 

So through loss of my mother in December 1998, followed by Bear passing to the Rainbow Bridge (she became Mom's dog and wouldn't live without her). Loss of our business in 1999 after me being hit by a car that ran a red light, causing me to undergo back surgery that hasn't healed, and a second accident in February of 2002, it really ended any thought of me showing my dogs.  However with the help and support of many good friends and our special handlers, we finally found our way.

Countryside Megabucks Poker "Penny", was our first ever non Aussie in over 31 years.  I was so hoping I could still show, at least a smaller dog, but it was not to be.  Penny too is AKC pointed and is shown by the Jolene Parriera.

I have been Blessed with the "Parriera trio" that came to my help.  Joe Parriera (the dad) specializes in Liz, they have a great bond, a team that knows how to work together very smoothly.  Jolene Parriera (the daughter) is showing our new male. Firethornes Bartholomew, "Bud", and has done very well with him, she also shows our Pembroke Welsh Corgi, "Penny".  Meryl (the mom) is waiting for her special little red girl to grow up.  Joe, Meryl, Jolene bring a great blend of kindness, loving the dogs and soft handling that has proven so affective with my dogs.  Meryl is an Australian Shepherd Senior Breeder Judge, and Jolene was a top ASCA Junior Showman about 10 years.  The Parrieras are not only friends, but wonderful homes for my dogs when they are on their "sleep overs".

It looks like we finally are there, and it took so many years to get there.   With the help of our handler’s Joe, Meryl and Jolene Parriera we finally have our first “future star”.  Megabucks Just Dealin Diamonds "Liz" is our first AKC Major Pointed offspring, a multiple Best Of Breed winner and a multiple group winner (seven times for both) AND as of October 27, 2001 we now have AKC CHAMPION Megabucks Just Dealin Diamonds "Liz".  Plus she gives us that temperament we always looked for.  I remember her first major points (with tears in my eyes, Terry’s too), Liz in the show ring she was so “on”, then coming out of the ring for the last time of the day, she was handed off to Meryl & Joe’s grandson, an active “all boy” 7 year old (Korbel).    Liz turned off her show face, climbed the hill behind the show grounds and got down to important business; that of digging in the mud with her friend Korbel.  With Liz we are finally there, life with the Aussies is good, but then with Aussies it is never really bad.  They bring joy with them whether they are the star of the show or just that all special companion dog, warming your feet.  Each point is another set of tears and another memory in our trek with these special dogs.

So I've come a long way from the original unregistered little blue bitch to our flashy new blue bitch. I've even found old turn-of-the-century photos of my family with a strangely familiar looking black-tri dog. It seems I was destined to get into Aussies.  They are a part of my life, my morning greeting, the hair on my clothes wherever I go and we now schedule all our trips around our dogs. They are MY LIFE and also that of Terry (my husband), they are our forever friends.

Due to the accident I haven't been able to return to work, the body is lucky it can move some days, and there are some days I might just like to stay in bed.  HOWEVER, having these dogs, and having them ALL in the house.  They FORCE you to live.  I have to get up every morning.  I have to clean messes, I have to groom and I have to let them lay in my lap and I accept their daily LOVE willingly.  They now make me LIVE.  Whether I can move, or even walk and knowing that each day brings pain due to the injuries, it softens the pain and the worry with these dogs, they provide me joy, love and companionship, and yes they demand ME too, and that gives me something to look forward to, each and every day.

WE LOVE THESE LITTLE WIGGLE BUTT DOGS ....... EXCLUSIVELY! -- Australian Shepherds