Chevreherd is a kennel name that Melanie Snyder Block created as a nod to our efforts to learn stock dog work “herding” with our early dogs; my sister raised dairy goats and kindly let me play with the dogs with them quite a bit, and when we eventually got connected with trainer Bob Vest in Iowa (along with old Border collie man, Elmer Brumley) they also used young goats as easy livestock to train dogs on. Goats are less flighty than sheep and very smart, easy to transport for backyard or demo herding efforts. So, liking the sound of the French root word for goat, “chevre”, we decided this was very apt. And now it is handy when searching the internet, if you know how to spell Chevreherd it is pretty easy to find references to us. We were proud to be part of the foundation story of both the Iowa Herding Dog Association and the Central Illinois Stock Dog Association. In years past we dabbled in various areas of competition with the dogs including conformation, obedience and stock work including cattle, sheep and ducks.
In the early 1980′s when we first began to receive the Aussie Times publication from the Australian Shepherd Club of America, we enjoyed the exploits people told of their “Woods” line dogs. We liked the idea of the usefulness of a farm and ranch dog. So we used several strains of Woods dogs and Vest bloodlines in addition to old “Flintridge” show lines to create our current canines. We have found all through the years with Aussies, they are such an intelligent breed of dog. In the early years, many of the dogs were “one-man” dogs and preferred to take orders from one person; if that person was around, other people rather disappeared and the dog was only waiting for his person to tell him what to do. On the flip side, usually these dogs were also very territorial and tended to bite the heels of whoever came on the property when the owner was not present. Through the years this territorial trait has been bred away from somewhat in looking for a dog that fit into modern life. Training also makes a difference with these highly intelligent dogs.
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Currently, Chevreherd dogs temperamentally are chosen for loyalty without so much aggression. Our focus has been on family-friendly pets who are typey breed representatives based on working stockdog lines. For the most part these dogs fit well into a household that appreciates the intelligence and is willing to allow the dog to use this intelligence. As to energy levels, all puppies can be expected to have excess energy that needs to be directed to useful play, and overall Aussies are known to be active and playful dogs into their maturity (they are “busy” minded but NOT HYPER). They can certainly be taught to lie quietly as appropriate during required times. Due to the fact that we have always valued working lines somewhat more than show dog lines, a good portion of our dogs can be good stock dogs. They not too surprisingly excell in any competition you wish to direct their energies to. I have lost count of how many people have told me their Chevreherd puppy is the absolute smartest and best dog they have ever been around. Chevreherd puppies through the years have gone on to do various activities such as guiding eye for the blind, bomb detection dog, diabetic crisis detection/medic alert, and even hunting dog including one who travelled to Kansas each year and found pheasant better than the most valuable Lab. A carpenter’s dog would bring tools up a ladder onto roofs, and another Chevreherd pup grew up to fetch by name over 150 of his toys. Of course the off-side of this cleverness is hearing about the pups who open drawers and pull everything out of the cupboard! But I think the positive aspects of having a brilliant dog are worth it. A good dog reflects a good owner.
Chevreherd dogs have excelleed in flyball, agility, weight-pulling, obedience, herding, just about anything you can think of! One owner took his Chevreherd puppy home and succeeded in conquering the obscure skill of playing soccer! I honor and remember Kellie Orberson of Kel-Mar kennel at this time for her help in placing several puppies in outstanding homes. I also was blessed to be able to work with Betty Nelson in her later years, and honor and remember her here for her many years of research into color and health genetics of the Australian Shepherd breed. One of the last dogs she raised was “Chevreherd Toots Nelson” and this dog well deserves to go forward into the pedigrees of future Aussies through our Chevreherd puppies.
Chevreherd Nip’N Tuck has been our resident stud dog for the last several years and has gifted us with several litters of people-oriented, eager to please, gentle and loyal companions. Sheri Born of Zion Aussies helped us to get Tucker out to shows and earn his UKC Grand Championship. He also went to 4-H State of Illinois final competition a few years until he retired with 5th place in both showmanship and obedience. Now he enjoys farm guard duty with keeping the coyotes at bay from the barnyard. Tucker is a super guy, great athlete, true love and the easiest aussie imaginable to live with (except for finding ways to get INTO the pens with girls in season). His most urgent need in life is to please you.
A list of titles that Chevreherd puppies have gone on to earn (a huge THANK YOU! to those owners who worked so hard and enjoyed achieving these honors!):
Kelmars Chevreherd Cashncain CD,OA,OAJ; AJP,AXP; NGC,OAC,OJC; GS-N, RS-N, JS-N; FD-ONYX
Kel-Mars Chevreherd Candi Cain “Callie” CDX, FDCH, CGC
Chevreherd Zena, STDc and 2nd place futurity dog
Chevreherd’s Xmas in July, UKC CD
UKC Ch Chevreherd Days of Glory
International Ch Chevreherds Xmas Lass, CGC babysitter supreme
Alt Ch Chevreherd Hope, CD, CGC, HIC
International Ch Chevreherd Mariah of Zion, CD, CGC, HCT, HIT and resident nursing home companion/goose flusher, AKA”Rhindi”
AKC Herding Ch and WTCH Chevreherd Precious Gem, RTDsc
Chevreherd Miss L. Any, OTD, RTD
Chevreherds BasquetotheFuture, STDs (“Sam”)
Chevreherds Be Jim Dandy, HS, STDs
Chevreherds Wizard of RAK, CDX (“Merlin” modeled for the recipe book pictured)
Finnish Ch Chevreherd TsaTsa
We’ve tried to keep track of titles throughout the years but if anyone would have additional information to add to the list above, please contact us and let us know! We can’t thank our owners enough, who have worked so hard to complete these titles. Please call 309-594-2318 or email chevreherd@hotmail.com to contact us. Again, heart-felt thank you’s to all puppy owners.
