Bret is from Janelle's only litter, which surprised us with black puppies.  I didn't want a black and white male, but he was too good to let go as a pet.  Bret was over four months old when he went to live with Gail Shattuck, who trained him and showed him in a very successful agility career.  I showed him in the breed ring, and later in herding. 

Bret won a major reserve the first weekend we showed him, when he was barely old enough to walk in the ring.  He started winning in the breed ring as a two and a half year old, and quickly accumulated 12 points, 1 major.  Then I moved 1200 miles away to Colorado, and it became increasingly hard to get him to the shows.  Both Gail and I became proficient cross-country drivers.  Two years, several major reserves and a lot of miles later, Bret finished in style.  He went Best of Breed over specials for his last major at the Lost Dutchman KC in Arizona, handled by his new best friend, Ashlie Whitmore.  Three weeks after he finished his championship, Bret picked up three Select Dog majors in Albany, OR.  He is now only a handful of points for his Grand Championship.