Their foster mom brought them to an agility trial in Sanford in March.  I hadn't really been seriously on the lookout for another puppy, but when I saw him, it was like love at first sight.  I just loved his unusal coloring, he was very sweet and he really liked to play tug.  I decided right then and there he was coming home with me.  Two weeks later I got to pick him up and take him home.  His brother, now named Oreo, went to a family in Florida with two little girls and an older red, tri Aussie.

 

Cade was adopted from Aussie Rescue Placement Helpline of North Carolina.  He was terrified of Piper and Gryphon when he first met them.  Gryphon was relentless in his quest to play and by the end of the first evening, they were best buddies.  Gryphon is such a good big brother - I think he enjoys having someone to wrestle with.  Piper could probably live life very happily without either of the other two dogs, but she and Cade get into a game of "chase me" every once in a while.  Mostly Cade just annoys the heck out of her, though.

 

He is the silliest little dog I've ever seen.  He loves to play, loves to give kisses, loves just being silly.  He splashes in his wading pool and carries sticks and rocks around the yard.  He helps Piper dig for toads.  He keeps Gryphon from barking too much at the neighbor's dogs.  He loves to chase balls - tennis balls, rubber balls and his all-time, absolute favorite, his exercise ball.  He has a great sense of humor and always has a smile on his face.  He makes friends wherever he goes.

 

Cade is also totally obssessed with water.  I took him to a lake last summer to see how he would do and he immediately began swimming.  It was a good thing I had a 20' lead on him or I would never have gotten him out of the water.  Since then he takes the opportunity to swim whenever he can.  He loves to jump off docks or the side of a pond or lake bank.

 

Cade is smart as a whip, but his way of learning new things is very interesting.  He really tries to work out in his head what you want of him.  We can work during a training session on a particular behavior and he will just seem to not "get it" at all.  But the next time we come back to a training session, wouldn't you know it, he performs that behavior perfectly.  It's like he just needed time to think about it.  I admit I haven't worked with him as much as I did Gryphon at this age, but I think this may end up working out for the better.  Cade will have a chance to be a puppy for a bit longer and it may work to both of our advantage to let him mature more slowly.

 

Cade began competing in flyball Spring, 2007 and so far has earned titles up to FDCh (Flyball Dog Champion - 500 points).  He has earned one title in CPE (Canine Performance Events) agility.  He will begin competing in other venues Fall, 2007.  He is an awesome little dog and we just love having him as part of our family!