Anthony's Story

Anthony's interest in this wonderful breed started over 30 years ago with Stubby and Sissy, blue merle working dogs purchased by his dad to assist him on a horse and cattle ranch near our current home in northeast Oklahoma. These impressive companions and working partners were a part of the Parnell family for many years, and were eventually followed by Prince and Princess, who spent numerous hours working at the ranch and playing with Anthony and his brother, and sister.

Once he was grown, and on his own, Anthony started looking for an Australian Shepherd with the same look and temperament as the “blue dogs” he grew up with. He heard of a local rancher who had some working Aussies, who may be willing to part with one. So, Anthony visited the ranch, intending to purchase a blue merle female.

Anthony walked into the yard where the blue dog was, and that is where he found Misty. Or, should I say, Misty found him. The rancher said she was around two years old, and a shy girl, but she walked right up to Anthony and looked at him with her big blue eyes. He immediately changed his mind. The RED merle went home with him that day, and she has been with him ever since. She is an old girl now, with a touch of arthritis. But, she is no longer “the shy one” she once was, and her beautiful blue eyes still shine.

Anthony remembers:

In 1977, when I was ten, Dad brought home two Australian Shepherds. Those dogs and I did everything together. I'd even lay down under a shade tree and use them as pillows. Back then, we would spend a lot of time outside because we didn’t have satellite, cable, or video games. When you live in the country, sometimes your dog is the only friend you have around for miles. After Stubby and Sissy passed on, Dad brought home a couple more Australian Shepherds, Prince and Princess. My family believes there is no smarter breed than the Australian Shepherd. One of them even got between me and my dad when he was going to “teach me a lesson”, if you know what I mean. 

When my son was 2 or 3 years old, Archie, our red male positioned himself between him and a snake until I had time to get to him and kill the snake.

One spring, in the middle of the night, one of my mares foaled. Some of the other horses came up and tried to get to her. Like a proud daddy, our Aussie guarded her and kept the other horses away. His barking alerted me that the foal was on the ground.

When Misty had a litter of pups several years ago, Archie met me at the drive way and led me to her (under the neighbor’s barn)

I could go on and on, telling stories of how my Aussies have been a part of my life, and what a great breed these dogs are. But, once you have an experience with an Aussie, you will have plenty of these stories to tell of your own.