Zuli is our first herding dog. She is the result of a long search for the right dog. My intent was to find a pup 8 weeks old that was whelped in New Mexico out of working stock dogs. After a couple years of internet searches and telephone referrals I still had no link to a local working ranch using Australian Shepherds and breeding them (though I did pick up some understanding of the culture surrounding this New Mexican Shepherd). I finally went with strong herd-in-trialling genes and resserved a pup in an upcoming litter out of a son of Supreme Champion Twin Oaks Kit Carson. The mother was descended from some fine working dogs too busy working to aquire titles. So in late April of 2007 we drove to Chandler Arizona to pick up our new blue pup from Dick and Colleen Wilson of SunRay Kennels.

Zuli has spent her entire life watchiing animals and has gradually come to work chickens, turkeys, geese, goats (and so gently with their kids) and recently cattle. At 5 months she moved out on the range with me and over the first summer learned the difference between good and bad dogs and how to track down the herd after the goats encounter the bad dogs. At 7 months she was defending her territory and goats from a pack of three dogs as well as my own person on those dogs' territory. In her second year she was learning the ropes and was a help during milking. She keeps the herd together, and leads them to where they need to be. She is ready with a sharp nip when faced with beligerance and will also ease into pressure when neccessary. She reads the animal and generally acts accordingly. Now in March 2010 at 3 years Zuli is a full hand as well as a patient and effective teacher for Buck.

The reason I went with an Australian Shepherd over the much more plentiful (in New Mexico) Border Collie or Heeler is simple. It is the right dog for the job. Our goats are not wily sheep like the Border was developed to move in Scotland where a bit of staring is all it takes to move the flighty wild animals. Nor is the herd so stubborn to need the bite of a Heeler. They are goats though and do require some wrangling on occasion so smaller herders are out of the question. We also have a goat friendly range, varied terrain sometimes steep and rocky and the sun can be intense. The Aussie was developed in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California as herds were driven west during the Gold Rush days when the selection pressures of the land and elements created dogs and people who were rugged and hardy. The Aussie is also a generalist more than other breeds and can learn to manuevour many differnet types of stock. They guard fiercly, track efficiently and are great babysitters- loving the young of animal and people. And at the end of the day the fierce love, loyalty and partnership of an Aussie makes all the difference.