Riker’s father was a multi-Best in Show winning dog, and for a couple of years was the most winning dog in the country. Unfortunately, Riker was not show quality and all the other puppies found homes before he did. So, when his breeder was slated to attend an event that many of Australian Shepherd folks were attending, she brought this black tri ball of fur with her.
Paul and I were not looking for a puppy at that time. We had just lost our oldest dog, Ursa. She was a wonderful, talented, well loved dog, and I think we were still grieving her loss. Plus we still had two Aussies at home, so it wasn’t like we had an empty nest.
Our friend Petra saw this ball of fur and searched us out at the event, shoving the puppy into my arms. “Oh no you don’t,” I said and handed the puppy off to Paul. The puppy who was soon to be named Riker came home with us.
Although we had competed in conformation with several dogs previously, we had no interest in conformation competition at that time, so we didn’t care that Riker didn’t have the white flash that is so popular, that his head was too rounded, or that he was too small for a male. We liked character and personality, workability and biddability, and Riker had all of those in spades. I should say he did and still does have all of those attributes.
As many readers know, we name our dogs after Star Trek characters. Riker is a character from Star Trek: The Next Generation who is handsome, likeable, a workaholic, competitive, and a charmer with the ladies. All of those characteristics fit this puppy perfectly so Riker he became.
At six months old, he passed a herding instinct test with flying colors under a tester who likes Border Collies and usually isn’t impressed with Aussies. But when one of the sheep burst out of the pen and Riker went over the fence after her, caught up with her, turned her and brought her back to the pen – with no guidance or supervision by me – she passed him. And then gave him a glowing review and critique to those watching. Those spectators, by the way, were also giving him a standing ovation.
He’s retired from both agility and obedience, but loved those sports in his younger years. I don’t ask him to cart anymore either, but he loved his cart. The last time he pulled it was at a memorial for a good friend who asked that he pull his cart, carrying her urn, into the service. Not all the attendees understood but all of her Aussie friends did.
His health is still awesome. His last exam showed that everything is healthy – heart, liver, kidneys – and other than his hip dysplasia, he’s healthy as the proverbial horse. This past year we changed his pain and anti-inflammatory meds a little, as well as his nutritional and herbal supplements, and he’s much more comfortable.
As he’s grown older, his personality has continued to shine. He’s affection and loving, playful and silly, and to put it simply, a joyful dog. He’s just Riker.
Photo credits: Top: Riker looking cute. Bottom: Riker with a haircut proud to be pulling his cart. Both photos by Liz Palika
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