"Valo"
Red'n Ready Light In The Dark
ASCA OTDsc STDd
Basic info
- Australian shepherd, male
- Born 20.03.2022 in Finland
- Blue merle w white&tan, long tail
- Breeder: Kennel Red'n Ready
- Owner: Shanti Karinen
- FCI & ASCA registered
- Height: 54 cm
- Weight: 23 kg
- Hips: A/A
- Elbows: 0/0
- Back: lumbosacral transitional vertebr LTV3 asymmetric, VA0 (normal)
- All teeth, normal bite
- Eyes checked healthy 05/2022 (puppy) & 04/2023
- Normal testicles
- DNA through Wisdom panel:
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) 1 copy carrier
- EAOD (Early Adult Onset Deafness) 1 copy carrier
- MDR1 (Multi-Drug Resistance 1) free
- PHC/HSF4 (Primary Hereditary Cataract) free (through parents)
- DM (Degenerative Myelopathy) free
- CMR1 (Canine Multifocal Retinopathy 1) free
- Cord1-PRA / crd4 (Cone-Rod Dystrophy) free
- CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly) free
- PRA-prcd (Progressive Rod Cone Degeneration) free
- Genetic diversity 43% (average breed range 34-42%)
- ASCA herding Open Sheep and Cattle OTDsc titles. Also 1 Q for OTDd
- FCI herding class 1 excellent -> allowed to move up to class 2
- FCI natural herding aptitude test NHAT approved
- Sire: Tuckercreek's Dizel
- Dam: Ruff'n' Tuff Black Betty
- >>> Valo in Finnish database
Valo ended up staying with us somewhat by accident from the Sysi x Dizel litter. I had already taken a liking to him when he was in the whelping box, and we didn't really find the perfect home for him. Valo was the calmest of the litter, more of a thinker and contemplator than a bundle of energy. However, even before he was weaned, he showed a great interest in herding and demonstrated some remarkable instincts even as a small puppy. When Valo, at about 4 months old, followed the scent trail of some sheep that had wandered out of sight from the pasture, tracked them down, and brought them back to me from a couple hundred meters away, I decided that he would stay here with us.
Valo has grown into a sweet and charming boy, a real cuddler, and a fantastic helper with the everyday tasks on the farm from a young age! His nature is very calm and serene, and teaching him to wait and settle down has been easy. He's moderately motivated by toys, but he is extremely food-driven and highly food-oriented. We've done some foundational work in agility, but he was primarily chosen for herding. In herding, Valo seems to be nicely handler-soft yet strong with the animals. He has a calm and confident approach to working with livestock and is my best assistant when bringing grain to the sheep—he's excellent at moving them back and keeping the little lambs in line without being too rough on them.
Valo is indeed very food-motivated, has a robust digestive system, and has been completely healthy so far. We are eagerly watching to see how he continues to develop and hope he stays healthy, as I see him as an excellent addition to my breeding program. He would bring balance to high-energy and spirited females with his temperament. While he is calm, his work drive is still high, and when he's working, he focuses 110% on the task!
Valo's Pedigree
Banner picture: Maiju Livio
Other pictures: Maiju Livio
Page content: Shanti Karinen