Our Foundations

The traditional Aussie has been a part of the life I lived and cherished since early childhood. Rodeos, trail drives, horse shows, ranches and stockyards were their home territory. They were loyal beyond measure, protective hardy, tough and very necessary.  They truly embodied the spirit of the pioneer.

Although I was very familiar with these super dogs, it wasn't until Butch and I married in 1966, that I was able to get my first. This little blue female came from Morton Colbert, a highly colorful old cowboy, who owned the Sweetwater Roping Arena in Spring Valley, California.  He could trace his line of Aussies back to the 1920's. 

From 1968 to 1970 we raised several good litters of working pups. Our enthusiasm for these dogs was rapidly expanding and in 1970 we bought out first "well-bred" dog, "Cody", who influenced our early breeding program. "Cody" (later to be CH. Cornwells Cody, CDX, STDc) was a dark blue merle from the old "Ely" line in Colorado.  Not only was he a foundation of our early line, but he also became a major part of  breed history in the Midwest being the first Aussie to be shown in obedience and conformation throughout Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.  All Breed matches were the only shows offered back then and Cody was often the only Aussie there, but he was never lost in a crowd.  From the very first, he drew attention and admiration for his precision obedience work.  Crowds would gather to watch him.  Out of 21 times in the ring, he was High in Match 13 times with scores all over 196 1/2, as well as a perfect 200!

A Fairoaks dog will work anything! This is Fairoaks Smokey Lonesome helping out!

FAIROAKS/"CHULO"-BRED DOGS HAVE PRODUCED OR BECOME:

• Conformation champions
• Working Trial champions
• Post Advanced Trial Dogs
• National Final qualifiers on Cattle
• National Specialty Obedience High in Trial from Utility
• National Specialty Agility High in Trial
• Certified in Search and Rescue 
• Therapy dogs
• Professional Frisbee dogs
• National Specialty Most Versatile Winners
• National Specialty Conformation Class Winners
• Tracking Dogs Excellent
• Flyball Excellent dogs
• Dutch Conformation Champions
• Utility Dogs Excellent
• Nationally Ranked in Obedience (Utility and Open) in both ASCA and AKC
• Multiple "Best Import" winners
• British Working Titled
• British "movie stars"
• High Score Working Dog Year End Award winners in NASA (National English Aussie Club)
• High Score Obedience Dog of the Year, Year-End Award for NASA winners
• Crufts 2001 qualifiers
• 3rd in Showdogs Year-end Award Winner for NASA Swedish Agility Champions
• Swedish Conformation Champions
• Swedish KORAD winners ( a very prestigious and difficult test of mentality and conformation)
• Swedish Working Champions
• Swedish Agility Champions
• Swedish Obedience Champions
• Youngest dog to qualify  for Swedish Nat'l. finals in agility
• Everyday workers on farms/ranches

Devoted, longtime companions!

MENTAL TRAITS IN OUR DOGS

From the start we have striven to continue to enhance the outstanding mental qualities of the traditional, foundation Aussie. High intelligence and trainability with a strong desire to please are qualities that make superior obedience and performance dogs.

These same qualities make for superior companions. When coupled with the herding instinct we breed for, it produces excellent farm, ranch and trial dogs. A keen mind and ready attitude are virtues highly prized and demanded by us.

Our dogs are generally friendly, most are discriminating and some can be somewhat reserved with strangers. They are loyal and devoted and can become suspicious> and protective if the situation warrants. Through the history of our line there are numerous reports of our dogs rescuing and saving both children and adults from danger, both the four and two-footed kind. These are the mental qualities that first set the breed apart and the qualities we have always bred to retain, for without these qualities, they're just another pretty dog.

Fairoaks Red-Tailed Hawk (certified,FEMA, Disaster Search and Rescue dog, owned and trained by Kathy Schiltz)  Being baby-sat!

Our dogs do very well with children and are completely devoted to our son, Ethan. However, all young children and puppies must be supervised. A child cannot be allowed to torment and terrorize a young puppy without an adverse reaction as the pup gets older.

We do not want a silly, insensitive , "Odie" type of dog, or one that will walk off with any stranger without looking back, nor do we want a dog with the desire and ability to do nothing more than pose in the show ring and live in a crate. If that is what you want, then a Fairoaks dog is not for you.

Because of the high intelligence level and activity level, obedience training and companionship with the family are activities that Fairoaks dogs thrive on. If you want a dog as a decoration for the backyard, our dogs are not for you. However, if you appreciate the mental qualities stated, you will be in for years of enjoyable companionship.

PHYSICAL TRAITS IN OUR DOGS

We have always bred to the Breed Standard and its original interpretation which produces a moderate, athletic animal that is capable of fulfilling its breed function of herding livestock. These same physical attributes of medium size and bone, balanced proportions strong, lithe body, all produce outstanding movement, a trait our dogs are known for, as well as "unusual agility". The Fairoaks bloodline is noted for their beautiful heads, necks, balance, toplines, high tail sets and often a "presence", particularly in the males. Couple these qualities with our 'must have" mental attributes and you have the ideal show, working, obedience, Frisbee, agility and companion dog, and if necessary protector. 

Our males will average 21-22" at the shoulder, weighing around 55#. Females are usually a little smaller, averaging 19-20" and weighing around 45#.  These combinations of heights and weights produce overall moderation, a quality that has always been a must with us. 

Physical, mental and genetic soundness are our priorities, with color and markings being relatively unimportant. As a result, we get a wide range of color combinations.  We are noted for our dark, chocolate red color, another gift from Chulo. 

Our main goal has been the development and maintenance of a bloodline, which produces versatile individuals that can compete in any activity and do well.  The physical and mental qualities that represent the traditional Aussie have never been, nor will they ever be, sacrificed for show ring fads.  We breed for a good Aussie first and if it wins, that's great.  We have never tolerated exaggerations in bone, size, temperament, or type.  We have shown almost exclusively under breeder judges with excellent success.  Dogs of our breeding have won/qualified, certified, often setting records, in any event asked of them, both Nationally and Internationally.

GENETIC STRENGTH OF OUR LINE

Before the early 70's, prior to the organized promotion of the breed, the breed was not yet affected by the artificial selection criteria of the Breed ring. Participation in the breed ring, coupled with an unprecedented raise in popularity of the breed, has greatly changed the priorities of breeders since those foundation days, and exacerbated any hidden problems the breed had.

Most serious and prevalent are Juvenile Cataracts and Collie eye Anomaly (CEA), both caused by simple recessives in 98% of the cases. Beauty and superior mental qualities can win in the breed ring and/or performance and make wonderful companions, but when you have a two-year old old going blind from inherited Juvenile Cataracts or CEA, genetic sounds takes on a whole new meaning. The fact that his sire and dam have 100s of Breed wins is not very important. They are also carriers.

Not only are all Fairoaks breeding stock certified free of Hip Dysplasia by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), certified clear of hereditary eye defects, have full dentition and a correct bite, as well as an abundance of the qualities that created our ideal--physically, mentally and genetically--they all come from at least 3 or more full generations of the same. Anything earlier in the pedigrees were on ranches and were never checked. They simply proved their soundness.

It takes a very strong dog to face livestock.
Here, Fairoaks Poco Rojo, owned by Ed minor, squares off with a ewe, waiting for her to turn/back down.	Fairoaks Azarea proving her value head to head!

It is no longer enough to state that as a breeder, you demand as much genetic soundness as you can get and have an outstanding record. Apparently 'genetic soundness' has different meanings to different people. To clarify - from our Fairoaks line/dogs, both here and abroad, with over 700 dogs/puppies checked, we have never had a dog with hereditary Juvenile Cataracts or CEA, both serious genetic problems, nor have we even produced a carrier -- ie. a dog that is clear but carriers the gene. Fairoaks dogs have been used many times to clean up other breeding programs.

"Josi" (picture by owners, Watermark Aussies).

Contact: Sandy Cornwell at: fairchulos@aol.com or call: (217) 286-3499