Photo courtesy of Phil Wildhagen
Wildhagen’s Thistle of Flintridge Hall of Fame
Call name: Thistle
Born: 1971
Sire: Sisler’s John
Dam: Heard’s Chili of Flintridge
Breeder: Dr. Weldon Heard, Flintridge
Owner: Phil Wildhagen, Bonnie-Blu
Thistle was a lovely bitch with ground-breaking breed type. She had a beautiful profile, solid topline, balanced angulation and moderate bone. Her head and expression set a new standard of perfection. In addition to her excellent structure, Thistle had a wonderful temperament.
There’s an old saying, “A well-constructed dog is like a cleverly-made hunter—short of back and standing over a lot of ground.” Thistle certainly fit that description.
Thistle and her kennelmate, CH Wildhagen’s Dutchman of Flintridge CDX HOF “Dusty,” were two of the most influential dogs in present-day show bloodlines. They had three litters together,producing offspring that redefined Australian Shepherd breed type. Thistle’s genetic contribution was shared with Dusty, and their illustrious offspring are listed on page four of Unforgettable Aussies (available at the link below).
Thistle was a remarkable producer. She passed her genetic strength not only to her sons, but especially to her daughters and granddaughters.
Along with their well-known sons, Thistle and Dusty produced two outstanding daughters. They were:
CH Briarpatch of Bonnie-Blu CD HOF, dam of:
Thistle’s granddaughters through her son CH Sunshine of Bonnie-Blu CDX HOF made a tremendous impact on the breed. They were:
Windswept was the grandam of:
BIS BISS AKC ASCA CH My Main Man of Heatherhill ROM-III HOF
CH Oprah Winfree of Heatherhill HOF
BIS BISS CH Bayshore’s Flapjack HOF
Thistle’s influential granddaughter through CH Sundown’s Maize of Bonnie-Blu was:
Wildhagen’s Thistle of Flintridge Hall of Fame
Call name: Thistle
Born: 1971
Sire: Sisler’s John
Dam: Heard’s Chili of Flintridge
Breeder: Dr. Weldon Heard, Flintridge
Owner: Phil Wildhagen, Bonnie-Blu
Thistle was a lovely bitch with ground-breaking breed type. She had a beautiful profile, solid topline, balanced angulation and moderate bone. Her head and expression set a new standard of perfection. In addition to her excellent structure, Thistle had a wonderful temperament.
There’s an old saying, “A well-constructed dog is like a cleverly-made hunter—short of back and standing over a lot of ground.” Thistle certainly fit that description.
Thistle and her kennelmate, CH Wildhagen’s Dutchman of Flintridge CDX HOF “Dusty,” were two of the most influential dogs in present-day show bloodlines. They had three litters together,producing offspring that redefined Australian Shepherd breed type. Thistle’s genetic contribution was shared with Dusty, and their illustrious offspring are listed on page four of Unforgettable Aussies (available at the link below).
Thistle was a remarkable producer. She passed her genetic strength not only to her sons, but especially to her daughters and granddaughters.
Along with their well-known sons, Thistle and Dusty produced two outstanding daughters. They were:
CH Briarpatch of Bonnie-Blu CD HOF, dam of:
- CH Fieldmaster’s Cast the Die HOF
- CH Fieldmaster’s Key to the Mint
- CH Fieldmaster’s Home Brew
- CH Briarbrook’s Center Ring HOF
- CH Overby’s Heather of Bonnie-Blu, great-grandam of:
- CH Fieldmaster’s Blue Isle Barnstormer ROMX-III
Thistle’s granddaughters through her son CH Sunshine of Bonnie-Blu CDX HOF made a tremendous impact on the breed. They were:
- CH Afterthought of Windermere HOF
- CH Moonshine of Windermere HOF
- CH Windswept of Windermere CD HOF, dam of:
Windswept was the grandam of:
BIS BISS AKC ASCA CH My Main Man of Heatherhill ROM-III HOF
CH Oprah Winfree of Heatherhill HOF
BIS BISS CH Bayshore’s Flapjack HOF
Thistle’s influential granddaughter through CH Sundown’s Maize of Bonnie-Blu was:
- CH Vanlandingham’s Ebony Lace HOF
Photos of five of Thistle's descendants. Mouse over or click on each picture to see their names and dates of birth.
READ MUCH MORE about Thistle in Unforgettable Aussies!
This story an excerpt from Chapter 2 in Unforgettable Aussies: Australian Shepherd Dogs Who Left Pawprints on Our Hearts by Paula McDermid. To order click on the button below.
READ MUCH MORE about Thistle in Unforgettable Aussies!
This story an excerpt from Chapter 2 in Unforgettable Aussies: Australian Shepherd Dogs Who Left Pawprints on Our Hearts by Paula McDermid. To order click on the button below.