Rian’s (Nelson’s) Sussie

Rose

Sire: Brown’s Rocky
Dam: Nelson’s Cockleburr

Back in the early 80s I worked for Betty Nelson for a bit. She had a red female named Cockleburr that I adored – and when someone brought back a puppy of Cockleburr’s that didn’t work out, I jumped at the chance and took her home. She was a gorgeous red merle female named Susie (spelt Sussie on her registration papers) whom I immediately renamed “Rose”.

Rose fit right in to our family, and I was working her in herding, obedience and Schutzhund. But, something came up – I think someone offered real money to buy her – and Warren said “too many dogs!” Rose went to a large west coast kennel where she was bred once. Later, I heard through the grape-vine that her now-owner said she attacked him and had her put down. Something I can’t even imagine from the dog I knew. Giving up Rose is one of my great regrets…

The photos below were taken on a walk at the Arboretum in Davis, then the film sat in a box in the garage for years before being developed. Apologies for the poor photo quality…