Right now: In Virginia competing in conformation.
His breeder, Briley Kelley of Skyborne Australian Shepherds, is showing him.
AKC Mjr Pt'd BBE Winning Skyborne's Storms Wake RN CA DCAT DEX DMX AS HDJ TKP VHMA VSWB FITB
HIS WORK
Everything he earned.
Strike's work spans dock diving, conformation, scent, and rally/obedience.
- Current
- Virginia conformation
- Conformation
- Major Win, Concord, NC
- Dock Diving
- Dock Elite Excellent
- Highlight
- 2nd place, 2025 ESPN Diving Dogs Premier Cup
- Approach
- Fluency, placement, and practiced execution
SELECTED HISTORY
Strike's moments to shine.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT · 2025
2nd place at the ESPN Diving Dogs Premier Cup
Strike entered seeded third from last and held first place until Bobo, a Whippet owned by our friends Steve and Maggie Chen, passed him.
His first jump was chosen as Dive of the Day. His second secured 2nd overall with a clean throw, full use of the dock, and a confident catch.
METHOD
How he learned the dock
We worked with several trainers: we learned the value of practicing the full setup under Erin Lynes. You would always find us at Blaine Bodin's dock in Abbeville, or at Mill Pond Kennels' practicing every single week. We always took fitness seriously: he started under canine conditioning coach and then worked with Ronny LeJeune @ Optimal Canine. Strike was always a catching spectacle, but on the back half of his career, we owe a lot of Jenny Pike and Lindsey Hinds for teaching us dog-first throwing concepts that Strike took to heart.
He achieved full striding and collection fluency by being given the space to learn with soft, early throws and very precise bumper placement. The norm is to train dogs with late, on-reaction throw and jump combinations that lead to early takeoffs, stunted concepts, and injury.
Strike is not the fastest, and he is not the furthest jumper out there, but his power and precision put him very close. In the three years he competed, he ranked 1-3 in his breed in the United States, and I stand by him being one of the most skillful. He made the most of what he had.
CATCHING MONTAGE
Nine months old to now.
