Pow was a standout from the moment he was born. First off, he was supposed to be that "great" SABLE by Ch. Diamond's Robert Bruce, ROM, out of Julaine's Wood Mist O'Cherden, two sables, albeit trifactored. Instead, he was BLACK! But as plain as he also was, that superb head of his was very apparent from the moment he emerged. Little did I know that this was to be the start of decades of "all those tricolor Cherden Shelties." This was my very first ad on him in the SSC of Northern California catalog, March, 1969.

Pow was the star in the litter of five, first in quality, movement, and personality. His face was very black, being bi-factored, and he was a cliff-hanger on size all the way along. Almost every breeder who saw him kindly told me to get rid of him as he was going oversize. He did his "pogo pounce bounce" from the beginning, and was very much a momma's boy. He even leapt out of a car window to get to me, landing hard on the asphalt and breaking one hind leg. It healed well, but he always threw that healed leg out a bit after he matured. That same day we had already been kicked out of the ring at the Match as the judge couldn't find one testicle at 4 1/2 months. But I was very stubborn about this unusual black pup, and by this time I just felt he was going to be something special if it all came together. Sometimes persistence pays off.

Here is a "backyard" photo of Pow running around our yard at about 4 months of age with his dam, Collette. He was all legs at this stage, but coordinated and moved with the best, never sloppy like most pups. By then I was determined to make him "the best that he could be" and religiously roadworked him as a juvenile on my bicycle a few miles every day. It may have helped, since he took his first points at 10 months and finished at 17 months. He was my "first" really nice show puppy, and I was much more dedicated back then!

This photo was taken at the San Fernando Kennel Club show when he was 6 1/2 months old. Collie breeder/judge Roz Durham snapped this while we sat him on a grooming table and used a small mattress pad draped over the grooming arm for an impromptu backdrop. During his younger days, Pow loved to go camping, especially to anywhere that offered water to play in. If natural bodies of water were not available, he would use his water bucket. He stood in it most of the time and put his entire head underwater when it was hot out! He would blow bubbles, too. The pogo pounce and the waterdog traits seem to have often been passed on to his offspring. Maybe it had something to do with all those Spaniel spots on his legs!

At 8 1/2 months, Pow became an all-legs, stringbean model for this Lambert-Kay Corporation ad.

Here is Pow at about 15 months while up at Banchory on lease, photo from an early ad in The Sheltie Special. He went up there as he was barely being used in Southern California because he was so different and out of lines that were not common in the area. So he went up to Banchory to make his mark as a great sire.

Pow seeking his title with his main handler, the late PHA George Schlinker, who was also my good friend and mentor. Here they are shown together taking a major on the Arizona spring circuit, March 1970, Pow now 16 months old. Pow was also shown in Canada by the late Pat Tripp, and in four shows, completed his Canadian title requirements, with three Best of Breeds over Specials and a Working Group 2. His title was never properly recorded and formalized, however.

A proud moment for us both. Pow finishes his title under breeder judge Lee Reasin at the SSC of Southern California, April 1970, and goes Best of Breed over 20 Specials from the classes at 17 months. He had also gone Runner Up in Sweeps earlier that day, under David Reese, who owned his sire.

Pow's pups began to hit the show ring in the early 1970's. One of the first, a 6-month-old Banchory Enchanted Evening II, won WB, BW, BOS from the Junior Puppy class at the West Texas SSC Specialty in 1971, for a 5-point major. Soon after, "Gypsy" took a 5-pt win at the SSC of British Columbia Specialty in Canada. She was never shown to her titles, but is typical of the first-generation of the Pow/High Born blend, the basis of Banchory's line.

Though these images have been damaged by time, they combine to show a mature Pow. Though shown very little, Pow won Specialty BBs and BOSs under such noted judges as Betty Whelen and Barbara Curry. In 1975 and 1976 Pow was recognized by Kennel Review as an outstanding sire, with 8 champions in 1975 and 7 in 1976. Working Dog honored Pow as the #2 Sheltie sire in the nation for 1976. His list of champions in the US and Canada began to grow long. I trained the then veteran Pow for his CD title, which he obtained with ease.

Pow winning one of his many BISSs -- this one under Jean Simmonds, with me handling, at the Evergreen State SSC Specialty in November 1975. The ESSSC later dedicated their 25th anniversary show in November 1987, to Pow, using this photo.

FROM THE EVERGREEN CATALOG: “The Evergreen State Shetland Sheepdog Club proudly dedicates our 25th Specialty Show, Obedience Trial, and Sweepstakes to Am/Can CH Cherden Sock It To ‘Em, C.D. (Photo caption: Am/Can CH Cherden Sock It To ‘Em C.D. going BOB at the 1975 ESSSC Specialty Show under Jean Simmonds) Pow’s influence on Shelties in the Pacific Northwest has been profound. He made substantial improvements to the breed and appears in almost every pedigree in our area. POW was born in 1968, bred by Cheryl Anderson of Cherden Shelties. He was sired by CH Diamond’s Robert Bruce and out of Julaine’s Wood Mist O’ Cherden. He was very, very black, a stand-out puppy with superb movement and temperament. He was shown to his championship by Cheryl. Trained by Cheryl, and earning his 1st leg at ESSSC, his C.D. was later finished by Kathy Wittkower of Fairlight Shelties in Texas, where he lived to the grand old age of 15-1/2 years. POW was not heavily campaigned, but he had a number of Best Of Breeds at Specialty Shows, including ESSSC. Perhaps his most memorable shows were when he finished his American Championship at one year (sic - 17 mos) of age at the 1970 SSCSC Specialty and went on to BOB over 20 champions, handled by Cheryl, and in 1978 when he won Veteran’s Dog at the ASSA National in Omaha under Dorothy Cobb Burns and was a serious contender for BOB. His quality was strong, and he sired 35 American champions and numerous Canadian champions, making him one of the top producing Sheltie sires. For his major contributions to our breed, the Evergreen State Shetland Sheepdog Club wishes to honor POW.”

Pow, aging well: at the 1978 ASSA National in Omaha, Pow won the Veteran's Class. Judge Dorothy Cobb Burns said of him: "Ch. Cherden Sock It To 'Em CD won the nod and was subsequently to be a real contender for Best of Breed on the basis of his essential qualities regardless of age. A beautifully headed tricolor dog, sound moving and well coated." (Note: These remarks were made before the Award of Merit System had been instituted.)

I welcome other photographs of Pow!