Flora's Matilde "Tilly", FG40K,
ARBA Grand Champion

Tribute to Tilly from her breeder…

From the moment she was born I knew she was special.  So tiny yet so mighty from the very beginning, I knew she could have no other name but Matilde, meaning mighty in battle.  Matilde was one of the last of Flora’s second litter to leave home because I was saving her for a family that would put her to work.  If ever there was a puppy that needed work, it was Matilde.  Not just any family would be able to provide this puppy what she needed, what she craved, but Phil and Sue Cohen were up for the challenge.

In 2002, at a flyball tournament in Reedley, California, Phil Cohen stood by the ring and watched 1 ½ year old Solo race down the lane.  I was standing nearby and overheard him exclaim, “That’s the fastest Beagle I ever saw!”  Farmdogs were a really rare sight in 2002, and certainly there was no frame of reference for the breed.  I felt it necessary to correct Phil and we fell into a conversation about Danish/Swedish Farmdogs.  Puppy Flora’s Matilde was with me at this tournament (at the time I had nick-named her Matty).  I allowed Matty to spend the night at the Cohen’s campsite to see how she fared with their Aussie, Kyleigh.  I believe the moment she crawled into Sue’s sleeping bag, she became a Cohen.   My “Matty” became Phil and Sue’s “Tilly,” and the following year, Tilly made her flyball debut at the Reedley tournament.  I knew Tilly had the perfect family.

Tilly had endless energy, drive and talent for any and all dog sports activities she participated in, and she excelled in everything! Tilly reveled in the challenges – flyball, dock dogs, disc dogs, herding, lure coursing, earth dog, agility – you name it, Phil and Sue saw that Tilly had opportunity to try it.  To my knowledge, they never found a dog sport Tilly couldn’t master.  Tilly was the smallest of Farmdogs, weighing in at only 12 -13 pounds, but most recently at the National Breed Specialty Show fun day events, she took top honors in “bobbing for hotdogs,” consuming vast quantities of water-logged hot dog bits in record time – no other Farmdog came close and spectators were awed as well as entertained.  Whatever Tilly did, she did it with gusto!  Tilly put her heart and soul into every activity – a real Farmdog. 

Flyball was Tilly’s dog sports passion.  At the end of many a tournament Saturday, I would see Tilly curled up in Sue’s arms, satisfied with her day’s accomplishments and dreaming of the Sunday races to come.  Tilly competed in at least 130 flyball tournaments between 2003 and 2008.  Her flyball titles are many:  FD=10/05/03; FDX=10/05/03; FDCH=01/24/04; FDCH-S=01/25/04; FDCH-G=03/20/04; FM=07/10/04; FMX=11/14/04; FMCH=05/15/05; ONYX=07/17/05; FGDCH=07/30/06; FG40K=11/03/07. There are 12 NAFA registered Farmdogs, and Tilly holds the top spot for the breed in NAFA honors, FGDCH 40,000 (Flyball Grand Champion 40,000 points), and she was nearing 50,000 points.  Tilly held more than just flyball titles, she was also an ARBA Grand Champion, the only Farmdog shown enough times in the US to earn that title.

It is devastating to lose a beloved pet family member, even more so when they have passed in their prime. I have shared many tears with fellow farmdog families these past few days since Tilly’s passing.  We all hold our little ones closer and hug them tighter, forgiving easily their minor misbehaviors, thankful they are in our arms, on our laps or in our beds.  I feel most blessed to have one of Tilly’s pups, Ruby.  In the beginning it meant so much because both my Flora and my Hannah are in her pedigree.  But now, more than ever it is because I see the same spirit and heart in Ruby that her mother, Tilly, embodied. In Ruby, I see them all.  Thank you, Phil and Sue.

Here’s to Tilly, truest of farmdogs, forever in our hearts…

Mel

A few words from others:

Tonya Jensen wrote:
“Tilly---there is no one word that could describe her.  She was a little Farmdog in statue only, and giant in every other respect.  Her drive, her tenacity, her intensity, her prowess as an athletic, her devotion to her family, were treasures to behold.  Tilly was everything a Farmdog was meant to be, and an ambassador for the breed we love.  She was an icon in flyball and all the other many activities she enjoyed.  I will never forget Tilly, she was the first Farmdog I met.  She was the little dog that was ultimately responsible for the Farmdog in my life----an overwhelming joy that I know others as well have experienced because of Tilly.  Thank you for the gifts you left with each of us Tilly, your paws left prints on many hearts.  We aren’t likely to ever forget you.”

Brita Lemmon wrote:
“Your Tilly has encouraged so many people to want and become part of the Farmdog family here in the U.S.  Your dedication encouraging her talents has been tireless.  I am so sorry for such a loss.  Your love and dedication gave her the finest life possible, I know she wanted for nothing, maybe more hotdog dunking competitions, but we all want more of those.  I will hug my four legged loves hard tonight in her honor.”

Jeri Reinhart wrote:
“ Brita is right, I often used Tilly as an example of all the things a Farmdog could do.  Her enthusiasm was boundless.  My special memory of Tilly was at WAGS for Wishes where she was everywhere, Flyball, Dock Diving, Lure Coursing and I'm sure she would have been in there weight pulling if they had a cart her size.  You gave her such a wonderful life.”

Judy and Stacey Redburn wrote:
“Tilly means so much to us - it is in large part due to Sue falling for her in Reedley and bringing her home that we have Cooper. Everything we love about our Farmdogs --  She had it all.  We are so glad that she and Cooper had their fling and that she will live on in Nellie and Ruby. Maybe that gives some small comfort to Phil and Sue right now.  Those of us who were lucky enough to know her and "play" with her during her life will miss her dearly.”

Esther Smithstan wrote:
“She was an extraordinary, spunky and wonderful dog.  I will always hold dear my first memory of her, Sue running her in her first tournament.  She was so loved by you and she so loved you dearly.  I am so sorry for your loss.”

Sally Frankel wrote:
"Tilly was the true Ambassador to Danish/Swedish Farmdogs in the United States. Sue and Phil our hearts go out to you. As one of the Charter Farmdog Family members both you and Tilly have helped place the Danish/Swedish Farmdogs in many United States homes. Tilly was my first live Farmdog encounter as she was for so many others.

One cold winter night a friend and I went to see Tilly at one of her flyball practices.  Tilly was so small, only six months old, and just beginning to learn how to run over the 4" jumps and catch a tug.  Sue asked me if I wanted to run her.  I was so surprised and thrilled at the change to play but a little afraid that I wouldn't do it right. The moment I touched her and she hit the tug her exploding special Farmdog energy flashed throughout my body. I knew then that my destiny would include a Farmdog. Sue told me how to contact the breeder and get on the waiting list. I will never forget that night or the thrill I felt from her energy.

The next Flyball tournament I saw Sue and Tilly and nearly every hour I would ask Sue if I could hold her or show her off to someone. That same weekend I met two other Farmdogs, Tilly’s sister Libby and half-brother Solo. Six months later Solo became my Farmdog’s father.  It really was my destiny as there were only three pups and I was chosen. No doubt Sue and Tilly had something to do with that too.

Only my soul knows how much my heart hurts knowing that I will never see Tilly again. I hold Anna and Luke especially close as they lick my tears. Tilly, you were my "beginning" and you will always be in my heart. I am so happy that I was in Reedly to witness and film your Flyball debut."

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