Kennel reduction!

In anticipation of our much awaited move, I am placing many of my dogs and keeping only the nucleus of my 40 year program. As a financial encouragement, I have my own "stimulus" with prices lowered on many that normally would not even be available or that I would just grow out. Now is an excellent time to acquire a pup, youngster or young adult from the proven Fairoaks bloodline.

Welcome to our website.
I love this new media. I can now reach all those interested in our dogs and share the entire history of my involvement and accomplishments. Before the Internet, only those with deep pockets could afford to do so through advertising, which has had a strong influence on the fancy, and then only in the breed journals which the public did not often see. The Internet is a great equalizer BUT it can be very misleading too. Since it has become an advertising media all kinds of “breeders” claiming 20 to 30 yrs in the breed that no one in the fancy has ever heard of before, have popped up. Make sure that any breeder you are looking into actually has the experience they claim to have.

On this first page, my idea was to give a brief rundown of all the information contained in the site, keeping it to just an outline, but that turned out to be impossible considering our 40 years of dedication and involvement in this amazing breed. If you are interested in the “short version”, then this page will cover a lot of what is covered in depth throughout the site. There you will find more about our history and accomplishments and be able to see pictures of alot of old style Aussies.

There is a lot to look at, so if you are inclined, grab a cup of coffee, sit down and get comfortable. Hope you enjoy !

Breed Foundation Dogs
Prior to 1970 the foundation dogs that would become known as the Australian Shepherd gained favor because they were highly intelligent, extremely trainable, physically capable dogs with a strong desire to please and an invaluable working ability. They were truly a Jack-of-all-trades and a master of many. They were intuitive and self-thinkers, incredibly devoted and protective. Many were unsung heroes in the history of the west when they fearlessly put themselves between harm and their owners. They developed through trial by fire and like their human counterparts were the embodiment of the frontier spirit. The physical traits that were necessary to accomplish that which was required of them produced a classic beauty and proven soundness.

Fairoaks Foundations
We acquired our first Aussie in the spring of 1966. Daisy came from a long line of workers whose ancestors saw working at the arena. I paid $15.00 for the pick of the litter. From the spring of 1966 to 1970, I had several other good Aussies. Cody arrived in May 1970 and Chulo, in 1973. It was from these two dogs and their descendants that I developed the Fairoaks line. I am very proud to say that we still have the same look, style and spirit in our dogs that we started with and we have come to appreciate and value even more as the years have gone by.

Our foundation dog is HOF Ch. Chulo Rojo of Fairoaks. He was succeeded by his son, Fairoaks Atreyu STDd, OTDs,c and now by Int'l Ch. Fairoaks Aladar, Atreyu's son. During each main sire's reign, there have been other good males that were half brothers, cousins and nephews which we also used to a lesser degree. It is natural to mention the sires, but that does not lessen the great contributions my wonderful girls have made over the decades.

As you look through our pages, you will notice a different “look” to our Aussies. There are a few other breeders that use the old time Aussies. Those of us that concentrate on the complete all around Aussie and not just conformation or working are in the small minority of kennels today. While I continue to work diligently to maintain the look and best of the mental abilities of the foundation Aussies as they were forty, sixty, 100 years ago, each breeding is made with the continuing goal of overall quality and ability, from dogs that I have known and raised, whose parentage is also from dogs that I have known and raised, etc.

My goal since 1976 has been to create and maintain a true bloodline. Our dogs have acquired titles and high honors, both here and in many other countries, in every endeavor they have undertaken. In addition, they have contributed to establishing a strong base in other kennels that are in their turn attaining awards. I am very proud of and thankful to all the people over the years that have titled my dogs and for my many, many wonderful friends.

I breed for what I know to be a good Aussie. I have never bred to any fad whether color, markings, temperament or to what the pet buying public might want. If what I maintain in my line is appreciated and sought after that is wonderful. However, I breed to my own strict personal criteria and refuse to change this wonderful breed into just another generic dog with a short tail, that anyone can keep as a decoration. Fairoaks dogs are a solid source of foundation breeding.

Our Involvement
I have been involved with the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) from the late 60's when the efforts of just a few dedicated fanciers jump started a dormant ASCA. Butch and I have been members since 1966. I served as Secretary from 1975 to 1978, on the Board of Directors for six years between 1979 and 1986, as well as having been a member of many affiliate clubs.

During the early 1970's in support of the fledging ASCA show program Butch and I would haul every dog we owned to shows all over the midwest. Butch will tell you that “the dogs are her thing”, but he enjoys the social aspects of the shows and when we were really pressed he has even shown dogs winning majors in the early days (which he never lets me forget). He has built, shoveled and watched the farm for all these years enabling me to travel.

I have been judging Aussies since 1976. When the current Breeder Judge Program was implemented in 1989, I was one of ten who had already met the requirements. We were “grand-fathered” into the current Breeder Judge Program. I have been privileged to judge in many states (20) and in 2000 was honored to judge Best of Breed at the ASCA National Specialty.

In 1985, I published a manual "Judging the Australian Shepherd" and have contributed to the Aussie Times, since 1973.

In 1990, our lives changed wonderfully, when our only child, Ethan, was born. As a little guy he loved the puppies and playing with the dogs. He has become a tremendous help in the kennel and is getting very good at taking pictures.

Currently I show some in Conformation in both ASCA and American Kennel Club (AKC). I am Senior Breeder judge in ASCA where I am currently a member of the Breed Standard Review Committee. In the United States Australian Shepherd Association (USASA) I am honored to be an AKC Breed Mentor.

I think that any question you might have is answered in the site, but please feel from to contact me, if you have questions or want to chat.

Sandy Cornwell
10346 E. 2600 N. Road
Potomac, Illinois, 61865

Contact: Sandy Cornwell at: fairchulos@aol.com or call: (217) 286-3499