Speck was the most biddable, willing and kind dog (though a little sticky).  We expected the same from Cleo, but from the moment she stepped into our lives, she felt she was born to run things.  At eight or ten weeks, she was bullying the four year old dogs (Speck and our Australian Shepherd, Hannah).  Cleo was a pistol, busy, energetic, driven to stay occupied.  She was very, very intelligent and figured out things in moments, especially if it involved anything she wanted.

We worked in a feedlot when Cleo was small, but moved out to work on a large ranch before she was one.  L.D. was cattle manager on the 200,000 acre operation, and we found opportunities for her to learn stock work when we were riding out to check the 850 cows or 3500 yearlings.  She learned fast and had lots of ability to control cattle.  We still didn't know much of anything about training stock dogs, but Cleo quickly figured out what we needed and helped all she could.

Cleo's sire, Casey, was bred by Arthur Allen and his dam, Dottie, was the offspring of two dogs bred or owned by Arthur Allen.  Casey and Dottie worked in Tom and Bonnie Thurman's Kansas sheep feedlot.  After we got Cleo, Casey and Dottie were sold in Texas.  Dottie ended up having descendants who were competitive cattle dogs, one placing 7th in the USBCHA cattle dog nursery trial in 2001 (Jewel, owned by Linda Holloway).  

Cleo was not only a great working dog for us, she was a great companion, being very close to human.  She had a brilliant mind and noticed everything, and even at 12 years old was still very active.   She had three litters.  We kept pups from the first and third litter.  We lost her in 2006 and still miss her.