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Norm is coming April 10/11. Our last two clinics with Norm were extremely successful. Folks just love Norm and his ability to work with both dogs and handlers. The flyer can be found on the link on the home page and stockdog training page. Join us for a great weekend.
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We are so excited!!! 15 month old Coon will be coming in a couple of weeks from Norm and Vicki Close in Idaho. Coon's sire is Bill Orr's Boone, a very successful Open dog with a nice way with his sheep. His dam is Vicki's Tess... a very strong girl that will move anything. Very excited!
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It looks like we will have 4 clinics this year at our place. 2 with Norm Close and 2 with Faansie Basson. Most of you know Norm and how great he is with creating a positive learning experience for dogs and handlers. His clinics have been extremely successful with very happy handlers heading home after the weekend. We are looking at June and October for Norm so I will let you know as soon as we have firm dates.
You might not be as familiar with Faansie Basson. Faansie has been the South African National Champion 5 times as well as being awarded South African Dog of the Year 7 times. He and his dogs have won the Brace National Championship 8 times. Last year Faansie flew out from South Africa, popped off the plane with his dogs and lovely wife Elmarie to place 2nd and 3rd at the esteemed Soldier Hollow Classic in Utah. He then went on to place 5th out of 124 teams at the extremely difficult Meeker Classic in Colorado. While on the trip Faansie was one of 4 judges for the 2009 USBCHA National Finals. We are very honored and excited to have Faansie coming out for 2 clinics this year. It looks like the end of March and end of August. I will make an announcement as soon as we have firm dates. To learn more about Faansie please visit his website: www.elfadogs.co.za
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Jack Knox will be coming out March 6 & 7 to Lorri Schubert's field in Arlington, Wa. Jack is a past 2 time National Champion and one of a very few members of the ABCA Hall of Fame. Just my own opinion but Jack is absolutely brilliant when it comes to figuring out a dog and helping it learn. Well worth auditing if for a day to get a taste.
If you are interested contact Lorri at lorrischubert@hotmail.com
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Well... another great weekend passed. We lucked out with the weather... didn't have one drop of rain. Kathy was at her usual greatness. I'm buying the whole bucket of the way she trains a dog. Absolutely love her methodology. We worked 5 dogs throughout the weekend seeing improvement and having many "aha" moments. Can't say enough good things about Kathy. Much thanks to Lorri Schubert for hosting her again. I believe Kathy will be out again in May at Mary Homan's farm in Eatonville. Don't miss her!
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Just back from Meeker and Soldier Hollow... two of the most prestigious stockdog trials in North America. A great time was had by all. We are hoping Cap will be ready for Meeker next year. It is a very challenging course with sheep that often decide to just run over your dog. Soldier Hollow is an invitational held in a tremendous venue. They had record crowds this year with over 10,000 people watching the finals! We have the Tom Wilson's winning run in the video area if you would like a peek.
Dave and Cap will be heading to Klamath Falls Oregon next Tuesday for the USBCHA National Finals. If nothing else it should be exciting! More news when they get back.
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Okay then... so both Ursula and I headed up to Diane Pagel's farm for 2 hours of lessons with Derek yesterday. We both had things we were hoping to work on... I'm trying to find ways to stretch Cap out so he will look for sheep at 400 yards and Ursula is looking for ideas about starting Wile and driving with Pete. We had both met Derek at trials and such but had never worked with him so were wondering how things might go...
Straight to the point it was worth every moment of our time. He was full of ideas about how to get our dogs to understand what we are asking and very reasonable regarding what to expect. We both came away with new tools for the tool box and a set of things to work on in coming weeks. I came away refreshed and invigorated with Cap. It didn't hurt that he found his sheep over 300 yards away with one redirect. I was a very happy camper!
There is a good chance Derek will be back to Diane's in November. We will announce it here once it is confirmed. If you get a chance, definitely get a lesson from Derek.
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Once again, the Lacamas Valley SDT hosted by Lynn and Alison Johnston at their Johnston Dairy was an absolute highlight of the year. The fields were challenging and in fantastic shape, the sheep were wonderful, and the weather was perfect... mid 60's for almost the entire trial. The Oregonian came out to write an article and produce a video about the trial... here is a link to the article and video.
http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2009/08/sheepdog_trials_let_herding_do.html
Dave and Cap camped out for all 4 days enjoying a wonderful bonding experience. Cap placed well in Pro-Novice ending up in the top 6 or 7 in two trials out of approximately 65 dogs. He also gave it a go in Open non-compete to get a feel for what 525 yards is like. He found his sheep once and ably brought them home. A quick spin around the drive, shed, and an attempt to pen. We were quite proud of the young 2 year old on a very big field.
Do not miss this trial next year!!!
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Another great trial put on by Dirk and Sonja this past weekend. One of the nicest fields we have run on, it is a beautiful setting with mountains, rivers, and 500 yards to outurn on. Bill Berhow was judging over the three days working hard for the over 70 runs per day. Dirk's Scotties worked great all weekend... a bit of a challenge for the young dogs but well managed by the Open teams. Ursula and Pete did well taking 3rd place in Pro-Novice out of 28 dogs on the first day. Dave and Cap took 3rd in Pro-Novice the 2nd day as well as 2nd out of 11 dogs in the Nursery class both days. Ron Green had an absolutely gorgeous run with his Tiger in the second round of the Nursery Class with an 84/90 winning score. Wonderful dog, very nice handling. Just one more enjoyable weekend spent amongst dogs and friends.
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Norm is coming back! October 31st - November 1st. More details to follow as we tighten things up. We hope to fill the clinic and have a more formal process for folks wanting to take advantage of Vickie's photographic skills. We will make an announcement soon.
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Kathy Kox is coming back to town in August and October. Please Please Please... if you don't feel like you should attend with your dog, PLEASE audit at least one day. It will be WELL worth your while. Auditing when she comes to Eatonville in October is great. If you audit the Saturday session the dinner is included. All I can tell you is that Bob Homan is a great cook and brings the standard of clinic food to a whole different level. Kathy's knowledge, ability to communicate, and sense of humor as well as Bob's cooking... a day to be remembered. We will be attending both. Becca! I'm talking to you!!!
August 29/30 - Arlington, Wa Lorri Schubert lorrischubert@hotmail.com
October 9 - 11 -Eatonville, Wa Cheryl Munson munsonmeadows@centurytel.net
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DO NOT MISS THIS TRIAL!!!!! It is about an hour and forty five minutes away. It is the most prestigious trial on the west coast. The Johnston Farm provides two BEAUTIFUL trial fields and Lynn Johnston puts on a great show. Ursula and I will be there competing with Pete and Cap. Can't wait!
If you can only come down for one day make it Sunday, August 16th. That is the day of the double lift finals and will have some of the best teams in the country competing for the championship. Well worth the drive.
www.lvsdt.com
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Heather and Joe are having Patrick Shanahan out the weekend after the Lacamas Valley Stock Dog Trial, August 21-23rd for lessons and possibly a day of a judging/handling clinic for those of us competing to get some "strategy" advise. It's $85/1 hr lesson. If the clinic comes together it would be $100/person max of 12 people. Heather's email is heather@islandcrossingfarm.com. She will have registration forms up on their website www.islandcrossingfarm.com soon.
Patrick is a extraordinary competitor, National Champion, and wonderful trainer of dogs and handlers.
Don't miss the opportunity.
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Thank you Cheryl and Steve Munson! We were able to purchase 9 of their beautiful lambs this past Tuesday. We will let them settle in for a period of time then put them to work. We have another 10 or so lambs coming next month so we should have a 4 to 5 fresh sets to work with.
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Tis the season for stock dog heaven! There are a number of trials taking place in coming months...
Let us know if you have any questions about them.
Whidbey Island Classic: Langley, WA - June 20, 21, 22
Ewesful Acres SDT: Longbranch, WA - June 26, 27, 28
Sheep Thrillz SDT: Scio, OR - July 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (big field. excellent dogs and handlers. We will be there)
Skagit Valley Highland Games: Mount Vernon, WA - July 11, 12 (Arena trial, fun! Ursula may be there)
On The River SDT: Acme, WA - July 25, 26 (Another very big field. Top competitors. Should be a great trial We will be there to give it a go)
Lacamas SDT: Camas, WA - August 12 - 16 (One of the most prestigious trials on west coast. We will definitely be there)
Soldier Hollow Classic: Heber City, UT - Sept. 4 - 7 (Long drive, great vacation. An invitiational for the top handlers around the world. We will be there to watch)
Meeker Classic: Meeker, CO - Sept. 9 - 13 (Second half of a great vacation. Very difficult course with extremely tough sheep)
USBCHA National Finals: Klamath, OR - Sept. 22 - 27 (Dave and Cap qualified!!! We will definitely be there!)
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But not very often!!!!
Dave got out of Cap's way this past weekend just long enough for the team to win two trials and qualify for the 2009 National Nursery Finals. George and Sue MacDonald put on just one more delightful trial complete with wonderful weather, a beautiful field, and willing sheep. A great time was had by all!
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The United States Border Collie Handler's Association (USBCHA) will hold their National Finals in Klamath Falls, Oregon this year. September 22 - 27. Ursula and Dave will be heading down to volunteer scribing and moving sheep. If you can get some time off work it is a fantastic opportunity to watch the top 150 Dog/Handler teams in North America go after a very big course and some tough sheep. Some of our local heros should be competing... Norm Close, Don Helsely, Patrick Shannahan, Lorri Schubert, Joe Haynes, Francis Chai, Bill Berhow, Kathy Knox... it doesn't get much better.
This first link is for a video about the Finals with the second link to the National Finals website.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv6XubwLwrw
http://www.nationalsheepdogfinals.com/
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We have honey. Lots of it!!! Raw and delicious, this is Blackberry honey produced by Bruce's Bees of Mt. Vernon, Wa. Sizes and prices can be found in our eShop.
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Cap places 2nd in his first Pro-Novice trial. Dirk's hill field in Sedro-Woolley is becoming one of our favorites!!!
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Ursula will be starting a new class focusing on your dog's recall. For dogs with no recall or those that need a bit of polish. Lasting 4 weeks, we should have one starting soon. Check our schedule for dates and times.
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