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2006
BORDER COLLIE NATIONAL SPECIALTY October 16-22, 2006-Purina Farms-Gray Summit, Missouri HERDING JUDGE DANA MACKENZIE  Return
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I’ve
been actively involved in using dogs to work stock since the
‘80’s when I bought my first Australian Shepherd. At that time,
I was working on a west Texas ranch and taking care of either
600 cows and calves or 1200 steers, depending on what the owner
chose to run. I did have help for branding, weaning and shipping
but was alone for most of the rest of the time. It was a large
ranch with only seven brushy, cactus-filled pastures. Finding
and moving cattle could be extremely difficult. Stock was worked
from horseback, on foot, by horse drawn wagon or out of a
pickup. A stockdog really changed things around, opened my eyes
to what was possible, and made life much easier. Now I can’t
imagine any kind of stock work or life in general without one at
my side. But my first, little Aussie did much more for me than
helping with chores; she opened a world I didn’t know existed
and was my avenue into training, trialing and giving training
clinics. Judging came later, first ASCA then AHBA, AKC and CKC.
But even more than all of that, that pup gave me the opportunity
to meet and get to know some of the finest people around,
stockdog folk. Though that little black dog is long gone now, I
will always be in her debt for the countless hours of pleasure
and lifelong friendships she left behind.
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Page Updated 06.16.2009