The Real Time Canine II

After spending 2 years writing the Real Time Canine, the adventure continues with The Real Time Canine II. Read along as I look for just the right puppy to continue the experience. After false starts with Tim and Jed, I am currently training young Tam, and Spot, which are both off to a strong start. Please visit the RTC II to read about training sessions as they occur.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Bone-dale

What's wrong with the picture below? Hmm? do you see it? Can you remember back to a simpler time when you didn't pay at the pump? When you simply pulled up, filled up, then went inside to pay? What's wrong with the picture is that there is no slot to slide your card. If you wanted you could just pull up, fill up, go inside and pay, and go on with your life. Welcome to Meeker, small town America where everybody is on their best behavior, knows where to find you, recognizes that you really can't run that fast and trusts you for a tank of fuel. 


Old Timey Gas Pump

I  can only hope you noticed that I've been missing in action for the last day and a half. I was on the Strang Ranch in Car-bone-dale (Carbondale) to tune my dogs, hang with my friends, give a few lessons, sleep in a soft bed, and eat well. Got back this afternoon. I tried to use Bridget Strang's 'puter to update you, but the 7, 8 and 9 are missing from her 'puter keyboard, and I couldn't login to this blog. Apparently a puppy took out those keys trying to climb on the desk, and she has never replaced the crippled 'puter. On the ranch, there really are more important things to do.


Frozen Side Roll at 6 am

The clinic went well. We worked dogs, and worked 'em and worked 'em and worked 'em. I had opportunity to train my own dogs, so I took a 2x4 and hit Mirk upside his head a couple times after his dismal running at SoHo. Just day dreaming kidding. Didn't hit him with anything except the reality of training hard on good sheep. I surely hope it helps. Got rained on pretty much all day today and still managed to work all the dogs. Star did a double take the first time he saw Bridget's Rambouillet/Columbia cross ewes weighing in around 150 pounds...and then I showed him the Suffolks.
Price was my assistant trainer, and worked his tail off to make unsuitable sheep appropriate for novice hands. He's a great one, and he reminded me again just how great.


Carbondale Practice Field

The parking area at the trial field filled up tight while I was away, and the area where I am camped, which was grassy, flattish, and empty, is now crowded. I have Amanda and Beverly on either side of me. In as much as I had tremendous o'er derv's and brilliant Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir in Amanda's trailer this afternoon, I suppose I could do worse for neighbors.

Once again I'm reminded how badly I've missed so many people. I waved at Karen Child, visited briefly with Libby Nieder, failed at selling Derek Fischer a 2011 Nat'l Finals hat, and had a drink with Stormy and Pat Winters, Red Oliver, Larry Adams and Terry Warner in Stormy's big, fancy, replacement for the pug. Remember the pug? If you do, I made you smile.

I didn't see one single run today. I was back from Carbondale too late. Long time Meeker announcer, Art Unsworth, announced scores towards the end, and the high score from today was a 70-something, I think. Rumor has it the sheep are heavy and a bit on the fight. I walked the drive line, then I walked what I hope will be my dog's path on the outrun. The set out has been moved way to the handler's left on the field, and I am told that was done to counter the draw to the right. The draw occurs because the sheep are overnighted in a large area to the right of the fenced off trial field, but moving the post makes it awkward to send the dogs come-bye, because now there's not a lot of room. It also left a lot of room for the dogs to get lost if you send away-to-me. Doesn't matter to me. I practiced it for a day and a half in Carbondale, and I'm going left. I run 26th tomorrow, so I'll have plenty of time to change my mind after watching all day. Also I've been told that the judge, Haley Howard, shortened the course to 11 minutes. It's always been 13 when I've run here previously, but Mirk likes to go fast. All I can hope is that it works in his favor. After SoHo, I think he's due for something to be.


1 comment:

  1. You must be so tired but sound energized. Have a great time and keep us posted when you can. How is Jed doing?

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