Imported Buff

This is a compilation of Buff photos taken by my friend, Bridget, during his run at Meeker this year. Thanks Bridget. I ran this dog last year for his owner, Mandy, and if I'm lucky you'll be seeing more of him. He is an Irish import that came to Mandy by way of Joyce Geier, who bought him from Seamus Gallagher, (Supreme Champ, Michael's, uncle.) Joyce brought him across, and sent him to Mandy a year later when he didn't quite fit her style. Good news for Mandy. He could not fit hers more perfectly in the pro-novice, and is perfectly happy to run well for me in the open. Buff has found his last home. Mandy adores him, and there's lots to like.

I first ran him at Geri Abrahms Free to Be Ranch Trial in July, 2011 with Dennis Birchall doing the judging. We had him just a couple weeks at that time, and it showed. Dennis not only remembered Buff, but had judged him at the Irish National with Seamus handling. He explained that Buff had missed the team by only a few "honest" points. "Honest" you see, because Dennis had been judging there as well.

After running him just once this year, at Ewer's Snowbirds on the Border Trial, Buff had earned a few points, but not enough to go to the finals. I would have tried harder had I known Michael Gallagher was judging our finals. Michael remembered Buff very well, and in fact, helped me sort out a few whistles we'd been struggling with.  The sheepdog world is so small, and it seems Buff has friends all the way around it. He's a very likable guy.

With just aging Mirk to run in open, I'm happy to have 5 year old Buff on the road with me. I have nice youngsters in the wings, but they're very much in the drawing board stage. Completely different from Mirk in almost every way, Buff is teaching me to stay light on my feet. And then there's the puppies...

During the Carbondale National Finals last year, Buff made a fortuitous, accidental breeding with good bitch, Rosie. There were 5 pups. The good news is they have all ended up in working homes that will never part with them. I saw all 5 this summer at Strang Ranch during my stay in between Meeker and the Klamath Falls, OR National Finals. That's them at the end of the video. Of course, I had a favorite, but it seems you'll be seeing more of Buff in more ways than one.