| 2003 Profile of Cattledog Champions | ||||||
|
2003 USBCHA
Cattledog
Champion |
|
|||||
 I
imported Cap from England at 16 months of age. He had been started on
sheep, and I finished training him on sheep and cattle. I use him on our
ranch with both sheep and cattle. I began trialing him in Open Sheepdog
Trials when he was just over 2 -1/2 years old. He qualified for and
competed in the 2002 Western States Regional Championship. I had always
wanted to compete in the National Cattledog Finals, but in the past,
they had been too far away. I was excited when I found out that the
Finals were going to be on the West Coast, and I decided to try to
qualify Cap. I was very grateful to have been able to compete in the
Finals; I really enjoyed meeting all the nice people and seeing the
great dogs.
Cap was nice to train because he is biddable and natural with a lot of
push. His quick response to commands
makes him a pleasure to trial; it is
easy to move him just a couple of feet, if needed. He has a good outrun
over any distance, and driving is one of his strong points. He has a
natural ability to gain the livestock's respect without upsetting them;
I really appreciate that quality in him. He is very dependable and never
lets me down, no matter how tough a situation becomes. Also, Cap has a
tremendous temperament, always "a gentleman".Cap's SIRE, J. S. Hastie's Chance, is by Stuart Davidson's International Supreme Champion Craig, and out of a bitch who is line bred on J. S. Hastie's Jace (a Bosworth Coon daughter). Cap's DAM is registered on merit and is by M. J. Mason's Bob who goes back to A. Jones Moss and John Richardson's Mirk. |
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
2003 USBCHA |
|
|||||
|
Rudy is by my Sis and
Russell McCord's Stetson. Both go back to my Sam dog that I acquired
from Mr. Pope Robertson many years ago. |
||||||
|
|
||||||
I raised and trained Rudy and
sold him to Bud Wilmoth of Paradise, Tx about 3 months before last
year's national finals. When asked why I sold him I borrow a quote from
a friend and say, "You can't keep 'em all". Rudy went to last year's
finals and finished 10th in the Nursery. This year with more maturity,
he was able to work both the Nursery course for a good 3rd place finish
and the Open for a 2nd place finish. He handled the look-back well in
the finals and took all my whistles well. I believe that Rudy has just
enough 'presence' to put pressure on cattle without making them feel
defensive so they move off for him without many fights. Bud wants Rudy
to keep competing so hopefully we'll be at next year's finals trying to
repeat in the Open.
I never thought I had a chance of winning.
I was just thrilled to make the finals but the Lord was looking out for
us I guess. Poor Pearl needed somebody to look out for her she sure
didn't get much help from me. Getting the ranch ready for the finals
didn't leave much time for dog training and Pearl had to spend a
lot of time in the kennel. The only problem I had was keeping her
backed off enough. I knew if I let her get too rough with those light
cattle we would blow it bad. Pearl's breeder and half owner is Jake
Zanacco. Her sire Crystal Rose Butch is a great trial dog a good rough
country ranch dog, and a proven sire. Butch is the kind of a dog you
could breed to a coyote and produce good cow dogs. Pearls's dam Rocking
4 Val was definitely no coyote. She was bred by David Periera and has
also proven to be a great dog for Jake. I'd like to thank Jake and Kim
Zanacco for Pearl, everyone who helped put on the Nationals, and the
Lord for watching over it all. Merle Newton
