2004 USBCHA Cattledog Champion

I have been extremely lucky in my life to have had the privilege to own Cap. Cap is a homegrown dog that my grandpa, Gene Estes, gave me when he was only a pup. He is out of an imported bitch named Tib ABC#80842 and Jimmy Baker's Cap ABC#66692. This cross has proven to yield many good dogs including this years nursery champion, Biscuit.

I started training Cap when he was a year old, he proved to be an extremely good fit for me. He is a very laid back dog, that only cares about two things, working livestock, and pleasing his handler, both of which he does very well. When Cap was two we ran in the Nursery sheep finals in El Reno, Oklahoma, and made the top 20. We also ran in the Open sheep finals. This makes the third National Cattledog Finals that we have run in. It makes no difference to Cap, sheep or cattle, as long as he's getting to work something. His easy going temperament allows him to move sheep with ease, and his power and grit when necessary commands respect from cattle. One of Caps best qualities to me is the fact that you can go a week without working him and when you finally do take him out and work him he never misses a beat. This works out good for me with my busy school and work schedules.

I have been trialing for eight years now, I ran my first trial when I was 12 yrs old. I first trialed with Cap's mother, Tib, and now with Cap for the last 5 yrs. Cap will be 7 this summer and God willing our partnership will continue to flourish for years to come. Cap is an amazing dog and it doesn't matter if he ever wins another trial he has definitely earned his keep around my house.

I am so grateful to have been able to participate in the National Cattle Finals for the last few years, it has been a great opportunity to meet some really great people, and win, lose, or draw I think that is what our sport is about, good people coming together to promote one outstanding breed of dogs.

Hooker is a 5 year old female, but don't be fooled by her name. She is a professional but not the kind that you are thinking of. She is a professional cattle and sheepdog. She got her name when it was noticed that she had a hook on the end of her tail when she was a puppy. Pete is the breeder of Hooker and her sire is Ty. Ty ran in the top 10 in 2 past Open Sheepdog Finals. Her dam is Shasta's Jess, whose sire is Pete's old faithful hand Luke. Hooker was 10th last year at the Cattledog Finals in Red Bluff, CA last year and she qualified for the finals in 2002 when they were in Benton, Arkansas. Hooker was also the Reserve Champion All-Around Stockdog in 2003. This award is based on the highest average placing dog at the National Cattledog Finals and the National Sheepdog Finals in 2003. That alone should tell you that she knows how to handle cattle & sheep in the proper manner.

Pete Carmichael was born and raised in Western South Dakota in the 1930's and grew up herding & working cattle and sheep. He and his wife Ann later purchased a ranch in Timber Lake, SD where they raised 5 children. Timber Lake is on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in Northern South Dakota. Pete had a registered Limousin cattle operation for 30 years where his family had production sales and showed cattle for many years. Pete also judged many cattle shows over the years but decided to change things and sold the herd and his main ranch only to retire to 400 head of ewes that he now runs on his smaller ranch. He has always had Border Collies to help in his ranch work and Pete currently raises, breeds and trains his own dogs and occasionally puts on clinics and judges some trials, being the judge of the 1st Cattledog Finals in 2001, in Montgomery, Alabama.

Biscuit's dam and sire, are Kyle Estes' Tib and Jimmie Baker's Cap, respectively.  This same combination also produced Kyle Estes' Cap, Champion in the 2004 National Cattledog Trial, where Biscuit also competed and placed third. 

I bought Biscuit as a pup from Greg Estes, hoping to have a smart dog to help work cattle. I got what I wanted and more --- I was immediately hooked on training and trialing.   Greg Estes trained me to train Biscuit and he sure did a good job!  Without his encouragement and knowledge I'd just have another pet to feed! Greg's best advice in training Biscuit was to, "Talk to her and she'll know what you mean."  I took his advice (I may have overdone it), and I'm convinced Biscuit has learned the English language.  Maybe that gave us an edge this year! 

In preparation for a run, Biscuit loves to sit on my lap and watch the competition until it's our turn to walk out on the field.  Sending Biscuit on the outrun and watching her take and communicate directions to the stock is a very satisfying experience.  She always seems to know what I'm trying to do and instinctively knows how to get the job done.  She loyally follows the commands I give her and sizes up the particular stock we're working, to keep the proper distance and speed.  

When Biscuit isn't working on the farm or trialing, she enjoys riding in the front passenger seat of the car or truck, playing with the water hose, or running around the yard with the biggest stick (tree limb) she can carry. She truly is this man's best friend! 

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