What are the dogs on trial for?

That's what a friend asked me when I told her we were going to the Meeker Sheepdog Trials. "What are the dogs on trial for?" If you haven't been The Meeker Sheepdog Trials are an annual event where sheep dog "handlers" show off their stuff. It's a 5 day stock trail with a grueling "double lift final" at the end. The field is over 300 yards and the dog must "pick up" one group of sheep- herd it through gates to a holding circle; "look back" pick up a second group of sheep- and herd those through gates to the holding circle. Then comes the part which takes a toll on your nerves "The Shed". Five sheep have orange collars. Those 5 and only those 5 must remain in the circle or the "Shedding Ring". Once you've isolated the 5 collared sheep (and they don't call 'em sheep for nothin'- they want to stick together, you then herd them into the pen and close the gate. All of this in only 20 minutes.

We normally drive up early Sunday to catch a little bit of the finals. You may think watching a border collie herd sheep into a pen doesn't have the thrill a minute hard hitting action of the NFL- you'd be wrong. It's edge of your seat stuff...



If that isn't enough there's also the poster contest and the Lions Club Pancake breakfast.

Wapiti

I was working in the barn in the late afternoon and I heard it- the first unmistakable sound of Fall. "Eeep, Eeep, Eeep." The Puli brothers went nuts. The corgis looked at me. After all what's the big deal? It's just our Winter Elk herd. What an absurd sound from such a huge graceful animal.



There they were- 100-150 Elk clearly annoyed that I'd put in new fence by the road. After stopping traffic in both directions they trotted through the sage down down past the house and down to the gulley. After stopping to graze in my neighbors well irrigated field they hopped the next series of fences and crossed the road Westward. I'll probably see them down by the River today. They like to settle in on the golf course with the Canadian Geese.

Hunting season is here and they know where they can hang out.

Fall is the most beautiful time of Year

The Puli Brothers on the driveway


and the same view as dawn in the afternoon

morning walks

Dawn over the ranch.

and another run through the sage.

Gone to the dogs

Okay so I'm totally insane.... and I know that looks like a black smudge in the sage- but really its a 6 month old Puli running full tilt right for you....