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I have been breeding working stock dogs for over 10 years and have owned and worked both Australian Shepherds and Border Collies for over 20 years.
My first Australian Shepherd was a little lady named 'Kiwi', who became the second hand man on my dairy farm in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, a lifetime ago.
Kiwi worked beside me, travelled with me and was a companion and friend as well as a working partner until I had to put her down at the ripe old age of 17. Back then, I didn't know that the Australian Shepherd was 'different' to train than a Border Collie, I just knew that there was work to be done on the farm, cattle to bring in, gates to guard and Kiwi learned to do it all.
There was no such thing as 'Australian Shepherds not being expected to do the same quality of work that the Border Collie can' that I've heard so much of today.
Kiwi was buried in a wooded grove under the trees, a very fitting resting place for such a dear old friend.
In Memory of Kiwi My partner, my friend
A few years later, Belle, my red and white Border Colie came into my life. Belle was 6 months old, and had some issues to overcome in her young life - her previous owner had as he said,'educated' her, and made her extemely fearful of men. I spent the next four months trying to win her affection and make her feel comfortable.
She did come around, and was my first real effort at training a stock dog 'by the book' so to speak. All my learning paid off, and in 2003 Belle won the Novice Class in the Alberta Stock Dog Association's Year End Finals (Field Trial).
This was quite a feat, epecially since it was her (and my) first field trial.
Belle also placed 2nd in the Open Class of the Rimbey Stock dog Challenge 2003 (arena trial), where she competed against some of the best dogs and handlers in the country!
Bryn is my other main stock dog here on the farm, he's a beautiful pure bred tri colored Border who is coming along quite fine in his development.
The photo at the top of the page was taken at Edmonton Farmfair Stock Dog Trial, 2006, where Bryn placed 8th out of 39 dogs on day two, competing against some of the best dogs and handlers in North America.
Not bad for his first trial!
He has a lot of workability and I feel he will become a really great all around stock dog.
I don't have a whole lot of time to spend trialing, my job as a professional auctioneer and announcer takes up a lot of weekends, which is when the trials are held. Our dogs are bred to work here on the farm, we only breed from proven working stock and they get used most every day here on our flock of over 70 head of South African Dorper sheep.
I also pasture check on horseback with a good friend Wes and our dogs, so my dogs are all worked not only on sheep, but cattle, horses, ducks - you name it. My goal is to train the all around working stock dog, and all of my dogs are trained right from the pup stage, by me.
During the winter months, I have access to two local indoor arenas, and twice a week load up the trailer with sheep and dogs, and go out to play. Lessons are also available at this time, so don't hesitate to give me a call.
I feel very strongly that a stock dog is a STOCK dog, and knew it was only a matter of time before I got myself another Aussie, therefore I now have two pure bred Australian Shepherds which I brought in from the US.
Training the different breeds of stock dogs can be quite a challenge. All stock dogs have the same inherent desire to please, if they are herding dogs, they have the desire to 'gather' to the dominant position - be it the she wolf or the handler. We attempt to capitalize on this natural desire and expand it. Recognizing the Border Collie as the most complete stock dog, the other breeds were developed for a purpose and we are looking forward to seeing just what these amazing dogs can do!
Please give me a call to find out about future litters, started dogs for sale, upcoming clinics or private lessons, or if you just want to talk dogs. I look forward to hearing from you! 780.682.2020
Don't you worry about the time - God has surely blessed me - I'm one of the fortunate ones who gets to do what he loves to do - work with my dogs, train dogs, talk about dogs, ... and you know, the phone rings by the bed too!
Russ
Belle, our beautiful red and white Border Collie won the Novice Class in the Alberta Stock Dog Association's Year End Finals (Field Trial) for 2003. This was quite a feat, epecially since it was her (and her handler's) first field trial. Belle also placed 2nd in the Open Class of the Rimbey Stock dog Challenge 2003 (arena trial), where she competed against some of the best dogs and handlers in the country!
Bryn is our purebred Tri colored Border Collie stud dog. He has a lot of workability and we feel he will become a really great all around stock dog. He just came back from a trip to the big city of Edmonton for his first arena trial at Edmonton Farmfair. Bryn did very well indeed, placing 8th out of 39 dogs on day two, competing against some of the best dogs and handlers in North America.
We haven't had a lot of time to spend trialing this year - making a living does tend to get in the way of our fun pastimes, especially when Russ's work as a professional announcer and auctioneer generally falls on the weekends when trials are held. Bryn's experiences - and this goes for all of our dogs, are 99% in the field, so there's not a lot of time spent on the trial field to polish and gain trial experience.
We also have Wind, Rain and Fire, and our newest little addition, Summer.
These are all young Female Border Collies that are at various levels in their training here at the farm.
Give us a call and ask us about our trained dogs!
Midnight Breeze is a PureBred Black female Aussie with a lot of potential. We broght her in from Pincie Creek, Alabama, USA
Rope is a really exotic looking little stud who at such a young age is already impressing us. We are taking our time in their training - they both have been brought to stock, but it's not something we are pushing just yet. This breed has huge potential and can become very effective stock dogs - just with the right training.
We have a very enthusiastic herding dog in our little female Kelpie, 'Kate'.
She is a ball of fire and will take a little more control and focus on her to get her skill and natural ability pointed in the right direction.
Training the different breeds of stock dogs can be quite a challenge. All stock dogs have the same inherent desire to please, if they are herding dogs, they have the desire to 'gather' to the dominant position - be it the she wolf or the handler. We attempt to capitalize on this natural desire and expand it. Recognizing the Border Collie as the most complete stock dog, the other breeds were developed for a purpose and we are looking forward to seeing just what these amazing dogs can do!
K9 Kennels Home of all the non working dogs - they just make ya feel good!
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