The Partner at Home  

Surprisingly, sometimes our greatest memories come off of the trial field. They are made at home and the ranch. I know that we all clamor the success of winning on the trial field, but some of my most memorable times and greatest feelings of partnership have been with a dog that I never took to a competition.

When I sold a pup in 1994, I didn’t realize I might be selling the best pup in the litter. This pup, average in size and personality, didn’t stand out from any of the other 5 pups in the litter. A good friend bought her and named her Pat…. a name that is not that uncommon for pups that I have sold.

When you sell a pup, you don’t really know of all the influences that you will have on that young dog. Sometimes you will never hear about the dog again. Other times they will come back into your life to have a major impact on how you view dogs and the lives that they lead.

Pat spent her first year at a cattle ranch. She wasn’t especially keen to work early, but started her formal training at about one year of age. At the midpoint of her training, she was having difficulty remembering her flanks and so was offered to me. I purchased her with the intent to train her further and eventually trial her.

There are so many stories about Pat. She wasn’t a dog that demanded attention, yet she always seemed to be near the excitement. That first year, I worked with her and felt that she was progressing to be a nice trial dog, but I probably wouldn’t trial her that year. I had several young dogs that were further ahead of Pat and they would likely be trialed first.

A friend was short of a work dog for the summer, and needed a dog to help gather cattle. Since Pat wasn’t to be trialed that year, I offered her use on the ranch. As sometimes happens, I regret my decision. Although Pat was a big help on the ranch, she ended up with a severe compound fracture to her left hind leg. The rancher friend took her to his Vet and had her leg set.

I was gone at the time, but when I returned I took Pat to my Vet. Unfortunately, the first Vet didn’t get the leg set properly. So, Pat had her second surgery. She now had 11 pins sticking out of her leg. After three months, the leg was still not healing. It was time for another surgery, this time to add valuable marrow to the area to help it heal. It took two additional surgeries and Pat having 11 pins sticking out of her leg for 8 months, before her leg was determined healed.

Pat lived in the house and traveled to all of the trials and clinics that I attended while she was hurt. She never complained about her injury, or her not being able to work. The Vet continued to be amazed at the amount of patience she showed when he worked on her injury. Pat acted like she knew each and every time that he was trying to help her.

At that point, I thought that it probably was not a good idea to train Pat for trials. I tried balance the time it would take to fully train her with the fact that she might not be sound or that she might have a very arthritic leg someday. She was using her leg now, but I wasn’t for certain that she would stay sound.

So Pat started her life as my everyday work dog and back up dog for young dogs. She was a natural at working with the young dogs, and me knowing when she was needed and when she needed to stay out of situations. Each day she would keep the work sheep from going back to the barn once they were set out for work. At other times, she was the dog that I used to push sheep into difficult situations. I had all of the faith in the world with Pat; I never thought any task was too tough or too big.

The years went by with Pat being a constant at my side. Many of my trial friends never met or saw Pat, but those who came by the ranch realized her importance. One of my good friends, Evie Kimberly, used to say that she ran the place. I have to say that is partially correct, as she did have a large impact of what was going on during the day. Pat was secure with her role in life and on my farm. She wasn’t jealous of the trial dogs or any of the young pups that stole the attention for the moment. I have so many great stories and memories to tell of Pat and her job. Each one is of the great work and patience she had with working with livestock and me.

Now the time of life has come where Pat is in her senior years. Her leg has never caused her a problem, and she stayed tremendously fit throughout her working career. Unfortunately, Pat was diagnosed with Diabetes in November when she turned 10. Her working career fell a few years short of what it could have been. With the progression of her disease, she has lost most of the eyesight in both eyes. She must receive injections of insulin twice daily and be on a special diet. Food, which never held much interest to her, has now become her great desire.

The role that she has played has changed at my house. She rarely goes outside much anymore. Now when people come for lessons, she is happy to sit at the pasture gate for a few minutes, and then go inside for the remainder of the lesson. She doesn’t have the great desire to work she once had; she understands her role in life has changed.

Old dogs are something that are viewed with respect from me, and those that I have had the pleasure of being teamed with have the greatest respect. Now that she is in her senior years, I grasp at the opportunities to still be close to her and the memories that she has provided.

The main reason that I am telling this story is to remind people of the great dogs that come into our life without ever being on the trial field. Most people who know and recognize trial dogs, but unfortunately, they won’t get to meet the dog that I have the most respect for…the dog that stayed home.

Fourth of July

Lambing

Lana's Pups

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