More Buffalo

Another couple of weeks have flown by, and I’m happy to say that it’s feeling less and less like summer here in Buffalo.  Cooler mornings and evenings have allowed me to work dogs without so much concern about them or the sheep getting overheated.  

One reason I enjoy my time in Buffalo so much is the opportunity to work with Wendy Auzqui to sharpen my skills as a handler and give Cody and Bo plenty of time on some Wyoming range sheep.  Wendy and her husband, John, live on a ranch near Clearmont, about 25 miles east of Buffalo.  Wendy is an experienced dog trainer and handler, and her Creekside Stockdogs are well known as capable sheep and cattle dogs, as well as for their performance in sheep and cattle trials.  

Another friend I have made here in Buffalo is Linda Lulias.  Linda has allowed me to work sheep with her a number of times since I have been here.  The work in a smaller venue has allowed me to fine-tune my dogs in at-hand exercises that are just as important as the distance work required in field trials.  Here are some photos I took of Linda’s Gill  and Jessie on sheep.

Gill, a son of Wendy's Frank

Linda and Gill working sheep

Working in Linda's corral

Young Jessie anticipating her turn

Cody cooling off in the sheep water tub

Both Linda and I had an opportunity to help Wendy prep two of her dogs for the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trial Which is held each year over Labor Day Weekend.  Linda and I used our dogs to set out and hold sheep while Wendy practiced for the “double lift” which is part of the finals at Meeker.  Unfortunately, Wendy’s dogs did not qualify for the finals, but the practice was fun for all of us.  

Our time here at Deer Park has given us the opportunity to meet new friends, as well as to spend time with long-time RV companions.  Our neighbors, Bill and Sheri, Ross and Carol, and Randy and Leslie, get together almost every day for happy hour and to share adventures and tops on things to see and do in the area.  A couple of weeks ago, Rick and Linda Lorentz joined us at Deer Park for the month of September.  We introduced them to our favorite hiking trails along Clear Creek,

Piney Creek

and at Heritage Park where the dogs enjoy off-leash time whenever there is no activity at the near-by shooting range.  

A few days ago, we had rain here in Buffalo, and snow covered the Bighorns for a couple of days.  We drove over Powder River Pass to Tensleep to enjoy the scenery and have an Indian taco lunch (and beer, of course) at the Tensleep Brewery.  

Even though there was no snow on the west side of the Bighorns, the views of Tensleep Canyon were breathtaking as well.

A  special treat was an evening at The Virginian restaurant at the historic Occidental Hotel.  The lamb chops and prime rib dinners were outstanding!

And we will be reporting on more adventures in the near future, so stay tuned!

Buffalo Week Three

Last week flew by.  Our good friends, Gail and Steve Dixon arrived last Friday for a short stay here at Deer Park RV Campground.  The Dixons spent a couple of months at the farm with us earlier this year, so it was good to catch up.  In our short time together, we enjoyed drinks in the bar and a good meal, at The VirginianRestaurant< in the beautiful old Occidental Hotel,

and another at our favorite almost-across-the-street Cattleguard Steak House.  

We took a day trip through Ten Sleep Canyon to the picturesque Ten Sleep Brewery in historic Ten Sleep, Wyoming, 

The beer was cold and the Indian tacos from the were luscious and filling.  

The trail along Clear Creek kept John, the dogs and me in good condition, 

and Steve even joined us for one of our walks before the Dixons pulled out on August 31, headed west to the Reno Air Races.

It was a great week, and we look forward to meeting up with Steve and Gail again soon, perhaps later this year.

Buckle Up!

We have finished our second week here in Buffalo.  The temperatures have moderated a bit, with highs approaching 90 in the afternoon, but cool and delightful in the mornings.  We are encouraged that the news from home is positive.  We have received a half-inch of rain at the farm, and more is predicted this week.  

Both John and I and the dogs are getting in shape.  On our walks, we have a hard time keeping up with our four-legged companions, and I have to resort to “steady” and “wait” commands from time to time so we can catch up.  

Sheep dog work has begun in earnest.  The boys and I have had several sessions with Wendy Auzqui, as well as a practice session at Linda Lulias’ place.  We were all a little rusty at first, but are getting back in sync.  

I met Wendy in 2015 when we first visited Wyoming.  We were staying in Sheridan, and I was looking for someone to help me train Rue in herding.  I have worked with her every summer that we have been in this area.  Wendy is a wonderful resource and I am happy to have her as a friend.  Her good dog, Frank, was helping to set out and hold sheep for us this week.  He has earned numerous awards in both sheep and cattle herding, and is clearly a no-nonsense guy. Frank and Cody share a common bloodline, Juan Reyes' J.R. Red, who gave them their blue eyes and a lot more.

In 2019, Frank and Wendy won the sheepdog competition at the Calgary Stampede.  Then, earlier this year, Wendy again took first place with Quirt, another of her dogs, and she and Frank took home fifth place.  I always enjoy our sessions, and Wendy, Cody and Bo are teaching me a lot.  Technically, we are training dogs, but I think we’re really training the handler.  

Here are some photos of our work this week.

We ended this week on a high note…a really high note!  On Saturday, Cody, Bo and I participated in the Dick Grabow Memorial Sheepdog Trial during the Sheepherders Rendezvous in Glenrock, Wyoming.  The sheep were fresh range ewes, and there were enough so that each sheep ran only one time.  It was a different experience for the dogs and me from the sheep we usually work back home.  These ewes were tough, and a challenge for the dogs to handle.  Both Bo and Cody did very well, though, thanks to practice earlier in the week on similar stock.  The course had a 5 minute time limit, and Bo penned his sheep in less than 4 minutes.  Cody, however, outshined them all.  We completed the course successfully in, I believe, 1 minute, 30 seconds to win the championship. buckle.  

This was Cody’s and my first win, and we placed above 31 other very talented dogs.  Among them were last year’s champions, Linda Lulias and her good dog, Gill, as well as Wendy Auzqui and Quirt, who won the championship at the Calgary Stampede a few weeks ago. It is humbling to be in such good company.

I am grateful not only to my dogs, but to so many people who were a big part of our journey.  First, to John, who has supported me wholeheartedly in my sheepdog obsession, and who loves our pack members as much as I do.  Thanks also to Jo Woodbury, who allowed me to purchase this enthusiastic, hard-working, honest dog three years ago, as well as to Wendy Auzqui who found him for me, and who has been instrumental in helping me to learn how to run him.  I’m also grateful to coaches and mentors Jack Christensen, Michele McGuire and Allen Mills for sharing their wisdom and support, and to Linda Lulias, who has helped me to learn the ins and outs of working these range woolies.  Last, but certainly not least, I’m grateful to Charlie Castelein and the Castelein family and to the Grabow family for allowing me to participate in this trial.  I look forward to returning next year.  John and I also enjoyed meeting many nice folks at this year’s Sheepherders Rendezvous in Glenrock, Wyoming.  We had a great time, and we appreciate the hospitality of the Shoreliner Bar and Grill that treated me to dinner after the trial.  

But Cody wasn't the only winner on Saturday.  Bo worked hard as well, and penned his sheep in a very respectable 3 minutes, 46 seconds.  He is like handling a sports car.  Everything happens in double or triple time.  I have a lot to learn to be able to handle him well, but I look forward to the challenge.  Here are some shots of Bo's run.

I'm so proud of both my boys; they gave me their very best.  It was a great day!