MacRae
Stockdogs
Raising the Bar
Raising the Bar
We are selling
our beautiful dog training heaven. Information link on homepage.
Inquiries by e-mail please.
LESSON
SCHEDULE:
Fall lessons are at our farm in Missouri,
October
15, 16, 17
November
19, 20, 21
Fall lessons are at our farm in Missouri,
October
15, 16, 17
November
19, 20, 21
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Polly's Collies.........
08/28/10
08/26/10
Vickie Close is an excellent photographer. So when I realized my photos from the Lacamas awards ceremony were too dark (I tried using my phone as my camera battery was dead), she was the first person I 'called' on for shots of Alasdair & Nap. Vickie & Norm stayed until the end of the trial & she was kind enough to let me have what I thought was a great picture of both of them.....She also forwarded 2 pictures from the Bluegrass final last year when Cap & I were shedding. I think the contrast of colors is amazing!
The Lacamas Final....after 4 long days of trialing, we could all do with a 'Nap'!!
08/22/10
Lacamas Valley SDT
08/21/10
When is a State not a State?
08/18/10
Located just south of the California & Oregon state line, I am still not exactly certain why Tulelake, California is referred to as part of the 'State of Jefferson'??......
But what I do know is both Alasdair & I very much enjoyed doing the Advanced Handling Clinic at Geri Byrne's Ranch last weekend. All the participants were very attentive & involved and Geri is the perfect host!
I really enjoyed seeing dogs that we rarely get to watch as we have never trialed this far west other than the Finals. In addition to her farm flock (which were tremendous sports over the 4 days) Geri provided fresh, healthy ramboulliet yearlings (from Lana Rowley's flock) that were excellent for shedding & penning. Geri hosts multiple clinics throughout the year including bringing top hands across from Great Britain. For more information please visit Geri's web site: www.bcollies.com
Alasdair & I do the clinic together so I wasn't able to get many pictures but Shilah Olsen helped me out, getting a photo of Geri with her very stylish female Meg. I was able to sneak a few of Jan Heerman's dog, with an eye catching mane.
Following the clinic Alasdair did private lessons & I set sheep. We were able to work our dogs for a bit on Tuesday. We leave today for Lacamas in Camas, Washington. While our dogs are a little rusty, we have heard great things about the trial (Sunday's final is a double lift, international shed) & are really looking forward to it.
Thank you to Lana Rowley for both providing & helping with the fine wools, Karen Child for your insights on "relaxing" during clinics!! (blackmail photo to follow) & mostly, Geri Byrne, for everything....
Geri Byrne & Meg
Jan's Heerman's dog, a son of Candy Kennedy's Moss & great grandson of Alasdair's Mirk III
Sunday Afternoon
Big
Hats.............not always so impressive
08/05/10
Moss
the mountain range changes for a third time.
we swapped outruns with Coll & Tess, our nursery dogs for this year, both by Nap
Tess
Neither Max nor Star will compete this upcoming weekend. Star has a sore toe & Max continues to have complications as he compensates for his amputated toe. I do not want to take any unnecessary risks so I have pulled him from the trial & I am only doing driving with him. I really miss having the opportunity to do turn backs, big outruns & bends on such a great field, but the view when driving is every bit as spectacular.
Max
Things have become a bit Hare-y here....I kid you not
08/03/10
.........
besides inspiring this quality of wit (??!), Geri's ranch has stock & facilities suitable for every level of hand & dog........Alasdair & I had a chance to get our young dogs out which was one of the best parts of the trip!
Alba Sweep, after I worked him on the dorper's
Dog days of summer...........
07/29/10
I had hoped to post pictures of the ranch in New Mexico but we had quite a storm yesterday with over an inch & a half of rain in less than hour! I will try to have them posted tomorrow......meanwhile our client & friend Renee, was nice enough to keep our young dogs while we are traveling. So rather than being on the road & crated much of the time, they have the run of her house and sheep farm. Renee has Shep, Queen, Joe & Bute. Her husband Bill is a great photographer and sent me the shots below.......
Alba Bute & Alasdair's Joe (B. Ford's Taco X B. Ford's Cap)
Incredibly 'CAP'tivating................
07/27/10
08/28/10
After
all our travels we are both a bit fatigued, hence the lack of
imagination in titles......but this would be the 'good tired', in that
Polly once again hosted a great clinic. We were here the first of July
& this was both a follow-up to that as well as a chance to work
with those we missed last month. There was marked improvement with many
dogs from the previous clinic which was very exciting. Most especially,
Polly assured us she now had a reliable 'lie down' on her very fast
female, Ziggy. I decided to take a picture of her in this new &
impressive stationary pose:
'Close' Call...........Apparently,
it will require a camera with a faster shutter speed to capture this
inspiring advancement in Ziggy's development....But I do attest to an
absence of motion when I took the shot!!!! I had better luck while both
Ziggy & Yogi were in motion......
Ziggy & Polly starting the drive with
YogiYogi
looked quite nice every time Polly had her out.......
Yogi ultimately revealed her
technique, a sort of yogi yoga relaxation??!
Thanks
to Polly for a great clinic!
08/26/10
Vickie Close is an excellent photographer. So when I realized my photos from the Lacamas awards ceremony were too dark (I tried using my phone as my camera battery was dead), she was the first person I 'called' on for shots of Alasdair & Nap. Vickie & Norm stayed until the end of the trial & she was kind enough to let me have what I thought was a great picture of both of them.....She also forwarded 2 pictures from the Bluegrass final last year when Cap & I were shedding. I think the contrast of colors is amazing!
The Lacamas Final....after 4 long days of trialing, we could all do with a 'Nap'!!
08/22/10
Alasdair
& Nap were first up on Sunday morning & not much to
say.....beyond brilliant run! I have never seen a run this good beaten.
They lost a total of 7 points for a 163 & showed us all how it
should be done. Patrick Shanahan again did a great job course directing
(very difficult first outrun) that Nap made look easy for best outwork.
They had a blond sheep that tried her best to beat Nap in the
ring.....but he & Alasdair handily sorted her & he won the
Final by over 30 points!!! Star was up 3rd in the morning and she
placed 2nd.....30 points in front of the next dog....She crossed the
difficult first outrun but made up for it with best shed! Ann Mock
& Taff were third with quite a reasonable go around the course
& no shed...... The rest of us struggled to various degrees between
the difficult outrun & the heavy sheep. Max did the outwork without
much trouble but he ran second to last & the sheep were just too
heavy for him so I retired. Alasdair caught a vision problem that I
suspected I had so glad for the
run in
that I'll get that attended to....The set out team did a great job
& every lot was perfectly set for the Final.
Thank you very much to Lyn, Alison, Leroy & Mary Johnston, Patrick Shanahan, Warren Mick, the Pro-Novice judges, the great set out crew, Vicki Close (who donated a lovely print for the Championship), Ray Crabtree, all the Sponsors & everyone else that made the trial such a success!!
Thank you very much to Lyn, Alison, Leroy & Mary Johnston, Patrick Shanahan, Warren Mick, the Pro-Novice judges, the great set out crew, Vicki Close (who donated a lovely print for the Championship), Ray Crabtree, all the Sponsors & everyone else that made the trial such a success!!
08/21/10
We heard quite a bit of hype about this
trial from friends & competitors out west.....turns out every bit
of it was true! The hosts are Lyn & Alison Johnston along with
several family members & it is held at their pristine dairy farm
tucked away in green pastures just outside Vancouver, Washington near
the Columbia river.
Lyn hired just over 560 cross bred long lambs so that everyone was insured a fresh lot for Open I. They sheep were very healthy & ranged from pure Suffolk (or maybe hempshire?) to pure cheviot, and many were a cross of both as well as another white face that looked to be dorset. They had only seen dogs in large groups & challenged every team. The course was on a mostly flat field that was deceptive in its undulating ground. The outrun was 525 yards & the drive was much smaller (approx. 300 yards) but plenty testing. We were to shed any two & proceed to the pen. The very capable Warren Mick from the north east sorted the runs on the Open field. They ran Pro-Novice concurrently but at a distance that made it difficult to watch both. They ran 3 PN & everyone was able to compete in 2 trials as there were so many dogs. Unfortunately, I don't have the results for Pro Novice but I do know Don Helsley won PN I & III with Ash. I competed in PN I & II and was 3rd both days with Tess.
The sheep & the course
Lyn hired just over 560 cross bred long lambs so that everyone was insured a fresh lot for Open I. They sheep were very healthy & ranged from pure Suffolk (or maybe hempshire?) to pure cheviot, and many were a cross of both as well as another white face that looked to be dorset. They had only seen dogs in large groups & challenged every team. The course was on a mostly flat field that was deceptive in its undulating ground. The outrun was 525 yards & the drive was much smaller (approx. 300 yards) but plenty testing. We were to shed any two & proceed to the pen. The very capable Warren Mick from the north east sorted the runs on the Open field. They ran Pro-Novice concurrently but at a distance that made it difficult to watch both. They ran 3 PN & everyone was able to compete in 2 trials as there were so many dogs. Unfortunately, I don't have the results for Pro Novice but I do know Don Helsley won PN I & III with Ash. I competed in PN I & II and was 3rd both days with Tess.
The sheep & the course
We
ran over 90 dogs in Open I with 62 on day 1. The sheep were touchy
& difficult to line out the first day. They did not tolerate much
pressure from the dogs & did not care for any pressure from people
at hand. We really enjoyed a chance to see dogs we rarely if ever get
an opportunity to watch. I was up quite early (9th) with Cap but before
he reached the top a sheep had run back to the pen, so he was to get a
re run. I thought this was excellent news. I used Cap almost
exclusively for 2 days of lessons & all the clinic work. With the
exception of 2 big outruns before we departed he had worked largely on
his own for 4 days prior to this trial....here was hoping the extra
outrun took a bit of the edge off. We were up again quickly & the
dogs had to bring the sheep on their own for the first 100 yards at
least (the pressure to the let out was strong & they would get a
jump on the dogs if possible). Cap did a great job on the fetch &
turn at the post. the first leg of the drive was a cracker & the
sheep looked nearly tame. I was lost a bit on the cross drive but we
made the panel & to the ring with 2 plus minutes left....and the
trouble began....I thought I knew how to get the split & did. The
snag was Cap did not lie down when told & put the sheep back
together. I was quite frustrated & lost my strategy. ThenCap
decided to single, and this would end the run. We
managed a 68 with no shed or pen. We would ultimately end up 13th for
Open I but that we left so much on the table was disappointing. Star
was up shortly after & drew a flighty group. One
just did not want to play and avoided the panels whenever possible.
Alasdair & Star made a good job of it and though I think they
missed 3 sheep total at the panels, they did shed & had a 73, which
finished 9th. Max ran later that day & had a very flowing run....I
had a few misjudgments on the line & a good shed for a 76 & 4th
place. Nap did not run until day 2. The sheep had started to get both
hungry and heavy.... Alasdair & Nap worked hard but with good lines
& a seamless shed they earned an 82 for 2nd. Patrick ran Riggs the
same morning & had even a better go to win the trial on an 83! I
missed Libby Neider run Sidney but Alasdair said she looked quite nice.
I thought Rob Miller's female looked to be quite a good trial dog &
she ended up 3rd in Open I.
The sheep were heavy when the wind came up in the afternoon & we started Open II. Many lots were left at the top of the field in whole or part with the white faces wanting to run & the Suffolk cross' wanting to graze. Max was drawn up during this time & although the wind was up, I was quite certain the dogs could hear. He ignored 3 of my flanks & then proceeded to bring the sheep straight through the middle of the fetch gates....he then made a fine job of the fetch & first leg. I again got lost on the cross drive line & unfortunately, Max decided to listen. I missed the gate by a large margin & was quite off line but with a good shed & no pen we had a 70 & ended up 13th, we were qualified for the double lift at 5th overall. Nap was up early Saturday morning. In the main the sheep were grazing & dogs had trouble lifting. Nap took them around without too much effort for a very fluid run around the course. Alasdair misjudged the fetch & just missed the panels. This was nearly the only error & with an excellent shed and clean pen they scored an 88 & handily wrapped up the overall. Cap ran in the early afternoon when the wind again came up. Every fear I had of him running strong in the first go around manifested in the second & he chased them all the way in on the fetch. I finally got a hold of him on the drive for a reasonable go around the course & a good shed but all the points lost & the lift & fetch with no pen only earned an 64. Still, we were in for the double lift until the very last few runs of the day & Alasdair with Star knocked us to 13th place overall (they take back 12) with the finest run of the trial that I saw....it was good enough to win Open II & secure the spot for 2nd overall. The run was ongoing and the shed was flawless with a nice pen. Rob Miller had another good run & was 3rd overall followed by Patrick & Riggs. Tonight there is the prize giving & a delicious feast to be held under the handler's tent where we'll draw for tomorrow's order. Rob Miller is also through with his male dog & Don Helsley put 2 very solid runs together with each of his dogs to qualify both for the double lift! Ann Mock, Wilda Barr, Francis Chi and Ray Coapman will also run tomorrow......
Star on the fetch & the tent getting prepared for the party
The sheep were heavy when the wind came up in the afternoon & we started Open II. Many lots were left at the top of the field in whole or part with the white faces wanting to run & the Suffolk cross' wanting to graze. Max was drawn up during this time & although the wind was up, I was quite certain the dogs could hear. He ignored 3 of my flanks & then proceeded to bring the sheep straight through the middle of the fetch gates....he then made a fine job of the fetch & first leg. I again got lost on the cross drive line & unfortunately, Max decided to listen. I missed the gate by a large margin & was quite off line but with a good shed & no pen we had a 70 & ended up 13th, we were qualified for the double lift at 5th overall. Nap was up early Saturday morning. In the main the sheep were grazing & dogs had trouble lifting. Nap took them around without too much effort for a very fluid run around the course. Alasdair misjudged the fetch & just missed the panels. This was nearly the only error & with an excellent shed and clean pen they scored an 88 & handily wrapped up the overall. Cap ran in the early afternoon when the wind again came up. Every fear I had of him running strong in the first go around manifested in the second & he chased them all the way in on the fetch. I finally got a hold of him on the drive for a reasonable go around the course & a good shed but all the points lost & the lift & fetch with no pen only earned an 64. Still, we were in for the double lift until the very last few runs of the day & Alasdair with Star knocked us to 13th place overall (they take back 12) with the finest run of the trial that I saw....it was good enough to win Open II & secure the spot for 2nd overall. The run was ongoing and the shed was flawless with a nice pen. Rob Miller had another good run & was 3rd overall followed by Patrick & Riggs. Tonight there is the prize giving & a delicious feast to be held under the handler's tent where we'll draw for tomorrow's order. Rob Miller is also through with his male dog & Don Helsley put 2 very solid runs together with each of his dogs to qualify both for the double lift! Ann Mock, Wilda Barr, Francis Chi and Ray Coapman will also run tomorrow......
Star on the fetch & the tent getting prepared for the party
When is a State not a State?
08/18/10
Located just south of the California & Oregon state line, I am still not exactly certain why Tulelake, California is referred to as part of the 'State of Jefferson'??......
But what I do know is both Alasdair & I very much enjoyed doing the Advanced Handling Clinic at Geri Byrne's Ranch last weekend. All the participants were very attentive & involved and Geri is the perfect host!
I really enjoyed seeing dogs that we rarely get to watch as we have never trialed this far west other than the Finals. In addition to her farm flock (which were tremendous sports over the 4 days) Geri provided fresh, healthy ramboulliet yearlings (from Lana Rowley's flock) that were excellent for shedding & penning. Geri hosts multiple clinics throughout the year including bringing top hands across from Great Britain. For more information please visit Geri's web site: www.bcollies.com
Alasdair & I do the clinic together so I wasn't able to get many pictures but Shilah Olsen helped me out, getting a photo of Geri with her very stylish female Meg. I was able to sneak a few of Jan Heerman's dog, with an eye catching mane.
Following the clinic Alasdair did private lessons & I set sheep. We were able to work our dogs for a bit on Tuesday. We leave today for Lacamas in Camas, Washington. While our dogs are a little rusty, we have heard great things about the trial (Sunday's final is a double lift, international shed) & are really looking forward to it.
Thank you to Lana Rowley for both providing & helping with the fine wools, Karen Child for your insights on "relaxing" during clinics!! (blackmail photo to follow) & mostly, Geri Byrne, for everything....
Geri Byrne & Meg
Jan's Heerman's dog, a son of Candy Kennedy's Moss & great grandson of Alasdair's Mirk III
Sunday Afternoon
08/05/10
Moss
starting a young dog is great, the hat,
not so much..............this is Moss that we bought from Jennifer
Clark-Ewers as a puppy. We often switch dogs and Alasdair took Moss
over when he
sold his second prospect for next year's nurseries as I had three. Moss
is out of Jennifer Clark Ewers Jess X Sweep, who caught my eye
at the 2008 Finals.
This is a schocker but the hat looks no better working a client dog.........below Renee Newcomb's Hoss............
Hoss
Hoss (like everyone) is better looking minus the hat
they say the best moments are often the most fleeting. that can be said about this moment
we nearly lost it to the wind, but alas he chased it down & brought it home.
the hat aside, Alasdair was also able to get a start on Ken, his other prospect for the nurseries
Don Russell's Belle X Sweep
and set up different double lifts for Cap & I....
This was my left hand turn back & Alasdair putting my sheep out for the right hand turn back
on a very long drive with Renee's Hoss
Above is Cap once we gathered both
groups. You can get an idea of the scope of the field from the
background....This is a schocker but the hat looks no better working a client dog.........below Renee Newcomb's Hoss............
Hoss
Hoss (like everyone) is better looking minus the hat
they say the best moments are often the most fleeting. that can be said about this moment
we nearly lost it to the wind, but alas he chased it down & brought it home.
the hat aside, Alasdair was also able to get a start on Ken, his other prospect for the nurseries
Don Russell's Belle X Sweep
and set up different double lifts for Cap & I....
This was my left hand turn back & Alasdair putting my sheep out for the right hand turn back
on a very long drive with Renee's Hoss
the mountain range changes for a third time.
we swapped outruns with Coll & Tess, our nursery dogs for this year, both by Nap
Tess
Neither Max nor Star will compete this upcoming weekend. Star has a sore toe & Max continues to have complications as he compensates for his amputated toe. I do not want to take any unnecessary risks so I have pulled him from the trial & I am only doing driving with him. I really miss having the opportunity to do turn backs, big outruns & bends on such a great field, but the view when driving is every bit as spectacular.
Max
Things have become a bit Hare-y here....I kid you not
08/03/10
.........besides inspiring this quality of wit (??!), Geri's ranch has stock & facilities suitable for every level of hand & dog........Alasdair & I had a chance to get our young dogs out which was one of the best parts of the trip!
Alasdair sorting Geri's
dorper's for the young dogs & Alba Craig on the wool sheep
Alba Sweep, after I worked him on the dorper's
07/29/10
I had hoped to post pictures of the ranch in New Mexico but we had quite a storm yesterday with over an inch & a half of rain in less than hour! I will try to have them posted tomorrow......meanwhile our client & friend Renee, was nice enough to keep our young dogs while we are traveling. So rather than being on the road & crated much of the time, they have the run of her house and sheep farm. Renee has Shep, Queen, Joe & Bute. Her husband Bill is a great photographer and sent me the shots below.......
Alba Bute & Alasdair's Joe (B. Ford's Taco X B. Ford's Cap)
Incredibly 'CAP'tivating................
07/27/10
Proof
that excitement inspires bad puns!
Below are pictures of my newest puppy, Alba Bute. Bute is out of Dr. David Grinstead's Cedes (mother of my Max) X Alba Cap.
We are very excited about Bute.....Cedes is a grand daughter of Elwy Glen, the dog Alasdair was 4th with in the Supreme the year he won it with Nan.
In addition to being a half brother to Max on the mother's side, Bute is related on the father's side. Max's great grandfather is Mirk. Mirk is a litter brother to Alasdair's Nan & Nan is Bute's great grandmother on Cap's side....
We were hoping for 2 males as we each wanted one.....Cedes was ill for a very brief period during the pregnancy & lost the additional puppies.
There was just a single female & Dr. Grinstead was incredibly generous & let me have her!!
Bute in my arms on the way home from Kentucky looking just like Cap...Bute looking very adorable, if not very clever: this is Bear's bed!
Bute plots to overthrow the unsuspecting king atop his throne & her single handed successful coup.....
Immediate Family: Cap, Max & Bute
Alba Lyn (Cap's litter sister) X Imported Don
3 females & 3 males
July 24, 2010
Please contact Eileen Stineman with Inquiries
(325) 357-4681
Below are pictures of my newest puppy, Alba Bute. Bute is out of Dr. David Grinstead's Cedes (mother of my Max) X Alba Cap.
We are very excited about Bute.....Cedes is a grand daughter of Elwy Glen, the dog Alasdair was 4th with in the Supreme the year he won it with Nan.
In addition to being a half brother to Max on the mother's side, Bute is related on the father's side. Max's great grandfather is Mirk. Mirk is a litter brother to Alasdair's Nan & Nan is Bute's great grandmother on Cap's side....
We were hoping for 2 males as we each wanted one.....Cedes was ill for a very brief period during the pregnancy & lost the additional puppies.
There was just a single female & Dr. Grinstead was incredibly generous & let me have her!!
Bute in my arms on the way home from Kentucky looking just like Cap...Bute looking very adorable, if not very clever: this is Bear's bed!
Bute plots to overthrow the unsuspecting king atop his throne & her single handed successful coup.....
Immediate Family: Cap, Max & Bute
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
New Litter Announcement:
Alba Lyn (Cap's litter sister) X Imported Don
3 females & 3 males
July 24, 2010
Please contact Eileen Stineman with Inquiries
(325) 357-4681
