Show Results

Ranger and I got the show routine down -- he gets a bath and trim, I pick out some clothers (I've learned to wear something with pockets for treats!), fill up some water bottles, throw my backpack in the Jeep, and off we go! Ranger likes to ride "shotgun", with the seat reclined all the way back while he snoozes or watches traffic. He's not picky about music. :-) At the show, he gets excited when I put the show collar. He loves being admired, and he usually tries to kiss the judge during inspection.

Several collie fanciers have asked if Ranger will be available for as a stud dog. He has the "whole package" -- correct conformation, temperament, intelligence, work ethic, and that hard-to-define collie attitude -- so he'll really be a nice contribution to the breed. He will be available for breeding, but I want to wait until he's a bit older and earn a few working titles with him first. Even then, I'm going to be picky about who he breeds to!

Now that Ranger has earned his championship in the conformation ring, we're going to get back to more active events. RJ & Splash are doing a lot of agility training, so we're going to join them. We'll be continuing tracking training, of course, and trying our hands at herding in the next few months.

Greeley KC, 8/18/02
Finishing his championship with a major win at Greeley from Judge Lydia Coleman Hutchinson

Buckhorn Valley KC, 8/10/02
Best of Variety for a 5-point major win from Judge Pat Hastings -- with Kelly Roche, who took Ranger in the ring when Nik had a seizure

One of the best parts of Ranger's BOV is how it happened. Ranger kept barking and whining at me before the class, and I couldn't really figure out why, but thought it could just be nerves. But, during the 9-12 mo. class, I started having a partial seizure (my thyroid went haywire, so I'm having seizures again, and the meds aren't totally controlling them yet). Ranger won the class, and I went and sat down, but my right side was spasming too bad for me to take him back in. Once my seizure started, Ranger's "job" to alert me was over (and he got treats), so he calmed right down. Another handler who I've gotten to know, Kelly Roche, took Ranger in for me. So I got to watch Ranger in the ring, which was neat! Kelly knows Ranger's breeders and she also used to work with my cousin – small world. Several of the Colorado collie people have been extremely nice to me as I’m learning how to show, and Ranger and I are having a great time! I only started having seizures again in mid-July, and I picked up Ranger on Friday, so that was the first seizure he’s seen since January – and he remembered! I was impressed that he alerted in spite of the fact that it was a mild seizure, and there was the usual show confusion going on. What a boy! (I’m having surgery on my thyroid in September, so the seizures should stop soon.)
Read the full story here.

Colorado Springs KC, 6/8/02
Major win from Judge Robert J Shreve

Colorado Springs KC, 6/9/02
... and another from Judge Glenda L Henson

He's taken Winners Dog every time, and has earned points every time except once -- and that was due to handler error at the Flatirons show! It was my first day of showing, and my nervousness rubbed off on Ranger. He just wouldn't stand still, and wouldn't pace at all! He has a beautiful smooth gait, but didn't show it to the judge. It was his first time showing outdoors, and the grass in the ring was just too interesting! We practiced that night, I calmed down, and he did much better the next day! Thankfully, we had a week together to work on ring manners before the Colorado Springs shows -- which was great, because Ranger was a gentleman in the ring and brought home two majors that weekend!

In spite of being handled be a total novice (me!), Ranger is doing extremely well in the show ring! Everyone is especially impressed with Ranger's temperament. In the ring, he's very animated and quite the show-off, but outside of the ring, he's quite content to lie at my feet and just watch everything. Dogs barking, kids running, people eating -- he just takes it all in, and is always happy to be petted by anyone who wants to meet him. Most people are very surprised to learn that he's still a teenager! He's quite the ambassador for smoothies!

Evergreen KC, 6/2/02
Looking sharp for Judge Judith A Goodin

The judges thought he was wonderful puppy, and he had a great time in the ring -- he had that "I'm handsome, look at me -- I'm having fun!" look the entire time! He kissed the judge, didn't stand perfectly still, and did some exuberant jumps during the trot around the ring -- so we're going to work on his ring manners :-) . The judge laughed and smiled at him. But, hey, he had a good time, and that's what is important! He really liked showing!

Brazos Valley KC, 3/30/02
Ranger's successful show debut, with Judge Irene Bivin, friend/handler Rachel Hayes

Brazos Valley KC, 3/31/02
... and again the next day, with Judge Paula H. Hartinger, friend/handler Rachel Hayes, & owner Nik Rapelje