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By SANDRA HANSEN TORRINGTON, Wyo. - It's the second year in a row that the National Cattle Dog Finals have been held at Little Moon Lake, and it's the second year that Rudy Starke has entered Rooster and Debbie, his two border collies. Dog trainers and owners from the east coast to the west coast and points in between, arrived at the meadows of Little Moon Lake ready to challenge last year's winners for the titles. Among the 60 to 70 dogs expected to participate, Rooster and Debbie arrived Tuesday afternoon from Alliance, eager to check out their new surroundings and participate in the trials. Rooster entered the open class last year, and Debbie participated in the nursery class for beginners. Rooster enters the 2008 trials ranked 60th in the national standings, and Debbie comes in to the open class this year with an 80th ranking. Starke began training dogs five years ago when he retired. He and his wife had attended dog trials for several years from Montana to Colorado. He decided to try training dogs and bought books, attended clinics, watched related programs on television and talked with consultants and other trainers. "When you start working with the dogs, it's amazing how smart they are," Starke said. He uses verbal commands to start training dogs, then incorporates a special whistle. "They figure it out pretty soon," Starke said. "They learn quickly that the whistle means the same as a verbal command. You can almost hear them thinking, 'There's the whistle. I know what that means.'" Starke's dogs are distantly related, though it might not seem so, because Rooster has the typical black and white coat, while Deb is red and white. Rooster is the second dog Starke has owned. The first one injured a shoulder and doesn't participate in trials. Deb, whose father is also a working dog, was a gift for the Starke's 45th anniversary from their daughter. Starke and other dog handlers are pleased with the finals in this second year at Little Moon, seven miles east of Torrington at the Wyoming/Nebraska state line. While eating lunch in the Little Moon restaurant on Wednesday, several of the handlers praised the management and community support the event is receiving. "I think it's a super good trials," said Dan Korf of Haigler, Neb. "It's one of the best I've ever been to. The management and cattle especially. The community involvement is especially good, and I hope they are here again next year." Juan Reyes of Wheatland, Wyo., said the increased community support over last year is impressive. He was especially impressed with the efforts of Tim Gifford of Harrisburg, Neb., Bill Halligan, and Ross Newman, Lex and Shawn Madden, the Rice family and local businesses, especially First National Bank, and Ford for its substantial donation. "It's monumental that the national trials are here for the second year in a row," Reyes said. "The community has really gotten behind the national trials." "They are the best we've ever had," said Jim Chant of Baggs, Wyo., who was referred to as the pioneer of dog trials in Wyoming. He started a series of qualifying trials in the state a few years ago, which according to the other owners, was what brought the finals to town. Chant said the national finals are especially important because the event gives breeders a chance to look at other dogs and to exchange ideas with other trainers. "It's also an opportunity to present the animals in public," Chant said. "You hear so much being said that's negative, that it's good to be able to show how livestock is really handled and how well the dogs are treated and how well they understand their business." Gifford said Torrington Mayor Leroy Schafer and his wife, Linda, Lisa Johnson of Compass Communications, and Doug Chamberlain also deserve a special thanks. "We've really had a lot of cooperation from everyone," he said. Traditionally, the United States Border Collie Handlers Association had held its National Cattle Dog Finals in the South and in the spring of the year. The move to southeastern Wyoming in May 2007 resulted in a second visit this year. Local dog handlers had worked for a year to bring the 2007 competition for the nation's top cattle dogs to Goshen County. They said it only made sense because after all, this is the heart of cattle country. When the trials ended in 2007, dog owners were already talking about returning to the meadows at Little Moon Lake - barely west of the the Nebraska border - one of the nicest settings they had ever worked in. That enthusiasm encouraged the area residents to again bid for the trials, and on Tuesday afternoon of this week, visitors from California, Virginia, Tennessee, Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa were already on site. Missouri and South Dakota were among the license plates in the overnight parking area Wednesday morning. Through Friday, the trials start at 5:30 a.m. and continue until 8:30 p.m., or until the competitions are completed each evening. On Saturday, agility and rescue dog demonstrations will begin at 8:30 a.m. The finals in the nursery class will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the finals in open class at 11:30 a.m. A trade show will be open on the grounds beginning at 10 a.m. through Friday, and at 8 a.m. on Saturday. |
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