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Veteran border collie owners/trainers Al and Ginger Zuppan entered four dogs in the recent U.S. Border Collie Handler Association Nationals, but only Gyp managed to advance past the first round in the Open class.
The competition was held on the Kerr Ranch near Klamath Falls.
The Zuppans, who live on a Myrtle Creek-area sheep ranch, have been training border collies for over 20 years.
Gyp, a 9-year-old female under the guidance of Ginger Zuppan, finished eighth in the field of 150 dogs to earn a spot in the semifinals that featured the top 40 dogs. Gyp failed, however, to advance to the final round that included the top 17 entries.
Brie, a 5-year-old female who is trained by Ginger, Tux, a 10-year-old male, and Birch, a 5-year-old female, both trained by Al, also competed in the Open class, but failed to advance out of the first round.
"We didn't have a very good weekend," Al Zuppan said.
The first round consisted of each dog, directed by its handler, running out several hundred yards and rounding up four sheep. The dog then had to herd the small flock through a set course to earn a time and score.
The Zuppans said a breeze was blowing so the dogs had a hard time hearing the commands from their handlers. Brie also had the misfortune to have an overweight ewe faint twice for a few seconds each during her round. Birch had to deal with runaway sheep during her round.
Bryn, a 2-year-old female, was entered in the Nursery class (3-and-younger dogs) by Al. She placed 12th in the field of 65 dogs.
"The competition makes the dogs better ranch dogs," Ginger Zuppan said. "When you do that much work with them, you're proud of them and you want to see how well they'll do against others."
The Zuppans take their dogs to about eight sheep dog trials, most in the west, each year.
At an event in Park City, Utah, last year, Birch took first on both the first day and the second day in a field of 65 that included dogs from England, Scotland, New Zealand and South Africa, and past champs from the U.S. and Canada. Tux placed second on the second day.
Later in the year at the 2005 Western Regionals in Klamath Falls, Tux placed first. Dogs from Washington, Idaho, California, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon competed in that event.
The Zuppans are considering entering their dogs in the 2006 Western Regionals that are scheduled for Nov. 10-12 at Auburn, Calif.
"The dogs just love working," Ginger said. "They don't care if they're working at home, at a neighbor's or at a competition. They just like to work."
* You can reach Features Editor Craig Reed at 957-4210 or by e-mail at creed@newsreview.info.
The competition was held on the Kerr Ranch near Klamath Falls.
The Zuppans, who live on a Myrtle Creek-area sheep ranch, have been training border collies for over 20 years.
Gyp, a 9-year-old female under the guidance of Ginger Zuppan, finished eighth in the field of 150 dogs to earn a spot in the semifinals that featured the top 40 dogs. Gyp failed, however, to advance to the final round that included the top 17 entries.
Brie, a 5-year-old female who is trained by Ginger, Tux, a 10-year-old male, and Birch, a 5-year-old female, both trained by Al, also competed in the Open class, but failed to advance out of the first round.
"We didn't have a very good weekend," Al Zuppan said.
The first round consisted of each dog, directed by its handler, running out several hundred yards and rounding up four sheep. The dog then had to herd the small flock through a set course to earn a time and score.
The Zuppans said a breeze was blowing so the dogs had a hard time hearing the commands from their handlers. Brie also had the misfortune to have an overweight ewe faint twice for a few seconds each during her round. Birch had to deal with runaway sheep during her round.
Bryn, a 2-year-old female, was entered in the Nursery class (3-and-younger dogs) by Al. She placed 12th in the field of 65 dogs.
"The competition makes the dogs better ranch dogs," Ginger Zuppan said. "When you do that much work with them, you're proud of them and you want to see how well they'll do against others."
The Zuppans take their dogs to about eight sheep dog trials, most in the west, each year.
At an event in Park City, Utah, last year, Birch took first on both the first day and the second day in a field of 65 that included dogs from England, Scotland, New Zealand and South Africa, and past champs from the U.S. and Canada. Tux placed second on the second day.
Later in the year at the 2005 Western Regionals in Klamath Falls, Tux placed first. Dogs from Washington, Idaho, California, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon competed in that event.
The Zuppans are considering entering their dogs in the 2006 Western Regionals that are scheduled for Nov. 10-12 at Auburn, Calif.
"The dogs just love working," Ginger said. "They don't care if they're working at home, at a neighbor's or at a competition. They just like to work."
* You can reach Features Editor Craig Reed at 957-4210 or by e-mail at creed@newsreview.info.
