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Mikatura's Saddle Ridge DNA-CP STDs x Mikatura's Tuff E Nuff DNA-VP
DOB 11 April 2006
Spur lives with Sue McGee and family in Duvall,
Washington.
Spur Q'd again in the ASCA 2010-2011 Merit Awards!
#3 Advanced Trial Dog - Cattle & #5 Advanced Trial Dog - Ducks
Spur Q'd in the ASCA top ten Open Merit for '09/'10 season on all three stock.
#2 Open Trial Dog - Cattle; #5 Open Trial Dog - Sheep; #5 Open Trial Dog -
Ducks
Listening carefully to Lynn Leach at a clinic!
Spur had a great year!!! ASCA Awards of
Merit on ducks and sheep!!!
Updates:
September 8, 2010 -
This is our story, but please don't feel like you have to post
all of it...I tend to ramble. But I just can't say enough about my Princess Pea.
(note from Jeni...I wouldn't dream of cutting out any of this...Sue certainly
has a reason to brag!!!)
Our first trial of the season as an advanced dog was going to
be in MT. at the WLazyJ. Unfortunately, Spur came up lame with a pulled tendon
or ligament. Apparently it poured down on the trial practically all weekend.
Since I was planning to tent camp, I wasn't sorry I missed the rain. I was sorry
I missed trialing at a new place, and watching awesome dogs work. The vet said
six weeks of rest for Spur...like she's going to let that happen!
So the next trial was the Rustler's Roundup put on by the
nicest people, (next to the ASC of Idaho Club & ASC of MT) in the world over
Labor Day. Spur was just finishing up the last of her medication, and seemed to
holding her own. So I decided to give it a go even though our precious training
time had been cut to a minimum. I started to get real nervous since neither of
us had trialed in almost a year. Not to worry though, because we were just going
to see where we were at in our training anyway. It was a 3-day, 5 trial event.
Spur came out like blazing saddles on her first cattle run, and took HIT cattle
that day against 5 other dogs who were finals qualifiers. She did it again for a
second time the next day. It always amazes me how 30 lbs. can move more than one
600 lb steer. Dana wrote on her score sheet that she was very courageous, and
would make a good finals dog. Unfortunately, her handler can't handle that kind
of pressure.
Spur continued to get two Q's on sheep, so it all came down to
ducks. Now I could write a page about Call ducks. If you don't like them don't
go to this trial. Carol Gerkin graciously brings her little ducks every year for
us to cuss over. In fact, I think 'Cuss Ducks' would be a better name. Boy, if
your dog can work them though, you can really walk around with your chest puffed
out. Spur needed one more Q from Dana, which she got at the last trial of the
second day. Wow, her job was done. A WTCH! A good thing to because we didn't Q
on ducks the next day. She won some nice prizes. Black Sheep does a fun thing
where each judge chooses a dog that stands out as their favorite for each day.
Thank you Wayne Kirby for choosing Spur as your 'Judges Choice' on the second
day.
So she got 2 HIT cattle out of the 5 Black Sheep trials...beating out some top notch dogs on those runs.
Wayne Kirby wanted to take her home, but he did call a run when he saw some wool
stuck to her mouth. Wonder how that got there? She got her WTCH in the first 4
trials, and this was the first time she has been trialed in a year. Talk about
stress...for me. On Monday everything went to hell, but we didn't care...she
already got her job done. Sue
Sue & WTCH Mikatura's Saddles'N'Spurs RD RTDs
October 2009 - Our 1st ASCA Nationals! I didn't get in
on pre-trials, so I had no idea what Spur would do after being penned up for
over a week. Well, first off the little red devil got her first 'thanks' on
sheep and ducks. Even after a not-so-good take pen, she came through with the
rest of her run on cattle. Although I had to put the screws to her she made all
obstacles, four cows through the center, and came in second with a respectable
102 from Wally Butler. Spur also
September 2009 -
This last year we tested open trials with FEO. Then I decided to trial at the
Rustler's Roundup north of Spokane over Labor Day.
This was a great trial...great people, good food, prizes, and
stories. A fun time for all. She got all her open titles
in the first two trials. Her high score on sheep was a 115, and a 113 on ducks
and she won
her first belt buckle, and some other beautiful prizes.
My husband, Fred McGee, took the photos below...thanks Fred
for the photos, and making my lucky stock stick out of yellow cedar!
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Spur was in heat so we were
abandoned from the group waiting our turn. It really
gave us time to think......she is very serious when it
comes time to work. |
Then the fun started!
Easy as one..... |
...Two... |
...Three...my little penning
machine! |
...Four, shut the door...equals a
120 score. Thank you Judge Bob Blount! |
2 October 2008 - Spur doing her first take pen at
the Calapooia Classic in Sweet Home, OR. We only entered cattle that weeked.
Spur qualified both days cinching her ASCA started title. She came in second out
of a large field of 10 started dogs the first day, and 7 the next day.
Spur now has all her ASCA started titles. Between three different trials,
Calapooia, Blacksheep, & Lake Bay, she did a total of 20 runs. Eighteen
qualified and placed; nine firsts, six seconds, two thirds, and one fourth
place. At Lake Bay, our last trial, Spur earned Most Promising. She also
received stars on two of her duck runs from Wally Butler. She had five
first places on ducks, three on sheep, and one on cattle (four were 2nd places
against border collies).
Spur doing her first take pen at the Calapooia Classic in
Sweet Home, OR
Photo by Shannon Phifer, That'll Do Photography, Dexter, OR
March 2008 - I have a small brag to announce. Spur & Gambler
earned their RD title today from judge Marti Parrish. Marti said Gambler is a
good right hand man, and that Spur is very talented. She was particularly
impressed how she worked the new born lambs. Only her fourth time working ewes
with new lambs. It's no surprise that she is very good with our granddaughter
who is now 7 months old. If she could just get into that diaper...also Marti
said Spur was going to be a good cow dog. Come to think of it, I thought her
duck work was pretty good too!
January 2007 - Spur was a star student
today in our first tracking class. Although I never doubted her ability, she was
practically perfect. Even being the youngest dog there she didn't take a back
seat to the coon hound or any of the others. We were the only team who had never
tracked before...haven't got a clue what I'm doing. Spur had the whole thing
figured out & saved my ass. Tracking was recommended by Elsie. I've always
wanted to try it anyway. We meet at Jan Wesen's place, then head out into the
fields. This time of year, huge flocks of swans winter over in the stubbled corn
fields. With snow draping the foothills, and the sun reflecting off the silver
wings of the swans in flight, it just doesn't get much better. What a good day.
Sue
Photo by Nancy Gaffney
More photos of Spur below her pedigree!
Click here to see photos of
Spur and her siblings as pups!
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