Two years ago, a group of hands stepped out with Bobby Henderson to take stock of everyone’s young dogs.  Many had ones more promising than mine, and that was easy—Clive charged around the sheep, barking, grabbing, with tail in the air.  They all laughed. I was disappointed.  However, within a week, he assumed all the mannerisms of a serious dog.  The ease, with which he was trained, was remarkable.  He was a year old.  

In the fall of 2006, I took him on a western road trip, where he got a crack at range sheep and big difficult outruns.  His outrunning became surer.  He began to suspect all sheep of possible western fine wool behaviour.  Experience like that, cannot but help the poise of a youngster.

I bred Clive from Mabel, same way bred bitch as Bart and Ethel.  His sire is Star, the 2002 International Champion in the hands of Stuart Davidson.  What a fortunate honour to have him here at stud for the four years I have had him.  He was used sparingly.  Predictable rumours abounded when he immigrated to Canada.  “He hasn’t gotten anything in the UK.”  When he arrived, there was some truth to that: he got no real bitches until late in 2002, after he won the International.  The 2004 winner of the Scottish National Nursery Championships was sired by Star.  Many Scots are now lamenting they did not use him, while they had the chance.  Star was fourteen years old on November 23.  The week before his birthday, he bred two bitches.  I am crediting the Orijen dog food for his stamina and longevity.  One of the bitches is Ethel and I have my hopes up high. I long for another like Clive.

I have been very lucky with the outcomes of my breed throughout my career as a sheep dog hand.  They have so entirely suited me.  While there is definitely an element of luck, the real force of staying with a breed is not letting yourself be kennel blind.  It is far too easy to become sentimental about the great ancestor you are determined to honour, through progeny and get, against all possible evidence.  Cut throat self criticism is the best cleanser.  Being honest with oneself about all your dog’s strength’s and liabilities, and discarding dogs that will not make the grade, brings all of us the best for the performance we demand of them.