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CLOUDY Temp: 45 °F Wind: N at 4 mph Monday, April 21, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 10, 2003 Lisa, a 4-year-old border collie, practices her herding skills on sheep under the direction of owner Kathy Rose at Marilyn Hahn�s Eagle Point ranch. Lisa will compete in the Cattledog Finals starting today in Red Bluff, Calif. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven ‘Dog ladies’ go looking for herding titles By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — Life has gone to the dogs for Marilyn Hahn and Kathy Rose. And they couldn’t be happier. "I only have one friend that is as smart as my dog — that’s Marilyn," Rose said, then added, "Hey, I tell all my friends that." Moreover, the border collie aficionados — each has 10 spirited canines — don’t mind bragging about the smarts of their mutts. Hahn will tell you that dogs from Oregon are going to kick furry posteriors at the four-day 2003 National Cattledog Finals that begin today in Red Bluff, Calif. "Oregon people have some outstanding dogs," Hahn said. "They should do real well this year." Hahn and her 2-year-old border collie, Zephyr, will compete in the nursery class for dogs under 3 years of age. The open class competition — any age dog — awaits Rose and her dog, Lisa, a 4-year-old border collie. White City resident Mark Pound and George Frey of Ashland also will bring their dogs to compete. The Oregon herd dogs are among more than 75 from as far as Virginia and Texas competing in the event sponsored by the U.S. Border Collie Handlers’ Association and the American Border Collie Association, said Michele Howard, an event organizer. During the competition, owners guide their dogs by voice and piercing whistle to herd cattle through a variety of obstacles. To reach the finals, each dog had to qualify by winning other competitions. Although most dogs competing are border collies, Australian shepherds and Australian kelpies also participate, Howard said. "It takes tremendous teamwork — it’s quite beautiful to watch," Howard said. "All these dogs are born with a great instinct to do this job. They are extremely intelligent, and they want to please their owner." Herd dogs have been used traditionally to move cattle in a way that will create as little stress as possible, Rose noted. "One good dog will fill in for two men on horseback," she said, adding, "And you don’t have to pay the worker’s comp." Since herd dogs, most of whom barely weigh 40 pounds dripping wet, are up against range cows weighing at least 750 pounds, it takes plenty of canine cunning to pull it off, Howard said. "Cattle dogs have to have a lot of confidence," she said. That’s not doggerel, observed Hahn, 62, a retired teacher from Alaska who was reared on a ranch in eastern Washington where Australian shepherd dogs were employed. Her dogs train on a 35-acre spread in Eagle Point where she and her husband, Bill, run up to 100 head of sheep. The sheep are used to train the herd dogs before they step up to cattle, she said, noting they are quick students. "I can send my old dog, who can be at my gate and the sheep can be totally out of sight, up to get them," she said. That would be Ninja, Zephyr’s mom. But herding cattle is a bit more difficult, Hahn allowed. "It takes a very forceful dog to be able to herd cattle," she said, adding that Zephyr likely will do well in the competition, although she probably won’t be top dog. Rose, 60, a retired businesswoman, figures Lisa also will make a good showing. Lisa, whom Rose bought in Canada, won a major West Coast competition in Klamath Falls a couple of years ago. In addition to working on the 10 acres she and her husband, Jerry, own in Eagle Point, Rose and her dogs often get together with her smart friend and her dogs to train. "They are starting to call us the ‘dog ladies,’ ’’ Rose said. "You get that many dogs together, well, we don’t have many friends anymore. But our husbands are real supportive." But their dogs will be competing against some of the best cattle dogs in the nation this week, she said. "We’re two little old ladies from Eagle Point, kind of up against all odds," she said. "But we’re going to have fun in the nationals." Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] You’re invited The public is invited to attend the 2003 National Cattledog Finals which begin this morning in Red Bluff, Calif. The event will be at the Crystal Rose Cow Dog College at 14200 Red Bank Road, just west of Red Bluff. An "Old West" atmosphere will prevail with a trade show, cowboy poetry readings and music around the campfire at night. Tickets are $5 for daily admission or $10 for a pass for the entire four-day event. For details and directions to the site, go to the Web at www.nationalcattledogfinals.com Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S