06/24/2024
Cord
2013 -2024
My first dog impulse facebook purchase! When I saw those freckles he was mine..he is out of Anita Pratt’s good farm bitch Martha sired by Don Helsley’s Wizard. Cord was always a quiet unassuming dog that kept to himself.
His favorite past time off the sheep was pulling weeds.. it was a weird obsession I couldn’t fix. When I started him on sheep, he lacked confidence and power, but something inside said keep going, he will be a winner. During his training I made him Superman. He needed and ego and an ego he got! He was always a tremendous correct outrunner, the kind that doesn’t need to see the sheep to get there. He was a no stop on top kinda guy well, because sheep could figure him out quick if I let them. He was a if you can’t stop them steer them kinda dog on the drive, good pace good driver, just couldn’t chance having to lift the western ewes.
He was always humble and kind in life, and humbled me a time or two on the field. If I let my competitive edge get the best of me, well there were times I walked up the field. I learned to feather the sheep into the lines into the gates as hard flanks to the head were an absolute trap for cord vs western ewes. He had a heart the size of Texas, and moved all those big tough sheep because I asked him to, not because he was courageous or powerful, in fact he lacked both.
He was a consistent trial winner in open, and 4 points off the final go at Meeker; putting down a nice solid go at the semi final round.
He’s was petrified of gun fire and thunder but at meeker at that pen he kept working. He was scared, but I told him I got ya, just stay put and I’ll work these sheep. I filled in where he lacked.
He was always a friend to most every dog, and a foe to puppies. He wasn’t interested in their antics as he always took life very serious. I used him everyday of his life up until 3 years ago as my main farm and lesson dog. He was a favorite of mine. He suffered a back injury shortly after we had moved here, he did recover but the stroke he had changed him.
Last year he was diagnosed with a 6/6 heart murmur that gave him a very limited chance. We did all the heroics until finally his heart was broken.
My heart is now broken and his is mended. Cord was one in a million and I forever grateful to have a partnership with him like we had; he was a true friend.
He will always be hamster or handsome or hanthy to us.. or worm to his auntie Amy.. but in the end just a good good boy.
You gotta love like there’s no such thing as a broken heart; and love we did.
That’ll do my distinguished friend.. you were one on a kind and still had a lot of life to give.
