Not sure why I'm thinking about Kipp today but he is foremost in my mind. Kipp is 12 and has been with me for 9 years now and came to me as a promised working dog. He doesn't. Kipp is one of three dogs that escaped the Tubbs fire with me in 2017. When he was three he was found running lose in Napa California and had been lose for at least a month. His owner did not want him back. He spent a month in the Napa pound and had become kennel sour. He was on the kill list and was rescued at the last minute by a friend who worked on him for a month before realizing the wouldn't work out with her dogs. When Lynne and I met him he ran in wide circles around us for some time and eventually came and sat beside me. I guess I saw a little of me in him having a rough start in life and we became friends. Kipp has been my therapy dog in many ways and I'm grateful to have him in my life.

 The films here show handlers and dogs running at the 2007 English National sheepdog trials and dogs involved in other herding activities and some associated subjects.

 This link is not hot. Copy and paste in your browser to view.

http://www.colliewoodfilms.com/trialing/index.html

Every time you gaze lovingly into your dogs' eyes, its levels of oxytocin — the “attachment hormone” — go up. And so do yours. Oxytocin has long been referred to as “the love hormone” and the “cuddle hormone,” because we (and our pets) release it when we hug, touch, or look lovingly into someone's eyes.

Taff is 7!

 

Meet Taff

Taff on his 3rd birthday

My new boy Taff.  He is out of Peggy Taylor's Allie by Bill Berhow's Cley.

I'm starting his trialing career slowly, but he will run in RESDA's Fall Trial on October 15

in Boonville California.

Marin County Fair 2016

 

Jack & Lark's Beebe Johnson/RESDA P/N Run

You can see more RESDA P/N runs here - https://www.youtube.com/user/pk9p

Finn of Killiebrae - 2015

 

Great how to by one of the world's top handlers.

RESDA Dog Portraits

I have always enjoyed the the beauty of working Border Collies. They are not the AKC look alike dogs. These dogs still have the working dog looks and the brains that go with it. I couldn't resist shooting head and shoulder portraits of the RESDA dogs at the Beebe/Johnson trial in Boonville California this last weekend. 
Click here (GPPhotography.photoreflect.com) to view the gallery. If your dog is among them and you want prints or other products, just follow the navigation process on the site.
Thanks for looking and I'll see you at the Sonoma County Fair this coming Sunday.

Earth and Sky

 

 Got to fiddling around with some of my PhotoReflect images the other day and put together a short slide show that I call "Earth and Sky".

All of these images and more can be viewed and applied to a variety of products and purchased on my PhotoReflect site at GPPhotography.photoreflect.com . Hope you enjoy.

Let The Games Begin!

Got Sheep?

Kipp, Jemma & Gracie (top to bottom) await the release whistle on our daily romp in the meadow sans sheep.

Course Change at the 2015 RESDA Sonoma - Marin Fair Trial

Here's Looking at Ewe Kid

I'm looking forward to my first RESDA judging assignment at the 2015 RESDA Sonoma - Marin Fair Trial, Sunday June 28. The RESDA trial course will be set up in reverse so that the y-chute is directly in front of the grandstands. This will be a challenge for both the handlers and dogs.

RESDA Spring 2015 Trial Photos

Barb McPherson's Callie "on the lamb"

RESDA's Spring 2015 Trial Photos are posted at GPPhotography.photoreflect.com

 

RESDA 2015 Season Kick-Off

Judge Catlyn Gilman awards Open winner Peggy Wines and her dog Tag the perpetual Spring Trial trophy.

Redwood Empire Sheepdog Association 2015 Trial Calendar

 

Luke on the lamb at the 2014 RESDA Slaven Trial in Zamora, CA

 

RESDA 2015 Trial Calendar

 

Spring Trial - Johnson Ranch - Boonville, CA

Sat, April 11 (or April 4), 2015

Kevin Owens Trial -Yorkville, CA

Sat, May 2, 2015

Sonoma Marin Fair Trial - Petaluma Fairgrounds, CA

Sun, June 28, 2015

Marin County Fair Trial - San Rafael Fairgrounds, CA

Sun, July 5, 2015

Beebe-Johnson Memorial Trial - Johnson Ranch - Boonville, CA

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Sonoma County Fair Trial - Santa Rosa Fairgrounds, CA

Sun, July 27, 2015

Mendocino Eliminations Trial - Boonville Fairgrounds, CA

Sat, August 16, 2015

Mendocino Finals Trial - Boonville Fairgrounds, CA

Sun, September 20 2015

Potter Valley - Potter Valley Rodeo Grounds, CA

Sun, September 27, 2015

Lambtown Eliminations Trial - Dixon May Fairgrounds, CA

Sat, October 3, 2015

Lambtown Finals Trial - Dixon May Fairground, CA

Sun, October 4, 2015

Fall Trial - Johnson Ranch - Boonville, CA

Sat, October, 2015

For more information, go to www.resda.com

Near Perfect Score at RESDA Trial

Another big win for Rhonda Lauritsen and Craig ...
With a near perfect score (49 out of 50), Rhonda Lauritsen and her Border Collie Craig scooped up another Redwood Empire Sheepdog Association win at the Sonoma County Fair Trial on Sunday.
This makes her fourth win this trialing season and puts her in the lead for the "High Points" competition.
Lets hear it for Rhonda and Craig!!!

OUT OF THE DOG HOUSE

Sonoma County Sunrise Sky

Eight years ago when I retired from working for over 35 years as a still and motion photographer, I had decided to "Go to the Dogs" by concentrating on photographing and shooting video of canine sporting events as well as training my Border Collies in agility and sheep work.

However I have occasionally allowed my lenses to drift toward things that have personally attracted me. I enjoy creating images that satisfy my own sense of beauty. Things such as wildlife, sunsets and sunrises, the moon, as well as the Sonoma County landscape.

Up until this point I have not shared these images with anyone other than a few friends. But after posting only canine images these last eight years I've come "Out of the Dog House" and posted images other than dogs for your review and hopeful enjoyment.

You can find these images at my PhotoReflect site (GPPhotography.photoreflect.com). They can be viewed in the Portfolio section, and if you find an image that you would like to personally own, in the Event section.

I will of course continue covering sheepdog events and posting the results on my PhotoReflect site.

RESDA Marin County Fair 2014

1st & 2nd place Winner

Rhonda Lauritsen with

Judge Jack Mathieson and

her dogs Craig and Holly

Rhonda Lauritsen and her Border Collie Craig made it three RESDA wins in a row with their first place blue ribbon finish at the 2014 Marin County Fair Sheepdog Trials. Rhonda and her other BC Holly, took the second place ribbon as well.
Gracie and I took a respectful 8th place due to her great work at the Y-chute and pen.
To see more action photos of the Trial go to GPPhotography.photoreflect.com

RESDA Sonoma/Marin Fair Trial

Karen Kollgaard's Dickens in a showdown with a stroppy ewe

Pictures of the RESDA Sonoma/Marin Fair Trial are now posted on the RESDA site under "trial results". There are more pics of the trial posted at GPPhotography.photoreflect.com .
Just a few clicks make it possible for those of you who asked how you could purchase prints of the pictures that I take at trials.

Hope to see you all that the RESDA Marin Fair Trial on July 6.

Valley Ford, CA Wool Mill's 1st Annual Wool Festival

 

No matter where you go in Sonoma County there is wine!