There is always someone who quietly shows kindness, generousity, and apologizes to their dog (twice) during a run for sending them on the wrong flank which the dog reluctantly takes. This is Charlene and Roy who showed such gracious handling of each other during the trial

Raise your hand if sheep aren't always your favorite animal to herd? 

Wendy & Joe had the hard luck of drawing an old cranky ewe that Wendy had to drive almost thru the entire course. Then Joe being a dog and an extremely helpful stockdog, bit the ewe adn they were DQ'd. Wendy calmly asked Joe "You couldn't have done that right the beginning of run?"

For staying calm as a handler and helping refocus the attention of Fly who was overwhelmed by the choices of sheep. Should she deak into the exhaust for the exhausrt sheep? Or maybe those sheep hiding behind the tarp waiting for their turn in the arena? Or maybe the sheep in the arena who are two hiding behind the barrel and one hiding in a corner? So many choices for a young dog but Kieran calmly recollected her every time and helped her decide that the arena sheep were the most fun sheep to herd 

It was rough weekend Crystal and her dogs

James was on a gripping tear for Saturday but suddenly on Sunday, he decided that maybe he should smarten up. He didn't grip in the morning run. Things were looking up. His chute time was 54 seconds. He was taking his commands well, had the sheep well-settled. Crystal was cautiously optimistic

Then an ewe flicked an ear, signalling she may bolt to the left. Or maybe she just had a fly tickle her. Who knows? Jamie leaped into gripping action and tried to flip her over with a sidewall smash and bite.

All Crystal could say, shaking her head, was what she always says, "What a stupid ass dog."