I was born September 1947 in Texas. So you can see I have been right here in Texas all my life. My mother was a nurse for over 35 years and my dad still barbers in Winnsboro, Texas. Both 80, mom and daddy are still very active in golf and in high school sports. Winnsboro is where I attended school, played all sports and made many friends.
I’ve been married to Sherrie for over 37 years. Why she does not have grey hair, I do not know. We have three grown kids. Brent lives in Florida and works for Mercury Outboards. Staci is in the oil and gas business and Bryan runs our small pressure washing business here in East Texas.
An avid fisherman for all my life, I still find time to chase bass on the local lakes. I did fish tournaments for years with many local bass clubs and even served as president, director and tournament chairman for many years. For several years I fished with the Texas Bass Federation, competing at the state level on several occasions.
Bow hunting has been a passion of mine for about 10 years. I enjoy the preparation as much as the hunt. But sometimes I just enjoy sitting in the tree and watching.
Dog training comes from my dad who raised and trained bird dogs for years. I really did not know I knew much about dogs until people started to tell my how well mannered my dogs were. I just thought everyone’s dogs knew how to sit down and stay, as well as perform some silly pet tricks.
My mom tells the story of how she had to take the basket off my bicycle to keep me from bringing home more stray dogs.
About 35 years ago I bought a Brittany for my daughter who was so afraid of dogs. ‘Hunter’ was her dog to feed, water, and care for so she would overcome her fear. Today she has 3-4 dogs, two kids, a husband, trains horses and on the weekend she rides in rodeos.
My method of training is simple. Be nice and have fun. I do use a ‘clicker’ to shape the tricks. I also use treats. I have never been one to say this method is better than the other one. I just say do whatever works best to motivate the dog. I do use lots of praise and toys. Training is usually about 10-15 minutes in the morning and the same that afternoon. Always start each training session with play and end with play.
I enjoy the shows that Star and I perform for the schools, retirement homes and libraries. I get to see the smiles that Star brings to the faces of young and old alike. That is our payment as these show are always free.
Star has two homemates she lives with. Maggie and Lucille are both border collies. Both are rescues.
Maggie is three and she is a little larger as she weighs in about 38 pounds. I had to learn to herd sheep because of Maggie. She is just amazing at it. Her speed is blazing and her eye on the sheep is like a laser. She has competed in agility, reaching the Open level. This year she will be competing more in herding and agility.
Then there is Lucille. Star and Lucille tolerate each other. They do not play. Maggie and Star do play. Lucille is a super agility dog as she just loves it. She competes at the highest level in AKC and USDAA Her foot speed is unbelievable.
I had to learn distance work with her. She came to me with many social problems. Lucille did not like people or just about anything. She had little or no hair from her shoulders down her back. She did bite me several times. The last time I had a ‘come to Jesus meeting’ with her. I figured out how to teach her that people are nice and good things come from people.
It took me over a year to “earn” her trust, but the result is amazing. If Lucille had gone to someone else, I think they would have ‘put her down’ because of her bad attitude. Yet with kindness, and just being hard headed, I was able to overcome all the bad things that had happened in her life. What I got in return was a dog that follows me around, loves on me, and runs her heart out for me on the agility courses.
Sometimes being hard headed and not following the normal works!
My wife and I own our home here in Flint. We bought several acres about 3 years ago and plan on building a home there to raise cows, teach agility and herding, and have some fun with our dogs.
I play with my dogs each day. I enjoy that friendship and love what they bring to our lives. They only ask that I take them to the vet, feed them and keep clean water for them. I do load all three up in my truck when I’m out and about and each has their own place in the truck seats.
I have worked with dogs all my life. I do teach some at one of the local training clubs. I also help with the agility classes. I attend as many seminars on dogs as I can, when I can.
Dogs have been in my life since I can remember. I am not the best trainer. I do read a lot about training and dogs… picking up little bits that will help me.
My dogs have taught me about so many things in life. Patience, hard work, consistence, kindness, fun, and love are not just for dogs. These are things we can use in our daily life to enrich our lives as well of those that we touch each day.
Bill
|
|
