Kingston, Ontario CANADA
Howell waits for Amanda to send him . . . .
photo by DKH Productions 2016
It was midday, on Sunday of the 2016 Meeker Classic Double-Lift Finals, Amanda and Howell stepped up to the handlers post, they soon would be adding yet another Championship run to their resume and making history at Meeker. With Howell, Amanda won back to back championships in 2015 and 2016, becoming the first Four-Time Champion in Meeker’s 30 year history. Amanda took the honors with Clive in 2011 and with Ethel in 2009. Steeped in a tradition of excellence and friendship, Amanda and her dogs have bestowed a permanent mark in the archives and hearts of the Meeker Classic. Fiercely proud of her hometown, Kinston, Ontario and an equally ardent supporter of Meeker, Amanda is known as a formidable competitor and has lent a hand to many handlers with her coaching and support.
Howell at the pen 2016 – photo by Paul Turner
Howell is a grandson of Ethel (2009 Champion) and a nephew of Clive (2011 Champion). Reminiscing on training Howell, Amanda remarks, “The ease with which Howell trained up was remarkable. We have an abundance of mutual trust. Running a dog that way is a glorious thing.”
Amanda & Ethel – 2009 Champions (Ethel is grandmother to Howell) – photo by DKH Productions
Amanda shared some thoughts on Howell, her life and training dogs with us:
“I never kept many pictures of Howell as a pup. He looked terrible. Hang doggy, tricolor, with ill defined colour, so he looked a bit like a husky pup. I always thought I’d sell him as soon as I got a little training on him. A gal who works for me and loves Howell, asked if he was a Husky cross. I said no. When he started sheep work in the fall of the year, he was running well inside a month. His training amounted to an affirmation of all his innate ideas.
Amanda & Clive, 2011 Champions – by TK
Howell’s training story is pattern for my dogs. Returning from the long drive to points west that includes Meeker Classic, the Soldier Hollow Classic and often, the US National Finals, I start my young dogs. This timetable brings me consistent time on the young ones, which is a benefit to their training—a little bit every day, building slowly, positively. The training carries on daily until the footing gives out. Ice or snow shut down activity sometime by January and usually earlier. Snow and ice are dangerous tosheep, dogs and me. The young dogs take a forced break from their regular training. I cross country ski with them for exercise if the snow is good and otherwise a daily run. The sheep need hay daily, but they do not move far off their winter ground. Sometimes a dog helps with that chore.
Howell’s mother Stella penning At Kingston – photo courtesy Amanda Milliken
All my dogs are home raised and trained. Before their fall start, I raise my pups in the house. We develop a good working vocabulary before they ever meet sheep. Frequently the youngsters accompany me on trips. Learning to ride, accepting the stress of a road trip, being in new busy places, are all prerequisites of being a top dog.
Amanda Clive (Howell’s Uncle) 2011 Champions – photo by TK
My sheep are down by fifty to about hundred to lamb. I am getting older, and by time I have lambed for three weeks, I feel twice as old as I am. Lambing provides unique preparation for Meeker sheep, with psychotic aggressive mothers protecting their lambs. The dogs learn to be patient but authoritative, both assets for dealing with the Campbell-Hansmire yearlings. If I am in a hurry, I use the older hard core dogs, like Dorey and Howell, who lamb like pros. If I have time, I take out the young ones and let them see what life holds in store for them, always ensuring they are successful, always taking time to help them if necessary.
Amanda’s Farm in the Fall
Calling Kingston, Ontario home is a special honour for a sheep dog handler. Kingston hosts what has become the biggest trial in North America, running 168 dogs last year. Kingston and Meeker have much in common: both enjoy broad community support; both are situated in public parks; Kingston on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, Meeker flanked by the White River; Meeker brings in 700 distinctly western ewes, Kingston brings in 700 eastern commercial types. Both of us are the envy of trial management around North America, bar setters. Kingston, just behind Meeker, is celebrating 30 years of Trials in Grass Creek Park this year, a milestone in which we both take pride. Meeker and Kingston are both prestigious trials to win. When Ray Crabtree announces “From Kingston, Ontario, Amanda Milliken”, it fuels my runs with more determination than ever. My home town is a responsibility I take seriously.
Dorey penning Kingston style – photo courtesy Amanda Milliken
Looking back over the years, Amanda’s name first showed up in the finalists with Hazel in 1996 placing 10th. Amanda and her dogs have been in the finals 14 times since 1996. We are proud to call her a friend and we salute Amanda and her long line of dogs that have left their mark on the world of sheepdog trials.
Amanda – competitor and onlooker – by Paul Turner