No stranger to the Meeker Classic winner’s circle, Dennis was Reserve Champion in 2011 with Craig and in 2012 with Ben and Champion in 2017 with Coup. Dennis had two dogs in the Double Lift Finals in 2019 with Coup and Roy.
2019 Was Roy’s year – he had a strong showing in the 2019 Meeker Classic – taking Top Dog of the Day for Wednesday, September 4, 2019, he ended up with the 4th high preliminary score overall of 170 dogs. Roy topped the day on Saturday of the Semi-finals and then went on to Reserve Champion in the Double-Lift Finals. On the Finals day, Dennis and Roy drew the 12th slot – the last run of the day. After waiting out a tedious time when the competition was halted due to wind and storms, Dennis ran his dog Coup in the number 9 slot and then finished up the day with Roy. Coup placed 7th in the Finals. “This was the toughest sorting bunch of sheep I’ve worked at Meeker,” says Dennis of the 2019 Meeker Classic. Dennis went on to the USBCHA 2019 National Finals in Carbondale and qualified for the double-lift with 2 dogs.
The sheep were so tough during during the International Shed, but Roy kept at it. Photo courtesy of Toby Leavitt 2019
Dennis got Roy as a pup from Jamie Spring – out of her Cort dog and Vale bitch that goes back to Laura Hicks breeding and Joni Tietjen’s Spot. Cort goes back to Patrick Shanahan’s breeding. He trained him and has had him since. Roy’s always been Dennis’ “go-to” dog for chores and helping train his young dogs. Roy is good at hazing up and bunching the sheep when he’s working the young dogs. A social, people-loving dog, Roy has never been as consistent as Coup in his out-work. The in-field is where he shines 2019 was Roy’s year – he was as strong and consistent as ever.
photo courtesy of Paul Turner 2019
Dennis has been competing at dog trials for about 20 years. He started going to a few small arena trials with encouragement from fellow handler, Gerald Bunny, and later got hooked on field trials when he competed at the Kaycee Challenge in Kaycee, WY. He won Kaycee in 2009 with Ben.
Dennisf first competed in field trials at Kaycee, Wyoming – photo by M Cunningham
Dennis & Ben – Kaycee Challenge, 2009 photo by M Cunningham
Dennis’ first trip to Meeker in 2008 was his first introduction to one of the big field trials. “What an experience it was for me. I was in over my head, but what cool place to run dogs. It also showed me the level I needed to be training my dogs to. Dennis has seven dogs he is working with now. Dennis has had to let Roy slow down a bit with the onset of arthritis during the spring of 2020 – Roy still works every day doing chores and helping with the younger dogs.
Dennis and Roy in the 2019 Semi-Finals – photo by Paul Turner
Dennis and his wife Marlene make their home in Sundance, Wyoming. Dennis retired from the Powder River Energy Corp and spends as much time as he can working, training and trialing his dogs. When winter sets in at Sundance, Dennis usually heads south to Texas for the winter trials down there. Marlene still works as a nurse at the hospital in Sundance but goes with Dennis when she can. They raised two sons, Joshua who works for the BLM in Kimberly, ID and Lucas who is serves as pastor a church in Rapid City, SD. Dennis and Marlene have 7 wonderful grandchildren and are very proud of their family.
photo courtesy of Toby Leavitt 2017
The community looks forward to seeing the handlers pull in to Meeker each year. It is a time to catch up, share stories and spend some time together. Such is the case with Dennis and Marlene. A fierce competitor and good friend, Dennis is always willing to lend a hand, we are happy to send out a big congratulations to Dennis and Roy!