We last checked in with Lavon Calzacorta and Dynamite sponsored sheepdogs Tess and Gus before their St. Patrick’s Day trial in Hepner, Oregon. Since then, Lavon, Tess, and Gus have had great success heading into the meat of the season. At the Big Willow trials in Payette, Idaho, Tess and Gus placed 1st and 2nd overall combined out of 75 dogs. In June, they traveled to Dayton, Washington for the Dirt Blowing Sheepdog Trials. Tess placed 4th out of 79 competitors, and both Tess and Gus have qualified for the national finals this year. We sat down with their handler, Lavon, to address how he manages these athletes as the temperature starts to rise and the competition really heats up. “I shorten their hours and train them later in the evening” he says, “they still do a 4-5 mile run every day, sometimes in the middle of the day.” Lavon also bumps up their daily Dyna Pro® dose, as well as offers Dyna Spark™ as free choice for all his dogs. He has also incorporated the all new Canine Total Nutritional Top-dress to their food. “Their coats are smooth, their eyes are bright, and they’re always running great!” Lavon boasts.
The month of July is a busy one for Tess and Lavon, as they will travel every weekend to the Northwest for a myriad of different trials. In August they will head to Lacamous Valley in Camas, WA, and in September will participate in the Soldier Hollow Classic in Heber Valley, Utah, as well as the National Championship. This team is truly Dynamite and we are thrilled for their success and wish them all the best!
