V Oliver Ochoa CDX HT NA FM CGC

What can I say about Ollie? He was my best friend and partner in crime for seven and half years that I would not trade for millions of dollars. He made me laugh throughout our time together, and the only time he made me cry was the day he left me. He introduced me to Border collies, but I have never met another that had his intense work ethic combined with a joie de vivre and sweetness of nature that are impossible to describe in words. He was a one-of-a-kind dog and I was truly blessed the day I walked into the Champaign County Humane Society and saw him for the first time.

We did many things together -- obedience, agility, flyball, herding, therapy work, rescue, camping trips, car shows -- Ollie loved it all. I remember the day he successfully ran in his first flyball tournament; I remember all his hijinks on the agility courses; I remember his charging obedience performances; I remember the day he earned his HT (in a torrential rain storm, his biggest concern was that he only got two and a half minutes on the sheep; he spent the rest of the morning going up to everyone he saw with a crook, sitting in front of them and pawing at their coats -- I, who am too blind to take him on sheep, meant less than nothing to him that morning). I remember him in the Alzheimer's ward at the local nursing home, going from person to person, laying his head in each one's lap and waiting for recognition of his presence.

Ollie playing flyball at an outdoor demo, Fall 2000. Photo by Pat Reynolds.

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Ollie, earning the third leg of his CD title, June 1997. Photo by Pam Wollenberg.

I can never forget his steadfast determination that he always knew the best way to do everything. Sometimes he was a tad mistaken, as in his early insistence on batting dumbbells around the ring before retrieving them. Early in his Open career, he batted the dumbbell through the strap of someone's purse, then brought dumbbell and purse back over the jump with him, merrily scattering wallet, lipstick, tampons, and other assorted belongings in his wake. (It was at that point that I decided to gently disabuse him of this notion, which took some doing as he persisted in this behavior on and off throughout his obedience careeer, generally with a big grin and an "ain't I wonderful!" flourish as he presented his dumbbell to me on his return.) Ollie served as the greeter dog for 27 consecutive CGC tests held at our dog training club. He knew the routine so well that when a substitute person evaluated the dogs while I was recovering from surgery, he spent the entire evening arguing with his handler because this portion of the test was held in a different part of the ring than he thought was proper.

 

Ollie in the tunnel at one of his last agility trials.
Photo by Corso Photography.

Ollie's agility performances really underscored this part of his personality; he knew that tables were merely launching pads to the next obstacle, that the proper way to negotiate the dog walk was to jump off the top to run through the tunnel under the obstacle. He was noted for his highly entertaining agility performances, particularly his efforts in the area of alternate course design. I believe the highlight of his career in this area was the NADAC jumpers course where he earned 21 off-course penalties, and still managed to complete the course in under 30 seconds. He was over ten years old at the time, or I am sure he could have squeezed in a few more extra jumps on his way around.

Ollie loved the spotlight and audiences. He was my demo dog for orientation sessions for beginning classes, and his favorite part of those evenings was greeting the people. Many people told me over the years that it was his performances in orientation that inspired them to keep trying with their own dogs, as they wanted to end up with a dog just like him and I remarked many times about how much time I spent working with Ollie and teaching him new things.

Ollie at a Bob Vest herding clinic at the BCSA National Specialty, 1999.

Ollie loved SHEEP. His herding career was short -- mostly because he didn't see his first sheep till he was almost nine years old -- but he loved every second of it.

Ollie was that once-in-a-lifetime dog that people dream about. There are many dogs who have earned far more titles and accolades than he did,but I don't believe they could ever match his quirkiness, his sweet nature, or his sense of humor. Ollie was the King of editorial comments; he never left us in any doubt about exactly what he thought of both the good things (going anywhere with Mom) and the bad things (*baths*, being left behind while other dogs went with Mom) in his life.

Ollie doing agility at the 1998 BCSA National Specialty.
Photo by Tien Tran.

Ollie died suddenly of a stroke in June, 2002. He was in great shape for a dog his age right up to the day before his death. He was still playing flyball and agility, doing all the things he loved so much. Though his death was devastating for me, in retrospect I am glad he went this way. He never suffered any of the indignities of old age, and he loved me enough to spare me the anguish of making the decision to let him go. He was my partner, my heart, my pride and joy -- I miss him terribly.

Ollie doing a flyball demo at a basketball game, UIUC Assembly Hall.
Photo by Pat Reynolds.

The day after he died, I wrote a little prayer, which eventually appeared in the BCSA's magazine Borderlines. It's sappy, but I felt much better for having written it:

Dear God,

First of all, thank You very much for allowing me the privilege of having Ollie live with me during his last seven and a half years on earth. To me, he was much too young to go back to You, but I am sure You had Your reasons for calling him.

Please do the following for him until I come to meet him:

Ollie will expect You to put him to work. He is excellent at showing untutored dogs what to do, and very, very helpful to dogs who have never known anything but neglect or abuse. He is also very good with this sort of person, so may be helpful to You in counseling lost souls and those who have lost their way.

In his leisure time, please make sure the rabbits and squirrels are of a kind that he can actually catch.

Ollie would love a big field to play in. If You could put some flowers in it for him to jump on, I would appreciate it.

Ollie loves agility and flyball, so please make sure he has lots of opportunities to do both. If You are going to switch flyball boxes on him, he needs to check out the box before you try running him. Please don’t get mad at him if he takes wrong courses in agility, Ollie always thinks he can design a better course than whatever is out there. Ollie also loves obedience, but never did really get the hang of go-outs. If You could show him how those are supposed to be done, I would appreciate it.

Ollie adores lure coursing, and I am sure he would be delighted if You could fix it so he could do some.

Ollie loves SHEEP, and if You will allow him to work with Yours, I am sure they will all be much better organized and far happier than they were before he got there.

Ollie’s very favorite treat in the whole world is vanilla ice cream with bits of cooked steak or baked liverwurst sprinkled on top. Just so You know.

Toward the end of his time with me, Ollie’s back got a little stiff. He appreciates a long massage after any physical effort. I always gave him special supplements along with his thyroid medication every day, but I am sure he will not need such things where he is now.

Please don’t get mad at him for barking, he generally has a good reason and he is trying hard to tell you what needs to be done. If You stop and see what it is he wants, he will be less inclined to handle the problem without input from You.

If You get tired of him, please send him back to me. I am having a hard time without him here at my side, and I miss him terribly. Only this time, send him straight to me so he doesn’t have to go through years of being neglected and unloved by people who don’t appreciate him. I love him and appreciate him, and will make sure that he knows that every day.

Finally, God, please, please, take a few seconds every day and rub his tummy and tell him how I wish I could have given him more, and how much I love and miss him. I have other dogs and I love them too, and I am sure there will be more in my future that I will love, but what we had together was precious and special to me, and no other dog will ever take his place in my heart.

Thank You, God. Amen.

Ollie. Photo by Tom Schaefges.
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He was the best dog in the world and the best Christmas present I ever got.
Go with God, buddy, and I'll see you again someday.