TEC

Background: Business, military, education.

Interests: Ice hockey, shepherding, US Northwest History, photography, writing.

Location: Inland NW, USA

You Tube Video Channel focused on family farm and stock handling:

http://www.youtube.com/user/tcooney46msncom?feature=guide

Training my border collie, and seeing Josie develop and mature, have become more important parts of my life than I would have ever thought.

Inspirational Quote (Owner Sheep Co. thanking young summer intern for his work) -- "Neil has finished his internship with us and we all thank him very much for his hard work. I hope he got as much experience and information as he needs and wants. Neil worked very hard here, and he was here during one of the busiest times of the year. I think his dog Pete got more work in the time he was here than he could have imagined. He will need to tune Pete down a little if he is going to trial him. Pete is a sheep moving machine now. I think Neil and Pete came a long way in their relationship. It is one thing to have a sheepdog, it is another to wake up every day knowing that your dog is going to save your butt. Your dog will need to work his feet off to help you do a real job with real consequences if you don't get it done correctly. Sheep herding is very black and white, the sheep are together and fat and happy, or they are running off into the horizon to be killed or lost. Very simple to think about; very hard to do well. I think we all have the idea of a sheep herder as a simple, peaceful person. Well, let me tell you, and Neil can now say first-hand; that peacefulness you see in the sheep grazing on a hillside comes with a LOT of hard work and very good dogs. If you could see the herder and his dogs you would see strength and control. They have worked harder than you could possibly imagine. Like a lot of difficult things, the very best people at a job make it look easy. This is also true of sheepdogs...Thank you , Neil. I hope you do well in your life" -- Eric Harlow, owner Harlow Hills West Coast Sheep Co. (2008)