Region 13

Tim Boies & Cody

HRCH TLC's Golden Boy Cody CD

          Cody became a part of Laurie and my life in the fall of 1988.  Laurie had trained dogs for obedience and I wanted a hunting dog.  Laurie said in the obedience ring her biggest challenges were Golden Retrievers.  They were smart and easy to train.  So we felt a Golden would be a good dog to get.  Laurie knew a dog trainer who had Goldens.  From him we learned of a litter so we went and picked out a male puppy.  We picked out the male with the biggest feet.  He also was the biggest thief, as we learned throughout his life.

            I met Gary Vertrees who introduced me to Southern Colorado HRC.  There I met Don Ley, Pete Spangler and lots of other great folks.  Soon after I joined, Dr. Grant Hurley joined with a dog named Joe Mokie Bear.  Don, Grant and I became friends and training partners.  We say we trained our dogs but they really trained us.  Don and Grant wanted to run the Grand Hunt.  Cody had gotten older and I had some injuries so I felt just hunting and training was what we wanted to do.

           Over the years Laurie, Cody, Sadie and I attended all the hunts in the Region.  In 1994, I became the Regional Field Rep for about the next 10 years.  This made it possible for us to attend most of the hunts.  Cody was such a great hunting dog.  He never failed to find the ducks or doves and he loved to flush pheasants.  I was never able to get Cody to be steady to wing and shot.  We never accomplished the UH title. 

          HRC became a great part of our life.  We have met such wonderful friends in HRC.  I have learned more about myself.   My relationship with Laurie blossomed, our relationship with our kids grew and a lot of this came about because of a dog named Cody. 

          It would be hard to think of how empty our lives would be without what this dog has given us.  He has given more to me then I have given to him.  This I believe is true to all of us who have dogs. 

          I was at the National Meeting when the 500 and 1000 points became available.  I voted all our region’s votes in favor of this as I felt it would be a great way to keep members active longer.  As I ran the tests in achieving the 500-point I learned that it was more then just a way to keep members involved after their HRCH.  It became a way to repay our dogs for all they give to us.

          Running Cody and getting his 500 points was a way to honor him.  Cody loved to retrieve and run the tests.  He was my buddy and I wanted him to run them all.