Nick

LR Saint Nick aka Nickerdoodle

A former racing dog, Nick ran on the Northern Colorado circuit at Mile High Kennel Club (now known as Wembley) and Cloverleaf.  His first race was on 19 July 2000 and, from what we can determine, his last race was on 18 April 2003, when he pulled up lame.  That is a long time running for a race dog.  While he was racing, he was rather successful, running in 133 events on the northern Colorado circuit at Mile High KC and Cloverleaf, winning 3 Grade A races at Mile High and 1 at Cloverleaf.  

Nick came into our lives by a twist of fate.  We were not looking for another greyhound, however, his "adopter" was trying to return him to his adoption group, Rocky Mountain Greyhound Adoption (RMGA).  You see, she had had a baby and now, all of the sudden, Nick was "too much trouble".  Jan Woll, leader of the adoption group, called me and asked if we could possibly take him in until transport back to them could be arranged.  "Of course!" came my swift reply.  Well, to make a long story short, the dog who was "too much trouble" for one adopter, came here to Dyno-Mutt and never left. 

Nick was an absolutely wonderful hound.  He could not have been better behaved or have a better temperament. He was a kind and generous soul. Nick was great in the house and I left him inside for many, many hours and he never soiled the place.  He was as sweet as the day long and got along well with everyone: cats, dogs, kids, and humans. Nick was a credit to his breeder, Lori D. Rodgers.  

LR Saint Nick - Race Record Summary

Nick loved to run in the backyard with the other dogs, so we decided to let him try lure coursing, hoping that whatever plagued him on the track had resolved itself.  After examining him, our vet could find no reason not to try him.  So, we did.  However, the one time we let him run, he again pulled up lame in the left shoulder. So, he never got to play the game again.   

Nick's Races Each Year

Nick graced our home and pack for 8 years after his retirement from racing in April 2003.  He came to live with us in late summer that same year.  We were blessed the day his former adopter didn't realize what a "Saint", Nick truly is. 

My eternal thanks to Jan for calling me that day and for allowing us to keep Nick.

Pedigree

Dyno-Mutt's Mimbari

Mimbar

Mimbar & Sondri - Two of the Boot Hill Brindles

To talk about Mimbar is to talk about how A Place for Us Greyhounds (APFUGA) came into being.  Mimbar was one of 8 little, 6 wk old reasons, that was the start of APFUGA.  Mimbar was one of the Boot Hill Brindles, those were the pups that got us started doing greyhound adoptions & rescue, that were the push to start APFUGA. 

Mimbar - He was named after a fictional, alien race of people from the TV series, Babylon 5, the Mimbari.  The Mimbari were also known as "Boneheads" because of a prominent feature of their skulls, a bony ridge.  Well, Mimbar was our "bonehead."

Mim was a really cool hound that loved to agitate & torment the "girls."  He would walk up to them and "boink" them in the side with his nose in an effort to get them to play.  Usually, they turned around and chased him with all their teeth.  I'm not sure how many times Mim needed stitches from his tormenting.  Mim loved to play.

Mimbar, Chillin'

Mim was especially fond of children.  One year, our adoption group participated in the Children's Parade held in Santa Fe.  There were thousands of children in attendance along the parade route.  We arrived at the staging area and had to wait.  Mim hated waiting and he was dreadfully bored.  He'd already been nipped by one of the girl hounds for being a PITA and I really didn't want him nipped again so we stood off to the side, away from them.  Anyway, after a bit, we took our spot and stepped out onto the street.  Mimbar stopped dead in his tracks.  He looked around and everywhere he looked, he saw kids.  He slowly turned his head upwards and looked at me as if to say, "So many kids....  so little time."  He promptly drug me over to the nearest batch of kids and just stood there, leaning into them, basking in their love, hugs and kisses.   Our group was getting far ahead and we had to go...

"C'mon Mim....  gotta go...."

Nuh uh....  he wasn't budging.

"Mim!  Let's go!"  

He leaned into the kids even more.  Finally, as our group was getting ready to go around the corner onto another street.  I lifted this big boy up into my arms and started running down the street to catch them.  Gosh he was a heavy 70 lbs!  I set him down and he again drug me over to the nearest group of kids.  LOL...  I sure did get my exercise that day...

Mimbar (Dyno-Mutt's Mimbari)  at the 2000 ASFA I.I.

Mim was a very fast greyhound.  He was probably our fastest dog.  Because of his speed, we were selective in which lure coursing events he attended.  Those with a lot of turns, zigs & zags were not very good for him.  The boy could not turn.  

At a GCA Specialty lure course held in CA at a local school that had ballfields. When it was his turn to run. I had Rob slip him as I was chatting with Penny Bolt. Mim was off like a shot at the start, which had a fairly long run up, ending in a left turn. I said to Penny, "Watch...  He'll be at the bleachers on the next field over before he even begins to turn."

Sure enough the turn came and went and Mimbar was still going straight.  He was slowing, gradually, trying to get to 'turning speed'.  And, just before the bleachers, he attained 'turning speed' and started playing catch up with the other dogs.  He caught up before the end...  but it was in a straight line.  

Mim being 'hand slipped' 

Another time he showed his lack of turning ability was on the Abilene Greyhound Park track, in either 1998 or 1999. We were there for a greyhound get together and had the opportunity to run the dogs on the track. I stuffed him into the 5/16's starting box, a brand new experience for him, and as the lure zipped by...  he was off and immediately dropping down to the inside rail.  At the first turn, he drifted all the way out to the outer rail and at the top of the backstretch, he dropped back down to the inside.  Next turn....  All the way to the outer rail....  At the top of the homestretch, back to the inside....  

This dog had incredible acceleration and blistering speed.  As he crossed the finish line, the timer stopped and read....  30.33.  The only dog to better his speed that year was a Greymeadows dog, don't remember which one. There was a man there wearing a Kiowa kennels cap. As I gathered up Mimbar, he came over and emphatically said, "Who is this dog???  What's his name???  You've GOT TO GET HIM INTO TRAINING NOW!"  He was most disappointed when I told him he was not registered.

Mimbar bounced out of two homes, prior to coming here.  We told him he'd never have to worry about losing his home again and we kept him the last bounce as a 6 month old greyhound puppy.  

I am so happy he stayed.  I sure do miss him.