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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1980-03-12, Page 17LAKE PORT IRON 61 STEEL St. MarysTlif.— Formerly Les Skipper Scrap Metcils ANNOUNCING We buy all types of cars and trucks for wrecking. We sell New & Used steel of all kinds Complete line of Cutoff Saws & Hand tools Complete line of all Gas & Welding Supplies 8-5 Daily Sat. Till Noon 284-2800 Hours 8 - 5 Sat. Till Noon Ei ALL WELCOME FIN1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111110111111111111111111111111111111111101111101111111111111111111111111111111i1111111111111111g ... 40.0 • EXETER PENTECOSTAL TABERNACLE Presents ALMOST HUMAN — Pat Wobd, of the Professional Dog Trainers Association, says that her dog Tok is almost human. We ,arrive baelt in Corbett to Toronto with a newspaper just as it's getting dark. reporter wasn't as bad as she Trudy confesses that a ride thought it going to be. But she's still a. little. worried About what I'm going to, write. TRUCKER WITH TRUCK — Trudy Brown, 24.4 one of the few females in the area who can list her occupation as truck driver. Trudy stands with the Kenworth she drives. The truck is parked right outside their home on Ontario Street in Grand Bend. T-A photo PAT WITH TAK — Pat Wood, secretary of the newly formed Professional Dog Trainers Association, enjoys playing with her well-trained German Shepherd, Tak, in the front yard of their Southcott Pines home. Pat forms a circle with Tac's leash and he jumps through. 11111111 voca & North Lambton Since 1873 Serving South Huron, North Middlesex Imes March 12, 1980 Page 1 A ham j og trainers form end woman on association, executive Trud Kenworth hauling hogs' been, making deify trips to Toronto or Kitchener. Last fall they Were making longer trips to Thunder Bay. Six month old Wilson sleeps peacefully in the bunk, as we leave Corbett. Sales Arena. We travel down the read through Mt, Carmel. Trudy shifts gears 15 times before the Kenworth reaches full speed, I look in the rear view mirror and see theoc- casienal snout or curly tail sticking out of the slats Oh the trailer. There's 220 hogs behind us all of theiti snorting, kicking and squealing. Trudy says thats about an average load. We stop at the stop sign and pull out on tohighway 4. Once again Trudy has to, go; through all 15 gears, She says that a good trucker 'seldom uses the clutch. By listening to the motor and watching the tachometer the driver can tell when the timing is right to shift gears and the clutch isn't needed. It becomes instinct, Triidy explains, But haying someone watching her Shift gears makes her nervous and throws off her timing. Occasionally the gears grind and she has to push in the chitch. Each time we make a right turn, Trudy swings the truck over into the left lane. I ask her how she knows how far over she has to go. That, too, comes with practise -- and she keeps a watch on all four rear view mirrors. Trlidy points out that if you make the turn big, you can always cut it smaller, But if you cut it too short, you're in trouble and you can't widen it out. Just outside of Stratford, we Stop at Charlie's gas bar. The truck is filled with diesel fuel, and baby Wilson gets his diaper changed. When travelling with the baby, Trudy uses Pampers, As we're 'driving throtigh Stratford, Trudy happens to see a girl friend in her, car, Quickly Trudy speaks to her on the CB radio, and she arranges to meet us in a parking lot at the Towers store. The friend offers to look after Wilson for the afternoon. Finally we get through ,Kitehener _and out- on the 40i. TrudY Waves at several-other truckers she knows as we meet them or pass them along the high- way. When yoU pass another truck, they blink their lights to tell you when you can safely pull back in. Other drivers simply say "pull'er in, driver"when you're by them. Either way, Trudy KEEP MOVING — Trudy Brown, dressed in her unloading says truckers appreciate clothes, gives a pig a boost with her electric prod. Trudy says knowing when they've made the pass safely, because it's sometimes difficult to judge when you're pulling a, long load. Trudy flashes her lights in appreciation, or says thanks over the CB. Trudy says it doesn't really bother her when drivers pull out in front of her. But it really annoys her when they pull out and then proceed very slowly along the road. If they're going to THESE LITTLE PIGGIES WENT TO MARKET — Trudy Brown pull out, they should get puts her whip back in the truck after unloading 220 hogs going, she says. aU1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111E By MARY ALDERSON HOW many truck drivers do you know that carry a spare hair barrette on their dashboard in case they have to pull their long hair back? Net many, eh. Then you haven't met Trudy Brown. The day I rode for Toronto with Trndy,she wore her long blond hair pulled back in a pony tail with a velvet rib- bon. But on the dashboard of her truck was a spare barrette. Trudy's one of the few females in this area who can handle an "18-wheeler" — in other words 'she drives a tractor-trailer transport. At age 25, she's been a trucker for nearly nine years, She quit school when she was t6, and went to work driving trucks for her father in Sebringville.Last April, she and her husband Gordie BrOwn moved to Grand Bend to work for Enrinersen Gill, The two of them along with another truck driver are kept busy hauling livestock to and from the Corbett Sales Arena. Besides her work as a full- time truck driver, Trudy is a very busy wife and mother. Baby Wilson was born last August, and Trudy kept her truck driving jobuntil a week before his birth. Ten days later, she was back behind the wheel, with Wilson sleeping. in the bunk, Maternity leave isn't usually a problem, for truckers. I visited Trudy and Gord their home in Grand Bend a few weeks ago. Trudy tries to describe her job for me, but I have to ask a lot of questions. Gord suggests .to really know what it's like, I should ride along with her sometime, Two weeks later I find myself taking that big step up into the cab of her Kenworth. Trudy says her truck is a conventional Kenworth. a '79 model and worth about $79,000. Would Trudy like to own her own truck?' "No, " she says, "I'd rather have a house." Outside, the truck is painted an attractive red, white and blue, Trudy says she'd like to have more time to polish the chrome exhaust pipes. Inside, the bunk is lined with a luxurious cushioned upholstery. The seats look big and com- fortable --,trucking is not roughing it. It's a Wednesday morning when I climb into the truck beside Trudy. Only on Wednesdays does Trudy make the trip to Toronto during daylight hours. Other mornings she's off at two or three a.m. so that she's into Toronto before the morning rush traffic. Lately, Trudy's MR. GARY THOMSON Singer-Evangelist Sunday, March 16 - at 1 1 : 00 a.m. Monday, March 17 - at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 - at 7:30 p.m. Trudy says that many people ask her how she can ever relax driving a big rig. She says it's hard to explain, but that's the one time she can really relax, She's quite comfortable sitting behind the wheel on her air cushioned seat, She's obviously not feeling, the bumps and jolts as much as I am. Not only is the driver's seat air cushioned, but it appears to have more padding and a high, back. The ride isn't as smooth in the passenger's seat. Trudy really enjoys her work, and likes the financial aspect of it, too. She gets paid by the load, and she ad- mits, she's doing much better than a secretary or a waitress. Trudy and I talk as we're travelling towards Totonto. We find we have a lot in common. We're nearly twins; Trudy is just one day olderthan I am. We also share an interest in an- tiques and furniture finishing, Trudy's other hobbies -include sewing and crocheting. When she and her husband Gord ride double on long hauls to Thunder Bay, she crochets while he drives. She also pulls out her wool if she has to wait in a nee-up to unload the trucks. Another past-time is watching television. Needless to say, she enjoys "B.J. and the Bear", Trudy moves the truck expertly through the traffic in Toronto. Soon we're at Canada Packers, and after a short wait, Trudy backs the truck up to the unloading area. Trudy believes that unloading is all part of a trucker's job. She has little use for women who drive up in trucks wearing white pant suits and then expect other people to unload for them. Trudy says she sees very few women , driving livestock trucks, and she laughs at those who dress as if they were "going to a dance". Trudy pulls on cover-ails and rubber boots. She tucks her hair up under a toque. She climbs into the trailer, carrying an electric prod and a whip. Using both items and doing a lot of whooping she: all three decks of pigs unloaded. I feel' pretty useless, as I watch her force the squealing hogs out of the truck. As the pigs jam together on the ramp I yell "get going")and swat one on the rump. The pig, not moving, looks over its shoulder at me and grunts, But along comes Trudy with her prod, and a shout, and the pigs scramble out of her way. Some of the men working at Canada Packers come out and ask Trudy where her little fellow is. Everyone expects to see the baby. Trudy takes some good natured teasing from the men. Trudy says she can take the razzing that's dished out to a female truck driver. Usually she thinks of a smart comment to hand back. She says she made up her mind a long time ago that teasing is just one thing she's going to have to put up with, and she doesn't mind when it's all in fun, She's never run into anyone who's made ignorant or nasty comments about female truck drivers, She takes a lot of teasing while talking on the CB, too, Her handle .or name on the radio is "Duchess", a reflection on her Dutch. background.; Several times. on our trip, we overhear other con-, versations on. the CB that. refer to "him" in the Ken- worth. Trudy has to in- terrupt and announce that she's a "she". She says that sometimes people will ask her what she's driving, and they laugh when she says an 18-wheeler. "Believe what you like." she replies, Other tittleswhen she's talking on theradio, men will interrupt and say "Hey it's a beaver". Beaver is. CB talk for a girl. . It's 3:30 and Trudy's an- xious to get out of the city before rush hour. We still haven't had lunch. Eating at odd hours is normal for a truck 'driver. Trudy. has to -atop and think to remember the last time she had a meal. Trudy doesn't like eating at truck stops unelss she's with Gordie. Usually she You can teach an old dog new tricks. But how you do it is of 'more concern to Pat Wood. , Mrs. Wood who lives in Southcott Pines in Grand Bend, is one of a group of professional . dog trainers' who are' concerned about their occupation. They have formed an organization to assess and certify the people who, train your dog, the Pconle wbe eptiduct classes and the people who sell trained dogs. „, The Woods moved to Grand Bend last August. Pat's husband Peter is with the Ontario Provincial Police in Forest. Before that, 'they lived near Canfield, about 23 miles south of Hamilton where Pat worked training dogs at Edlyn Kennels. For the past two years, Pat has worked with other trainers in "hammering" out a constitution and by- laws for their new organization. The Professional Dog Trainers Association of Canada. Pat has taken the position of secretary in the new organization and is receiving all correspondence at her Grand Bend address. Pat says that the purpose of the association is not to set training methods. "Training methods are as varied as the number of people who train," she explains. The aim of the group is to ensure that trainers employ no harsh or cruel treatment, that they are qualified to train dogs, and that their stops at someplace fast like McDonald's, she says. We get back to. Stratford, and Trudy parks in her favourite spot at Towers. Trudy talks to her friend on the CB, and she says she'll bring the baby right over. Trudy can't •drive down residential streets with her rig. We walk across the street to McDonalds for a 'late lunch, As we head back to the truck, Gordie pulls up with another truck load of hogs. He's just heading out for Toronto, We collect Wilson; the happy baby sits on my knee most of the way home, Trudy says I have to hold him, because I'm sitting in his place. Usually he sits 'up in his own seat, strapped into the passenger seat. Wilson' grabs for the bouncing CB cord, "People ask me if he's going to be a trucker, too," Trudy says: "I tell them I don't care," Soon Wilson tires and falls asleep in the bunk. treatment of the public is fair and honest. "We've heard horror stories of giant rip-offs," Pat says. People are charged huge Amounts of money, but the dog hasn't learned anything. The new organization also hopes to put a stop to "fly-by- nighters" Pat says. Pat says that the group plans to print a blue book ' listing the names of r the association members, Their slogan will be "If you're not in the blue book--don't toudh my dog." Prior to the creation of this group the only thing one needed to become a "professional trainer" is an ad in the paper or a sign on the door. "This is a sad comment on the canine industry, an in- dustry rated among the top twenty in the country," Pat says. The P.D.T.A, hopes to get endorsement and co- operation from the Ontario veterinary College, Humane Societies, and the Canadian Kennel Club. The membership fee will be $75 a year, Only those passing the examinations set by the P.D.T.A. will be elegible for memberships. To become certified in the various categories, the trainer must take a written examination. The P.D.T.A. has set up their categories to com- plement the classes of dogs established by the Canadian Kennel Club. A trainer can be qualified for teaching basic obedience, advanced obedience, and protection. In basic obedience, the dogs simply learn good manners, Pat says. This puts the animal at the companion dog level established by the Canadian Kennel Club. In advanced obedience the dog learns to be a companion dog excellent, or a utility dog. The dog would also learn the correction of any anti-social behaviour, tracking, ob- stacles and schutzhund. Schutzhund, the German word for protection, is a method of training dogs for protection. In the protection category, dogs receive further training in schutzhund, and are trained as guard dogs, compound dogs, and for security and police work. The P.D.T.A. will have the right to inspect the training and facilities of any certified member at any time. Pat says that good trainers should be willing to present their credentials and stand up for investigation by their peer'. Pat says that the members on the new executive are mostly from southwestern Ontario. They have already received applications for certification from British Columbia and Quebec. There are members of the P.D.T.A. in Guelph, Peterborough, Oshawa, Canfield, Gravenhurst and Toronto. The group will be in the "growing pains" stage for that unloading livestock is all part of her job as a truck driver. the next year or two, Pat says. But she's optimistic about the response she's received so far. Pat became interested in dog training when she brought home a German Shepherd puppy about seven years ago. She and Tanake (or Tak for short) took private obedience lessons under Sid Murray at Edlyn Kennels, and soon Pat herself was teaching, other dogs. - She hopes to set up a class in basic obedience in the Grand Bend area in May. The lessons cost $45 for nine weeks. She will also give private lessons at $150. Pat is selling equipment for training attack dogs. To train a dog in Schutzhund, the trainer must wear a heavy padded arm for the dog to bite. Pat says she has had orders from the RCMP for schutzhund equipment. Pat says she has trained dogs up to age five. She usually likes to train them when they're six months to a year old, but it varies with each dog. Mutts are as just as easy to train as pure breds, Pat says. But, she adds, "There are a lot of insane dog out there." Some dogs take to training better than others. After each course it is easy to determine if the dog can go further. After her dog Tak learned basic obedience, Pat went on to teach him a few tricks. Tak can jump through hoops, or cover an obstacle course with ease. He also learned tracking and how to scale walls. Dogs are awarded the various categories they ,achieve, and put letters after their names, just like university professors. Pat says that part of training is understanding the dog. She uses "dog psychology."