YOUNG COWDOG

Laura and Kevin Radford run the LK Cattle Company in Alva, Oklahoma. In this series of photos, an eight month old blue merle pup, Ranch Hand Twister, is helping load calves into a trailer. Back-up dog is Ranch Hand Grizzly (red). Grizzly, bred by the Radfords, is owned by Cody Sheck of Alva. Twister, raised and trained by the Radfords, has since been sold to Shawn Stevens of nearby Carmen, Oklahoma, where he is Shawn's ranch hand for his registered Angus herd.

Kevin Radford is putting them through the gate.

Twister waits quietly while Kevin counts the calves to load.

Convincing a calf to get with the program.

Got 'er done!

Grizzly and Twister moving the rest of the herd back out to pasture.

A well-deserved cool down for Grizzly.