Hawkins & Bristol: A Little More Life Around the Ranch
Every ranch has its characters.
Around 3T’s, two of the longtime personalities happen to have four paws, plenty of opinions, and a habit of making themselves part of whatever is happening.
Hawkins and Bristol are the original 3T’s Farm Ranch Homegrown Beef Co. dogs. Long before Duke and Jules arrived, these two were riding along, following the family from chore to chore, spending time around the horses, and making ranch life a little more interesting.
Now, they have another job: showing Duke and Jules what it means to grow into the next generation of ranch dogs.
Bristol: Sweet, Watchful, and Always Close By
Bristol came into the family when she was only 13 weeks old, and from the beginning she became part of the journey. She even traveled across the states with the family while she was still young, settling into life as a constant companion along the way.
Bristol is a Great Pyrenees and Poodle cross, and the Great Pyrenees side of her personality comes through strongly. She is watchful and protective, but she also has a softer, daintier side that seems to come from the Poodle in her.
More than anything, Bristol is affectionate. She is sweet, lovable, and not shy about asking for attention when she believes she deserves it, which is often.
She will be turning nine at the end of October, but age has not changed her ability to make herself part of whatever the family is doing.
Bristol, always nearby and keeping a watchful eye on whatever is happening around the ranch.
Hawkins: Always Ready for a Job
Hawkins officially joined this part of the family when he was four years old, although he had been part of the Torrance family since he was little. Now, he will be turning 10 this January.
A Border Collie and Poodle mix, Hawkins brings plenty of the Border Collie instinct with him. He has been known to herd people around the house, and every now and then he gets the chance to put those instincts to better use by helping with the cattle.
Hawkins is an eager helper and always seems ready for the next assignment. Around the farm, that might mean keeping an eye out for gophers and moles, chasing after his ball, or simply making sure he does not miss a chance to go for a ride.
He is also an enthusiastic little lizard hunter, although the family does its best to keep him from actually catching them.
Hawkins knows how to make himself comfortable after a full day of keeping up with ranch life.
The Things They Love Most
Despite their different personalities, Hawkins and Bristol agree on quite a few things.
They both love going for rides. They both enjoy being around the horses. They love having room to run, and they are more than happy to spend time outside wherever the family happens to be.
They have also shared plenty of adventures with Temperince, including time at the creek and climbing hay bales together.
Those ordinary moments are part of what makes ranch dogs special. They are not simply pets waiting inside for everyone to come home. They become part of the routine, following along as work gets done and finding their own place in the rhythm of the farm.
Bristol, Hawkins, and Temperince have shared plenty of everyday adventures through the years.
The Head Honchos
Hawkins and Bristol have earned their place as the seasoned ranch dogs around 3T’s.
They know the routine. They know the horses. They know when it is time to ride along, when it is time to investigate something in the pasture, and when it is time to find the best place in the house and settle in.
Now Duke and Jules are learning from them.
As the younger dogs grow into ranch life, Hawkins and Bristol are there as the experienced pair, showing them that being a ranch dog means a little bit of everything: keeping up with the family, staying curious, knowing when there is work to do, and always being ready for the next adventure.
After years of rides, ranch adventures, and everyday life together, Hawkins and Bristol still know how to settle in side by side.
Passing It Along
There is something fitting about watching one generation of ranch dogs make room for the next.
Hawkins and Bristol have been part of countless ordinary days at 3T’s, from rides and chores to horses, hay bales, family time, and the occasional unauthorized lizard hunt.
Now Duke and Jules are beginning to create stories of their own.
For Hawkins and Bristol, that means their role is changing a little. They are still the head honchos, of course, but now they are also the ones showing the younger dogs how life around the ranch works.
And if Duke and Jules are paying attention, they have two pretty experienced teachers.
