Sheepdog championships get underway

By Gillian Slade on August 24, 2018.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com  @MHNGillianSlade

It takes stamina, skill, discipline and teamwork to move sheep through a sheepdog championship course, and some of the best in the world participated in the event near Medicine Hat on Thursday.

Border collies faced an unknown championship course and sheep that have never before been herded by a dog.

At the top of a hill in the distance, about a mile and a half from the starting post, four sheep each time could be seen eating grass unaware that a dog was about to arrive on the scene.

Each dog and handler starts the course with 100 points. There are then deductions when things don’t go as planned.

The dog sets off in the direction of the sheep. To avoid losing points they must move to the right or left in the shape of half a pear held upside down. That “out run” is worth 20 points. If the dog crosses sides, 19 points are lost. The first interaction with the sheep and achieving a steady pace as the sheep head towards the handler is worth 10 points, explained Wendy Schmaltz from McCord, Sask.

There are no hand signals from the handler. The dog’s eyes must be on the sheep. There are several verbal commands and whistling signals, said Gordon Watt, the 2005 world champion.

In fact the dogs are so intent on the task that handlers have to watch they don’t overheat in hot weather as they run considerable distances.

“Most times the dog is steps ahead. You have to trust the dog a bit more. You don’t want the dog to be a robot (just following commands),” said Watt.

There are three sets of panels, spaced 21 feet apart, on the course. The dog aims to herd the sheep between the panels.

At another point on the course they must separate the sheep, said Schmaltz, who has been participating for 17 years and won the world championship in England in 2011. Her dog Gin, at the time, has since died at the age of 15. Schmaltz is participating in this championship with Gin’s son, Ky.

Each dog and handler has 11 minutes on the course and ideally ends up with the sheep herded into a pen.

Training the dogs starts when they are between seven and nine months old, said Watt.

When Watt won the world championship he was living in Ireland but immigrated to the U.S. three years ago and now lives in Wisconsin. He qualified for a U.S. permanent resident visa because of his extraordinary talent with dogs and ability to teach sheepdog handling skills. They brought their 11 border collies with them.

From the age of 11, Watt began participating in sheepdog trials. A couple years ago he, together with his dog Storm who is participating in this championship, was the reserve champion in the U.S. finals.

The Canadian Sheepdog Championships continue through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m each day.

Entrance fee $5 per person for spectators.

Take your own chair, and umbrella if you want shade. Leave your own dogs at home.

After two preliminary rounds the dogs will compete in the finals on Sunday to determine the best of the best.

Location

Canine Solutions 10112 RR 52 Cypress County, south of Medicine Hat.

From Medicine Hat go east on the Trans-Canada Highway to Dunmore.

Turn right onto Eagle Butte Road at the Co-op gas station.

About 15 km down the road turn right onto Twp Road 102.

Take the first left turn onto RR 52.

There are plenty of signs along the way.

Additional information: Chris Jobe, Canine Solutions-Working Border Collies, 403-866-6176.

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