Over Labor day, I attended the Soldier Hollow Classic Sheepdog Trial Championship in Heber Valley, Utah. Wow, I had so much fun watching the Border Collies herd wild range sheep. One by one, a dog teamed up with their handler to bring two groups of sheep down the mountain. After steering the sheep through a series of gates, the team separated out five sheep wearing red collars from the main group and herded them into a pen. These sheep were tough as nails and challenged the dogs by stomping their hooves. It took a skilled team with a little luck to accomplish the test. Despite their great skill, sometimes the sheep won over the dog and human.
Besides the sheep herding, the event had a variety of dog demonstrations. The Salt Lake Unified Police Department showed off their canine officers with a demonstration that included both obedience and protection skills. I have seen a lot of police dogs in action and these were among the best I’ve had the privilege to watch. The event also feature a pool and splash dog contest. This is a great event and below is a link where you can learn more.