Top dog
A sheepdog competition for working pups
Theo Stroomer
I was up before dawn.A couple guys in dirty pickup trucks left the motel parking lot with me. After traveling together for a few miles they turned off, likely headed to a fracking job site. I kept going, winding through the mountains and watched the sun come up. I arrived just as day broke and immediately noticed two things: RV’s and dogs. So many dogs.
Meeker, Colorado is a few hours west of Denver. Despite growing up in Colorado, I had never been there because it's so out of the way.So, it’s remote - and yet this small community hosts one of the most competitive sheepdog herding competitions on the planet every fall, the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials. This was their 29th year.Before this competition, my only real reference point for canine events was Westminster (or, let’s be honest, Best in Show). Sheepdog trials have a different focus. Instead of appearance, demeanor, or physical attributes, the competition is about work and collaboration. Handlers and their dogs are scored on how well the dogs move and manage groups of sheep.
The trials started promptly at 7 a.m. After watching a few runs and enjoying the crisp morning, I set up my equipment. Maybe you’re wondering how one takes animal portraits. To start with, pick a well-behaved subject. Sheepdogs are pretty smart, one of the qualities that makes them good at herding. Many of these dogs were competitors, meaning for the most part they were obedient and would willingly sit for a portrait.
I was armed with a squeaky bone to get each dog’s attention thanks to Maureen, a friendly handler and fellow photographer. She also generously shared a bag of 100% lamb treats for the dogs. “People are going to want to know exactly what’s in them,” she told me. A typical session involved meeting the dog, bringing him or her to the spot we were taking pictures, and having the owner help coach and reward while we did photos. Some things went better than others, of course. Mistake No. 1: I asked owners “What mix is your dog?” None of these dogs are mixed breeds, I was told curtly but courteously. They’re all border collies. Mistake No. 2: one of my first subjects, Pete, got a little overexcited and toppled into the backdrop. Dogs have personalities, some are clumsy. Pete recovered admirably, calmed himself, and sat for a nice portrait once we got everything reset.
Mistake No. 1: I asked owners “What mix is your dog?”
I took a break from portraiture as the day got warmer, heading into the bleachers to photograph and watch runs in the afternoon.Each handler/dog team has 13 minutes to complete a series of challenges. By whistling, handlers are able to communicate with their dogs across a quarter mile on the large, rectangular course. Time doesn’t affect your score, as long as you finish. The dog goes out to gather the sheep, bring them back towards the handler, guide them through a series of obstacles, divide them into smaller groups, and finally put them in a pen. The judge’s score is based on the lines the dog takes in successfully accomplishing each of these tasks (straight is good, moving off-line too far is a points deduction).
I struck up a conversation with some guys in the stands. Most were from the states but one man, Dennis, was from northern British Columbia. The atmosphere was a jovial one. Everybody seemed to know each other, a group of old friends who meet on the circuit a few times a year. Someone pointed out that if we could just build that border fence across Canada, he wouldn’t have to compete with Dennis anymore (RIP Scott Walker). I checked out the concessions and concourse area: I found Navajo tacos, sheepdog schwag, the canine education tent and wool products galore.As the competition wound down for the day, I wandered back into the RV encampment. People were starting to grill up dinner and enjoy drinks. Their dogs were everywhere, frolicking and playing, finally able to cut loose and be off leash after a day of hard work