Next week, on a 900-acre field tucked against the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, the best Border Collies in the country will descend on Nevada for the biggest competition in the working dog world: The National Sheepdog Finals.
From Sept. 20-25, 150 teams will vie for the chance to become national champions and represent the United States in the World Sheepdog Championship in the UK.
What Is a Sheepdog Trial?
The Record-Courier reports, “a sheepdog trial is designed to test a border collie’s intelligence, training, and instinct, by duplicating various tasks that a herding dog would do in farm or ranch work.”
To begin, each dog will be cast out into the field to gather a small group of sheep about 400 yards away. Afterward, the dog will bring the sheep around the handler. They’ll then drive them through an obstacle course, finally bringing them back around. At this point, the team will separate the sheep and put them in a pen.
The history of these trials dates back to the 19th century when English and Scottish shepherds would gather to demonstrate their dog’s skills and the bond between dog and shepherd. Since then, the event has grown to become a national spectacle in various countries, similar to western rodeos.
Bringing the Finals to the Great Basin
This year, the event—organized by the U.S. Border Collie Handlers Association (USBCHA) — will be hosted in Nevada for the very first time. According to the event’s official website, “with 60,000 sheep in Nevada…it only made sense to bring the USBCHA National Sheepdog Finals to the ‘Silver State’ for 2022.”
Bently Ranch, in the small town of Minden, will host the event. The Merino sheep will come from the local Borda Family Ranch. All year, these sheepdogs and their handlers have traveled the country entering one event after another, gathering enough points to qualify for the finals. Now, the best working dogs in North America will put on a show of skill and intelligence befitting their breed.
The event is open to the public. However, organizers say any dog not competing will not be allowed in the event. Regardless, the event is sure to draw a large crowd. Besides the daily trials, a large trade show with vendors and concessions will give ample entertainment to families and sheepdog enthusiasts alike.
