The first sheep dog trials at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo attracted overflow crowds in the Astrohall main arena.

This year, nearly 50 canine competitors and their masters from four states participated in four classes of timed events.

Much like the sport of rodeo, sheep dog trials started as a result of friendly banter about whose animal could perform certain feats better than anyone else's. The first trial took place in Bala, Wales, more than 100 years ago, and competition continues there today. Sheep farming in the United Kingdom is an important agricultural industry and exists in unbelievably rugged terrain inaccessible to vehicles or horses. Because of this, in the border country of England and Scotland, a breed of dog was developed which excelled in herding abilities -- intelligence, loyalty, speed and obedience. The Border Collie then came to the United States with immigrants, perhaps as a companion, only to find a need existed for its abilities in handling livestock here.

Basic training only takes three to six months because the Border Collie has a great desire to please its owner and is bred for its "stock sense," or natural instinct to work animals. The fine tuning necessary to perform successfully at field trials takes more finesse and skill, which comes from experience. Verbal commands are universal: for example, "away" directs the dog counterclockwise, and "come by" sends it in a clockwise movement. While one long shrill whistle blast always signifies "stop," other whistle commands may differ from handler to handler. Some handlers use different whistle signals for each dog, so that they can control a "brace," which is two dogs working together.

Superintendent of the event was Lifetime Executive Committee member P. Michael Wells, who was instrumental in bringing the sheep dog trials to Houston. E. B. and Frances Raley of Crawford, Texas, who are president and secretary-treasurer, respectively, of the Texas Sheep Dog Association, organized and conducted the contest. The Association, founded in 1963, has grown to a membership of 200 people. Sheep dog trialing is a sport which is increasing in popularity, as growing numbers of participants and spectators alike attend the frequent weekend events. "The Border Collie comes in all sizes, colors and shapes," said E. B. Raley, "because they are bred and judged only on their working ability."

While dogs are judged on skill and precision within a time limit in the larger outdoor field trials, the arena trials held at livestock shows are strictly timed events and only test the working dogs' speed. The nursery class (for dogs 3 years old and under) and the beginners' ranch class require only that the dog drive a group of three sheep into a pen within three minutes. The handler may hold the gate rope and give direction to the dog.

In the intermediate open ranch and more advanced open classes, participants have five minutes to complete a more difficult course. The handler remains within 5 or 6 feet of a designated "handler's post" or "handler's mound" as the dog runs out to get the sheep and drives them around two barrels in a figure-eight pattern. This portion of the contest demonstrates the training and obedience of the dog, because it is required to take the sheep away from the handler in order to complete the task. This goes against its natural instinct as a "fetching" dog, which would normally bring the sheep toward the handler.

Voice and whistle commands are used to guide the dog from a distance. The handler may leave his post for the remainder of the course, directing the dog to drive each of the sheep through a chute and then into a pen. These tasks demonstrate the patience of the dog as it completes the course without rushing or unduly disturbing the sheep. The dog circles around, directing the sheep and keeping them together, with quiet firm control. The dog moves livestock by "moral persuasion"; it hunkers down and glowers at them. The glare is called the "eye," according to Dennis McCaig, author and expert on Border Collies.

Jo Woodbury of Millsap, Texas, brought three winning dogs to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo contest, taking first place in the experienced open class and both first and second places in the nursery class. She has raised Border Collies for 12 years, along with cutting horses and cattle, but has only shown the dogs for the past three years. "The sheep dog trials are an inexpensive sport, and those people who enjoy cutting and team penning find the sports have similarity," she said. "I don't know how people move stock from one place to another without dogs -- the same animal can work with both sheep and cattle. I think the use of dogs in modern ranching is more prevalent today because people are seeing the value of a good dog and are interested in making things more economically efficient. There are no wages or insurance, and the dogs are a joy to have around," she added. "They're a good friend and they work hard."

A trained Border Collie creeps slowly toward three sheep in an effort to manipulate them through an obstacle course and into a pen located at the end of the sheep dog trial course.

Rodney Cotton, a retired school teacher from Pineville, La., began training his dogs about a year ago, and won first and third places in the beginners' ranch class. "We have about 75 sheep, and our dogs are our hobby as well as a working asset on the farm," he said. "I'm looking forward to this event next year. The Houston trials were well organized, in a nice facility, with good sheep."

John Bellamy of Red Oak, Texas, a kennel owner for the past nine years, took first place in the intermediate open ranch class. He believes that the Border Collie "has the highest IQ of any dog in the world -- the practical, teachable, trainability of a 5- to 7- year-old child." He begins training when a dog is 1 year old, and finds that males mature more slowly than females. "This dog has an innate aura or presence that brings the sheep under authority," he explained, "and this ability to take control absolutely cannot be learned. All training builds on the dog's natural fetching ability."

Another participant, Dennis Funderburgh, uses his dogs along with horses to herd sheep and goats on his Del Rio, Texas, ranch. Many ranchers agree that a well-trained dog can replace one to three people on horseback to work yearling cattle. The ratio of livestock to herding dogs is lower for cows and calves, and much higher for sheep, goats, pigs or turkeys.

Whether competing in trials for fun or working to herd livestock, this popular four-legged ranch hand more than earns its keep and pleases its master--which were both obvious at this year's trials.

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Marketing and Public Relations Division,
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
P.O. Box 20070, Houston, Texas 77225-0070