Trial vs Ranch Dogs

[sic 'em reds]

Got a question for the canine skinners.

I love the heck out of a good cowdog. I am also involved with a group that puts on a couple trials each year. I do the trials for the fun of it. For fun mainly because I never win any money back!!

Anyways, how do you all feel about it?

 

[Jinglebob]

Got a question for the canine skinners.

I love the heck out of a good cowdog. I am also involved with a group that puts on a couple trials each year. I do the trials for the fun of it. For fun mainly because I never win any money back!!

Anyways, how do you all feel about it?

When I had my good Border Collie, I used to play at it a little, to the scorn of our local dog handler. Or as he put it, "You've got a world champion there and your just wasting him as a ranch dog!"

Only problem, I'm not very competetive. :lol:

Anyway, what I noticed, the sheep trail dogs were about 50/50 as to whether they would be ok on cattle. If you had trained cattle, many could be a big help, but so many had all the bite taken out of them that they never would have worked around here.

As for the cattle trial dogs, some seemed pretty good. I think if they had the right handler and the right dog, then they would be great whether on the ranch or at a trial.

JMHO

 

[IL Rancher]

I've watched a few sheep trials around here and most of the dogs would fall apart having to handle actual sheep in a pasture situation... If anything stood up to them they didn't know what to do, too used to broke sheep or cows... I have a dog that is just the oppossite.. If the animal doesn't want to fight him he isn't all that happy.. Seems to work better after someone charges him, I think it regains his focus... Again, better dog than I am handler.

 

[Haytrucker]

It's kinda got to be like horses, it depends what you need to get done at the time. My thinking has been that a little practice at home only would improve a chance to show off somewhere.
But my dog is a heeler, and probably not in contention for anything fancy. Not a fullblood though, because if I send her to the pickup she A) goes and B) stays there until called. That isn't a judged event I've heard of but a handy skill none the less.

 

[Soapweed]

.................... because if I send her (the dog) to the pickup she A) goes and B) stays there until called. That isn't a judged event I've heard of but a handy skill none the less.

Sometimes it would be handy if you could do the same thing with some people, without hurting their feelings, of course. :wink:

 

[Jinglebob]

.................... because if I send her (the dog) to the pickup she A) goes and B) stays there until called. That isn't a judged event I've heard of but a handy skill none the less.

Sometimes it would be handy if you could do the same thing with some people, without hurting their feelings, of course. :wink:

Yup.

Hey Soap, git in the pickup! :x

:wink:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thats it, my next pups name is gonn'a be Soap. Just sounds so good when you say it.

 

[Faster horses]

Ohhh you guys. I think I'm addicted to your humor. I seem to keep
coming back for more! :shock: :wink:

As far as trial dogs, I don't know much, but it seems to me these
dogs are getting bred up pretty hyper for use as trial dogs. We like our
ranch dogs to be low-key but tough. I can't hardly stand a hyper
dog.

They can be busy, but not hyper. Big difference there.
However, this has given me an idea for the photo contest.
I'm going to add "Favorite dogs" right now.

 

[OldDog/NewTricks]

What are you Working? Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Ducks - or other

Give me a good "RANCH" Dog (even 1/2 good) anytime.

I've put on some Big 2 or 3 day "All Breed Trials" - We had Jack Pots at nights (course was made up that night) - most of the dogs that won in the trial could not compete with the Ranch Dogs in the Jack Pots

My Angus Cows will work for "Quite" Ranch Dogs (even let them help lick a new born) but have been known to put "To Busy Boarder Collies" and their Handlers through the fence.

I may have more to say on this subject but short on time now

 

[Soapweed]

.................... because if I send her (the dog) to the pickup she A) goes and B) stays there until called. That isn't a judged event I've heard of but a handy skill none the less.

Sometimes it would be handy if you could do the same thing with some people, without hurting their feelings, of course. :wink:

Yup.

Hey Soap, git in the pickup! :x

:wink:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thats it, my next pups name is gonn'a be Soap. Just sounds so good when you say it.

Yup. It's just such a fresh, clean sounding name. :wink:

 

[sic 'em reds]

The trials that we put on are pretty ranch orientated, cattle only, mostly yearlings sine they are more convenient, alothough I have been to some where they used bred cows.. We do it horseback, handler can't get out of walk so the dog has to the work. The handler can definitely help the dog at obstacles, but can't get into the obstacle to help.

To start the dog has to go gather the group, three head most of the time, and bring them back into the course. Handler must remain behind some spot until the cattle are brought back past said spot. The handler can go help if the dog has problems, but loses fetch points.

We use several types of obstacles. A "T" is set perpendicular to a fence. Cattle come into the tee along the fence. If the leave the "T" to the left they get 3 points per head, to the right 5 points per head. You can put your dog in position to gain the highest points or let the cattle go wherever. Short pen is set along a fence with two panels and a gate on the end. Push cattle in to the "pen", dog hold cattle while handler rides up to open the gate, dog pushes them through. If cattle break over the dog, you have to reset the gate and try again until finished. Two panels sel paralell to each other. Cattle get into the panels and you have to send your dog around to stop them before they pass through the other end and bring them back the end they went in. Finish by loading into a trailer, etc.....

There are several obstacles, but all are practical to a point. It is fun to go to one or two a year I think.

There are alot of dogs that are bred to trial. They can be a little hyper, but you don't really want a hyper dog to trial with. Very few dogs are real hyper that trial and can get the job done on cattle that most the time are not dog broke.

I just thought I would bring up the subject because we had a meeting yesterday and there is difference between a few people in our group. I want dogs that are bred to work for anything. There are a few people in our group that want to breed dogs strictly for trial. I think if a dog works, it should be able to trial if it has some direction and manners.

I totally agree with Jinglebob on what he first wrote. There is a difference in sheep and cattle dog lines. Also about working broke livestock. Ours are pretty much dog broke, although some will always have to fight even when they don't have a calf at side. It is fun work dog breaking the heifers each spring though!!!!!!

 

[Jerry H]

i use herding dogs "kelpies" everyday here at the ranch and i ised to go to practical ranch dog type trials like you descibed and i always thought the dogs that would do a good job at the ranch were the better dogs at those events as they were left to think on their own more and not just moving when and where the handler told them
but the dogs i like here on the ranch would not do well in a judged trial as i do let htem think on their own for the most part

 

[sic 'em reds]

Thats one thing about our trials, they are not judged. Thats why we went with this format. You get 10 minutes, more or less depending on how many entries, to finish the course. It's all time and points. No critical judges.

With this format you can do pretty good with a thinkin dog. If your dog won't move without a command, you can hurt yourself.