Working dogs, once strictly outdoor animals are climbing the ladder of luxury. Not only are they visiting chiropractors and massage therapists, they are also usurping prime spots on the furniture. Some outliers are even weaseling their way in to farmers’ beds. At the Uinta Basin Cattle Dog Classic in Duchesne, Utah, Maggie, a border collie with two fox ears and an expression somewhere between wired and vigilant, maneuvered three cows into a pen after a cozy night’s sleep spooning her food lady Doreen McCourt of Wellington, Utah.
Breck Hunsaker’s dog Max focuses on a cow at the Duchesne County Centennial Event Center, Uinta basin Classic Cattle dog trial Saturday December 7, 2019 in Duchesne, Utah.
As the trajectory of how much humans love dogs increases, so has the popularity of dog related sports. Stock dog trials are experiencing a surge of newcomers as more dogs find themselves employed at ranches or farms, and as the sport becomes more accessible to hobbyists and newbies. To compete in the trials, canines and their humans must work together to drive cattle through a course, acquiring points for completing tasks as the clock ticks. The human whistles and barks instructions to their dog, who zips through the course, occasionally nipping a cow in the face, as they try to keep the clunky bovine gang moving in the right direction.
Steve Wight, owner of Mill Iron S Ranch in Bancroft, Idaho is the president of the Mountain States Stockdog Association that organized the trial. Wight is credited with adding a “novice” class to the competition, creating an inviting climate for neophytes to take part. “We created the novice division to encourage the true beginner. We want you and your dog to succeed so you will get better, and compete against people on the same skill level,” Wight said, adding, “We have a lot of people who are getting into the hobby of it. You can compete and have fun, make friends, do things with your dog, and your dog can have an outlet for what he is bred to do.” At this trial alone there were about half a dozen new handlers and dogs that had never competed before.
Zeke Mendenhall’s charge, Skye races to get ahead of a cow.
Officially a physical therapist, Utah native, Zeke Mendenhall’s side hustle is training dogs as the market for cattle dogs has ballooned. Mendenhall, who speaks with a slightly twangy voice made made for narrating audiobooks, speculates a tendency to romanticize the West is one of the reasons stock dogs are gaining popularity. Pointing to people who have moved to western states or have holiday cabins and ranches he says, “Horsemanship is something that takes a really long time to develop, to bond with a dog, the thrill of working the stock and getting the job done, that doesn’t take nearly as long,“ and it’s not nearly as costly. Another reason Mendenhall says is that Americans’ relationships with dogs have changed, “dogs have almost become almost human.” People are no longer masters, they are now ‘dog moms and dads.’ Other handlers echo this tender sentiment. McCourt says dogs help humans emotionally with the stress in our lives. She jokes that when she comes home from work, her dog greets her with joy and love, while her husband sits on the couch.
Zeke Mendenhall whistles using a traditional herding whistle while giving a dog hand signals during the competition
Wight pushes back a bit on the idea of dogs sleeping on the bed, “This country is absolutely dog crazy. The sad thing is that they are missing out on the purpose of a dog. What is that dog bred to do? The border collie was 100% bred to work, I’m not saying they are not great pets, but people are getting a little bit overboard dog crazy.“ Handlers are quick to point out that full time, blue-collar working dogs are no strangers to dirt and one of the main ingredients of the dirt is cow poop, which is a reasonable reason to deny a dog a leisurely nap on any sofa or bed. McCourt admits that while her dog gets to cuddle up with her, there is no way her husband’s dog, Spud will ever bask in such opulence, “He’s such a filthy dog, the minute he sees a cowpie or mud, he’s in it.”
While its possible to buy a dog from a breeder for a few hundred dollars, the price tag for a border collie with designer genetics and exemplary training can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Gurdy, a milk chocolate colored pup with laser focus was bought for a record breaking $30K. One handler said she’s well worth the price since she can do everything except close a gate.
Gurdy, who sold for $30,000, drives a cow at the Duchesne County Centennial Event Center, Uinta basin Classic Cattle dog trial Saturday December 7, 2019 in Duchesne, Utah
Considering that the annual salary for a cowboy is about $40K, those prices may look reasonable. Wight says his dog, Levi, is a loyal, devoted employee, “ I have never had to get him out of bed. He never called in sick for work. If I had to go do something on Christmas or New Year’s Eve he didn’t ask for overtime.”
Broken Circle Ranch run by Robin Nuffer, is where Gurdy was born to decorated border collie parents. Nuffer says, “In the good old days, cowboys treated their dogs one way, but its different now, because dogs are worth so much money.” As a dog trainer, she cautions its necessary to create boundaries, or there can be problems. Left unchecked, a dog could end up dominating a family. Its ok for a dog to be on the furniture, but she suggests the dog should first ask, in the universal language of cute facial expressions, “Hey, can I sit on the sofa?” The owner can say yes and later tell the dog to get off the furniture. “You still have to be the dominant figure in that dog’s life,” she advises, “It’s true of all dogs; little house dogs, herding dogs, dogs that are pets, and dogs that are tools – there always has to be trust and respect, and then you’ll have the perfect dog”
Children cuddle border collie puppies.