She describes him as “very driven and enthusiastic,” “up for anything,” and “just a really good dog to be around.” Link, Brianne Bellwood’s 8-year-old border collie, demonstrated his intellect, agility, and close relationship with his owner at the World Stock Dog Championship at the Calgary Stampede July 9–10.
Having just celebrated its 27th year, the World Stock Dog Championship challenges stock dogs to move three sheep through an obstacle course and into a pen in an arena in under four minutes, receiving points as they pass obstacles while aiming for the fastest time. Sixty dogs completed two rounds of this sheep-herding competition to determine the top 12 who would advance to finals.
Bellwood and Link won their first round—a surprise to Bellwood, who knew they had passed all the obstacles and penned the sheep but didn’t realize how quickly they had done so. In their second round, they ran out of time and didn’t get a pen, and ended up finishing 14th. However, their combined standings allowed them to move on to the finals, where they finished 11th overall. The two have competed at the World Stock Dog Championship before but this was the best they have ever done. “He did well,” says Bellwood, but admits, “I needed to get some more experience and get my nerves under control.”
Link is the first dog that Bellwood has competed with, having started with him when he was a year or two old. He is also her first border collie. “He’s a really good dog. He’s like my buddy,” she says. “We’ve definitely learned so much together and I’ve learned so much from him. He always gives me 100 per cent and he’s willing to learn and try again. Any new thing I want to try like sheep or cows or even ducks, he’s up for it.”
In addition to stock dog competitions, Link also participates in agility and likes dock diving. Bellwood explains that there are a lot of opportunities for dogs to train in this area and over into Saskatchewan, including with cattle and in sheep field trials. Together, they have been having fun learning and training and trying different types of competitions and sets of skills while traveling different places and meeting interesting people.
Bellwood says she appreciates all the support and mentorship that the individuals in the stock dog community have provided, and feels fortunate for the opportunities that are available to new handlers by the knowledgeable veterans of the sport. “I have found that they are a welcoming group of people that give back and are encouraging and supportive of new individuals,” she says.
Bellwood herself is no stranger to working with animals, having worked at Lakeland College for the past 15 years, where she currently serves as department chair in Agricultural Sciences and instructor in the Veterinary Technology program. Link has attended labs for students to practice their bandaging and other techniques. Link has also been known to visit St. Jerome’s School, where kids there take turns reading to him.
Another of Brianne’s stock dogs has also helped move the Yellowhead Grazing goats that come to town to tackle invasive weed species and graze hard to reach areas—yet another example of how useful dogs can be. “Sometimes it’s just easier with a stock dog,” says Bellwood, noting that “one good dog can replace two or three people to help get things done.” “There are things where I don’t know how I would get things done if I didn’t have a dog to help me,” she attests.
Bellwood and Link performed at the Dog Days of Summer demonstration event at the Vermilion Agricultural Society’s fairgrounds on Canada Day, and will return to the venue on Thursday, July 25 from 1–4 p.m. to help with the mutton busting event, for anyone interested in watching this remarkable team at work.
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