Black Hills Stock Show Hosts Thrilling Sheepdog Trials

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The All-American Sheep Day was today at the Black Hills Stock Show, with one of the competitions being the sheepdog trials. 60 dogs competed in the All-American Sheep Dog trials at the Central States Fairgrounds. They’re given 5 minutes each to wrangle 3 sheep through an obstacle course.

Tim Naasz, one of the competitors said, “It’s a team competition between with the handler and the dog, and they set up a course in an arena or out on the field, and the team takes stock through the course. And a lot of times it’s time, sometimes there’s points involved. It’s just a competition that these handlers like to do. “

Most of these stock dogs aren’t just doing this in competitions, but back on the ranch. John Kaiser, the assistant GM of the Central State Fairgrounds said, “The coolest thing you’ll see a dog do, and these dogs are, they’re working most likely dogs they’re on ranches, working your sheep or cattle, and they’re like having an extra employee, an extra set of hands. They help move the animals around. And this type of bed just showcases the unique breeding and characteristics of these dogs that make them so successful at what they do”

Dog owners know how important the relationship you have with your dog is. No more apparent than in this competition. Kaiser added, “Here you’re seeing an owner and a dog who have a play about as clear, clear communication as you’ll ever see, working together on a team, moving shape and, you know, in a direction, and then a pattern, and it’s just, it’s one of the coolest things you’ll see a dog doing, in my opinion.”

For more information on the other events at the Black Hills Stock Show, use the link below for the full schedule.

https://www.centralstatesfairinc.com/p/black-hills-stock-show-and-rodeo/schedule1

Aaron grew up in Farmington Minnesota, just south of the Twin Cities. He went to college in Orlando Florida at Full Sail University studying sports broadcasting.