WORKING DOG TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1931, Page 3

WORKING DOG TRIAL

SPLENDID EXHIBITION.

PERORMANCE AT SHOW GROUND.

CI-TRISTGH UR.CH, No / 14

One of the finest exhibitions of shedding anti yarding seen on the Addington Show Ground for many year's was that given by Mr J. H. Roberts, of West Eyreton, rind his two fine Scotch Collie: dogs, Glen End Dash, at the conclusion of the jumping events yesterday afternoon. On Wednesday afternoon lie gave a somewl at similar exhibition, but it was too late in the afternoon, and there w;s a disappointing attendance. Yesterday Mr Roberts was given ft rousing reception when he entered the ring with his champions, by a crowd of about ,2000. The applause was renewed at "various stages of the exhibition, the crowd showing its appreciation of the work of both dogs and master.

Both dogs are of the heading type, and Glen was the winner of the Interternational Championship at the International Sheep Dog Society’® trial s in England in 1926. He was then IS months old. Glen was trained" by Mark Hayton, a celebrated English breeder, Dash was bred by Mr Roberts himself, and ha s won many awards both in England and New Zealand. Incidentally it :ig interesting to note that Glen is the father of this year’s winner of the International trophy in England and is also the father of another dog which has won the championship of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The most remarkable point 'abouffc the exhibition perhaps is the perfect manner of control the master adopts. No speech is used; a walking stick and different whistles providing the sole means of direction to the two dogs working together. There was not a hitch throughout and the understanding between man and dogs was complete.

EXHIBITION DETAILED For yesterday’s exhibition six sheep were run out on to the Oval from a pen on it. They were twotooth Corriedale ewes and having just been shorn were fast and very apt to be wayward. Three of the sueep were marked with a red raddle brand on the head and three were unmarked.

With Glen casting on the right, and Dash on the left, the sheep were headed in <a straight pull down to Mr Roberts, who was standing In-tween the two small shedding pens placed in .the centre of the ground' a utile apart near the southern end <;i the oval. Wheeling under jieriect control, the sheep were taken on a further straight pull, and during it encountered the first obstacle—the sheep had to be driven through a gap between two brush obstacles. Very fast and fresh the sheep commenced to give trouble, but after a masterly exhibition, in which the two dogs cleverly secured control, and refused to allow a breakaway, the sheep were herded through. There was a great burst of applause, but better was yet to come. Casting out to tbe left, Dash wheeled them to the left-hand side of the oval to start the return journey to the pens through two further obstacles—one a" gap in brush, and the other a harder one between two hurdles close set. Both these tests were negotiate! within twenty* seconds —an outstanding ne ; formance with the , troublesome flteeo the dogs had to handle.

THE SHEDDING The next test was the shedding, in which it was required that the three marked sheep should he cut out and yarded in one of the pens, and the three unmarked one in the other. Twice the clogs successfully manoeuvcred the operation of selecting the three unmarked sheep, only to have to recommence it as one over-ran them to rejoin the other division. The third time the dogs made no error, and leaving one to guard tlie three left grazing, Mr Roberts stood by the gate of one pen, and with stick and whistle controlling the dog made jt drive the three sheep into it. An action from the master, and that clog lay on guard at the gate the filled nen, and the other dog went through a' similar procedure to yard the other three sheep in the ge ond pen. The applause this feat-received was well merited.