Stock dogs show off their skills at Agribition

Stock dogs that are properly trained and used can reduce anxiety levels in cattle so fewer employees are needed

Cattle ranchers and livestock producers had a chance to check out a solution to looming labour shortages while attending Canadian Western Agribition last week.

Dogs and their handlers competed at the seventh annual Cattle Dog Futurity and Maturity competitions and the International Stock Dog Trials held Nov. 22.

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The futurity event featured dogs born between November 2019 and October 2020 and were competing for the first time.

“We believe (they) should be in their prime of their training then. They’re young, viable, and should have enough training, or be trained enough, to come and display in town and educate everyone on the use of cow dogs and how it works,” said event organizer Marcel Vermette of Rafter V Ranch near Outlook, Sask.

Vermette competed with his dog, Jock, who was the event’s reserve champion in 2020.

Calin Duce of Cardston, Alta., brought his three-year-old dog, Tan, to compete in the futurity event before moving on to the stock dog event.

Duce said the dog learns how to read and adjust to different types of animals.

With 750 cow-calf pairs and 6,000 in the feedlot, Duce currently has 15 dogs on staff.

After the dogs start to slow down, retirement can be pretty special, he said.

Tan, a red border collie, and handler Calin Duce of Cardston, Alta, were ready to go for the Cattle Dog Futurity competition on Nov. 22. | Becky Zimmer photo

“Usually if a dog has made it to 10 years old with someone, they’re probably going to be sitting on the porch the rest of their life.”

One stock dog can replace three ranch hands, said Vermette, who owns a custom grazing operation. Beyond the skill, agility, and intelligence of stock dogs, there are other reasons stock dogs are ideal.

“These guys show up to work. They’re never hung over. They don’t have to take kids to a ballgame early in the day, whatever. They’ll work till they’re dead. And so they really are the ideal employee.”

Vermette also sees them as better for his cattle herd.

“Cattle are a prey animal. They’re always a little anxious. And if they’re anxious, they’re not going to put weight on when we’re grazing because they’re always looking for that predator that’s coming together. Once we started working with them with the dogs, that anxiety comes back down to nothing.”

Agribition has been a good place to feature the stock dogs, said Vermette, with a great community of fellow handlers.

“We’re all just ranchers… you can brag about how good your dog is but until you bring him to town, it’s just talk,” he said with a laugh.