Moss has been a national champion, reserve national champion and a Saskatchewan champion.
At age 11, he’s nearly ready to retire. But Moss, a Border collie, had one more title to win.
Last week at Canadian Western Agribition he penned three sheep in one minute and 22 seconds to win the International Stock Dog championship, along with his owner and handler Peter Gonnet of Broderick, Sask.
Second place went to Tex and his handler Dale Montgomery of Maple Creek, Sask., with a time of 2:06. Gerald Bunney and Ladd of Aladdin, Wyoming, placed third, 31 seconds behind second place.
Read Also
Alberta researcher helps unlock the economics of farming
Lethbridge Polytechnic researcher helping agriculture producers with decision-making tools in economic feasibility
All three handlers are previous Agribition champions. In fact, Gonnet’s first win was with Moss’s granddaughter, Jill.
“Quite a few of his offspring have been here,” Gonnet said.
Winning at Agribition, where Gonnet said the exposure is greatest, leads to many opportunities to breed a working dog like Moss.
“It’s great for selling pups, for training and breeding,” he said. “The spectators are in the thousands. There are guys wanting to buy pups for working or even just to show here.
“They don’t make good pets. They just want to work everything.”
Gonnet said trainers simply bring out the best in a working dog. They can’t turn a dog without that instinct into one that will successfully herd sheep or cattle.
“We can make a dog better, but if it’s not there, there’s nothing we can do,” he said.
Gonnet said it would be rare to see a dog much older than 12 competing at Agribition.
“He’s at his end,” he said of Moss.
Moss and Gonnet work together on the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration pasture that Gonnet manages. In addition to doctoring and moving cattle, Gonnet trains horses.
He used Jill for the Day at the Ranch demonstrations on Agribition’s opening day. He and Montgomery, who are friends as well as competitors, demonstrated livestock handling using dogs and horses.
Gonnet also participated in Canada’s Premier Select Ranch Horse event, riding a horse he trained for an Alberta customer.
“It’s what I do for a living,” he said, referring to events at Agribition. “You can come to town and have fun with it, too. But it’s important to show its value to a rancher.”
