Cypress County hosting Canadian Sheepdog Championships in August

Southern Alberta Newspapers Photo Courtesy of Chris Jobe SHOWCASE: A handler works with their dog through a course at a previous CBCA sheepdog event. The Canadian Sheepdog Championships are back in Cypress County from Aug. 21-25.

By Anna Smith
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A showcase of the natural talents of working breed dogs, the 2024 Canadian Sheepdog Championships will be racing across the fields of Cypress County later this month.

The competition is part of the Canadian Border Collie Association, and will attract dogs and their handlers from across the country, as well as internationally, to showcase their skill as a handler and canine team.

“They’re actually doing what they’re bred to do, which is really cool,” said Chris Jobe, a member of the board of directors for the CBCA. “Over the years, things have changed and people are creating their own little designer dogs, which is fine, but it’s different from what we’re doing here.”

More than 50 dogs each day will run a series of tasks, and are judged on their ability to follow directions, approach the sheep that are in the trial field, and direct them without them balking through a series of manoeuvres, including into a pen and successfully separating a requested number of sheep from the herd at a shedding ring.

Throughout the majority of these tasks, their handler will not be permitted to assist the dog beyond issuing commands. Points will be awarded for workmanlike manner, accurate lines and efficiency, and they’ll be deducted for deviations or errors.

The event will be held from Aug. 21-25, at 10112 Range Road 52 in Cypress County. The event is open to spectators from the public, with a $5 admission.

There are two categories of dogs running, with the Open category for adult dogs and the Nursery category for younger animals. The top 15 dogs will qualify for the Double Lift Championship on the Sunday.

The competition has attracted 70-plus competitors across all classes, as well as judges from Scotland and Ireland, where Jobe says these kinds of events are more common due to it being the original home of the practice.

“We will have some food trucks out there, and we do have a great big tent, so if it’s too hot, people can sit in our tent, but we tell everybody to bring their own lawn chairs because we don’t have bleachers or anything,” said Jobe.

She encourages people to dress for the weather and come out to attend, regardless of their familiarity with sheep herding or working dogs, as there will be an announcer explaining the process of the run throughout the event.

More information on the schedule of the event, as well as details on judges, provided sheep and the finer points of the course the dogs will be running can be found at cbcachampionship.com/