Come one, come all to the Huckleberry Mountain Invitational Dog Trial
By Shannon McKone on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER COUNTY – If you have an interest in working dogs or are just looking for something fun to do, the Huckleberry Mountain Invitational Dog Trial may be an event to get on your calendar.
Staff with the Elkhorn Media Group was able to speak with Clint Johnson, organizer of this fun event.
(Q) If you can start with an introduction of who you are, and how you are affiliated with the Huckleberry Mountain Invitational Dog Trial.
(A) My name is Clint Johnson, I work for Warnock Ranches, which is my wife’s family ranch, it’s just me and my wife that’s the only affiliation to the trial.
It’s just something that I’m really passionate about, working dogs, and I’m very competitive as well. So, if you combine working dogs and competition, then that’s right down my alley.
(Q) You have the Huckleberry Mountain Invitational Dog trial coming up, can you give me an idea of what exactly is that?
(A) So, the dog trial is a cattle dog trial. This is where a handler and a dog will be given three yearlings and you and your dog will have to maneuver those yearlings through obstacles. You gain points based on the completion of obstacles and it is also timed.
The points, always trump time. The most points win first. If more competitors than one get the same amount of points, then it goes to time. Whoever gets that amount of points faster will be the winner.
(Q) What are some of the things that the dogs do throughout this trial?
(A) They do everything. I mean, their herding ability and the amount of training that’s gone into these dogs is truly amazing to watch. Most people, including people who have been around cattle and dogs their entire life, truly do not understand the potential that these herding dogs can have. It just takes a lot of time, a lot of training to get them to that point. So if you’ve never seen a dog trial or even heard of one, you probably have no idea how amazing these dogs really can be?
(Q) Is there a particular breed of dog that does better?
(A) Overwhelmingly, you see purebred Border Collies at these, they are just the most intelligent breed on the planet.
Many different scientific studies have shown that not, just for ranch dogs, they’re very intelligent overall and in a trial setting especially intelligence is key.
They have to be paying attention, both to the cattle and to you, and listen to commands instantaneously.
One extra step is the difference between getting or not getting the obstacle.
During these trials you do see a few Australian Shepherds, I have seen a few Kelpies at dog trials, and I’ve seen him have some success, but overwhelmingly it Purebred Border Collies.
(Q) How long does it take to train one of these dogs before efficient in one of these trials?
(A) Well, efficient and proficient is two different things. Efficient probably anywhere from the year to 16 to 18 months to get them efficient.
There is, at most trials, a nursery class which is for dogs under the age of three. I mean, that kind of tells you everything you need to know right there.
If the dogs younger than three, they’re not seasoned and mature typically.
There are some exceptions to the rule, typically it takes a dog until they are between three or four before they are mentally and physically mature and then seasoned where they’ve “been there, done that,” and know the program. It takes a lot of hours and it depends on the dog, some dogs are capable of taking that pressure at a younger age than others.
(Q) How many people do you expect to be involved in this year’s trial? And how many years have you done this?
(A) This is the third year. We skipped last year. But this is the third year, but we have really upped our game this year as far as bringing in better contestants and better prizes, better money, better marketing, just everything. It’s night and day different from what it’s been in the past.
Right now, I have I think 27 or 28 dogs entered and I’m still getting a few entries.
Most people are running more than one dog. But there are a few people with only one dog entered.
(Q) Do you allow spectators and what is the cost to watch?
(A) Absolutely and admission is free. We encourage people to come and watch if, if you love dogs, you will enjoy this. You don’t have to be a cowboy or a rancher or have an ag background at all. If you enjoy seeing dogs, you will enjoy this.
The Huckleberry Mountain Invitational Dog Trial is being held June 12 and 13 at 11684 Huckleberry Loop outside of Baker City.
More information on this event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/2230581060406542/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22search_results%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22search%22%7D]%7D
