Soldier Hollow Classic

Each Labor Day weekend Midway, UT (near Heber) hosts the Soldier Hollow Classic - a national sheepdog competition. Trainers and their sheepdogs come from all over the world to compete. The handler (trainer) stands at the base of the mountainside and - through whistle commands - send their sheepdog up the side of the hill to wrangle six sheep down the mountain in a group, through gates, into a shedding ring, and finally into a pen in 12 minutes.

Here is one of the competitors we saw.

 

This goes from Friday through Monday with the top 15 dogs competing on Labor Day (Monday) for the National Championship. It's really interesting to watch. BUT it's very hot, so thankfully they have other events and booths to enjoy as well...

My favorite part of going is the Splash Dogs! These dogs run off a dock and jump forward with all their might to catch a toy their owner throws into this big long pool. Anybody can bring their dog to compete. They have different heats all throughout the weekend with different sizes/classes of dogs. Many of the dogs yesterday were brand new to it, and had never done it before. They were so cute. They'd run to the edge of the dock and stop dead in their tracks. Usually they would eventually jump in right at the edge, retrieve their toy, and walk out on the ramp. Each time they get a little less timid, and eventually they will be confident enough to GO FOR IT. It is SO much fun to watch. Here is a pic of one of our favorite dogs. He had some serious vertical height in his jumps. I think he typically went about 18 feet! The dogs love this. They come out of the pool and run right back onto the dock with their tails wagging like crazy as if to say, "Again! Again!"