Coach and clinician Jennifer L’Arrivee brings years of award-winning expertise to Quesnel for her Fundamentals Of Trialing workshop. Competitions follow the workshop.
(Dore River Border Collies Training Academy photo)
Embedded Files
Humans, dogs, livestock learn herding sport together in Quesnel
Cariboo Stock Dogs host clinic and competition
Frank Peebles
Sep 11, 2023 5:40 AM
The Cariboo Stock Dogs are not putting their wag in front of their bark. First you practice, then you compete.
There will be four dog days of autumn, coming up in September, the first two dedicated to learning the human-dog skills of herding livestock, the second two dedicated to applying the skills in this collaborative practical sport.
“We will have our Jen L’Arrivee Fundamentals of Trialing clinic September 21 and 22. This clinic takes participants through all the fundamental elements of completing their first trial: flanking, driving, balance work, etc.,” said Cariboo Stock Dogs co-organizer Deborah Armstrong.
If all those dogs and handlers are all warmed up, what better time to plunge into the arena?
“Our second stock dog trial will be held in the big outdoor arena on September 23 and 24,” said Armstrong, after the group held their debut trial event this past May. “We have already surpassed the number of entries from our last trial.”
Aspiring livestock dog handlers got a taste for the action during the May event, but part of the attraction is also the clinician.
“Jen L’Arrivee has just placed third in the Western Canadian finals and has achieved the BC Stock Dog Association’s Top Dog award. Isn’t Quesnel lucky to have that caliber of trainer?,” Armstrong said.
All the action takes place at Alex Fraser Park, and the audience will have a lot to take in, over those days, as there is more going on there in the human-animal collaboration sports world.
“This time we are collaborating with the Northern BC Reining Club from Prince George, who are also affiliate members of the park,” Armstrong said. So demonstrating the relationship between people and dogs will be right alongside an exhibition of the relationship between people and horses.
“Alex Fraser Park is going to be the place for people to come see a stock dog trial and some incredible reining horses.”
Registration for the Fundamentals of Trialing clinic with Jen L’Arrivee will close on Sept. 15. Registration fee is $350. Lunch is provided, as is doggie drinking water and a pool for the dogs, but please bring water for yourself. Dogs must be on a leash or in a crate, and please clean up after your dogs. Audits are allowable for $100 per day.
Registration closes on Sept. 20 for the Outdoor Arena Trial. Entry fee is $75 per dog each day (two runs per dog per day). Two dogs per handler per class are allowed.
Payments can be made by etransfer to cariboostockdogs@gmail.com and all information is available at cariboostockdogs.ca.
The park allows dry camping for $25 per day (some powered camp-spots are available for $35 per day), with no open campfires allowed. There are washrooms with shower on-site, usable on a first-come, first-served basis. Look up these details at alexfraserpark.ca. The dog events are sanctioned by the BC Stock Dog Association
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse