Many ranchers couldn't do their job if it wasn't for a working cow dog.

The dogs round up the cattle and help ranchers move them from pasture to pasture.

Friday, some of the top working cow dogs in the nation are competing at the Lincoln County Fair.

Pooches that can herd cattle aren't exactly new phenomena.

But finding one with the instinct to make them a top dog is an art.

Dan Korf of Akron, Colorado has been training Border Collies for fifteen years and the first thing he looks for is just that.

“You let them work on their own a lot but you really can't teach them too much because you have to let them work off their instincts and you just got to work with them. If you have a good dog start with its easy,” says Korf.

Is one of twenty dogs competing at the stock dog trials at the Lincoln County Fair.

“They are taking cattle down to the north end of the arena with the horse,” says Ed Merritt, Out Back Stock Dog

Association, “The owner is standing behind a white line and he's got to send his cattle down to pick up them up and bring them a set of obstacle course there are five sets and they are timed and have seven minutes to do it.”

Seven year old Tater has managed to qualify the last three years at nationals.

“It's kind of addictive because once you get into it you don't want to quit,” says Korf, “It's a lot of fun and you meet a lot of nice people. But once you go into the arena it is business. Out here on the stands its entertainment but in there it is business, you got that right.”

Working Stock Dogs