The students that attend college at Crystal Rose have to demonstrate more than test scores and grade point averages…they have to show a strong instinct for herding cattle. Crystal Rose Cow Dog College near Redding offers advanced training for working dogs. The most popular breeds for a ranching operation are Border Collies, Kelpies and Australian Shepherds.

For many years Merle and Sandie Newton ran a cattle ranch using herding dogs to help them. They say a good cow dog is worth two to three cowboys any day of the week, especially Monday when human ranch hands sometimes have a hard time getting back into the routine after too much weekend fun. The dogs, they say, show up bright eyed and eager for action. Merle and Sandie say herding dogs love to work but most need some refining with trainers before they can reach their full potential. And that’s what Merle and Sandie try to help them accomplish.

For years their friends noticed they had highly disciplined dogs working on their ranch. The couple received so many requests to help fellow ranchers fine tune their working dogs that they knew they couldn’t keep up with their ranch chores if they complied. When Sandie and Merle found themselves with a champion Border Collie named Rosie who produced exceptionally talented pups the couple decided to move into training cow dogs full time. Recently one of Rosie’s pups sold for $4,000 at the Red Bluff Sale and Dog Auction.

To follow their dream the Newtons bought a ranch that included a lodge and a clubhouse so dog owners could come and train right along with the canines. Sandie and Merle say that part is essential. Owners spend at least a couple of weekends at the lodge while their dog is in training. Training time varies with the individual dog but typically a cow dog will spend about three months at Crystal Rose Cow Dog College. Tuition for the dog is $400 a month. The human can stay and work alongside his dog for $100 a day.

If you would like to check out these hardworking dogs in action be sure to stop by the following dog trials:

The California State Fair’s Border Collie Trials
Saturday August 21^st
8am –1pm
Cavalcade Horse Arena
Cal Expo – Sacramento, CA

Tulelake Butte Valley Fair Cow Dog Trial
September 11^th
Tulelake, CA
(530) 664-5871

If you have comments or questions about this story, please E-mail us at calheart@kvie.org.