Meet the 2017 Meeker Classic Judge – Peter Gonnet, Outlook, Saskatchewan Canada
It’s our distinct pleasure to welcome Peter Gonnet and his wife Pam to Meeker. Serving as the official 2017 Judge for this year’s trial, Peter is no stranger to the job or to Meeker. Peter judged the 2007 Meeker Classic – it was the year Tom Wilson and Sly were the second consecutive Champions. Peter comes highly recommended by his peers as a judge, handler and trainer.
Peter was raised on a farm in Alberta Canada where he grew up with border collies. Peter and his wife Pam recently retired from managing a large grazing reserve looking after 1350 cow calf pairs and have a flock of North Country Cheviots of their own. Peter got his first border collie 34 years ago to help him with his work. Though he’d been around border collies he’d never learned to work them well. A friend and fellow cowboy who had learned how to work dogs and use commands from an Englishman helped Peter get started. This was the launching of a life’s passion for training and breeding border collies.
Peter recounts his introduction to trialing – he and his family were on holiday in North Dakota. They noticed a sign on the road advertising a sheepdog trial. Having never seen or experienced a trial, they decided to check it out and got to watch Ralph Pulfer, Dorrance Eikamp, Bud Boudreau, Bill Berhow and other handlers competing. The family ended up staying the duration of the trial, making friends and acquaintances that would last a lifetime.
Peter first imported a dog in 1988 from Welshman Glyn Jones. Impressed by Glyn’s “One Man and His Dog” Champion, Gel – Peter wanted a dog of the same breeding. He imported a female of the same line as Gel from Glyn. All of Peter’s dogs today go back to that bitch. Influenced by many a great handler, Peter says he considers Jack Knox and Tom Wilson his finest mentors. Both masters at working and training sheepdogs, they’re also exemplary sportsman and competitors.
Peter continues to breed and train Border Collies, care for his flock of North Country Cheviots and backgrounds about 600 yearling cattle. During the winter months he feeds with a team of horses and a wagon. Working his dogs on both cattle and sheep, all of Peter’s trial dogs must work daily on the ranch. He keeps about 5 dogs of his own to work in addition to taking in a couple outside dogs to train. With his recent retirement, Peter hopes to find more time for trialing. He has won the Canadian championship and has been reserve CBCA champion, Western Canadian Driving and WCC Nursery Champion, nine times SSDA Open Champion, as well he has judged throughout North America . We thank Peter for joining us and serving as the 2017 Meeker Classic judge.
Peter and Pam with their grandchildren.