2025 Meeker Classic Judge
Sergio Perello, Caton Lancashire, England
**Note: This is a shortened, condensed version of an article Sergio wrote for the Slash J Stockdog Magazine in 2018. Sergio and the Slash J Stockdog Magazine have given us permission to share the entire article with you as a pdf at the end of this piece.
We are pleased to announce that Sergio Perello,
currently of Caton, Lancashire, England will be the official judge for the 2025 Meeker Classic. Sergio Perello moved to the UK when he was 25 and has worked there as a contract shepherd for 8 years. He’s been competing throughout the UK and Continental Europe. Winning the English National in 2018, Reserve English Champion in 2021, and finished 7th at the International Supreme in 2017. Sergio was the Reserve English Nursery Champion in 2019, Sergio has been a finalist in the Continental three times. Has over 60 Open wins in the UK. In addition to being a strong competitor Sergio has judged numerous trials and clinics. He has judged some of the biggest trials in the UK inkling the English nursery Final. He’s judged the German, French and Brazilian Nationals and other trials in the US.
Sergio’s story spans from a small island off the cost of Spain
to Lancashire, England and the world beyond. Sergio grew up on a little island in the Mediterranean Seath that belongs to Spain called Mallorca. As a child, he loved dogs and nature and remembers being fascinated by a television program that featured dogs working sheep. The 10-year-old didn’t know the breed or exactly what the dogs were doing, but it rang a chord in him that guide the events in his life.
A decade later, he and his uncle saw an advertisement in the local paper selling collie pups. At the time, his uncle had 50 head of sheep – Sergio ended up with one of those pups. Unfortunately, this pup had no livestock instinct and was scared of everything. From that time forward, it became Sergio’s quest to learn all he could about sheepdogs.. He and a good friend bought DVD’s on trials and training, watched demonstrations, took lessons and learned about the ISDS (International Sheepdog Society). They ventured to the Basque country of Spain for a clinic. “For me, that is where everything began,” says Sergio of the experience.
Asking for time off from his job as a delivery man for a meat company in Mallorca,
Sergio made arrangements to attend a clinic given by Oscar Murguia from the Basque country in northern Spain. The experience there forged a close friendship between the two and changed Sergio’s perspective on what he wanted in a dog and what they were capable of doing. A couple years later the newly formed sheepdog society in Spain joined the ISDS. The first trials were at Oscars – Sergio and a friend decided to enter. Tom Huddleston from the UK judged the trial.
A series of trials, dogs, and events
coupled with the help and support from Oscar and Tom gave Sergio more experience and knowledge. Oscar offered Nara, a bitch, to Sergio to train. Oscar didn’t know if Sergio could train her or not, but promised it would be a learning experience. Dedicated to his commitment, Sergio would finish work at 4:00 in the afternoon, go home and drive 20 miles to a farm where he could work and train Nara. He travelled to Holland for a trial and from there went to the UK to spend time with Tom Huddleson.
While at Tom’s he worked, trained and learned and met Ricky Hutchinson.
Ricky lent some sound advice to Sergio suggesting that he let his dog be in charge, stop commanding her all the time. This too was a key moment of learning on Sergio’s path. Sergio eventually went back to Mallorca. His time with Nara was done as she went back to Oscar. He got another pup of Oscar’s breeding and named him Jim. He knew he needed to leave the island if he was going to improve his dog training and handling skills.
A friend found him a lambing job in the UK.
Sergio saved money for a year and headed off with Jim, now 12-month old pup. From there he spent a lot of time with Tom Huddleston where he learned so much. One thing led to another, and Sergio added experience and success to his resume. His young dog Jim had qualified for the English Nationals. From there it has been a series of hard work, multiple successes, friendships and memories and so many unplanned adventures and experiences. He won the English National with Jim in 2018 and has had so many successes.
Sergio travels to the US for clinics and judging. He’s been at Haley Hunewill’s multiple times
Sergio’s life has taken him places
judging, trialing and giving clinics that he never thought he would be able to go. The sheepdog world has given him the opportunity to live life at its fullest and enjoy so many things to meet so many people and make so many memories. Sergio’s advice on life is to follow your dream and “do it!”
Sergio in US – photo courtesy of Haley Hunewill
His favorite memories are working with his dogs
in tough situations where no one was there ( in gatherings) and the dogs did something that he didn’t even think they could do but they did. He loves traveling with his friends to trials and the good laughs. Winning the National and running at the supreme and the world trials also rank high as memorable moments.
Recently he has been doing a lot of traveling for clinics and judging trials. At the moment he doesn’t have a young dog coming up, so thought it a good time to take these opportunities. Sergio’s story stands testimony that dreams are possible and achievable.
We commend Sergio on his accomplishments and look forward to sharing time with him next September!