Sheepdog competition gathers 1,400 to see eleven shepherds work with their animals

Shepherds from Aragon, the Basque Country, the Valencian region, the Balearic Islands, and Catalonia competed on Sunday in the Llavorsí Sheepdog Competition, in Pallars Sobirà, in western Catalonia.

A total of eleven shepherds and sheepdogs put on a display of agility, skill, obedience, and collaboration.

Between each pair, they had to lead a flock of sheep through a circuit and make them enter a marked enclosure.

The competition, which serves to pay tribute to the profession of shepherding, brought together almost 1,400 people.

The top prize was won by Mallorcan Miquel Adrover with his dog Ron.

This year, the Llavorsí Competition celebrated its 38th edition.

Some of the shepherds are already veterans of these competitions, but others like Marcos Aspizua, a shepherd from the Basque Country, said that this is the first time he has participated and highlighted that the important thing is the rapport between the shepherd and the dog.

Laia Jurado, a shepherd from Gurp, expressed herself in the same vein and said that she is just starting to compete, but that she enjoys it. Jurado highlighted the harmony that must be established with the dog for it to obey you.

The Mallorcan Miquel Adrover is already known for these competitions and said that a large part of the prize is for the dog and highlighted the role of canine Ron.

Competition day was sunny without being too hot, which made it easier for the dogs to work with the sheep. During moments of peak heat, the sheep do not want to walk, and it is difficult to get them to move.

The 1,400 people who traveled to Prats de la Coma to witness the competition were able to enjoy a good demonstration of teamwork between shepherd and dog.

The mayor of Llavorsí, Josep Vidal, explained that the competition is a tradition in the town now and that it also serves to remember and honor the shepherd's profession. Vidal highlighted the importance of this ancestral profession for the conservation of mountains and biodiversity.