COEUR d’ALENE — While the sun beat down on the crowds at the North Idaho State Fair late Wednesday afternoon, nearly 100 people of all ages pressed close to a chain-link fence, their eyes glued to Piper, a 5-year-old border collie, and Rudy, a 14-year-old dog of the same breed.

The dogs were agile as they herded sheep, turning on a dime, responding instantly to the commands of Robyn Ross, their trainer. 

Ross, who lives in Sagle, presents the herding dog demonstration at Farm Park on the fairgrounds. The demonstrations have proved popular. 

Among the onlookers was Lynda Glassmoyer, who spent the day with her granddaughters at the fair and was happy to partake in whatever activities interested the girls. But the herding demonstration was the one event she didn’t want to miss. 

“I thought it was fascinating,” she said. 

Tenley Glassmoyer, 12, said she’s enjoyed the exhibits and activities related to farming and ranching. 

“It’s cool how there’s a lot of farm animals,” she said. 

Her family’s Post Falls home is surrounded by farmhouses, so she was interested to get a glimpse of the daily tasks her neighbors carry out. 

“Every day, they live like this,” she said. 

For Aspen Glassmoyer, 9, the best part of the herding demonstration was easy to pick. 

“My favorite part was holding the dog’s leash,” she said with a smile. 

Ross has been training and working with border collies for about 25 years. She received her first border collie as a Mother’s Day gift. 

“She was so strong-minded, I needed to get a handle on her,” Ross recalled. 

She reached out to a friend who trained dogs. 

“That’s how I got hooked,” she said. 

Her love for the breed stems from the dogs’ intellect and temperament. 

“They want to please and they want to love,” she said. 

She said the satisfaction of growing as a trainer and seeing her dogs grow in their skills is what keeps her passion strong after more than two decades. 

Ross said she travels to fairs and showcases her dogs in order to educate the public about working dogs. 

“They experience what a dog can do,” she said. 

The instinct to gather is deeply ingrained in border collies, Ross said. Herding comes naturally to them. She noted that Rudy, though still agile at 14, is blind in one eye and losing his hearing. But he still thrills at herding. It’s what he was born to do. 

“As long as he can, I will let him do it,” she said. “He’ll let me know when he’s done.” 

Ross said she loves to share her love of border collies with crowds at events like the North Idaho State Fair. 

“They’re just wonderful dogs,” she said. “Their minds are sharp. Their work ethic is unbelievable. They’re not quitters.” 

The North Idaho State Fair continues through Sunday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

    A border collie herds sheep before onlookers at the fair Wednesday.
  

    People of all ages gathered to watch a herding dog demonstration Wednesday.
  

    Sheep move as a herd at Farm Park on the Kootenai County fairgrounds during a herding demonstration.