03/22/2026
Today one of my students asked me a really blunt & inquisitive question. It was intended honestly and I didn't get a moment to answer in honestly right then, but I've been thinking about it ever since. So here's my answer...
For context: I was wrapping up a drop off lesson for my Herding B&T dog at their home farm with their cattle. He's their first foray into working dogs despite owning stock & farm companion dogs for many years and they lucked into a really good guy.
I brought Pants (young, brilliant working-line Australian Shepherd) and Eo (more seasoned, Working Trial Champion Australian Kelpie) with me for the drop off so they were bouncing around and stretching their legs after our lesson. And his question to me was: "which one is the better dog?"
Here's my answer: I let Pants out to run first because she is so responsible and honest in any situation. She wants to be my partner always and is a phenomenally socially balanced little girl, I can trust her anywhere from Manhattan to the middle of Broome County and I know we'll be in sync. But she doesn't have the same miles working livestock just yet. All the talent you could ask for but needs time and work for it all to be realized. But I'll trust Eowyn like my right-hand whenever there's work to be done with stock. She wants every opportunity just as much (okay, maybe more sometimes) as I do and we have lots of miles under our belt to prove our partnership. She has taught me more and continues to force me to learn every day, she has talent and fierce independence in spades and makes me a better handler every time I open the gate. Pants will benefit from all the mistakes I made learning to train Eowyn and Eowyn will benefit from the fresh sense of joy I feel in raising Pants up to fill the enormous shoes laid out before her.
The simplest answer is that they are both incredible dogs, neither one is better than the other, and it is the best part of dog training to raise them both to their unique highest and best potential. Love the dog in front of you, train the dog in front of you, and let their strengths be their own; but never let their weaknesses define them, you'll both be better for it.
