A dog competing in the international sheepdog trials has been disqualified after it bit a sheep in front of a shocked Princess Anne.
The Princess Royal attended the international sheepdog trials championships today at Syde Farm in Biggar, Scotland.
Sheepdogs taking part in the trials, which are held across the country and multiple times a year, are expected to demonstrate the skills working dogs use everyday.
The dogs must complete a number of tasks – such as ‘fetch’ when sheep are gathered into a straight line – which reflect their work herding a ‘packet’ of sheep (five sheep).
One action the pooches are not expected to complete is biting a member of their flock which is what one sheepdog did.
A dog competing in the international sheepdog trials has been disqualified after it bit a sheep in front of a shocked Princess Anne
The Princess Royal attended the international sheepdog trials championships today at Syde Farm in Biggar, Scotland. Sheepdogs taking part in the trials are expected to demonstrate the skills working dogs use everyday
The dogs must complete a number of tasks which reflect their work herding a ‘packet’ of sheep (five sheep). One action the pooches are not expected to complete is biting a member of their flock which is what one sheepdog did
The nippy competitor was swiftly disqualified as the rules of the trials states dogs that attack a sheep without needing to defend themselves will be kicked out of the competition.
Despite the violent altercation on the field, Princess Anne had a gleaming smile as she walked around the event. Anne was seen chatting to member of the public as she was shown around stalls.
This is one of Anne’s first appearances since the Princess Royal took a step back from her royal duties over the summer following an accident at her home in Gloucestershire.
Princess Anne was rushed to hospital on June 23 after she was injured by a horse while taking a stroll on her Gatcombe Park estate.
She was left with minor wounds to the head, and her medical team are understood to believe these are consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.
At her first appearance since the accident on July 12, the Princess Royal admitted she ‘can’t remember a single thing’ about the accident.’
Despite the violent altercation on the field, Princess Anne had a gleaming smile as she walked around the event. Anne was seen chatting to member of the public as she was shown around stalls
Princess Anne is a regular at the sheepdog trials having watched the event in Northern Ireland last September
Princess Anne, who had a visible bruise under her left eye at the time, made the comment during a visit to the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) National Championships at Hartpury University and Hartpury College.
The Princess Royal has since made a full recovery since the accident.
Princess Anne is a regular at the sheepdog trials having watched the event in Northern Ireland last September.
The trials span five days – with events testing both junior and senior competitors.