Gordon Watt was born in Ireland in 1964, to a family of shepherds. His father is William Watt, is a legend in sheepdogs. At an early age Gordon became interested in all aspects of sheep care and sheepdog training. When he was 15, Gordon and his first dog, Chum, won second in the Irish Nationals and it was on from there. In 1999, he was Irish National Champion, and in 2005, Gordon became World Champion, after also winning the English National Championship with his dog, York.
Currently, Gordon’s main trial dog is Huthwaite Storm. With Storm, Gordon has won Northumberland League Nursery, numerous Open trials, was fourth at the English Nationals in 2015 and Reserve Champion at the 2016 USBCHA National Finals in Carbondale, Colorado.
His most recent trial dog, Moss, has won many Open trials, and was 3rd in the English National in 2014 and on the English team in 2014.
Gordon has maintained his York line in Flo and Reba; Flo goes back to York’s mother and Reba is Flo’s daughter. Storm and Moss are outcrosses
When choosing a sheepdog Gordon likes to see “an ability to work sheep properly”, meaning that he wants a dog that uses it’s brain. Also, the nature and personality of the dog has to be very good.
“Power” is not the dog that scares sheep, but rather the sheep trust the dog and that he can move them.
Gordon likes to introduce young dogs to sheep around 8 months of age, as he feels it is possible to evaluate an and plan a training program at that time.