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Steamboat Springs — Marianne Sasak stood under a dripping-wet tent early Sunday afternoon, explaining into a microphone how handlers guide their sheep-herding dogs.

"Everybody's whistle is different," Sasak said, referring to how the handlers direct their animals from a distance. "You want the first pitch of your whistle to be different, because that's the first thing they'll hear."

The Steamboat Stock Dog Challenge drew more than 50 curious onlookers to the Stanko Ranch. They collected under a large white tent or donned waterproof gear to watch dogs guide sheep through gates, around the handler and into a pen.

The cool weather is good for competition, Sasak said, because it keeps the sheep moving and keeps the participants comfortable.

Ed Wayne, a crisis aid worker who has a house in Boulder, stopped by to watch the spectacle. Wayne said he hadn't seen anything like it.

"Never in my life," he said, beaming from under a baseball cap. "We were in Steamboat, and we heard this was going on. We immediately wanted to see it. It's fascinating."

Wayne and other spectators peppered Sasak with questions, leaning forward to catch every word of her replies. She talked about the terminology of guiding sheep dogs and the attributes of border collies, the most common breed at the competition.

"I think they said they have the intelligence of an 8-year-old child," Sasak said.

About 40 handlers are competing with 68 dogs at the three-day event, which continues from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.

Lisa Tweardy, of Pittsburgh, brought five children with her to the challenge. They roamed the ranch grounds and crowded around a pen that contained seven fluffy puppies.

"It seemed like a fun thing to do for a Sunday," said Tweardy, who has a house in Steamboat. "We have a couple of kids, and there's space to run around. This is something you rarely see, a sheepdog challenge. It's a one-of-a-kind sort of thing."

The event is a precursor to the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials, which run from Wednesday to Sunday, Sasak said. Most of the Steamboat participants will head to the Meeker event and then some will go to nationals in Sturgis, S.D., she said.

The crowd has been smaller this year, Sasak said. That could be a result of the economy and gas prices, as well as Sunday's weather, she said.

The Stankos graciously host the challenge, Sasak noted, saying they had reorganized their haying schedule to accom-modate the competition. The Stanko Ranch is about 3.5 miles from Bud Werner Memorial Library on Twentymile Road (Routt County Road 33).

Wayne marveled at the event and thanked Sasak for organizing and explaining it.

"It takes you outside; it takes you to nature," he said. "It's something to see."

- To reach Blythe Terrell, call 871-4234

or e-mail bterrell@steamboatpilot.com