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Herding Sports at AthleticDogs.com

Herding trials and tests are a relatively new addition to the AKC. When launched in 1989, there was already a significant amount of interest and the sport has continued to grow rapidly. The AKC opens the tests and trials to all AKC recognized herding breeds as well as Rottweilers and Samoyeds. The AKC program allows the owner or handler to choose from a variety of courses and livestock.

Herding, or stock dog, is a sport in which the dog is evaluated on his or her ability to bring the livestock together in a group, maintain the group, and move the group from place to place.

The herding tests are noncompetitive and are intended to gauge a dog’s basic instinct and trainability. The herding trials are intended to preserve and develop the herding skills that come naturally to the herding breeds and to demonstrate the useful functions for which they are bred. The trials are set up as artificial simulations of farm situations, but are carefully staged to standardize the testing of herding characteristics.

The herding trial dogs are not required to work in any particular style and may compete on whichever course the handler chooses. Most herding dog organizations and local clubs provide ample practice and training opportunities for competitive dogs.

The initial class in herding trials is the instinct test. The dogs do not require any training before entering this class and may be handled by the owner or a judge or hired handler. The evaluation is based on the dog’s ability to move and control livestock by fetching or driving. The instinct test is for herding breeds, Rottweilers, Samoyeds, Standard and Giant Schnauzers, Pyrenean Shepherds, Swedish Vallhunds, Norwegian Buhunds and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs.

Herding Training and Equipment

Training for herding trials is a matter of accentuating your dog’s natural instincts to gather and guide livestock. The best herding dogs have a strong grasp of basic obedience and the skill to listen to you (the handler) even while the sounds of livestock and the distraction of pens are all around.

Training dogs for herding trials includes:

• Basic Obedience All show dogs must be experts in basic obedience. That is, they must follow your commands and signals (sit, stay, stand, heel, etc.) without fail and not be distracted by other people, dogs, or activity around them. The AthleticDogs.com ebook series, Basic Training for the Athletic Dog, walks you through every fundamental skill your dog needs to succeed in any dog sport.
• Chase & Stop Work: with your dog on chasing objects – throw a toy, drive an RC car around the yard, whatever – and use the basic obedience commands to stop them every so often. Your goal is to encourage the chase, but to also put rules on the game (keep yourself in control).
• Introduce the Environment: Take your dog to herding trials and other livestock environments to get him or her used to the sounds, sights, and distractions.