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Another list of articles Herding Articles Thats a good question . . ANKC herding had 3 different courses. These courses are meant to be simulated situations of real 'farm work - however like all things they are artificial simulations. The 3 different courses are offered as they are supposed to cover all working styles of herding breeds. For instance if you had a GSD that excelled in HGH type work you would compete in C course (if offered). In each course there are Started, Intermediate and Advanced classes. If you competed in A course Started you really only compete against dogs in that same class until it comes down to working out High in Trial etc when all classes/ course are taken in to account. A course - a general purpose all purpose farm course where precision & control are the key. There is a very defined path that the sheep must travel - how the dog gets the job done is not as important as the path of the sheep. It is the path of the sheep that is judged - not the style of the dog working. 3 levels, with the path of the stock remaining relativley unchanged between the levels - the position and range of movement of the handler changes as the levels go up. This course is meant to be suitable for all breeds. The course is judged in an arena sized from 30m x 60m up to 60m x 120 m 10min time limit for the course. Sheep, cattle & ducks can be used as stock for this course - usually 3 -5 head B Course - an open field course based on the ISDS course. The size of the course depends on the length of the outrun, there are min & max length outruns (up to 360 m in Advanced class) for each of the classes. The length of the outrun determines the length of the drive legs. Once more the position & movement of the handler changes as you go up the levels. Sheep, cattle & ducks are the stocks offered on this course. 3 -5 head of stock 10 - 12 mins time limit applies C Course - loosely patterned on the German HGH course to reflect a tending shepherd's day, as he/she accompanies the flock, moving to various unfenced grazing areas. The sheep must be allowed to graze peacefully, contained within specified unfenced areas, and safely guided on the roads between those areas. The dog patrols to guard against sheep trespassing onto the adjoining field, while the sheep graze and are moved along roads. The shepherd and dog are responsible for the safety and good health of the sheep, in addition to protection of all adjoining lands from the sheep. In this course there are penalties for the dog not working independently of the handler - it is the only course where very few commands are allowed, independent work is the key to this course. 20 -100 head and only sheep are used. there is also a car in this course which moves in the two higher levels. Course up to 800 metres exlcluding the graze lengths and up to 45 mins time allowed. So far in Qld we've held A & B course on ducks & sheep and there will be C course trials next year ;)

I have been told 3sheep is very eliteist and used to be just for the "big hats" hopefully this will not spill over to ANKC herding, BTW ANKC was designed for show dogs to show they still have retained instinct and can be trained ... how many breeders or owners do you think also run a sheep property or have land?

Even training very well-bred working dogs involves some stress to sheep. If those dogs are just going to be working sheep in trials or as a hobby for their owner, is that really justifiable?

Yep - I have to agree with you there, we in Qld are already seeing that happen. Is it all about ribbons and winning trials or is about working with the instinct of your particular breed and PRESERVING & fostering the working style of individual breeds??? And this is where I will have to disagree . . ANKC herding with the 3 different courses is ALL about catering to all breeds and ALL working styles. Just because a dog doesn't go out naturally wide and gather or fetch sheep does not mean it has no instinct. It just has no instinct for that particular STYLE of working - and that is what Australians are so used to seeing . . so to the majority - the dog has no instinct. . . If my breed did that on their first introduction to stock - I would NOT be happy - because that is NOT what they were bred to do . . and THAT is what ANKC herding is all about . . catering to ALL herding breeds - hoping to preserve the working heritage of the breeds. Many if not most of the European working breeds still have great working / herding instinct - it is just not what Aussie working dog people are used to seeing . . and many just cannot deal with it either . . FWIW in Qld and I think Aust we have the only dogs with passes on Advanced ANKC A course sheep, 1 is a Belgian Shepherd Groenendael with two passes, one a BSD Terv with 1 pass and the other a BC with 1 pass . . .

Or consider that they were working in the WRONG environment, or had stock that was unsuitable for what they were bred to do. Bouvier - literal translation is Cattle , the Rottweiler is also a Cattle Dog. The GSD was NOT bred to work on 3 - 5 light sheep, that was never the intended purpose of the breed. The GSD is a TENDING breed, bred to work & contain large 200+ flocks of DOMESTICATED sheep. This is where the understanding of different herding breed purposes is critical, not just from the trainer, but also from the owner of the dog. Trainers (and owners) put unrealistic expectations on dogs - many a trainer will turn away 'an aggressive' dog without fully taking the time to understand the breed purpose and that if they put that dog in diferent situation or on different stock the out come could be extremely different.

Well it makes sense now that I know it was in the USA . . . I thought it would have had to have been either ASCA or AHBA. I am pretty sure AKC have always limited their program to AKC breeds with some working (herding) heritage.

Actually - the rules were not changed as stated above - maybe it was the admins interpretation of 'mixed breeds ' that was changed. The ANKC Herding program has NEVER been open to all breeds. From the very FIRST ANKC Herding Rules 1.1.2001 Section 9 Breeds eligible for Herding Test Program. Australian Cattledog Australian Kelpie Australian Shepherd Australian Stumpy Tail Cattledog Bearded Collie Belgium Shepherds [All Varieties] Border Collie Bouvier des Flanders Briard Collie Rough and Smooth German Shepherd Dog Finnish Lapphund Norwegian Buhund breeds. Old English Sheepdog Polish Lowland Sheepdog Puli Pumi Shetland Sheepdog Swedish Vallhund Welsh Corgi Cardigan Welsh Corgi Pembroke Other Herding Breeds Bernese Mountain Dog Canaan Dog Keeshond Kerry Blue Terrier Norwegian Elkhound Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Tibetan Terrier MIXED BREEDS mixed breeds may be accepted provided they are a mix or apparent mix of herding. These must be Associate Registered Dogs

The option to trail the lead is there within the rules. No where does it say that the lead MUST be removed - once giving either the judge or the handler that extra bit of control / safety factor.

From the ANKC herding rules : A dog may participate in an Instinct Test weraing a muzzle at the discretion of the owner or judge. Also from the rules for Instinct Test (base level ANKC) The dog is bought in to the arena on long line approx 2-5 metres in length. At some point while on the line the dog must demonstrate a stop (down , sit or stand) and a recall before the line is dropped or removed. A dog that cannot be recalled shall not be let off line

But don't you think that that attitude is an offshoot of the '3 sheep trialling' culture?? One of the reasons for the ANKC program is that it has 3 different courses available for the various working styles of the herding breeds. Not all breeds work the same - and nor should they. The variety of herding breeds developed in many different countries around the world have been bred for specific working purposes and not many (especially the European herding breeds) have been bred for a typical 3 sheep trialling course. I have an upright very loose eyed breed that works very differently to a Border Collie or Kelpie or any of the other readily 'recognised working breeds' and to be honest, I would be horrified if my dog worked like a BC or a Kelpie (and no, I am NOT slamming any of the other breeds), just trying to point out that there are many different working styles out there. Both fetching/gathering and boundary dogs are selected for their strong prey drive, since a strong prey drive is fundamental to maintaining a sustained high drive in the dog while working sheep. How the dog uses its natural prey drive in working sheep illustrates the fundamental difference between the fetching/gathering style and and other working styles. Neither one is right or wrong - just different methods of getting the job done. Also finding trainers who understand how upright dogs work is extremely important for both yourself and your dog. So don't be put off if you have a herding breed that isn't the norm Anne

I'm with you Tracey - the actual quote from the rules is MIXED BREEDS Mixed breeds may be accepted provided they are a mix or an apparent mix of HERDING BREEDS. These dogs must be Associate Register Dogs. and again from the ANKC Herding Rule Book Around the world, herding dogs have proven themselves to be essential in improving man's ability to control and move stock. Many herding dogs have working styles very different to the modern sheep dogs we see in Australia today. These different herding styles developed in response to local situations and needs. As the breeding, pedigree recording, and exhibition of these dogs progressed, many have been accepted as pure breeds. Herding instinct is a precious part of a herding breed's heritage. It is also a vital component that can be easily lost when breeding for exhibition in the show ring. The ANKC Herding program is designed to preserve the traditional style and herding instinct of these many breeds. Herding tests and trials provide a standardised gauge by which a dog's basic instinct and ability can be measured, and allow dogs to demonstrate the useful functions for which they were originally developed. AIMS Preserve the working instinct and ability of the working breeds with a view to in the future recognising these by way of awards / titles. The training and education of administration, judging and scribing personnel for the purposes of herding tests and trials of the future.