Herding with your Collie

Herding with your collie can be not only fun for you, but it is extremely rewarding for your collie. The first time you step into the round pen and experience your dog's reaction to the sheep, you begin to fully appreciate what our lovely breed was created to do. Realization that the standard does take into account the structure needed to work all day can almost make the most 'head' strong breeders rethink their opinions of the collie body. "The features that make a Collie a beautiful animal in the show ring also make him a sound, agile, graceful and functional dog at work."1

If the shoulder angulation is incorrect, the dog wastes energy in movement. Same goes for the rear end. If the neck is not of sufficient length, he cannot keep his head up to locate sheep grazing in the long grasses. Correct angulation front and rear also allow for proper 'shock absorption' when herding over rough terrain. The rest of the standard is also geared around herding...semi-erect ears catch sound better than broken ones, proper tail set helps with balance, and correct coat properties help protect during all weather conditions.

CKC Herding Level Requirements

Judges determine the order of obstacles for each course. All trial levels require three qualifying legs under two judges and a core of 75 points, as well as the successful completion of each exercise. Handlers may not walk around any fenceline obstacles in these tests. ~ from an article by Donna Smith published in Dogs In Canada, May, 2002

Herding Tested (non-competitive class)

Two qualifying legs are required under two judges. Sheep are in the arena where the dog must pick them up in a calm, controlled manner. Once the dog has brought the sheep to the handler, the handler can walk around each obstacle, with the dog working steadily to keep the sheep gathered as they move around the course. The dog must demonstrate a brief pause, stop or down somewhere along the way. At the end of the course, the sheep are re-penned. The judge is in the arena and may walk with the handler or stand to one side. Judges may make suggestions, but may not handle the dog. Dogs require little training but must have herding instinct to pass this test. No points are awarded.

Trial Levels

Herding Started

Handlers demonstrate their dogs' skills in controlling the sheep on a fenceline and stopping when asked, even if 'off-balance,' and their ability to take livestock out of a pen. There are three obstacles that the handler may not walk through, and one chute that the handler may. The dog has to demonstrate a hold at the exhaust pen and then help re-pen the sheep.

Herding Intermediate

The dog must take the flock from the pen, then dog and handler must wait until the judge feels the sheep have settled sufficiently, meaning the dog must be called off the stock, calmly and under complete control of the handler. Next, the dog is positioned approximately 50 feet from the sheep to perform an 'outrun,' where the dog leaves the handler and runs in a wide arc toward and behind the flock, to get the sheep moving toward the handler. The 'lift' occurs when the sheep begin to move calmly toward the handler, with the dog moving in a straight line and at a steady pace. Obstacle work follows, after which there is a small drive using the fenceline to help control the stock as the dog moves them ahead of the handler in a straight line. Finally, the sheep are herded through a freestanding chute, held in place next to the exhaust pen, then driven into the pen to complete the test.

Herding Advanced

There is a 'take' pen, a drive and settle, a 150-foot outrun, lift, fetch, three fenceline obstacles, a free-standing obstacle and an exhaust pen. There is a handler's line, which must run through the centre point of the arena in any direction. At certain parts of the test, the handler cannot cross this line but must direct the dog from the centre of the arena as the dog herds the stock around obstacles at the far end of the arena. When working close to the dog, the handler cannot walk through any obstacle. Dogs must work calmly and leave calmly when called off the stock.

Interested in learning more about herding? Please contact your CCC area director
or email the CCC for herding people in your area.

1 Taken from "The New Collie", Collie Club of America, Howell Book House, pg 252