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elements || test|| trials
Unlike the ASCA (Aussie) or USBCHA (Border Collie) herding programs that showcase the working style of a particular breed, the AKC’s is designed to exhibit the diverse styles of herding found in the “Herding & Working” group.
Outrun/Gather, Lift and Fetch:
- The dog flanks around the side/back of the stock (outrun/gather)
- The dog communicates with the stock that he is there and they are going to move (Lift)
- The dog brings (Fetches) the sheep to the handler
Controlled movement of stock:
- Either with the handler leading the stock (the dog fetching) or with the dog/handler driving the stock, the stock moves in a controlled manner through a variety of obstacles.
- Holding the stock in a particular place, splitting a group off “shedding”
Controlled finish:
- Either with the handler/dog placing the stock into a pen or the handler calling the dog from the stock “That’ll Do”
Herding Test – “HT”, beginning herding dogs (Pass/Fail)
- Dogs enter small arena (100 x 100 ft) on lead.
- Three head of sheep or goats are placed in the arena.
- The dog is expected to wait until the handler asks the dog to move – either to flank around and gather or walk up.
- The handler/dog must be able to move stock in a controlled manner back & forth across the arena (or along the fence in a big C) between 2 cones. (Generally 3 passes)
- The dog must be able to flank in both directions (By and Away)
- The handler must be able to call the dog from the stock – That’ll Do.
- You need 2 legs under different judges to get HT title.
Pre-Trial, “PT” – J shaped course (Pass/Fall)
- This class is in a bigger arena (100 x 200 ft) and shows the basic elements found on the trial course.
- The gather – the dog goes in on lead and the dog/handler gathers the sheep.
- Controlled movement – the dog/handler move the stock down the long fence to the end of the arena, behind 2 panels, and half way up the opposite long fence.
- Controlled pause/change in direction – the dog/handler stop & go back to the end of the arena, behind the panels and proceed to the pen.
- Controlled finish – the dog/handler place the stock in the pen. The handler puts the lead back on the dog. “That’ll Do”
- Dog needs 2 legs under different judges
Pre-Trial with Boundary, “PT” – J shaped course with a border and a 3-sided graze (Pass/Fall)
- This class is in a bigger arena (100 x 200 ft) and shows the basic elements found on the C course.
- Road Work/Controlled movement – the dog goes in on lead and stays while the handler moves to the stock, already inside the border - just outside the exhaust pen. The handler releases the dog and stock start to move down the long fence to the end of the arena, behind 2 panels, and half way up the opposite long fence. The dog works the flock from its side of the border.
- Controlled pause/honoring the graze– the handler and stock enter the graze (a 3-sided area located along the long wall - opposite the pen) while the dog works to hold the livestock within the designated graze area. The judge will signal the end of the graze and the dog/handler remove the stock from the graze and go back to the end of the arena, behind the panels and proceed to the pen.
- Somewhere along the course, the handler must show a pause (a point where the dog stops).
- Controlled finish – the dog/handler place the stock in the pen. The handler puts the lead back on the dog. “That’ll Do”
- Dog needs 2 legs under different judges.
3 levels: Started, Intermediate, Advanced (can be on sheep/goats, cattle, or ducks), judged by points and time
- Outrun/left, and fetch
- Y-obstacle
- Z-obstacle
- Breeze way/Pen
- Course Drive
- Pen
- 3 qualifying legs needed for title under different judges, must get a minimum of 60 points and a minimum of ½ the available points per obstacle to qualify.
B-Course: Pasture/Field
3 levels: Started, Intermediate, Advanced (can be on sheep/goats, cattle, or ducks), judged by points and time
- Outrun/left, and fetch
- Fetch/Drive to first panel
- Cross drive
- Fetch/Drive through second panel
- Free standing pen
- Hold/Shed
- 3 qualifying legs needed for title under different judges, must get a minimum of 60 points and a minimum of ½ the available points per obstacle to qualify.
ÉC-Course: Tending
Do you have a Tending breed? German Shepherds, Beaucerons, Bouviers, Briards, Belgium Shepherds, Tervurens, Malinois, Bearded Collies are a few of the breeds that instinctually look for borders excel in this style of herding. Come and learn about tending and the AKC "C" course. Terra Norte has the only "C" course in the Rocky Mountain region.
D-Course: Ranch
The D course is the closest to emulating what an average day in the life of a rancher or stockperson might look like. The course is set in a minimum of 2 spaces (arenas, fields, pastures, barns, etc). It incorporates the usual trial elements: the Outrun/Lift/Fetch, a Fetch/Drive, a Take Pen, a free-standing obstacle and an exhaust pen. There will also be 3 other elements added to the course design that are selected by the course director. These can include a figure 8, chutes and alleyways, loading a trailer, sorting stock, setting stock for another exhibitor, and a variety of other free-standing obstacles. Just as in the other courses, there are 3 levels - Started, Intermediate, and Advanced. These runs generally take 15 to 25 minutes and are judged by points and time.
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