Dog Sports – HERDING
This month we showcase the Continental Herding Club’s (CHC) first herding trials and tests of the year on the weekend of 15 and 16 May 2021 at Postman’s Ridge Qld 4352. After such a disrupted 2020, it was great seeing the up-and-coming dogs and handlers who excelled in their respective tests on Saturday. A variety of breeds were represented: Briards, German Shepherd Dogs, Belgian Shepherd Dogs – Groenendael and Tervueren, Border Collies, Bouvier Des Flandres and Sporting Register dogs. They participated in Herding Instinct Certificate (HIC) and/or Herding Test (HT) and/or Pre-Trial Test (PT). Each of these levels is a standardised test of the dog’s instinct and trainability to work with the handler to move stock. Most came away with passes in their tests, and all came away with a sense of achievement and knowledge that their dogs still have the herding instinct that they were originally bred for. Sunday saw the running of one of the ANKC trial courses – A Course. This all-around farm style course is where dogs are required to gather stock and move them through a number of obstacles before eventually penning the stock. There were entrants in the Advanced, Novice and Started levels of this course type across two trials. There was a Border Collie and Belgian Shepherd Dog –
Laekenois entered as well as a number of Sporting and/ or Associate Register dogs represented. Handler experience ranged from the seasoned competitor to the first time trial entrant. However, it was very clear that everyone has spent a lot of time and effort on their skills and it showed on the trial field, as all dogs/handlers obtained at least one qualification during the two trials – with some also obtaining their title for their level. The Continental Herding Club (CHC) would like to thank all the people involved with the running of the trial – those being the judges, scribes, stock handlers, course setters and stock/land owners. Every bit of help goes a long way and is very much appreciated.
INFORMATION ON HERDING For further information about how you and your dog can become involved in herding, please contact the Continental Herding Club via our Facebook page.
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DOG WORLD May 2021
