Humans and their canine friends have been herding sheep for centuries, simply for the sake of livelihood. Sheep dog competitions began just over 100 years ago, not only to prove the skills and prowess of the dogs and teamwork with their masters, but also as a social event to allow brief escape from the solitary lifestyle of herding sheep.
This year, thousands of sheep dog trials will be held across the globe mostly in rural communities. The trials are growing in popularity with spectators who appreciate being able to see the hard working and incredibly smart dogs do their jobs.
If you have never been to a sheep dog trial, it’s really worth the time, but you’ll get increased enjoyment if you understand exactly what the dogs are trying to accomplish within the timed events.
Basic Rules of Sheep Dog Trials
The International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) is the largest governing body to set the rules for trials worldwide, but smaller organizations are present in certain localities.
The objective of the trial is to give all of the participants the same opportunity to complete a series of herding tasks in a set amount of time. The overall design of a sheep dog trial course is standard, although they may vary some due to the whims of the judges for each event. The sheep are all selected from the same flock so they have similar temperament and experiences of being herded. This adds to the consistency of giving each dog the same opportunity.
The golden rule of a sheep dog trial is the safety and humane treatment of both the sheep and dogs. Dogs that get too aggressive or bite the sheep will be disqualified. The sheep are expected to be moved calmly with minimal stress through the course. Errors in their movement or erratic behavior result in a deduction of points for the dog and handler.
The human half of the team is referred to as the handler. The dogs are trained by the handlers to respond to a series of spoken commands or tweets of a whistle, each of which has meaning to the dog and lets him know what is expected next. Most of the handlers try not to "over handle" during the event because it tends to confuse the dogs and can result in more point deductions. Gentle guidance by correcting errors before they are made is wise use of handling.
Each trial has two parts, which are known as outfield work and infield work. The dog does the outfield work alone to prove its skill and steadiness. The outfield work simulates the task of going out into the pasture and bringing the sheep home for the night.
The infield work is designed to display the quality of teamwork between the dog and handler. They work together in closer proximity to herd the sheep through a series of gates and pens, and single out one or two sheep to separate them from the rest of the flock. The handler can’t touch the sheep, but can use his body and staff as a barrier or wave his arms to direct the sheep toward where they need to go.
Descriptive Run Through the Course
At the start of the trial, the handler and dog are staged by a post on one end of the course and the sheep are penned at the opposite end. The outfield work starts once the sheep are released from the pen and the handler/dog team number is called.
The handler releases the dog to do the outrun which is a wide arch to either the left or right allowing the dog to get around and behind the sheep. The next step is the lift. During the lift, the dog positions itself behind the sheep and takes control of the situation without startling them. Once control is gained and the sheep are calmly directed to face the handler, the fetch is executed. The fetch should be a relatively straight line back to the handler with the dog herding the sheep through a fairly wide fetch gate. The sheep are driven back to the handler and around both the post and handler. This completes the outfield work. The dog is judged on the quality of the run and points can be deducted for sheep that miss the gate, excessive deviation from a straight run, or if there is too much stop-and-go action.
Next comes the infield work which includes the drive, shed, and penning. During the drive, the dog is directed to drive the sheep diagonally away from the handler and herd the sheep through a gate. Once through the first gate, the dog turns the sheep and drives them straight across the course and through another gate to the shedding ring. At this point, the handler joins the dog at the shedding ring, which is just a circle painted on the ground. The dog and handler work together to separate a predetermined number of sheep out of the flock. Once the sheep are separated out they can leave the ring, but the entire flock must be recombined within the ring before moving on to the pen. Shedding can be difficult. Points are deducted for missed opportunities, too much help from the handler, and any other weak skills the dog may exhibit.
The last task in the trial is driving the sheep into the pen. Once done with the shedding, the handler runs over to open the gate to the pen. Once the gate is opened, he can’t let go of it and is obligated to hold onto a rope keeping it open. The handler is restricted to moving back and forth along the six foot gate which leaves the dog with minimal assistance to get the sheep in the pen. Points are deducted if the sheep are herded the wrong way around the pen, for excessive milling at the gate, or if sheep break away from the flock.
Spectator Excitement
Watching a sheep dog trial offers excitement for the entire family. Kids and adults alike tend to bite their nails, curse the sheep when things aren’t going well, and squeal with delight at the fast paced action.
Anyone who has ever trained working animals has to appreciate the time, commitment, and patience that come from both the handlers and their dogs. Each dog has a personality of its own and approaches its work in its own entertaining style.
As the human world continues to move further from its rural beginnings, watching a sheep dog trial can remind us of our humble past when humans and animals depended on each other for livelihood.
References:
Meeker Sheep Dog Trials Accessed 1/11/2012.
All About Sheepdogs Accessed 1/11/2012.
World Sheepdog Trials Accessed 1/11/2012.
Helen McGranahan - Helen McGranahan has worked her entire career dedicated to wise and sustainable management of natural resources.
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