About Herding Trials
We host and compete in trials sanctioned by the American Kennel Club (AKC), American Herding Breed Association (AHBA), and U.S. Border Collie Handler’s Association (USBCHA). The courses, rules, and titles vary by organization. Brief, high-level details are provided below.
AKC Details
The purpose of non-competitive herding tests is to offer owners of herding breeds a standardized gauge by which a dog’s basic instinct and trainability are measured. … The purpose of the competitive herding trial program is to preserve and develop the herding skills inherent in the herding breeds, and to demonstrate that they can perform the useful functions for which they were originally bred.
There are three non-competitive tests: Instinct Test (no title, Herding Test (“HT” title), and Pre-Trial Test (“PT” title).
There are several combinations of competitive courses, difficulties, and stock type:
Courses are assigned a letter: A - a standard obstacle course in an arena, B - an open field, C - tending to grazing livestock, and D - a custom obstacle course
Each course has three difficulty levels: Started, Intermediate, and Advanced
Each course and difficulty can be run on three different kinds of stock: sheep/goats, cattle, and geese/ducks
The title earned has a letter indicating the course, difficulty, and stock that were involved.
The AKC limits participation in herding events to certain breeds. See the list of currently eligible breeds on the AKC website: https://www.akc.org/sports/herding/eligibility/
Spayed/neutered dogs may participate. Bitches in heat may participate.
Your dog will need to be registered with the AKC as one of the allowable breeds in order to participate in an AKC herding event. “PAL” dogs are eligible to participate. Register here: https://www.akc.org/register/dog/
Read more on the AKC website: https://www.akc.org/sports/herding/
AHBA Details
The AHBA Herding Trial Program allows dogs to demonstrate herding ability in herding trials at started, intermediate, and advanced levels on a standard course and on farm/ranch courses which vary in detail but include specified requirements. The testing program includes Herding Capability Tests, for dogs taking part in tests for herding instinct and beginning herding work, and Junior Herding Dog Tests, for dogs in early training, at a level preparatory to trial work.
— The American Herding Breed Association
There are two non-competitive tests: Herding Capability Test (“HCT” title) and Junior Herding Dog (“JHD” title).
There are several combinations of competitive courses, difficulties, and stock type:
The courses are: HTD - an open field, HTAD - one of five standard obstacle courses in an arena, and HRD/RLF - a custom obstacle course
Each course has three difficulty levels: I, II, and III
Each course and difficulty can be run on several different kinds of stock: sheep, cattle, ducks, goats, geese, turkeys, mixed-poultry-only, and mixed-stock with at least some hoofed stock
The title earned will indicate the course, difficulty, and stock that were involved.
All breeds can participate in AHBA events except the HCT test.
Spayed/neutered dogs may participate. Bitches in heat may participate.
To participate in an AHBA trial, your dog should be registered with ANY registrar and use the registration number provided by that registrar to track titles. If your dog is not registered with any registrar, you may apply for an AHBA-specific tracking number: http://www.ahba-herding.org/Forms/AHBA-Tracking-Number-form.pdf
Read more on the AHBA website: http://www.ahba-herding.org
USBCHA DETAILS
Read more on the USBCHA website: https://usbcha.com/resources/sheepdog-and-cattledog-rules/