Herding Is An Instinct

Herding Trials are a sport for dogs that have the herding instinct. This includes most dogs in the herding groups, like collies and shepherds, because it comes with their breed. But some dogs from non-herding breeds, or mixes, also display an instinct for herding.

Herding tests and trials simulate pastoral tasks where a handler directs one or two dogs move sheep around a field, through fences, gates, and into enclosures. Competitive events, often called sheepdog trials, are scored by time and obedience with penalties for sheep straying from the course.

An instinct test given by a herding instructor will reveal whether a dog has the drive to instinctively move and control sheep.

During trials the dog will be asked to split six sheep into two groups of three and then guide each group through a defined course to separate pens. The task is difficult because the sheep instinctively want to stay together in one group.