Sheepie Shindig herding instinct test
You and your dog don't need to know anything for this. It is just a chance for your dog to be in there with the sheep (and they don't use the big scary sheep for this). It just gives a chance to see how your dog is with the sheep. Is he/she interested? Scared? Wants a lambchop for breakfast? Watching our girls with the sheep is one of the most fun things that I have ever done, so I highly recommend it. The cost is $35 per dog and we will be doing it on the Saturday, which is shaping up to be a very fun day! So if you are sure or kinda sure, fill out the poll! |
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| Great opportunity to do this! Thanks Kim for setting this up! Murphy will participate  ! |
| Count Sydney in please! She's going to have so much fun!!!! |
| At least three of mine will be there. |
| Bosley will probably give it a whirl. |
| Thanks Kim, we are most excited to have Charm tested. Definitely count us in. |
Mady wrote: I am working on organizing the herding instinct test with the trainer on Tee Creek farm (who happens to be the Canadian Kennel Club judge that gave Mady her first points in a trial in Quebec!) and want to get a sense of how many dogs will be doing this. You and your dog don't need to know anything for this. It is just a chance for your dog to be in there with the sheep (and they don't use the big scary sheep for this). It just gives a chance to see how your dog is with the sheep. Is he/she interested? Scared? Wants a lambchop for breakfast? Watching our girls with the sheep is one of the most fun things that I have ever done, so I highly recommend it. The cost is $35 per dog and we will be doing it on the Saturday, which is shaping up to be a very fun day! So if you are sure or kinda sure, fill out the poll! Kim, my question about this is would this be a Canadian association? Last year at the nationals, Teddy got his Herding Instinct Certification (1st leg) through the AHBA (American Herding Breed Association) I would assume that as long as the Herding Instinct Testing is through a different association, he could go for the same test. Just want to make sure about this before I say yes. Cindy |
4 my OES wrote: Mady wrote: I am working on organizing the herding instinct test with the trainer on Tee Creek farm (who happens to be the Canadian Kennel Club judge that gave Mady her first points in a trial in Quebec!) and want to get a sense of how many dogs will be doing this. You and your dog don't need to know anything for this. It is just a chance for your dog to be in there with the sheep (and they don't use the big scary sheep for this). It just gives a chance to see how your dog is with the sheep. Is he/she interested? Scared? Wants a lambchop for breakfast? Watching our girls with the sheep is one of the most fun things that I have ever done, so I highly recommend it. The cost is $35 per dog and we will be doing it on the Saturday, which is shaping up to be a very fun day! So if you are sure or kinda sure, fill out the poll! Kim, my question about this is would this be a Canadian association? Last year at the nationals, Teddy got his Herding Instinct Certification (1st leg) through the AHBA (American Herding Breed Association) I would assume that as long as the Herding Instinct Testing is through a different association, he could go for the same test. Just want to make sure about this before I say yes. Cindy She is a Canadian Kennel Club herding judge and trainer. So a different organization. Maybe it only counts for Canadian sheep! |
Great! Count Teddy in!  Cindy |
| Yes, it would really only count towards a title for the Canadian sheepdogs. But if you pursued it and got the required legs, and registered with the Canadian Kennel Club, you surely could claim a Canadian instinct level test award. My guess though. Legs aren't transferable between any of the groups. Out of curiosity. I checked the CKC website, and they don't list any herding for instinct testing. http://www.ckc.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=449 The most basic was called Tested - which seems similar to the PT (Pre trial tested) in AKC, and for JHD (Junior Herding Dog) in AHBA. http://www.ckc.ca/en/Portals/0/pdf/ckc% ... Tested.pdf But maybe the site is incomplete?? Or I just missed something? You would think there would be an instinct test category esp to get people started in the sport. |
| The herding tested is what comes after the instinct test. But I do recall that when we signed up for the first leg of 'herding tested' with Mady, we had to show that we had done the instinct test. I wonder if they do that to make sure that your dog is not just going to run in there and munch on the sheep! For most participants, I think that herding instinct test is for fun. For others, like David and I, it was a way to have an experienced judge and/or trainer give an honest assessment of our dog's instinct. We wanted to get a sense of how much we should invest in the activity. Mady and Gracie both took to it immediately. Virginia was more leisurely about it, as is her way.  What I would love for people to get out of this is a fun experience watching their dog try this or, what would make me ecstatic, is for some folks to get the herding bug like we did, and like I know you have, Dawn. I have a cunning plan to show the world what versatile dogs OES are. They are not just gorgeous. They can do herding, agility, nose work, carting, and still be show dogs in all of their glory! All part of my plan to one day have OES dominate the world, one herding instinct test at a time. |
| I like your plan Kim! |
| What a fabulous idea. Sadly it is too far to travel from the Isle of Man but I look forward to reading all about it and seeing all the pictures. Cheers Debs |
Mady wrote: The herding tested is what comes after the instinct test. But I do recall that when we signed up for the first leg of 'herding tested' with Mady, we had to show that we had done the instinct test. I wonder if they do that to make sure that your dog is not just going to run in there and munch on the sheep! For most participants, I think that herding instinct test is for fun. For others, like David and I, it was a way to have an experienced judge and/or trainer give an honest assessment of our dog's instinct. We wanted to get a sense of how much we should invest in the activity. Mady and Gracie both took to it immediately. Virginia was more leisurely about it, as is her way. What I would love for people to get out of this is a fun experience watching their dog try this or, what would make me ecstatic, is for some folks to get the herding bug like we did, and like I know you have, Dawn. I have a cunning plan to show the world what versatile dogs OES are. They are not just gorgeous. They can do herding, agility, nose work, carting, and still be show dogs in all of their glory! All part of my plan to one day have OES dominate the world, one herding instinct test at a time. Oh yes, OES world domination is our goal here too We offer the instinct testing at our Nationals for that very reason - it's a supportive, OES environment where people can take the plunge and see if their dog has any desire to do herding. And most do enjoy it, so people get hooked on it. We've started back herding again, and my boys and I are in a Herding Clinic with working spots for 3 days...yes, a full 3 day herding clinic! Luckily it is offered real close to home by our local group, and having a Nationally known clinician who is also a herding judge with AHBA and AKC (Larry Painter, for those who want to know) come in to work with us. Amazing opportunity! He has kelpies, and works and understands all breeds, not just border collies. There are only 12 working spots, and I have one and will rotate both Bond and Chewie through for the 3 day clinic. Super excited! The breeds in the other spots are diverse - only 4 are BC's; the others are rotties, rough collie, both corgis, kelpie and Tervs.  |
| Do some dogs try to attack the sheep? If yes, how do you separate the dog and sheep? |
CamVal1 wrote: Do some dogs try to attack the sheep? If yes, how do you separate the dog and sheep? Some can be rough, although we have not had that issue with our girls. At a competition last summer there was a nasty woman with some nasty Australian Shepherds (a breed I love, so it is not the breed, it is the owner). She was quite mean to us the entire weekend and thought we should not be there with an OES. It was a 3 day clinic followed by official testing. Well Mady kicked butt and her dog was disqualified for being nasty to the sheep. It is amazing how much a person's personality showed in her dogs, which you could not approach at all, as you would be greeted with growling and baring of teeth. Not typical of any of the Aussies I have met! |
| Herding drive is a modified prey drive - so you will see a range of intensity - from the meek herders who need to be encouraged all the way to the strong ones that live for nothing more than to take a bit out of the sheep or ducks. Hopefully your dog is somewhere in the middle! One of the first things that is required of most tests is that you go in the pen w/the sheep, and have to demonstrate you have a recall on your dog. The dog is usually on a long line (especially if the evaluator doesn't know you or your dog). Then if you pass that, you can continue. OES don't tend to be overly big biters, in general, especially compared to other herding breeds. My 1st OES I trained a bite command, when the sheep were being stubborn and refusing to move - called "hit" - and he had permission to nip them. Otherwise he never did....and the sheep learned to use it on him by refusing to move sometimes. So that's why we learned "hit"! Chewie and Bond have never nipped at the sheep out herding either. It was noted on Sunday when we were practicing, that as crazy as Bond is out there, when I was walking, the sheep were between me and him - that the sheep never were so pressured that they ran past me or ran up my heels. And they did that with dogs who looked calmer, but nipped. It's a really interesting sport! |
| If we come, I'd like to try this with both our girls. |
Eevee took her instinct test at nationals, she loves sheep, so we may give it a go, just for fun.  |
| Simon was one of the meek. He didn't know what the heck those sheep were. He did eventually get into it. Gar on the other hand...OMG. He charged. I think he did bite too. It couldn't have been too bad because he did pass the herding instinct. He has a high prey drive. |
| I can honestly say that instinct test was the highlight of the weekend for Griffin. He is a natural. We just may have to pursue this further. |
griffin wrote: I can honestly say that instinct test was the highlight of the weekend for Griffin. He is a natural. We just may have to pursue this further. Must be in the genes- Murphy did great too Now to find a place near us to pursue it! |
Tonks and Luna both aced it!!!  The lady giving the test strongly suggested that we not only train the girls up, but that we pursue competition herding.  FINALLY, my monsters are awesome at something other than testing me!  |
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