Herding


The Country Gentleman

Since the breed's inception, the Beauceron has been a herding dog. For generations, the breed has exceled in the traditional tending style of herding. This style of herding has the goal of containing a large flock of sheep within a certain area by pacing along the outskirts of the flock.

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As the tending style has become less popular and realistic for most shepherds, Beaucerons have exceled in ranch work, herding competitions, and arena style herding. Beaucerons truly are do it all herding dogs.

American Herding Breed Association 

AHBA Herding Trial Program

The American Herding Breed Association (AHBA) sport is a competitive event that showcases the incredible working abilities of herding dogs. The AHBA Herding Trial Program allows herding dogs and their trainers to demonstrate herding skills at graduated levels of herding training, with the emphasis on accomplishment of requirements rather than competition. In this sport, dogs are tested on their natural herding instincts, agility, and teamwork with their handlers. The competition involves moving livestock through a set course, and dogs must demonstrate control, precision, and intelligence in managing the animals. The AHBA sport is designed to highlight the skills of various herding breeds, from Border Collies to Australian Shepherds, in a way that mirrors real-world herding tasks. With different levels and classes, the AHBA sport offers opportunities for dogs and handlers of all experience levels to participate and advance.

Titles

  • Herding Trial Dog classes take place on a standard course. All levels include an outrun, lift, fetch, wear and/or drive, and pen (the pen may be on the fence for the started level, but is free-standing for the higher levels).

    HTD I - Herding Trial Dog I. At the started level, the outrun is short and the handler may accompany the dog and sheep throughout the course. Requires 2 legs under two different judges.

    HTD II - Herding Trial Dog II. At the intermediate level, the outrun is longer and the handler may accompany the dog only part way through the course. Requires 2 legs under two different judges.

    HTD III - Herding Trial Dog III. At the advanced level, the outrun is longer, the handler remains at the handler's post until time to pen, and after the pen there is an additional exercise (removing a ribbon from a marked sheep). Requires 2 legs under two different judges.

  • Similar to HTD, but held in an arena.

    HTAD I - Herding Trial Dog I. At the started level, the outrun is short and the handler may accompany the dog and sheep throughout the course. Requires 2 legs under two different judges.

    HTAD II - Herding Trial Dog II. At the intermediate level, the outrun is longer and the handler may accompany the dog only part way through the course. Requires 2 legs under two different judges.

    HTAD III - Herding Trial Dog III. At the advanced level, the outrun is longer, the handler remains at the handler's post until time to pen, and after the pen there is an additional exercise (removing a ribbon from a marked sheep). Requires 2 legs under two different judges.

  • Exercises include a gather, fetch/drive work, pen work, sorting work (required for the advanced level, optional for other levels), and various elements such as chutes, bridges, holding the sheep in place, etc. HRD and RLF trials may use combinations of open fields, arenas and pens.

    HRD I - Herding Trial Dog I. The started level, standard course. Requires 2 legs under two different judges, and earned separately on varying ranch/farm courses.

    HRD II - Herding Trial Dog II. The intermediate level, standard course. Requires 2 legs under two different judges, and earned separately on varying ranch/farm courses.

    HRD III - Herding Trial Dog III. The advanced level, standard course. Requires 2 legs under two different judges, and earned separately on varying ranch/farm courses.

  • Exercises include a gather, fetch/drive work, pen work, sorting work (required for the advanced level, optional for other levels), and various elements such as chutes, bridges, holding the sheep in place, etc. HRD and RLF trials may use combinations of open fields, arenas and pens.

    RLF I - Ranch Large Flock I. The started level, standard course. Requires 2 legs under two different judges, and earned separately on varying ranch/farm courses.

    RLF II - Ranch Large Flock II. The intermediate level, standard course. Requires 2 legs under two different judges, and earned separately on varying ranch/farm courses.

    RLF III - Ranch Large Flock III. The advanced level, standard course. Requires 2 legs under two different judges, and earned separately on varying ranch/farm courses.

  • After an advanced title has been completed, a dog may earn a championship by obtaining 10 scores of 80 or above at the advanced level.

  • The first leg of the HCT may be a basic instinct test, with the tester handling the dog. The second leg requires a little additional training and consists of simples passes across the small arena with a stop and recall. For the second leg, as with all tests and trials other than the first leg of the HCT, the dog must be handled by the owner or a handler designated by the owner.

  • The JHD also requires two legs, but the legs are identical. The stock are taken around the arena through a simple course.

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