Dogs have been used for centuries to gather and herd all kinds of livestock – the large number and variety of herding and droving breeds in existence today attest to the importance of their work.
Herding tests and trials, open to all breeds, require dogs to move a group of animals (ducks, sheep or cattle are the livestock commonly used) through a designated course of gates and into a pen, guided by the commands of their handlers. The dogs must be forceful enough to gain the respect of the stock and maintain control, yet quiet enough not to panic or scatter the herd.
To find an upcoming trial near you, visit
CanuckDogs.com.