Herd Trials

So my friend who owns two corgs and I just signed up for herd testing in October. It'll be the first time we throw the kids in a pen with sheepies (yea I know we have to do a test first).

I was wondering if there was any advice any of you seasoned herders can give us :) I'm confident in Roxi and am working with Charlie everyday on call back. We know the basic commands they have to know for the pre-test to pass onto the actual training and trials... but we're both nervous and want to be ready for our little kids.

Roxi grew up around farm animals - the college had a farm and we would go by them everyday for some reason or another and she was very interested in them. In a curious good way not a "I WANT TO EAT YOUUUU" way..

The other three... have no idea such animals exist lol.

So yea... any advice would be muy beuno :D Wish us luck! I got my cam to work finally so videos will follow in October.

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Permalink Reply by christy fry on September 6, 2009 at 12:00am

Hi Avyon,
I found a facility with a lovely trainer in my area that did group classes to help with cost (herding can be expensive) what was nice was that newbies were put with newbies =) there was no testing and you just showed up. very relaxed atmosphere.
Jordan even though he showed herding instinct (chasing/controlling kitty) proved not to have "drive" and after 8 classes we no longer attended. there's nothing sadder than a cowering corgi LOL... My biggest advice is to just go and see/have fun.

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Permalink Reply by Avyon on September 6, 2009 at 12:34am

Thanks for the advice :) I wish we had fun classes like that around here. Have to drive two hours for this starting at 5am lol

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Permalink Reply by christy fry on September 6, 2009 at 6:44pm

Let me know how your pups do =) Hopefully they'll want to get the sheep

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Permalink Reply by Beth on September 6, 2009 at 8:20pm

I think being exposed to the farm critters at a young age definitely helps.

Jack has very strong herding instincts. He will jump and nip at other dogs' shoulders to run them in a circle. If the other dogs are faster than him, he will perfectly cut across their arc to intercept them, and always judges the cut to arrive at the perfect time. He lays in front of the door in the house, barks to alert us if we leave a light on when we go to bed.

And yet.... there was a flock of geese at the state park and I walked near them with him, and he was not at all interested in going up to them.

With stock dogs, they generally do try to expose them to the stock in their formative months. That being said, many dogs who have never seen a sheep before still are eager to herd them, from my understanding.

Please keep us posted on how it goes!

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Permalink Reply by Spencer (and his parents) on September 8, 2009 at 5:26pm

Just took Spencer for his instinct test on Sunday. He's 11 months and when we put him in the coral he immediately took to it. Was driving, fetching (bringing the sheep to you) and also turning the herd, and bring back stray sheep. The instructor said that he was a natural at it and it probably stemmed from him coming from a working horse ranch. She also said that all dogs get in touch with their instincts at a different pace. You just have to keep at it. Either way it's fun for them and you! Nothing like seeing a corgi move a herd of sheep.

I have pics and a video on Spencer's site if you want to catch a glimpse of what his first herding experience.