Objective
‘The herding test is designed to assess a dog’s instinct to herd sheep in a controlled manner and under instruction of the handler’.

Outrun
With the handler standing at a starting point, the dog should be sent on an outrun to left or right at handler’s choice, to collect the sheep (which will preferably be in sight) approximately 140 metres away. The handler would be required to be near to the post and not move too far away.

Lift
The dog should go behind the sheep and commence the fetch to the handler in a controlled manner. There is no requirement for the dog to stop behind the sheep or to lie down.

Bring / Fetch
The dog to bring / fetch the sheep to the handler in a controlled manner.

Inspection
The dog should turn the sheep around the post and handler ready for the drive, in the direction decided by the judges prior to commencement of the test and confirmed to handlers at the judges’ briefing.

Drive
The dog (and handler should they wish) should drive the sheep in a controlled manner, approximately 50 metres in the direction decided by the judges prior to the test (and confirmed to handlers at the judges’ briefing) to a suitable exit from the test field. The test will end as soon as all the sheep have exited the test field.

Download a diagram of the Test below
Border Collie Herding Test Diagram

Each dog should pass overall but does not need to pass each section, as long as the test objective is achieved.
The time allowed for the whole test will be notified to each handler once the judges have assessed the sheep and field, but on average will be around 12 minutes.

How do I enter my Dog?
Border Collie Herding Tests in 2010

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