How Do I Know If My Dog Has Herding Instincts?
Do you wonder whether your herding dog’s quirky behaviors at home might translate into work on livestock? There is an easy way to find out! Learn all about the AKC Herding Instinct Test here.
AKC Herding Instinct Tests allow you to introduce your dog to livestock for the first time, usually sheep or ducks. Here you can see if he or she has any interest or natural abilities. Additionally, you can discover if you might like to pursue herding as an activity with your best friend. If your dog does show interest and a bit of a work ethic, you can earn an AKC certificate the “HIC” (Herding Instinct Certified).
What Is the Herding Instinct Test
This is a non-competitive pass/fail test, that assesses your dog’s interest in stock as well as his working styles.
Who Offers Herding Tests
The American Kennel Club offers a variety of herding tests and trials available to herding breeds and some of the working breeds. Individual local AKC herding clubs will put on one or more Instinct Tests annually.
Other Herding Organizations
There are other organizations, such as ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) that also offer herding competitions with titles, open to all herding breeds. Additionally, the USBCHA (United States Border Collie Handlers Association) and the American Herding Breed Association (AHBA) hold herding trials.
Winners in USBCHA trials can win some substantial money. AKC offers no money prizes, although clubs may offer substantial prizes for High in Trial and Reserve High in Trial, as well as large rosettes.
Herding Instinct Test FAQs
In this article, we focus on frequently asked questions regarding what is the AKC Herding Instinct Test:
- Requirements for entry and the event
- Who may participate
- How to find an AKC event near you
- How Herding Instincts Tests Work
- Criteria that are tested for in the Herding Instinct Test
- What you get if your dog passes the instinct tests
- What to do if your dog does not pass
What Do You Need to Know or Bring to a Herding Instinct Test
For Yourself
Bring sunscreen and a folding chair. And, if you have a portable pop-up tent, bring that along too. Just check with the trial secretary or trial chairman to be sure they won’t have a problem with it. Also, don’t forget water for yourself and your dog, as well as lunch or a snack for yourself.
For Your Dog
Bring a flat metal buckle collar, a strong leash (not a flexi-lead) as well as solid “down” commands and “come” or “here” recall commands on your dog.
AKC registration is required for your dog to enter. If your dog does not have a registration certificate or is a mixed breed, AKC offers PAL registration for neutered and spayed dogs.
Your dog does not need any further training to participate in the instinct test. This is an introduction to livestock, with the possibility of earning a title, and some great fun for the dogs who do turn on.
Who May Participate In AKC Herding Events
All dogs entered in Herding Instinct Test must be 6 months of age or older, on the day of testing. Higher levels of testing require dogs to be 8 months of age or older.
Any of the Herding Breeds:
| Australian Cattle Dog | Australian Shepherd | Bearded Collie |
| Beauceron | Belgian Laekenois | Belgian Malinois |
| Belgian Sheep Dog | Belgian Tervuren | Bergamasco Sheepdog |
| Border Collie | Bouvier Des Flandres | Briard |
| Canaan Dog | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Collie |
| Entlebucher Mountain Dog | Finnish Lapphund | German Shepherd Dog |
| Icelandic Sheepdog | Miniature American Shepherd | Norwegian Buhund |
| Old English Sheepdog | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Polish Lowland Sheepdog |
| Puli | Pumi | Pyrenean Shepherd |
| Shetland Sheepdog | Spanish Water Dog | Swedish Valhund |
Select Working Breeds:
Berger Picards, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Boerboels, Boxers Rottweilers, Samoyeds, Standard and Giant Schnauzers and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs.
Terrier Breeds:
Kerry Blue Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier
Hound Breeds:
Norwegian Elkhound
Foundation Stock Service Breeds:
(These dogs may compete in AKC events for suffix titles only)
Appenzeller Sennenhunde, Bohemian Shepherd, Catahoula Leopard Dog, Czechoslovakian Vlcaks, Danish–Swedish Farmdog, Dutch Shepherd, Lancashire Heeler, Lapponian Herder, Mudi, Portuguese Sheepdog, Schapendoes, Slovensky Cuvac, Swedish Lapphund, Working Kelpie.
Costs for the AKC Herding Instinct Test
Each club may set their own entry fee. However, the typical cost per test is $50.00 plus or minus $5. You need to qualify twice, under two judges, so expect to spend at least $100.00 to earn the certificate.
How to Find and Enter a Local Herding Instinct Test
If you think you want to enter an instinct test, enter early because they fill quickly. The majority of entries come in within the first 3 weeks of the opening of entries.
If you feel concerned that something else may come up, you have until the test’s entry closing date to contact the trial secretary, to request a withdrawal and refund. After the closing date, which is typically 1-2 weeks before the trial, you will forfeit your entry fees, if you find you cannot attend the event.
Some clubs will also offer days of entries. Check the trial secretary (found in the premium list) to be sure it is not already full. If you want to try a day of entry, get there early and get in line.
Infodog.com
The Infodog website belongs to the dog show superintendent MB-F. Infodog.com. It lists all AKC canine shows and sporting events. Infodog.com allows you to search by state and type of canine event. For underperformance events, you will be looking for the abbreviation “HRTS.” The site will supply links to the premium list, which explains specifics for that event, including but not limited to dates, times, judges, location, AKC rules, prizes, entry forms, and competition levels offered.
AKC.org
American Kennel Club also lists all of its events, although its search function is more cumbersome to navigate than Infodog. Go to www.AKC.org/sports and click on the button “Events Near You” to begin your search of the AKC site.
How Herding Instinct Tests Work
What is the herding Instinct Test Certificate? To earn the AKC Herding Instinct Certificate, you will need to pass two tests under two different AKC Herding judges. Typically, clubs sponsoring the event will limit the entry to a manageable number of runs, unusually 25 per Instinct Test, so they can run two tests in one day. Doing this allows the dogs to title on the same day.
- You can expect a day with 50 total runs to last approximately 7-8 hours, with a lunch break in between the two tests.
- Each run lasts 5-10 minutes.
Who Brings The Dog In The Stock Pen for Testing?
You bring your dog in yourself, or you may designate a handler. The judge is in the stock pen with you and is likely to be very hands-on with your dog. No one wants anyone to experience an injury, so expect the judge to take control of your dog and the testing process.
You do not need to go in with your dog, especially if you have physical limitations that might put you in harm’s way. However, if you want to go in, it often lends confidence to a dog seeing stock for the first time, to have his owner close by.
Where Is the Instinct Test Run?
Instinct tests occur in round pens, usually 25-30 feet in diameter. There are no obstacles in the pen, and for sheep, there will be three sheep, ducks, typically 5 ducks, to be worked.
How Your Dog Is Equipped
Your dog enters on a long line attached to a buckle collar, the design of which is not to break away under pressure. This long lead gives the handler control of the dog. If the dog is uncertain, the handler leads the dog to the stock, encouraging interaction.
If the dog goes wild chasing the stock, the handler can use the long line to reel him in and settle things down.
How the Judge and Handler are Equipped
The judge/handler has a stock stick, plastic rake, or large plastic paddle to redirect the dog’s motion. We want to see the dog move the stock in both directions. However, most dogs have a preferred direction when first starting out.
The only commands we give to dogs that are new to stock are words of encouragement: “Good boy,” “Come” and “Lie Down,” if the dog is being responsive to commands.
What Does A Good Run Test Look Like?
What does a good run look like? One that will have the judge gushing over your dog’s natural abilities?
In a perfect test run, the dog enters the round pan with a keen interest in the livestock. He keeps his attention focused on the stock, but is responsive to commands from the handler (we can see his ears listening to commands, although his eyes are locked on the stock).
The dog does not get too close to the stock, 4-6 feet away from them, and the handler easily pushes him “out”, away from stock, when pressuring him with the stock stick.
In a perfect run, everything looks nice and easy, and nobody feels endangered.
What does a failed test look like?
There are two kinds of failed tests: the dog has no interest or the dog goes berserk. We discuss these situations further below.
What Do They Test in a Herding Instinct Test
During the instinct test, the judge rates your dog on eleven criteria. The AKC Herding Instinct Test criteria are defined and explained in layman’s terms below.
MANNER
This scale asks whether the dog’s manner in working or moving the stock is Fetching, Driving, Tending, or Other.
- “Fetching” means the dogs bring the stock to the handler. True fetching breeds are the border collie, kelpie, and blue healers.
- “Driving” means the dogs take the stock away from the handler. This is what the dogs will do on higher levels of coursework. They will gather the sheep, bring them to the handler, and then drive on around the course at a distance from the handler.
- “Tending” means the dog behaves as a living fence. In the instinct test, you see the dog going to the head of the sheep, to stop them, then back behind the sheep to make them move forward, and back to the head again to stop them. Tending breeds are German Shepherd Dogs and Belgian Sheepdogs, however any breed starting out may display the behavior.
Any “manner” is appropriate, as long as the dog engages with the sheep.
APPROACH
Here the judge measures how close to the livestock the dog works: options are “Runs wide,” “Runs moderately wide,” and “Runs close.” Any approach is appropriate, as long as the dog does approach the sheep.
EYE
“Eye” is a way certain breeds work to move stock. Border collies are known for working with a strong eye. They lower their heads and stare down the stock, in a predatory manner. The stock naturally clumps together for safety and moves away from the dog. Loose-eyed dogs work with their heads up and comprise most of the rest of the herding breeds. They use their physical presence to move the stock. “Eye” is not required to qualify, this just describes the dog’s working style.
WEARING
Wearing is the movement of the dog, side to side, behind the sheep to move them either to the handler or away from the handler and around the course or field. Wearing keeps the stock together and moving in a straight line, hopefully. The Instinct Test asks the judge whether the dog “Shows wearing,” “Shows a little wearing,” and “Shows no wearing.” Dogs that show no wearing can still qualify.
BARK
Some dogs bark constantly at the stock, while others work silently. Judges score this section under “Works silently,” “Force Barks,” and “Some Barking.” “Barking” is allowed as is “Some barking” in the Instinct Test. For higher testing levels, barking is discouraged. Ideally, the dog uses its concentration and physical presence to quietly work the sheep.
TEMPERAMENT
Temperament is defined by “Readily adjusts to the stock,” “Adjusts somewhat” or is “Easily distracted.” Here they judge how the dog reacts to the changes in stock’s direction, speed, or tricks like hiding in a corner. “Easily distracted” can cause a dog to fail the Herding Instinct Test.
INTEREST
This is the crux of passing the Instinct Test. If the dog shows no interest, they will not pass the test. Levels of Interest include: “Sustained interest,” “Very keen interest,” “Some interest” or leaving the category blank for no interest.
POWER
Power describes how forceful the dog is with the livestock. Possibilities include “Sufficient for stock,” “Forceful, appropriate,” and “Excessive force” and blank for no approach or contact with the stock. Excessive force can get a dog excused if the livestock are in danger and this is when your down and recall come in handy.
RESPONSIVENESS
This scale judges the dog’s responsiveness to getting instructions from the handler: verbal instructions, such as “Lie Down” or “Stop,” as well as responsiveness to a stock stick, used to block and redirect the dog’s motion. Possible levels of responsiveness include: “Responsive to guidance,” “Somewhat responsive,” “Unresponsive,” and “Inhibited by guidance.”
The term “Inhibited by guidance” means the dog shuts down to pressure given by the handler. Dogs who are deterred and quit working altogether may not pass the Instinct Test. Each judge has his own set of parameters concerning what they will tolerate with a young dog new to stock.
GROUPING OF STOCK
This is the dog’s working style, does he keep stock together or chase them around the round pen? The scale options are, “Keeps stock grouped,” “Does not regroup,” “Singles individuals out,” “Chases stock,” and “Loses contact with the stock.” Ideally, the dog keeps the stock grouped. He may also single one out, and chase it around the ring. Losing contact with the stock, if the dog begins to work and then shuts down, can result in a non-qualifying run.
BALANCE
Balance is how the dog balances to the handler. So, if we imagine that the pen is a clock, with the sheep in the center and the handler at 12:00, the properly balanced dog is at 6:00. If the handler moves to 1:00, the dog should move to 7:00, and so forth. The idea is that the dog holds the stock to the handler, whenever the handler shifts position, the dog follows with an equal, opposite motion. This is more of a natural function of the gathering dog. Other breeds may need to work on balancing, as their training progresses.
The judge’s options here are the dog, “Adjusts position,” “Some adjustment,” and “No adjustment.” No adjustment will not result in a failed test.
After The Instinct Test, What Happens?
After the instinct test, the dog’s score sheet is brought to the trial secretary, who records the results for the AKC. Once the test is complete, the judge passes out the scoresheets, and the passing dogs receive a qualifying ribbon. This is your proof, that your dog passed, and you need to hold on to it until you receive your certificate from the AKC.
What If My Dog Does Not Turn On to the Livestock?
If your dog shows no interest in the stock, you are likely to get a blank scoresheet. Those dogs that lie down at the gate offer the judge nothing to review.
Sometimes dogs are too distracted to show interest in livestock the first time they see them. Some dogs simply have no interest in livestock whatsoever. If your dog is being introduced to stock for the first time at an instinct test, it is possible that a dog with hidden talents is just too overwhelmed by all of the new sights and smells, to get down to the business of herding sheep. Eating sheep poop, however, is always a good sign for future interest.
Final Thoughts
If you are interested in pursuing herding training, but your dog seems nervous, smelling the ground a lot, smacking his lips, looking for the gate to escape, talk to a trainer at the facility. You may be able to come back at a quieter time and let your dog watch another dog work. Sometimes seeing what herding work looks like, gives a dog ideas about trying it himself. You may even try to bring your dog in with an experienced stock dog, to let him follow the lead of the other working stock dog. Dogs learn by watching and imitating, just like children do!
