What Do Herding Titles Mean?

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412 – November/December, 2023

By Caroline Coile

Of all the performance titles, it seems like herding titles are the most baffling–the proverbial alphabet soups of titles! While all are impressive, which ones should we be most in awe of?

By the way, eligible breeds for herding titles are not limited to breeds in the Herding group. They also include the Bernese Mountain Dog, Boerboel, Boxer, Giant Schnauzer, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Kerry Blue Terrier, Norwegian Elkhound, Rottweiler, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Samoyed and Standard Schnauzer, as well as the FSS Herding breeds (although the latter can only compete for suffix titles).

As in many performance sports, titles can be based on Tests, which are non-competitive but require a performance that meets basic requirements; or on Trials, which are competitive events that also must meet a certain basic criteria but additionally award placements and titles based on outscoring other dogs.

HI: Herding Instinct Tests require minimal prior training, and the dog can be handled by the judge, owner or a designated handler. The dog is brought into the enclosure on a long (6 to 15 foot) leash, and while in the presence of the stock, must demonstrate it can perform a stop (which can be a down, sit or stand) and a recall. Only then can the leash be dropped or removed. The dog is evaluated on its natural inclination to move and control livestock by fetching or driving. It must show sustained interest in gathering or moving the stock. Dogs that harass the stock, or prevent it from being moved in a controlled fashion, won’t pass. When a dog passes twice, it receives the Herding Instinct (HI) suffix.

Click here to read the complete article
412 – November/December, 2023

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