Sit
on a hillside and watch the German
Shepherd Dog tending sheep. It allows you to look at the breed
with new understanding and respect.
The
tending style of herding is unique and requires characteristics that
are unique. The sheep used are generally larger and experienced with
dogs, making them more willing to challenge the dog’s authority.
The tending dog’s day can include moving the large flock on
roads with traffic, over bridges and past other hazards of modern
life. Once at the grazing area, he must keep the flock in unfenced
pastures surrounded by other fields. He must do so without constant
commands, but work out of an understanding of what is required. There
are no coffee breaks where the dog can stop watching the flock –
the sheep cannot be allowed to enter the adjoining fields to do damage.
Moving or resting, he must watch the flock.
Tending
requires obedience but rather than just blind obedience, it requires
reasoned obedience. The same is required of a leader dog for the blind.
Tending
requires courage to face belligerent ewes, self-control to keep from
frightening the lambs, and willingness to protect both the flock and
the herdsman from outside threats. The same traits make for a good
police dog who can handle a fugitive and also be friendly with the
public.
Tending
requires physical soundness and a balanced, far-reaching, effortless
trotting gait that the allows the dog to cover many, miles a day and
be sound enough to do it again the following day. It requires endurance
and a desire to work. Those same traits keep the search dog working
for hour after hour in hopes of finding the victims.
Herding
Trials are offered by various organizations. The most common are:
The
SV version offers the HGH
title which is recognized as a working title for the breed survey.
This test consists of a herding test followed by a protection test.
The
AKC version, C Course,
is available is three degrees of difficulty but does not require bitework.
The
AKC also offers two other styles of herding,
A Course and B Course, in which the GSD can compete and title, although
they are not the natural style for this breed.
Glossary
of Herding Terms
