Herding basics - Millie herding - Herding aptitude test - Herding working test - Herding competition

Herding Working Test HWT

Millie has a natural instinct for breeding. She is the first rough collie in Hungary who has passed the international herding test and has won her first herding competition!

Thank to her, since 21.09.2014 Hungary has a rough collie with FCI-HWT: HJCH, SRBCH, BH exam, Truffle Search Exam, FCI-HWT RINEWELD HEART OF GOODNESS "MILLIE" is Hungary's first rough collie with herding test (80 p).

Millie HWT herding working test video >>

Millie HWT (Photo: Polonyi Melinda - thank you)

Collies are not subject to working trial, the Traditional Style (Interbreed) Herding Working Test (HWT) applies to them (unlike border collies or kelpies with Collecting Style exam).

The traditional herding working test consists of the following excercises:

• Obedience, behaviour towards unknown people (10 p): behaviour check organised and measured based on the judge's decision (for example when the handler leads the dog (on the leash) through a group of people). The dog must be natural and lively. Shy or aggressive dogs are not allowed to run. A little reserve
  to strangers is accepted.
• Pen or Sheepfold - exit from the pen (10 p): the handler opens the pen gate and on order, the dog herds the sheep out actively and calmly. The order can be given verbally, with body language or whistle. FCI video >>
• Conduct and manoeuvre (30 p): after the exit, the flock is to be herded into the grazing area which is situated at least 75 meters from the pen, for example with at least 2 changes of direction (i.e. slalom between two gates). FCI video >>
• Pen or Sheepfold - re-entry to the pen (10 p): near the pen, at a predefined point, the flock should be stopped, the handler opens the pen gate and on order, the dog herds the sheep into the pen. FCI video >>
• Grazing (20 p): the dog should calmly keep the sheep in a predefined area of 15 x 15 m for 5 minutes. FCI video >>
• Behaviour to the sheep, gentleness, activity (20 p): the judge evaluates the ability of the dog to guide, stop or move the flock according to the handler’s instructions as well as the ability of the dog to intervene on its own initiative and upon instruction direct, stop or hold the flock in place, and regroup strays.

Traditional style herding working test field (source: FCI Traditional Style (Interbreed) Herding Working Test (HWT) regulation)

Maximum number of points are: 100 p. Based on the results obtained, the qualification of the exam can be:

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