Traditional French herding practices generally have involved close daily contact of sheep, shepherd and dogs. Predators remained a greater threat and there was less enclosing of fields in comparison to Great Britain. During the grazing season of spring, summer and fall, a shepherd and his dog or dogs accompanied the sheep to their pasture for the day and brought them back to an enclosure or stable for the night. During the winter, the sheep were kept at the fold and given fodder.
Conditions vary throughout France, and herding practices likewise have varied. In the mountains of western and southern France, while sheep have daily contact with dog and shepherd, being taken from stables out to pasture and back again, they are not as closely supervised as is the case with the sheep in the more populated and cultivated plains. In the mountains, flocks are allowed to spread out more; the close grazing practiced on the plains would be too intense for the vegetation there.
In the mountain regions, single dogs often are used, although two or even three may be used with very large flocks. The dog may work at great distances from the shepherd, even out of sight. The terrain can be rough and fog frequent. There may be periods when the dog may be relatively inactive, but it must always remain at hand, ready for any eventuality. It will be called upon to seek out strays, regroup, gather and redirect the flock, or hold the flock as the shepherd milks the ewes.
Herding practices in the mountains have remained little changed, although the transhumance -- seasonal migration between winter and summer pastures -- is now more often accomplished by truck. A few shepherds still make the journey on foot, taking several days to reach their destination.
The plains regions of central France, with more crops and people, necessitated a more controlled and precise usage of grazing land. Large flocks of sheep would be taken out daily along roads, past unfenced fields, to a grazing area which might be marginal land or a field being rested from crop production. In the east near the German border, the sheep might be stabled at night in buildings in a village. Toward central France, the sheep would be kept at a farmstead out in the country. In the practice called "grazing to the square," the close-flocking sheep would be kept in a compact group, with each section of the field being thoroughly grazed down before the sheep were allowed to move to an adjacent area. In many cases, there also would be nearby fields of crops from which the sheep needed to be kept.
Herding trials have been held in France since 1897. There have been some variations in details over the years, but the traditional trials essentially involve the shepherd and his dog conducting a flock of 80 and often over 100 sheep over a "cross-country" type of course meant to reflect situations found in daily work.
In French trials, one dog is used and judging criteria primarily relate to accomplishing the tasks in an efficient, calm manner. The shepherd and dog may take various positions relative to the flock, according to circumstances. Thus, the dog may be behind or ahead, on one side of the flock or the other, wherever its presence is needed, remaining as discreet as possible when all goes well. The dog is expected to work with a great deal of initiative, the shepherd only commanding the dog for particular maneuvers.
When bridges, chutes or other narrow passages are negotiated, the shepherd may lead the flock through, leaving the dog to watch the entrance and bring up the rear. The shepherd may also place himself to one side of the entry, showing off the ability of his dog to push the sheep on across the bridge or through the obstacle. To effect this, the dog is allowed to bark or even jump on the backs of the leading sheep to push them forward.
During the grazing section of the trial, the shepherd and dog drive the flock into a marked area and settles them. The shepherd then places himself and the dog in opposite corners and waits for a signal from the judge to proceed on the course. Occasionally, if the flock is well settled, the judge might require the shepherd to leave the flock in the dog's charge and retire a distance away, and he will then give his next instructions at a distance. Or, both dog and shepherd will move back some distance, then the dog will be sent to gather the flock.
In the 1980's there was one overall type of trial, although individual courses could vary considerably. The regulations left it to the judges to establish the course and distribute points according to the characteristics of that course. Basic common elements were included and overall guidelines followed. There was an exit from the pen, movement along a road or path, passage near a hedge, embankment or tempting crop, transit over a bridge and through gates or natural barriers, halting of the flock to graze for 2 or 3 minutes in a square marked off by four corner flags, entry onto a road and the meeting or overtaking of the flock by a car, and returning the sheep to the pen. The overall point total was 100.
In the early 1990's, the trials were divided into three levels, and a kind of "instinct test" was added below the level of the trials. The three levels incorporate various aspects of the original one-level trials. The three levels are:
I -- for novice dogs; the course is limited to the most simple obstacles and tests.
II -- for more experienced dogs; success at this level allows the dog to obtain his "certificate of work with the flock."
III -- for advanced dogs; obtaining specified ratings at this level entitles the dog to higher certificates and the opportunity to compete in the National Championship trial.