General

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Training

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FRENCH TRIAL COURSES

     Only professional shepherds, farmers or people who work with sheep are eligible for trials.  It appears that only breedable dogs may take part: monorchids are excluded, nothing is said about spayed or neutered dogs.  Most of the trials are open to all breeds, with Border Collies, Beaucerons, Briards, and Pyrenean Shepherds seen most frequently.  Sometimes there will be a Picardy Shepherd or a dog of a rare local strain, and occasionally a Rough Collie, Belgian Sheepdog or German Shepherd; when used in France, these latter work in a manner similar to the French and British breeds rather than in the manner seen at the HGH trials in Germany.  There are now also trials specifically for Border Collies, using the ISDS course.  The competition for the French National Championship is a traditional large-flock trial.

     There are three levels of competition with the difficulty increasing with each level.  Level I and II trials use flocks of from 50 to 60 sheep. Level III trials use 80 or more.  The present rules allow each group to be used only twice.  Courses are from 1,000 to 1,200 meters in length, with 25 to 30 minutes allowed.

SECTIONS OF WORK

I. The pen or sheepfold

The penwork is done by the dog under the active command of the handler. The handler may enter the pen with the dog.
Exit -- this should be calm, effective and timely.
Reentry -- calm and without jostling
     Near the reentry, the dog holds the flock in place while the handler opens the gate.  During the reentry, the handler should remain at the corner of the gate and close it after he and the dog enter the pen.  After closing the gate, the handler simulates feeding and going around the paddock.  The dog clears a passage (this is called the "protection" exercise, as the dog "protects" the handler from being jostled by the sheep).  Then the handler places the dog at the gate, in order to keep the flock back from the gate.  The handler exits, leaving the dog just inside.  After closing the gate, the handler calls the dog over a fence section approximately 1 meter high.

II. Difficult passage

There should be at least two difficult passages, preferably three.
In the case of a bridge, the handler and dog both should cross it, because it represents a gorge too large or too deep to cross.  In the case of other difficult passages, the handler places himself in the fashion that appears to be the best way of negotiating the passage.
Going around or past an obstacle brings about the loss of points for that obstacle and the handler isn't allowed to try again.

III. Management and maneuver

This test, judged throughout the course, is divided into five exercises:
a) pasture (graze), which may be square or elongated (marked by stakes at each corner if square, or stakes along the front if elongated) The jury (judge) appraises the shepherd's handling, the position of the dog in relation to the flock, and the ability of the dog to bring the flock into the graze and maintain it in place with calmness, efficiency and initiative.
b) holding the flock and catching a sheep -- while the handler catches and briefly holds a sheep, the dog contains the rest of the flock in the designated place, if possible on his own initiative.
c) work at a distance (this is optional, and for Level III only) -- the handler leaves the flock with the dog and goes to join the jury; the dog holds the flock in place on his own to earn maximum points. If the flock goes outside the limits or if the handler must command the dog to insure that the flock stays in place, or the if dog remains in place when it should move if needed to contain the flock, points are deducted. At the indication of the jury, the handler commands the dog to regather the group and calmly bring them to him along the indicated path.
d) car passage (Level III only) -- on a real or simulated road. The road must be clearly delineated, with at least one side which the flock may "lean on" during the passage.
e) movement is judged throughout. The dog will be noted for his ability to guide the flock between two exercises or obstacles, following the defined course, and the course points are assigned according to difficulty.

IV. Stopping the flock

The dog should be capable of stopping the flock in all circumstances and there should be at least two stops, placed at a natural place. It is important that the stop be done by the dog, not the handler; the dog must come to the front of the flock. After the flock stops, the handler checks ahead, then quickly continues, with the dog going around the flock to push at the rear or at least assure the control of a side.

V. Intelligence of execution

This is judged throughout, and is divided into three subsections:
a) commands -- voice, gesture or whistle, will have a great influence on the behavior of the dog and the quality of his response. The jury appraises the vocabulary, clarity, force, intonation and number of commands.
b) obedience should be immediate, complete and definitive
c) the jury appraises the ability of the dog to gather, guide, stop or move the flock, as the handler demands, as well as the dog's ability to intervene alone (on its own initiative) and advisedly channel, stop or hold the flock in place, and regroup strays.
A brief grip is only allowed if necessary.

POINTS BREAKDOWN

Level I

TOTAL: 75 pts.

Level II

TOTAL: 100 pts.

Level III

TOTAL: 150 pts.

TITLES

The "brevet" or "working certificate" is earned at Level II trials with a minimum score of 75% and at least 50% of each section. The brevet allows a dog to enter the "selective" or Level III trials, which lead to eligibility for the National Championship trial. It also can be used as one of the working certificates that are required for conformation champions.

The "Certificate of Aptitutude for Herding Championship" (C.A.C.T.) , and its Reserve (R.C.A.C.T.), are earned on Level III courses, and require that the dog place lst or 2nd with at least 80% of the total score.

The "Working Championship" (C.A.C.T.) can also be obtained by passing three times with a rating of "very good", under two different judges, on Level III courses.