HERDING TEST FOR BORDER COLLIES

 

        The following is reproduced with the Kind Permission of Doug Collier:-

 

 

The Breed Council at its meeting on 28 July 2007 confirmed the minutes of Working Test Meeting with the Kennel Club on 17 April 2007. The following is therefore agreed:-

 

  1. The test will be called the Herding Test for Border Collies.
  2. Any registered Border Collie over the age of 12 Months can take the test.
  3. No Limit will be placed on the number of attempts at the test.
  4. Any Border Collie who passes the test and has 3 CC’s under different judges will gain full champion title.
  5. A Border Collie who passes the test will be able to use ‘Herding Test’ (HT) aster its registered name
  6. The test will be assessed by two judges nominated by the Breed Clubs and Breed Council (not the ISDS).
  7. The test will be a more practical test than previously  It will not be judges as a sheepdog trial and the assessors will give a pass or a fail.
  8. Once a pass has been gained no further attempts will be allowed with that dog.
  9. Consideration is being given to higher grade pass at some time in the future so that an excellent pass can be achieved  If this is adopted, then excellent (Ex) will be added to HT after the dogs name and those that have normal pass would then be able to retake the test.
  10. Consideration is being given to allowing those who pass the test to enter the Working Class for our breed at Crufts.
  11. Exemptions will remain and be extended to allow experienced sheepdogs to avoid taking the test but still be able to gain the Full Champion Title.
  12. To take the test an application would have to be made to the Kennel Club and a fee of £25 paid.

 

 

The first test under the new procedure would be available in the Summer of 2008. It should be noted that the breed has some 100 dogs and 116 bitch ‘Show Champions’. 

The only one and Full Champion CH Locheil Look North died some 2 years ago. Let’s hope that owners will aspire to have the Full Champion Title for their dogs and take and pass the test.

 

Thanks Doug

 

 

The Scottish Border Collie Club will keep members updated  on the progress of the test and advise when it will be available in Scotland.