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FRENCH SHEEPDOG TRIALS 
Sheepdog trials have been held in France
since 1896. Today there are several types of trials, including: The Inter-breed
trials, which developed from the original trials and are open to all breeds;
Border Collie specialty
trials, which are similar to the ISDS trials held in
Britain; more recently, trials held by the FCI (Fédération
Cynologique Internationale, the international
organization to which most kennel clubs of the world
belong); and most recently, the Continental trials. Over
the last few decades the Inter-breed trials have come to be more technically-oriented and
dominated by Border Collies. The Continental trials have a focus on the French breeds and
other upright, loose-eyed breeds, judged with an emphasis on practical tasks of
day-to-day shepherding, the overall quality of the dog’s
work and abilities, and good stockmanship.
The following information outlines the elements and requirements of the Inter-breed trials.
The elements and requirements of the Continental trials are generally similar to the
Inter-breed trials in format, with some variation in
detail. Both types of trials use larger groups
of sheep: at least 25 head in the group, preferably more. 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. Level I is for novice dogs, with the course is limited to the simplest obstacles and tests. Level II is for more experienced dogs; the course is longer and there are additional obstacles and tasks, including at least two stops; success at this level allows the dog to obtain his Brevet, the "certificate of work with the flock." Level III likewise has a longer course, with additional obstacles and tasks, including at least two stops, plus a car pass and in some cases work at a distance; obtaining specified ratings at this level entitles the dog to higher certificates and the opportunity to compete in the National Championship trial. There are also trials and a National Championship for work on cattle. There have been some variations in details over the years, but the essentials have remained the same. On the trial course, the shepherd may lead the flock, be at the side, or follow the flock; in actual practice, about half lead and half follow. When bridges, chutes or other narrow passages are negotiated, this is to be done with the dog showing control of the flock. With obstacles such as sorting chutes, the shepherd may help the dog, for instance, by blocking the sheep to help funnel them. At the advanced level, a small vehicle will pass the flock as it moves along a narrow road. During the grazing section of the trial, the shepherd and dog move the flock into a marked area and settle them. This represents the traditional French practice of "grazing to the square" -- keeping the sheep in a compact group so that the field is thoroughly grazed and manured a section at a time. The handler may be required to catch and briefly hold a sheep, while the dog, showing initiative, keeps the flock grouped. Work at a distance may be required in the Level III class: the sheep are left grazing while the shepherd moves to a handler's post up to 250 yards away, either taking the dog with him, or leaving the dog with the flock and then recalling the dog; then the dog is sent to gather the flock and bring it to the handler. In mountain regions especially sheep graze in a more spread-out fashion, vegetation being sparser, and the dog may need to be sent some distance to gather them. The following is summarized information from the printed rules; which can be found on-line at: http://www.cuntroupeau.fr/Bibliotheque/2018-11-13-Reglement-inter-races-ovins.pdf. (Rules for the Continental trials are at http://www.cuntroupeau.fr/Bibliotheque/reglementcontinentaux-11-2018.pdf FRENCH TRIAL RULES for Inter-breed
Trials Includes: The sheepdog trials are designed to show the value of the various qualities of the dog: obedience, activity, gentleness, initiative, and herding ability, to promote its selection and use for working with livestock, and teach users how to bring out and make good use of the abilities of their dogs, because there is no good flock without good dogs. The inter-breed sheepdog and cattledog competitions take place over varied terrain, filled with natural obstacles, and encompass most of the exercises a farmer and his dog are asked to perform during the normal conduct of their flock operation. There are three courses, tailored to the training level of the dogs, to judge their proficiency in the conduct of animals: Level I trials: designed for novice handlers and dogs who, on a simple course, are to demonstrate a basic knowledge of training in the use of the dog in the handling of a flock. Level II trials - Brevet: for purebred, registered dogs, with a good experience of handling a flock. To earn the Brevet, the dog must earn two Excellent classifications under two different judges. Level III trials: open only to dogs that have previously obtained the Brevet, for handlers who have perfect knowledge of animals and the control of their behavior using dogs. Level III trials can be organized as regional competitions for selection of candidates for the championship of France. “Selective” trials require a sorting-pen and the passing of the flock by a vehicle either from the front or overtaking it. ORGANIZATION Includes: Who can organize trials, and various technical details. Animals being used must be in good health, accustomed to being handled with the aid of a dog, and there must be sufficient numbers so that each group is not used more than twice in one day, and only one time a day for the Championship of France. The minimum size for each group is 25 head. Included are some specifications as to age, condition and care of the sheep. CONDITIONS OF ENGAGEMENT Includes: The trials are reserved for sheep and cattle dogs at least one year of age and handled by a professional in the livestock industry, or by amateurs who have met certain conditions of training and experience and have obtained the CACCBT - Contrôle d'Aptitudes à la Conduite du Chien de Troupeaux (the certificate of ability to handle a herding dog – a separate certificate must be obtained for each of the handler’s dogs). Competing dogs must have a valid rabies vaccination certificate and have their work book (for recording the results of their participation in trials). In exceptional and temporary cases, unregistered dogs will be allowed to compete, but only in Level I. Dangerous dogs or dogs in a poor state of health may not participate. Bitches in season may compete, but must be kept apart and will run last. The judge is responsible for the welfare of the animals on the course. For passage from Level I to II, two “excellent” ratings must have been obtained under two different Judges and recorded on the work book. Level II is only for registered dogs, holding a work book. Two qualifying ratings, obtained under two different judges, are required for the recording of the Brevet. A dog can’t be entered in Level III without prior approval of the dog’s Brevet and presentation of the work book. JURY Includes: Composition of the jury, oversight of jury/judge regarding general course conditions. Trials at Levels I, II and III are judged by a qualified judge; the National Championship trial is judged by a jury of three judges. The local presence of the judge on the eve of the competition is essential. The judge is responsible for the course and must see that it is in accord with the regulations. The judge will ensure the implementation of safety procedures for the benefit of the public, board, staff, competitors, dogs and livestock. The judge will ensure that the obstacles are as natural as possible and of sufficient distant from one another to allow a reasonable sequence and the placing of dogs and groups of livestock in normal working conditions. After each run, the judge will make a brief comment to the handler, but also, where appropriate, to the public. If there are several judges, the score will summarize the comments they have done individually, the Jury President having the deciding vote. At the end of the competition, before the award ceremony, the judge or the jury president will comment in general about the competition and the goal. COMPETITORS Includes: The dog’s handler will submit on time on the morning of the competition the dog’s valid health records and rabies vaccination records. The handler will, upon arrival, submit his dog’s work book and license to the secretary. Handlers must be present at the time of the drawing of the run order; a competitor who is absent when the draw is done for his level will run last. Participants must comply with the requirements of the trial and any local improvements approved by the Jury President. During the trial period, handlers should keep their dogs in areas designated for that purpose or keep them on lead so they do not accidentally interfere in any way with the work of other competitors, on pain of penalty or disqualification. PARCOURS The trial encompasses, on a course as natural as possible, almost all tasks a farmer and his dog are asked to perform in the usual course of work on their operation: Working in a pen or sheepfold; The courses are divided into sections or exercises: Pen or sheepfold to which are added the general penalties and eliminations/disqualifications. The three course levels are tailored to levels of training to judge the dogs’ proficiency in the handling of livestock.
LEVELS Competition at Level I: Pen or Sheepfold: protection work in the pen or sheepfold, where the dog, at the time of feeding, is to clear a passage into the flock as the farmer advances, ensuring the distribution of food without the farmer being jostled by sheep; a jump allowing the dog to go from one enclosure to another or over a fence; exit from the pen or sheepfold, is a result of the work of the dog, calm and under control; the reentry into the designated pen, which may be a different pen from the one from which the flock departed, is a result of the work of the dog, calm and under control. Conduct and Maneuver: The graze -- the flock is kept in the space designated for this exercise, which may be an area along a path, a crop or in an area marked by stakes; Hold -- under the control of the dog, this can be done during the graze or elsewhere as clearly defined and indicated by the judge; Catching a sheep -- while the handler catches a sheep, which may be pre-marked, the dog must, on its own initiative, keep the animals within the indicated space; Movement -- includes taking the flock to and from the pen, grazing, negotiating an obstacle. Natural aptitudes -- the jury evaluates the power of the dog, his endurance, his courage, his lack of aggressiveness, his leadership; the judge also evaluates the dog's ability to take control of the flock, ability to gather, guide, stop or move the flock where the handler requests, the dog’s ability to act alone and wisely to channel, stop or maintain the flock, or go back and get lost sheep. The competition is scored on 75 points. Competition at Level II: The time limit should not exceed 25 minutes. Level II is for purebred, registered dogs, experienced in handling a flock. To the Level I exercises are added: Difficult passages: difficult passages are narrow, well-defined, and as natural as possible between crops, hedges or fences, courtyards or fields; the transition from a bridge; loading a small group of sheep on a truck or putting them into a corridor for sorting or treatment. Stopping the flock: The dog must be able to stop the flock in all circumstances and the course will include, necessarily, a minimum of two "Stops", placed at a natural boundary: road, path, fence, crop, etc. The stopping of the flock, which must be done by the dog, takes place at the exit or entrance of a driveway, exit to a road or path, passage between crops. The competition, scored on 100 points, permits the award of "Brevet de Travail sur Troupeaux." To qualify for the Brevet, a score of at least 80% of the available points must be attained under two different judges. Competition at Level III: The time limit should not exceed 35 minutes. Level III is open only to dogs that have previously obtained the Brevet, Level III is for handlers who have perfect knowledge of animals and the control of them through use of dogs. To the Level II exercises are added: Conduct and maneuver: Sorting obstacle, used to perform a real sorting of animals; this obstacle is mandatory. Passing of the flock by a vehicle highlights the dog's ability to channel the herd in difficult situations of vehicles passing from the front or from the rear; it must be done on a true road or at least in a place representing as much as possible the conditions encountered on a true road (avoid using a tractor or 4x4; the ideal is a quad-type vehicle), Work at a distance is essentially to direct the flock to a defined place, to gather the animals and take them along a predetermined path toward the handler, who remains stationary at a distance of 150-300 meters from the point of stabilization of the flock. For the exercises of Level III, the difficult passages may be more numerous and require greater technical proficiency and handling (sorting pen, loading in a trailer). the stops of the flock may be more numerous, more varied and more rigorous. The competition is scored on 150 points. The results obtained are used for the selection of finalists for the French Championship of Work on Flocks. DESCRIPTION OF THE WORKING TESTS Pen or Sheepfold: Protection work is done before the sheep leave the pen where the flock is contained. The dog simulates the work done at feeding time, clearing a passage into the flock in advance of the handler, and thus ensuring the distribution of food or care without the handler being jostled by sheep. The dog must hold the passage open between the handler and the flock and may not leave this position until the handler recalls the dog to his side. Jumping allows the dog to go from one pen or enclosure to another or over a fence. At the end of the exercise, to protect his exit from the pen, the handler must position the dog between the flock and go out the gate, leaving the dog to protect the exit; after closing the gate, the handler recalls his dog, who will jump a hurdle and go to a position at the feet of the handler. Exit of the flock from the pen: At the beginning of the run, at the approval of the judge, the handler may open the gate to the pen and, accompanying the dog or not, brings the flockout of the enclosure. The exit should be the result of work of the dog acting under the commands of the handler; it must be done in calm and taking control of the flock shall be effective immediately. The judge will assess the dog's behavior in contact with the flock, his calmness and firmness. The reentry into the designated pen may be into a pen different from that of departure, and must be the result of the dog acting under the commands of the handler; it must be done quietly and without crowding. Near the reentry, the flock must be stopped and held in place by the dog, while the shepherd opens the pen gate. During the reentry, the shepherd must remain near the gate and close it at the end of the run. The judge must determine the numerical values for the scoring of the exit and reentry of the pen, depending on the relative difficulty of these maneuvers. Conduct and maneuver: Grazing, with keeping the flock in place and watching over them; on command of the shepherd, the dog must drive the animals into the space designated for this exercise, stabilize them and keep them there. The work consists of grazing a natural or temporary meadow whose boundaries are indicated by stakes or markers in the corners or on the front of the designated space, which may be an area along a path, a culture or in a marked perimeter. The judge will evaluate the position of the dog in relation to the herd and the ability of the dog to bring and maintain the herd in place with calmness, efficiency and initiative. The holding of the flock under the control of the dog may be done at the pasture or another location specified by the judge. The handler, with the aid of his dog, is to bring all the animals into the indicated area and keep them there calmly. Any exit by the sheep from the perimeter of the hold area before the judge's signal is penalized. Catching a sheep: The dog must, on its own initiative, without orders, keep the flock within the designated area, while the handler catches a sheep for examination or to provide care; the sheep may be pre-marked. Commands and the sheep leaving the designated area before the signal from the judge are penalized. Movement includes moving the flock to and from the pen, grazing, and obstacles. The dog will be scored on his ability to guide the flock as directly and regularly as possible between exercises and obstacles along the defined path. The competitor is not allowed to go back to a bypassed or uncompleted obstacle to try another way. The judge will assess the movement for the duration of the course, and the allocation of scoring points under the exercise will be made based on the relative difficulty of travel. Distance work is mainly to take the flock to a defined space, seek out and gather the animals, and drive them through a predetermined path. The handler remains stationary and commands his dog to move the flock through a prescribed route, to a particular point at a distance of 150 to 300 meters, or to seek out, gather and bring the animals to him, always by a prescribed route. All errors on the course, difficulties, shoving, etc., are penalized. The car pass shows the dog's ability to channel the flock in difficult situations of a vehicle passing from the front or overtaking the flock and must be done on a true road, or at least in a place representing the possible conditions encountered on roads. The dog must place the flock well on the side of the road and ensure that the vehicle can pass without stopping. The flock must be sufficiently controlled and must not stop the vehicle or flee from it. Stopping or greatly slowing the vehicle and lack of control while the vehicle is overtaking or passing the flock will be penalized. Difficult passages: Difficult passages are well-defined narrow passages, as natural as possible, between crops, hedges or fences of courtyards or fields; crossing a bridge, a crossroads, going through a passage for sorting or treatment; or loading a group of sheep on a truck. The course must include at least two difficult passages, or even three or more. The judge must allocate the points awarded for this section based on the relative difficulty of these exercises and their number, and evaluate the approach, the handler's position, the dog, and the control from the exit. The guidance of the flock in the difficult passages must be done by the dog and in a calm manner; manual intervention by the handler is penalized. In the case of a bridge, it is up to the judge whether the handler must cross the bridge. In other cases, the shepherd stands in the position that seems best suited to the passage of the flock, while letting the dog do the work necessary for the passage of the obstacle. Loading a small group of sheep into a truck or trailer may also be provided on the course; the loading of animals into the vehicle must be accomplished by the work of the dog. Stopping the Flock: The dog must be able to stop the flock in all circumstances and the course will include, necessarily, a minimum of two "Stops", or more, placed at a natural boundary: road, path, enclosure, crop, etc. The stopping of the flock is a very important maneuver that must be done by the dog, not the handler. The stops are done at the exit or entrance of a pen, driveway, exit to a road or path, passing between crops, etc. After the flock has stopped and the handler has ascertained that moving onto the road can be done safely, the restart must be done quickly, without jostling, by the dog, which must ensure control. Going past the limits of the stop results in loss of points, in proportion to the degree, and the competitor is not allowed to try a new stop. The judge must allocate the points awarded for this exercise based on the relative difficulty of these stops and their number. Intelligence of execution: This category is open only for level I, concerns: commands, the handler’s work and the quality of his commands have great influence on the dog's behavior and the quality of its response, and may be made by voice, gesture or whistle. Unnecessary commands or commands not followed by the dog will be penalized and it must be remembered that each whistle is a command. The judge will assess the vocabulary employed, clarity of the command, strength, tone, and number. Obedience -- the dog's attention, his understanding of orders, his obedience which must be immediate, complete and final, affect the good handling of the flock. Any disobedience will be penalized in proportion to the consequences of not executing the order given and may in extreme cases, lead to the elimination of the competitor. Activity, softness and initiative -- the judge evaluates the power of the dog, his endurance, his courage, his lack of aggressiveness, his leadership, and also evaluates the dog's ability to take possession of the flock, ability to gather, guide, stop or move the flock to where the handler requests, the dog’s ability to act alone and wisely to channel, stop or maintain the flock, to go retrieve the lost sheep. QUALIFYING Points available are usually 150 pts. in Level III, 100 pts. in Level II, and 75 pts. in Level I. Classification is given to the dog on the following scale:
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