Arena – minimum 100 feet x 200 feet
Pen – minimum 10 feet x 8 ft with 12 feet (or larger) gate
Perimeter/Road – 12 feet from the fence line
Graze – 30 feet X 50 feet minimum; for Level III four-sided graze, fourth side is 8-12 feet from fence line.
Bridge – outer side 12 feet from fence line; between 6 feet and 12 feet in length; wings at each end no more than 15 feet from the fence; height of panels 4 ft.
Stock – minimum – 9 head
This course is intended to provide a smaller and safer environment for moving forward in boundary work program prior to moving to trial levels. There are three levels of Junior Boundary Dog that can be offered on either goats or sheep. Any level or combination of levels may be offered by a facility on any approved stock. Titles may be earned at each level and on each stock with 2 qualifying legs under two different judges. Once you have obtained a leg in a higher level you may not move back down to run in a lower level on the same stock. (However, you may run Level III goats and also run Level I sheep.)
1. The size of the arena for Junior Boundary Dog tests should be a minimum of 100 x 200 ft. Corners need not be rounded. If held in the same arena – the JHD panels need not be removed nor does the bridge have to be removed (which is required for Level II and Level III JBD). A 10 foot (or larger) swinging gate on the pen is recommended unless the gate is fixed and cannot be changed. The gate must have a solid frame and the handle must be easy to latch and unlatch with one hand. Depending on the configuration of the arena – the graze area should not exceed 30 feet X 50 feet and is set up along the fence, making it a 3 sided graze (4 sided for Level III). The fourth graze side will be a flat series of boards or similar material that do not present a trip hazard to livestock, dog or handler. The sourth side of the border will be 8-12 feet away from the fence line for the entire length of the graze. The graze area should be marked by sawdust, a furrow, wood shavings, a mowed border, piping or some other line so that it is readily discernible to the dog. Boundary markers/types for roads and grazes shall be listed in the premium for JBD. The road should be marked in the same way that the graze is marked approximately 12 feet from the perimeter of the fence.
2. A minimum of 9 head of stock must be used for each run for Junior Boundary Dog classes. Stock should be accustomed to being worked by humans and boundary dogs and should not be light or flighty. Sheep used in a boundary courses should be conditioned to follow a handler while the dog acts as a moving fence. Each head of stock may only be run 4 times. Animals being used more than 3 times per day must have a rest period of at least 30 minutes between runs. Water should be kept in the pen at all times. Judges should physically walk the course and check for hazards prior to judging.
3. Only the dog, handler, stock and, at their option, the judge, may be in the arena. The judge may choose to remain just outside the arena but must be in a position to be able to closely observe the run, give advice, and quickly enter the arena if necessary. Handlers may carry only a standard herding crook or stock stick (wood, fiberglass or aluminum). Dogs must wear standard flat buckle or snap collar or may run without a collar but must go in on a slip leash. Handlers should keep the leash/lead on themselves at all times for all JBD courses during their run.
4.The judge must observe the handler and dog and should not physically assist the handler and dog but may advise the handler on how best to encourage the dog to move the stock and how to maneuver around the course with stock on the road. Should the entrant not understand an element, the judge may enter and show them and then promptly withdraw/leave so as to not influence or draw the stock, or distract the handler or the dog.
5. Bitches in heat or coming in/going out of heat shall be declared to the judge, the trial secretary and the other exhibitors. Bitches in heat must wait until all other dogs within their test classes have participated before they can run. Bitches in heat may run in panties with pads at the handlers discretion, to avoid marking on course and affecting other dogs who run after them, at the test level.
6. The course director and the judge are to provide time before the start of the trial to have a general handlers meeting and walk the course in the order of the flow of the course elements and obstacles, pointing out the draws and any other information that may help the handlers execute the course with their dog. Handlers at all levels should attend the meeting. Judges may also have another brief handlers meeting prior to the start of Levels II & I.
The course director will conduct the handlers meeting to explain the course and the judge should tell the exhibitors what they are looking for while judging and different ways they might execute certain elements. Time will also be given to answer questions. All questions should be asked and answered at the general handlers meeting when all exhibitors are present.
JUNIOR BOUNDARY DOG TEST – LEVEL I
The course is described as follows:
PEN:
The stock will be in a minimum 10 X 8 pen (upon approval a smaller pen may receive a waiver depending on layout) that opens onto the road which represents the 12 foot perimeter of the arena along the fence. The dog may go around the outside of the pen on leash to familiarize themselves with the flock before taking the stock from the pen, if the pen is out in the open. The dog must be brought in on leash and must push the stock out of the pen on leash. The dog will be inside the pen close to the fence and next to the handler to push the stock out of the pen. The gate must be closed once the stock have exited the pen. Once the stock are in the arena, the dog must demonstrate a pause or a hold – the leash must then be removed. If the stock escape when exiting the pen, the handler shall close the gate and walk with the dog on leash to move the stock back to the pen area. At this level, the dog should not be sent on a gather across the arena. Once the stock have been moved back on the 12 feet wide road closest to the pen – the leash is removed, run time starts, and the dog should stay in place while the handler moves to the stock.
RELIABLE STOP AT PEN:
The stop may be a down, sit or stand. The stop should be demonstrated after the take pen and prior to the commencement of the course. The leash is removed – the dog remains in place while the handler moves to the head of the flock. A stop should also be demonstrated during the repenning process.
MOVEMENT THROUGH THE COURSE:
On command, the handler may call the stock or command the dog to set the stock in motion. The dog will move the stock along the 12 foot road to the graze taking the longest route to the graze, depending on course layout. The dog must demonstrate its ability to collect and control stock, put stock in motion, move the stock in straight lines and turns along the fence, negotiate obstacles at later JBD levels (such as the Level II and III bridge) and keep stock contained within the graze. After the stop to remove the leash, the dog and handler and livestock move to the 12′ perimeter of the arena which represents the road and commence to move the stock to the graze and back to the repen after the graze. The dog should demonstrate the ability to work the side of the road and the sides of the graze and honor the border to the graze. Dogs are not to be allowed to rough up, trample or grip stock. The first time the judge shall give a warning and the second time the run will be called and the dog shall be leashed and taken from the arena. Unruly dogs or dogs which attempt to attack the stock must be leashed and taken from the arena immediately. Dogs which are excessively fearful of the stock should be removed. Dogs showing lack of progress should be removed from the arena after five minutes. Dogs which show any of the above shall not qualify.
GRAZE:
Once the stock reaches the graze, the dog will contain the stock within the graze area for 1 minute before reversing the course to return the stock to the pen. The graze time will be the same for every Junior Boundary Level I dog. The entire group of stock should enter the graze. Once the stock are in the graze area, the handler moves to the inside of the graze while the dog remains outside the graze border. The handler may position themselves in any area within the graze. Graze time starts once the handler and stock are within the graze.
If grazing conditions are inadequate, then a thin layer of forage must be spread evenly, both inside and outside the graze, to mimic natural grazing conditions prior to the start of each run. Nothing else is to be present during the run. No large clumps of forage or bales of hay may be present in the graze.
The dog will move to the outside of the graze boundary where it will patrol or move as needed to keep the flock within the designated area. The stock should not be disturbed or unduly pressured while within the graze and should not be permitted to leave the graze. The handler and the dog shall remove the stock from the graze when notified by the judge. The stock will be moved to the repen by reversing the course and following the road back to the pen and honoring the boundary on the way back to the repen.
REPEN:
The stock will be moved back to the repen by reversing the course and the dog honoring the border on the way back to the repen as well. The dog is stopped, once the handler and flock reach the pen/repen area. The handler opens the gate to the pen while the dog holds the stock from entering the pen. Once the pen gate is opened, the dog should release the pressure from holding the flock off the gate or be sent to the back of the flock to repen the stock. After the stock have entered the repen, the handler closes the gate. The dog should remain outside the pen. If the stock are recalcitrant, and refuse to enter the pen, the handler may lead them in but the dog should remain outside the pen. A dog that enters the pen but can be called out quickly may still qualify.
Testing is completed, and the handler shall leash the dog as soon as the gate is closed.
The course begins with the pen but time does not start until the leash is removed. Time ends when the stock are repenned and the gate is closed. Testing ends when the dog is leashed up and the handler and dog leave the arena.
Course time is 11 minutes including the graze time.
JUNIOR BOUNDARY DOG TEST – LEVEL II
Differing levels within the test program are meant to bridge the gap and provide additional opportunities for advancement for the boundary dog. This course is intended to provide a smaller and safer environment for moving forward in the boundary work program prior to the move to trial levels.
Level II JBD has additional elements to the JBD Level I course. All other rules and obstacles for JBD Level I apply.
PEN:
The dog will demonstrate exiting from the pen while on a loose leash to maintain an orderly and calm exit of the livestock. The dog will be inside the pen close to the fence and next to the handler to push the stock out of the pen. If the dog cannot exit the stock from the pen within 3 minutes on a loose leash then the run shall be called by the handler or judge. The gate must be closed once the stock have exited the pen. The stock is moved onto the 12 foot road, closest to the pen, to start the course. If the stock escape when exiting the pen, the handler shall walk with the dog on leash to the stock and move the stock onto the road closest to the pen. At this level, the dog should not be sent on a gather across the arena. Once the stock are on the road near the pen, the handler will then remove the leash and time will start. The pen is still judged but is not part of the final time.
RELIABLE STOP AT PEN: Same as Level I
MOVEMENT THROUGH COURSE: At this level, the dog should work more independently with less commands and physical guidance from the handler.
Along the fence line at a reasonable point on the course opposite the graze – one half of a bridge is built – minimum of 6 feet – maximum of 16′ along with a wing on each end of the bridge. The bridge should be 12 feet from the fence with the wings extending to no more than 15 feet from the fence. The height of the panels and the wings for the bridge should be at least 4 feet tall. The bridge must have a solid floor. A solid surface such as a piece of plywood, pavers, stall mat or similar, on the ground, is sufficient for flooring. Flooring does not need to cover the wing areas. The dog should demonstrate the beginnings of the understanding of the bridge element as the handler passes onto the bridge with the stock. The dog should remain near the entrance wing of the bridge, demonstrating a stop which could be a sit, down, or stand. The dog should be guarding the wing of the bridge to make sure the stock do not go around the wing. The dog should follow the stock over the bridge. The dog should traverse the bridge element on the way to the graze and on the way from the graze to the repen. The dog should be guarding the wing of the bridge to make sure the stock do not go around the wing on the way back to the repen as well.
ADDITIONAL GRAZE TIME:
Once the stock reaches the graze, the dog will contain the stock within the graze area for 2 minutes before reversing the course to return the stock to the pen. The graze time will be the same for every Junior Boundary Level II dog. The graze in JBD Level II should consist of more independent work than is expected in Level I. The handler may only be a crooks length from the edge of the graze on the inside or outside of the graze at this level. The handler may alternate between the inside and outside area of the graze as needed to help their dog. Graze time starts when the handler and stock are within the graze.
REPEN: Same Level I
Course time is 12 minutes including the graze time.
JUNIOR BOUNDARY DOG TEST – LEVEL III
Differing levels within the test program are meant to bridge the gap and provide additional opportunities for advancement for the boundary dog. This course is intended to provide a smaller and safer environment for moving forward past JBD II prior to the move to boundary trial levels.
Level III JBD has additional elements to the JBD Level II course. All other rules and obstacles for JBD Level I and II apply.
PEN:
The dog will demonstrate exhausting from the pen while off leash to maintain an orderly and calm exit of the livestock. The dog may be inside the pen close to the fence and near to the handler to push the stock out of the pen or the dog may also stay outside the pen in a sit or down or stand if the handler can open the gate and the stock exit quietly. If the dog cannot exit the stock within 3 minutes then the run shall be called by the judge. The gate must be closed once the stock have exited the pen. If the stock escape when exiting the pen, the handler shall call the dog to them and close the gate. The handler shall walk with the dog off leash to the stock. At this level, the dog should not be sent on a gather across the arena. The dog and handler will move the stock onto the 12′ road closest to the pen, to begin the course. The handler will signal to the judge that they are ready to start their run. The judge will acknowledge that they have seen the hand signal. Course time will start when the handler raises their hand. The pen is still judged but is not part of the final time.
RELIABLE STOP AT PEN: Same as Level I and Level II.
MOVEMENT THROUGH COURSE: At this level, the dog should work more independently with less commands and physical guidance from the handler.
BRIDGE ELEMENT AND STOP: Same as Level II
GRAZE FOUR-SIDED/TIME/INDEPENDENCE:
Once the stock reaches the graze, the dog will contain the stock within the 4 sided graze area for 3 minutes before reversing the course to return the stock to the pen. The graze time will be the same for every Junior Boundary Level III dog. The graze in JBD Level III should consist of a 4 sided graze and requires more independent work from the dog than is expected in Level II. The sourth graze side will be a flat series of boards or similar material that do not present a trip hazard to livestock, dog or handler. The fourth side of the border will be 8-12′ away from the fence line for the entire length of the graze. The handler may only be a crooks length from the inside edge of the graze at this level. The dog at this level should be able to demonstrate a fairly independent graze with almost no assistance from the handler. An “Insufficient” or “Not Accomplished” designation will result from a dog which must be excessively commanded at the graze to cover the escape of the stock from the graze. Graze time starts when handler and stock are within the graze.
REPEN: Same as Level I
Course time is 13 minutes including the graze time.
PEN:
The dog will demonstrate exiting the stock from the pen while on leash (except Level III will be off leash) to maintain an orderly and calm exit of the livestock. The dog will be inside the pen close to the fence and near to the handler to push the stock out of the pen. If the dog cannot exit the stock within 3 minutes, then the run shall be called by the judge. The gate must be closed once the stock have exited the pen. If the stock escape, the handler shall walk with the dog to the stock while still on leash (except Level III will remain off leash) and move the stock onto the 12′ road to begin the course, closest to the pen. The handler will then remove the leash (except Level III, the dog will already be off leash, and the handler will notify the judge) and time will start. The pen is still judged but is not part of the overall time.
RELIABLE STOP AT PEN:
Ideally, during the stop the dog is given one command and stays in position until released to begin its approach to the stock while getting the flock started on the road. The dog may lie down, sit or stand. A dog which creeps a little may still be given a passing designation, although creeping is not desirable. Excessive creeping or simply breaking the command and running into the stock will result in an “Insufficient” or “Not Accomplished” designation. If a dog starts to break, but a second command causes the dog to stop and remain in place until released, the dog still may be given a passing designation. A dog in Level II and Level III that refuses to hold a stop or requires continual commands will not be given a passing designation.
MOVEMENT THROUGH COURSE:
In moving the stock though the course, the dog ideally should pace itself to the stock, maintaining an appropriate distance, using sufficient but not excessive power, with the stock neither being rushed nor balking. The boundary dog should honor the border. Multiple reminders are permitted – however, dogs that have to be excessively pushed out off the road should not pass.
The dog should move the stock on the road as directed by the handler, neither rushing the stock nor allowing it to balk. The line of travel should be straight along the road. Turns should be smooth and definite, without disturbance of the stock. The turns may be gradual or at a sharper angle, according to the situation. Ideally, the dog should pick each turn, pausing at the corner to guard the edge of the turn, while the stock traverses the corner; however, a dog that does not pick the corner on the road shall still pass if the turns are relatively smooth.
The handler should use as few commands as possible, allowing the dog to demonstrate its natural abilities. A dog may still be given a passing designation, however, despite a little rushing, incidences of balking, some repetition of commands, a minor split, some raggedness in the line of travel, some circling of the stock, etc., depending on the extent of these occurrences. An “Insufficient” or “Not Accomplished” designation will result from the dog rushing the stock continually, repeatedly splitting or excessively disturbing the stock, ignoring commands or requiring continual commands, continually circling the stock throughout the course, backing down at slight resistance by the stock to the extent that the dog is unable to move the stock after several minutes, the handler or judge should call the run at this time. If the stock break away and the dog readily recovers them, the dog may still be given a passing designation, but if the stock escape entirely and cannot be recovered and set back on course in a reasonably efficient manner, or if the dog loses control two times, the dog will not receive a passing designation and the run should be called by the handler or the judge.
ADDITIONAL BRIDGE ELEMENT (Level II and Level III)
The dog should demonstrate the beginnings of the understanding of the bridge element as the handler passes onto the bridge with the stock. The dog should remain near the entrance wing of the bridge, demonstrating a stop which could be a sit, down, or stand. The dog should be guarding the wing of the bridge to make sure the stock do not go around the wing. The dog should follow the stock over the bridge. The dog should traverse the bridge element on the way to the graze and on the way from the graze to the repen. The dog should be guarding the wing of the bridge to make sure the stock do not go around the wing on the way back to the repen as well. An “Insufficient” or “Not Accomplished” designation will result from all of the stock going around the bridge because the dog was not covering the wing or listening to the handler. If some of the stock cross the bridge, then the dog may still qualify.
GRAZE:
The entire group of stock should enter the graze. Once the stock are in the graze area, the handler moves to the inside or outside (depending on the level) of the graze. The handler may position themselves in an area within the graze according to their level. The dog will move to the graze boundary where it will patrol or move as needed to keep the flock within the designated area. The stock should not be disturbed or unduly pressured within the graze and should not be permitted to leave the graze. The handler and the dog shall remove the stock from the graze when notified by the judge. The stock will be moved to the repen by reversing the course and following the road. While independence on the graze is ideal; at this level, the expectation is that the dog will need some direction from the handler and can move back and forth with the handler without penalty. A dog at Level I showing at least a small amount of independent movement on the graze and keeping the stock contained should receive a passing designation. At Level II, the dog should demonstrate more independent work, needing less commands. At Level III, the dog should be able to demonstrate a 4 sided graze almost independently with little verbal or physical assistance.
REPEN:
The stock will be moved back to the repen by reversing the course and the dog honoring the border on the way back to the repen as well. The dog is stopped, once the handler and flock reach the repen area with the dog holding the stock in place while the handler opens the gate to the pen. Once the repen gate is opened, the dog should release the pressure from holding the flock off the gate or be sent to the back of the flock to repen the stock. After the stock have entered, the handler closes the gate. The dog should remain outside the pen. A dog that enters the pen during the repen and cannot be called back out quickly shall not qualify. Ideally the dog will hold a stop at the repen but does not need to have a hard hold on stock off the gate to qualify. A dog in Level II and Level III that refuses to hold a stop or requires continual commands will not be given a passing designation.
COMMENTS:
The overall comments section is particularly important. Strong points and areas needing improvement with regard to the dog’s performance and the handler’s handling should be noted, suggestions given, and notations made of the difficulty or cooperativeness of the stock. Anything should be noted that has a bearing on the dog’s performance and the understanding of what transpired during the run. The judge may give comments to the scribe to write on the score sheet during the run if they choose to do so.
STOCK EVALUATION:
The behavior of the stock should be noted to provide background regarding the dog’s behavior, because the nature of the stock can have a strong bearing on the dog’s reactions, especially the less experienced dog. The behavior of the stock should be taken into account when judging Junior Boundary Dog. With regard to uncooperative stock, it should be indicated whether the stock were still controllable, or not only uncooperative but of such a nature as to be uncontrollable. Uncooperative stock may be either difficult to move (heavy) or inclined to bolt (flighty).
Judging for the additional course elements for JBD II and JBD III are described within the description on each course.
