The Points System

A sheep dog trial is the ultimate test of the ability of the shepherd and his dog to work together. The trial is a combination of several stages and competitors are given 9 or 12 minutes for single runs, dependent on experience and 15 minutes for doubles to complete the relevant course. The following is a guide only as different judges may have their own system of awarding points:

For each class the handler and dog take up their position at the starting post in front of the commentary van and the handler must remain there until the dog returns to the Shedding Ring, unless he retires, or is called off by the Judge, when the trial ends.

The Outrun: 20 points

The sheep are placed by the shepherds at the top of the course, in a straight line from the starting post, and the handler sends the dog either right or left to the top of the field so that it ends up behind the sheep.

The Lift: 10 points

Once the dog has arrived behind the sheep it will be given a command to stop, or lie down, before the next command to get up and move the sheep forward.

The Fetch: 20 points

The dog then brings the sheep down the field towards the handler, between the hurdles in the middle of the course (the Fetch Gates), in as straight line a line as possible.

The Drive: 30 points

When they get close to the handler the sheep are drive to the handler’s right hand side, around him/her, and then away from the handler on the left towards the gates on that side of the course. They are to be driven between those gates, then make a sharp right hand turn so that they go across the course, being drive in an imaginary line below the Fetch Gates, towards the other set of gates on the right side of the course (the Drive). The sheep are to be driven between those gates, then make another sharp right hand turn back towards the handler.

The Pen: 10 Points

Between the second Fetch Gate and the handler is a large ring marked with sawdust piles (the Shedding Ring) and as the sheep approach that the handler can move towards them. In the Shedding Ring one of the sheep has to be divided from the other two (the Shed). Once the Judge confirms the Shed has been completed to his satisfaction the handler can command his/her dog to move the sheep towards the pen. Once the sheep have been penned the trial is complete.

The time allowed for the trial is set out at the start of each class in the programme.

The perfect score is 100 but points are deducted for any deviations from the correct lines mentioned above or the missing of obstacles.

The Judge may also call off any handler whose dog makes too many mistakes