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07.03.08 - BCSA
NEEDS YOUR INPUT
HERDING INSTINCT TEST
The BCSA Herding
Instinct Test has been in place, in its current form, almost since
the beginning of the Club's formation. At that time there were
very few herding instructors and few competitive events available.
Fortunately we have seen a huge burst in both those interested in
the Border Collie as the supreme stockdog he is for agricultural
purposes but also to maintain the quality of the herding instincts
through interests in herding as a sport. There are now many good
instructors available and clinics/camp opportunities for expanding
knowledge are also frequently available. When an individual
decides to look into herding for practical purposes or as a sport
they can easily turn to instruction at a time or place that suits
them.
Determining a dog's
talents, abilities and skills can only be evaluated with enough
training to put the dog to work and observe his usefulness whether
on a farm/ranch or in competition. In the original form the
Herding Instinct Test was a pass or fail determination made after
only a few minutes on stock. A huge range of situations may affect
the dog's responses at that one specific point in time causing
lack of performance or showing behaviors that are never repeated.
The BCSA Board is
taking a look at removing the "test" aspect to the program and
putting more emphasis on it as a one time "evaluation". The
evaluation could still be pass or fail for the one time exposure.
Click to view the changes in the guidelines from "test" to
"evaluation" in both the
guidelines and
evaluation forms. The certificate for the one time
evaluation could be a "Evaluation Certificate" or a "Certificate
of Participation" or ??
The Board would
like to hear your comments regarding keeping the program the same,
changing it to emphasis it as an evaluation or making the
evaluation sheet a record of the behavior of the dog at the time
without a pass or fail indication. Please review the changes
to the documents using the links below and
make your comments. Thanks to all for participating. ~ Claudia Frank, BCSA
Herding Chairman
* Click to
download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader which you will need to open
these PDF
files. |
