topstockdogs, your herding dog specialists

Trial Judging

It is my belief that judging stockdog trials is a way of contributing back to the herding community.

When judging stockdogs my goal is to judge the work the dog is doing rather then position. The dog needs to be doing what, and be where it needs to be to create and control the motion of the livestock. It is my goal to reward dogs doing good work as there is a difference between getting the work done and getting the work done correctly; dogs and handlers should be rewarded for correct work not only work.

Understanding that each trial program has its own rules and that judging for that program must fit those rules, it is important to reward dog and handler teams that do the best work within those parameters. It is unfair to reward handlers for unsatisfactory work, giving them a false sense of accomplishment and in some cases limiting further development of their herding skills. Rewarding inappropriate or unsatisfactory work also takes away from the dog and handler teams that do a nice job. With that being said, it is important to encourage people to grow and develop their skill. It is also vital to the sport of herding that people just beginning be encouraged to continue.

Though people do not always get to hear what they want, it is important that as judges we remain fair, consistant, and unbiased. Herding and trialing should advocate for better dog and handler teams, raising the standard for now and later. I often think when trialing and when judging; it is not the best dog or handler that win but the best dog and handler team “that day” that wins.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or to check available dates to judge your trial dave@topstockdogs.com