8th Annual HGH Herding Competition

Judge Manfred Voigt

October 9, 2004

Featuring Marcus vom Mack-Zwinger HGH CGC (ret.)

The trial was held at the old 4-H Camp near Beemerville, NJ. The sheep were provided by White Clover Sheep Farm

Richard and Marcus take a moment before the trial to relax and prepare.

Playing together they work off some of those pretrial jitters.

It's time to go

They wait to approach the arena, gathering their thoughts and focusing on what lies ahead.

The judge inspects and records the tattoo in Marcus's ear.

Marcus has jumped into the pen to encourage the sheep to exit.

He must stand at the bridge until the entire flock has crossed. Creeping forward will cost him points. It is the dog's nature to be with the sheep herder at the head of the flock; waiting to let the flock pass is an exercise in obedience.

Marcus patrols the narrow graze. He is expected to keep the sheep flocked together and must, on his own initiative, run the border and act as a living fence.

Richard may direct Marcus if he sees a problem but generally in the narrow graze the dog works independently.

Marcus is 9 1/2 years old. This is his third and last trial although he will continue to visit the flock now and then, for fun and exercise.

Richard is moving the flock to the wide graze. Marcus must stand at the corner until Richard directs him elsewhere. The judge is checking whether the dog is being obedient and attentive.

This is the exit from the wide graze, another situation where the dog has to wait until he's called. The purpose is to ascertain that all sheep have left and there are no strays getting into the adjacent field.

Richard moving the sheep

Marcus has been placed at the corner to clear space between a ravine and the flock.

The traffic portion is another test of instinct and obedience. Marcus has to run the length of the flock, back and forth, until the car has passed, making sure the sheep stay well away from it.

Having completed the trial Richard and Marcus now listen to the judge's critique in which he lists both good points and areas which need to be worked on.