A dog of any age but usually under 12mths, that is showing interest in stock. To be more precise the dog must show good strong instinct to herd/chase stock establishing in no doubt that the dog has eye, style, gather etc.. It may or may not show tendancy to grip or single, drive or gather. The dog may be ready to train or not depending on its maturity (mental and physical) and confidence.

A dog of any age, though usually around 12mths, this dog has been encouraged to show proper balance, keeping the stock at the handlers feet no matter which direction the handler is walking/standing. Whilst the handler is in close proximity this dog will take sheep off the fence, lie down or stand on command, will go left and right according to the body movements of the handler, will be starting to learn the direction commands and will start to pace behind the sheep. Will have a good call off the stock on the same side as the handler and will still be working with a long line.

This dog will now understand the direction commands, will be starting to drive with the handler still close by, the outrun will be to a distance of approx 150metre, the dog will stop on command and recall off sheep in 95% of circumstances irrespective of where the handler is.

This dog will now most probably be on both voice and whistle commands, will gather around 400 metres with the stock in sight, will drive sheep competantly around a trials course, penning and in most circumstances will still be learning to shed sheep and turnback on command. This dog will not nesseccarily have any flock experience. This dog will be capable with "help, patience and guidance from the handler" be able to gather flocks of sheep seen and unseen. Drive and gather at 400 metres or in any direction. Shed and turn back, work in the handling pens and load transport vehicles. Will have some flock work experience, and be ready to go to the hill. May have started a Nursery or Open trials career.

This dog will have all of the above with the additional benefit of having experienced different flock, hill and most likely hill work situations. This dog will also most probably have done at least one outdoor lambing season. This dog will be aged from Two years to Ten years.

A Trials dog is nothing more or less than an extreemly good flock dog. It will usually have far better command obedience and will work on strange ground as well as it does on ground it knows

A trials dog is usually more pliable with the handler being able to place the dog exactly where he needs it for quiet confident money making stock movements.

An Open Trial is one open to all comers. The dog being capable to running out up to an average of 500 metres to gather sheep at a steady stressfree pace to the handler in as straight a line as possible, he must then guide his sheep around a driving course of approx 350meters away and across from his handler and return them to the shedding ring where he assists the handler to shed two sheep from his small packet of five, put them back together and place them in the pen. Sound easy? Go on have a go at home and compare yourself to the competitors on "One Man and his Dog"

The same as the above but the distances are a great deal shorter, and there is usually an age limit on the dogs competing depending on which area you happen to compete in.

Many dogs will work sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, ducks, geese and anything else that moves, if given the chance and encouragement.

A dog which has "been trained" only for farm work is usually a very natural dog which has learnt to become an aid to the handler, or one more usually that has for some reason or other not made the grade as a trials dog, because perhaps it could not take the presure of the extra tuition a trials dog requires.

Dogged/trained sheep are very used to being worked by young dogs with an experienced handler. The sheep have learnt that being with the trainer is the safest place to be and will follow the man sticking close to him for protection. Trying to train a young dog without dogged sheep is a recipe for an unhappy trainer, a bewildered, probably griping, dog and very stressed sheep.