WORKING DOG · Reference library
Understand disciplines, classes, rules and the sporting record.
Understand yard-dog trial obstacles, points, timing, class eligibility and membership, with clearly labelled NSW and Victorian association examples.
Understand Australian three-sheep trials, cast and delivery, obstacles, NSW scoring, championship differences and how to check entry classes before competing.
Compare AUSDS sheep-and-cattle utility trials with NSWYDA sheep-only utility, including Level 1 tasks, scoring, entry conditions and useful preparation.
Understand cattle-dog trial courses, NSW scoring and class progression, Queensland registration, event preparation and how to read results and replay footage.
Understand the National Kelpie Field Trial Championship: WKC eligibility, field and yard emphasis, course planning, judging guidance and entry preparation.
Understand Dogs Australia herding tests, PT entry to Started, Courses A–C, qualifying scores, title records and practical preparation using the current rules.
Understand Australian gundog retrieving trials: marked and blind retrieves, Novice to All Age stakes, current distance limits, scoring and preparation for an entry.
Compare Australian gundog field-trial formats, their assessed work and scoring, with current Dogs Australia rulebooks and practical entry and result guidance.
Explore Dogs Australia tracking tests 1–10, approximate distances, track ages, article requirements, title progression and practical preparation for a first trial.
Understand Dogs Australia Track and Search tests 1–10, surfaces, track ages, day/night work, title progression and preparation without a Tracking Champion prerequisite.
Understand Dogs Australia Scent Work odours, Containers/Interior/Exterior/Vehicles, class progression, qualifying searches and title requirements before entering.
Obedience trials assess a dog and handler performing exercises specified by the governing rules. Score, class, qualifying status and placing should be recorded separately.
Rally trials assess a dog and handler completing a numbered course of signed exercises. The level and current rules determine communication, handling and qualification requirements.
Agility and jumping trials assess a dog and handler negotiating an obstacle course. Class, course type, height division, time and faults provide the context for a result.
Flyball is a team relay racing sport. Results should identify the race meeting, division and team, with individual dog participation recorded only where the source confirms it.
Lure coursing assesses pursuit of an artificial lure on a prescribed course. The governing framework and event stream determine eligibility and assessment.
Earthdog tests assess eligible dogs in a controlled simulated earth-working setting. Official facilities and protection arrangements distinguish the activity from uncontrolled pursuit of wildlife.
Endurance tests assess prepared dogs completing a prescribed activity under an organised framework. Test completion is not a general prescription for an individual dog’s exercise.
Draft tests assess trained handling and pulling tasks with suitable equipment. The rulebook determines the level, course, equipment and qualification requirements.
Trick Dog tests assess selected trained behaviours within a defined class framework. The current behaviour lists and assessment conditions determine what counts towards a recognised title.
Dances with Dogs assesses choreographed dog-and-handler routines to music. Freestyle and Heelwork to Music are distinct divisions with their own performance requirements.
Conformation shows assess dogs against the breed standard used by the show authority. Show awards are separate from working ability, sporting qualifications and practical job suitability.
Understand RATG Novice and Open exercises, pass scores, NRA and ORA title requirements, Associate Gundog approval and preparation for a first test.
The Supreme Australian Sheepdog Championship is a national series under ASDWA auspices, rotating between participating states. It is distinct from Canberra’s National Sheepdog Trials and from other national working-dog disciplines.
The Ted Gaby Interstate Challenge is an interstate competition associated with the Supreme Australian Championship. ASDWA describes it as part of Australia’s Trans Tasman team-selection pathway.
The Trans Tasman Test Series brings Australian and New Zealand sheepdog teams into a shared competition for the Wayleggo Cup. Its course and team results need a distinct record from domestic championships.
The Canberra National Sheepdog Trials are a distinct Australian championship tradition. The organiser’s history dates the beginning to 1943 and provides separate trial, schedule and results resources.
ISDS National trials have separate English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh identities within the Society’s competition framework. The current qualifying criteria and entry documents govern participation.
The ISDS International Supreme Championship is part of the Society’s National and International competition framework. It is distinct from the World Trial and from Australia’s Supreme championship.
The ISDS World Trial is a distinct international sheepdog competition with edition-specific national allocations, qualifying arrangements and categories. Its records should remain separate from National and International Supreme results.
The Australian Yard Dog Championship is a national yard-trial series documented through association rules, host publications and an historical honour roll. Each edition needs its own source trail.
The Sydney Royal Dog Show is an agricultural-show canine competition with its own schedule, exhibitor information and results. A breed-ring award should remain distinct from a working performance qualification.
Melbourne Royal publishes a canine programme that distinguishes its All Breeds Championship Show from Action Dogs activities. The wider Show also documents working-dog entertainment, which must not be confused with judged results.
The Ekka documents a sheepdog-trial competition and a separate canine competition. Its sheepdog history and arena programme provide an accessible introduction to stockdog work within a major agricultural show.
The Royal Adelaide Show’s official dog programme identifies conformation, agility and games, Dances with Dogs and junior handling. These are distinct activities within one agricultural-show setting.
The Perth Royal Show’s organiser documents a Main Arena sheepdog-trial programme in which handlers guide sheep through a course. It offers a public view of stock-handling teamwork within the wider Show.
The Royal Canberra Show documents a championship dog show and a separate flyball competition. These provide different views of dogs and handling within the agricultural event at Exhibition Park in Canberra.
Wagin Woolorama documents sheepdog arena trials and dog high jump as distinct parts of its programme. The trial’s course and class framework should remain separate from the jumping entertainment.
Henty Machinery Field Days documents working-dog competition and training demonstrations within its agricultural programme. Its three-sheep field trial has a named association framework and edition-specific entry conditions.
The Australian Sheep and Wool Show includes the Central Victorian Yard Dog Championships in its Bendigo programme. The dog event connects stock-handling competition with sheep, wool and agricultural learning.
Sheepvention Rural Expo in Hamilton documents a farm-dog championship within its broader sheep and agricultural programme. Its competition schedules and gate programmes provide the correct context for each edition.
South East Field Days documents Kelpie Korner as a yard-dog activity area at Lucindale. Its programme connects public viewing with named yard-dog championships and their actual organising framework.
Dowerin Machinery Field Days has documented sheepdog activity through its programme map and WAWSDA’s trial reporting. Preserve the stated competition status rather than assuming every field-days run is an official championship.
Australian National Field Days has documented a three-sheep trial in conjunction with NSW Sheepdog Workers Inc. Its field-days programme and map establish an actual dog activity without implying a generic national championship.
Shepparton Show publishes a dedicated dog-high-jump schedule, entry form and information. This is an actual separate competition section, rather than evidence of a livestock trial or breed championship.
Toowoomba Royal Show lists Three Sheep Dog Trials among its competition sections. Use that specific programme and schedule rather than assuming every canine activity at the Show shares the same rules.
The Westminster Kennel Club presents breed and group judging alongside separate performance-event resources. Its Working, Herding and Sporting groups are classification categories, not universal certificates of an individual dog’s practical ability.
The Burrangong Show account preserved by the Working Kelpie Council describes three sheep, a crowded return to the pen and Brutus’s prize.
The rain-soaked Forbes contest, its seven entries and the documentary correction behind the often-misdated Kings Kelpie story.
An early New Zealand trial report records wild hill wethers, a wingless hurdle yard, prize money and a shepherd’s argument for practical testing.
The 14 April 1868 Wānaka trial used six sheep, a distant hill gather, a five-minute stand and a restricted handler circle.
The Otago Witness account of Clutha’s fifth annual gathering describes the course, classes, close All-comers contest and separate driving-and-yarding test.
The twelfth Taieri gathering at Mosgiel began in rough weather and ended with separate All-comers, Open Huntaway and Consolation results.
The 8–10 April 1930 meeting is preserved through an Otago Witness report with timed descriptions of a Maiden Head and an Open Hunt.
The Bedrule edition selected Scotland’s team, with Julie Hill and Ban named as captain and a separate brace result for Hamish MacLean.
Glyn Jones and Roy won the Open while Gethin Jones won both Friday classes at the 29–30 August Ceiriog gathering.
The sunny 28–29 August edition combined three distinct sheepdog winners with shearing, livestock and local farriery demonstrations.
The 26–27 August edition records Meg, Tom and Mac in separate trial classes, alongside a record sheep entry and a varied rural show.
The South African partnership’s Meeker victory and Dennis Edwards’s late-running reserve result are preserved in organiser profiles published the next year.
Dennis Gellings and Tess set the winning final score in the first run, ahead of Scott Glen and June after a hot preliminary week.
Howell’s championship sits beside daily awards for other dogs and an organiser account showing how a randomly drawn dog sponsor followed the winning team.
Dennis Edwards and Coup led the 10 September final, while the twelve-team table reveals several handlers qualifying more than one dog.
Scott Glen and Taff won an edition whose final was interrupted by wind and storms, with Dennis Edwards and Roy finishing reserve on the last run.
Scott Glen and nine-year-old Alice’s winning final is remembered for a long penning challenge and a gate closed just before time expired.
Faansie Basson and Jack headed the preliminary, semifinal and final stages, while his other finalist Finn finished third.
Tom Wilson and Bet overtook the leading final scores on the last run, with separate international-shed and daily awards documenting the week.
Scott Glen’s fourth Meeker title came with Pip, while June earned reserve and the International Shed award after a different route through the rounds.
