Many AKC herding judges are also AHBA judges, and AHBA herding trials are often held in the same location as AKC trials. Whether at a trial or a club sponsored herding instinct test, initial exposure to stock should be a positive experience for the dog. Testers or trainers should have experience with other upright breeds. A dog that does not react to the stock upon first exposure does not necessarily lack instinct. Young and insecure dogs may not show interest initially and should be retested at a later date.
Dogs often get excited watching other dogs work the stock.
Both AKC and AHBA offer two general herding levels for dogs and handlers. The HCT and the JHD titles both require two passing scores under two different testers. The dog must show his natural ability and desire to keep the stock grouped together and attempt to control their movement. The second leg of the HCT requires that the dog must also move the stock in a controlled fashion from one end of a pen to the other and demonstrate a stop and a recall. Working stock develops a special partnership between handler and dog.