Occasionally, a handler acknowledges that it was his error that dashed the hopes for glory. Amazingly, one rarely hears of 'good sheep' or 'great sheep' at a herding event, only the 'bad sheep'. The humbled or humiliated exhibitor, on the other hand, is quick to point out the unsuitability of the sheep. Humans, being what we are, often find it easier to cast the blame outward rather than inward. Thus, it's common to hear complaints of 'bad sheep' coming from non-qualifiers.
Experienced herders know trial sheep are never like the ones at home.
Newcomers to the sport are often astonished when trial sheep react much differently than those they're accustomed to. In my experience, bad runs are rarely caused by 'bad sheep' but are magnifications of known training deficiencies and common handler errors. In my opinion, one of the two biggest reasons for failure on the herding field is impatience. Common sense tells you if you've never hit the high note in the 'Star Spangled Banner', you may want to reconsider the offer to sing at the Super Bowl. The other reason for failure is ineffectual herding instruction.