An introduction to the SDC

In response to requests from many ASCA Stockdog Trial participants, looking for varied and challenging courses outside of the trial arena, we propose that the Stockdog Committee consider the inclusion of a Farm Trial program to the Stockdog program. The Farm Trial program would be separate from our current Ranch Trial program, but also support the Purposes and Objectives of the Stockdog program as cited in Chapter 1, Section 1-3 which reads as follows:

1.   "to preserve the natural inherited working ability of the Australian Shepherd" The Australian Shepherd originated on the farms and ranches of the United States and Canada. The Farm Trial program, along with the Ranch Trial program, will allow our breed to work in venues for which it was developed and is best suited.

2.   "to stimulate interest in and recognize the working ability of the Australian Shepherd and other breeds by use of the Certification program" The development of the Farm Trial program will stimulate interest in preserving the Australian Shepherd as a superior farm and ranch dog. The Aussie's original skills will be developed and exhibited in a format that showcases the breed's natural talents. The Farm Trial is built on a smaller scale than the Ranch Trial, in both area size and stock numbers. This difference makes it more easily sanctioned by clubs that may be greatly limited in their capacity to host Ranch Trials. We propose a 3 level/6 leg Certification program designed to reward increasingly difficult, practical skills. This should encourage more and longer participation in the trialing program overall and allow practical, work-type situations to assume more prominence in the ASCA Stockdog Program.

3.   "to keep a permanent record of the working dog's accomplishments as a resource in improving breeding practices" Certifying dogs in the Farm Trial program, which is designed to more closely simulate farm type chores, will continue to provide a permanent record of dogs that retain the capabilities of their ancestors. Thus we will have a clear breeding guideline to the Australian Shepherd of the past and a road to follow into the future in order to maintain our breed's history as an excellent stockdog.

With the intent of providing our ASCA Stockdog Trial participants with new venues and progressive challenges for their dogs and their training, we submit the following guidelines for consideration.