The Call I Wish More Handlers Would Make
I had a conversation last winter with a handler whose Australian Shepherd had just passed their instinct test with a strong result. She mentioned offhand that she had called three facilities before booking and decided on the one we were at based on how I answered her questions.
I asked what had made the difference. She said the other evaluators got defensive when she asked about breed experience. One told her that herding instinct was the same in every breed and breed-specific knowledge was not relevant to evaluation.
That answer is wrong in ways that matter. A handler who knows enough to ask about breed experience, and to recognize a poor answer when she hears one, makes better decisions for her dog than one who books the first facility she finds.
These are the questions worth asking before you commit.
About the Evaluator’s Background
Start with the basics. How long have you been running herding instinct tests? How many evaluations have you conducted?
Volume of experience matters for the same reason it matters in any skilled assessment. An evaluator who has tested five hundred dogs has seen the full spectrum of variation, the anxious dog, the stunted instinct, the dog who shows nothing for eight minutes then ignites completely in the last two. Someone with limited evaluation history may lack the reference points needed to interpret borderline cases accurately.
Follow up with a more specific question: what breeds do you test most often?
Most evaluators have a primary experience base with one or two breed groups. Someone who has spent fifteen years evaluating Border Collies from working lines has deep expertise there and may have limited reference points for reading Cattle Dog heeling behavior or German Shepherd patrol-style instinct. This is not a criticism. It is information you need.
Understanding how herding style genuinely differs between breeds helps you frame this question and evaluate the answer you receive.
About Your Specific Breed
Ask directly: how much experience do you have evaluating dogs of my breed? Can you describe what typical instinct behavior looks like in this breed during your tests?
A credentialed evaluator with genuine experience should be able to speak specifically about your breed’s working style. They should be able to tell you whether your breed tends toward heading or heeling, what eye level is typical, how close they normally work to stock, and whether controlled grip is expected or penalized.
If the evaluator gives a generic answer about dogs showing interest in livestock, they may be describing their observation rubric rather than breed knowledge. Press further: what would concern you about an Australian Shepherd’s behavior during testing? How would you differentiate a Kelpie’s working style from a Border Collie’s?
Evaluators who know their subject can answer these questions without hesitation.
About the Livestock
What livestock do you use? How are they conditioned?
The livestock used during testing significantly affects your dog’s opportunity to demonstrate instinct. How different livestock types affect the evaluation covers this in detail, but the key points are these.
Sheep should be dogged, meaning experienced with dogs, calm enough to move predictably rather than panicking, and responsive to appropriate pressure without being so bombproof that they ignore all dog pressure entirely. Stock that bolt, scatter, or freeze under normal dog pressure make it harder for your dog to demonstrate balanced, purposeful movement.
Ask how often the livestock are used for testing. Ask whether they have been conditioned specifically for this work. Ask whether the facility ever uses ducks, and if so, which breeds seem to test better on ducks versus sheep.
A facility that maintains quality livestock year-round is investing in the accuracy of their evaluations. One running tests on whatever sheep happened to be available that week may produce inconsistent results.
About the Testing Setup
How is the pen configured? What size is the enclosure? How many livestock are typically present?
Pen size affects your dog’s ability to demonstrate instinct. A very small enclosure creates forced proximity that can produce stress responses from dogs who would work naturally in more space. A very large area can allow stock to escape to corners and create a dead environment where nothing moves.
Standard setups use round pens or square paddocks in the range of fifty to one hundred feet across. Three to five sheep is typical. Variations exist based on facility, breed being tested, and livestock available.
Ask what happens if your dog shows fear or stress. Does the evaluator have protocols for adjusting the setup, moving stock to create more space, or ending the session appropriately? A facility that forces dogs through the full time regardless of their stress level is not prioritizing accurate evaluation.
About the Certification Process
Will my dog receive written documentation if they pass? What organization certifies the result?
HIC certification issued under the American Kennel Club, American Herding Breed Association, or similar recognized bodies carries weight that a private evaluator’s verbal assessment does not. Ask what the certification process looks like, what paperwork you receive, and whether the result is registered with any national database.
If you are considering future participation in herding sports or breeding programs that require certified working instinct, documentation from a recognized organization matters. An informal assessment from a capable trainer is still useful information, but it is not the same as formal certification.
About What to Expect
Ask for a walk-through of what test day will look like. What time should I arrive? What happens when I check in? When do I enter the pen? What will I be asked to do?
An evaluator who can describe this sequence clearly has run a professional operation. One who is vague or dismissive about logistics may be less organized than you want for an evaluation day.
Ask specifically: are there things I might do during the test that would interfere with the evaluation?
Any experienced evaluator should have a ready answer to this question. The most common handler mistakes during testing include behaviors that most handlers would not recognize as problems. A good evaluator will brief you on these before you enter the pen, not after your dog has been prevented from demonstrating their instinct.
The Conversation Tells You What the Website Cannot
Facility websites vary dramatically in the information they provide, but no website can replicate what you learn from a direct conversation with the evaluator.
Listen for enthusiasm and specificity. Someone who loves what they do and knows their subject will speak differently than someone providing a service. Listen for willingness to answer your questions without becoming defensive. A confident evaluator welcomes informed clients.
Listen for how they speak about dogs that do not perform as expected. An evaluator who dismisses non-passes as lesser dogs, or who attributes all test difficulty to handler inadequacy, may not be providing the nuanced assessment your dog deserves.
The call takes ten minutes. Used well, those ten minutes are the best preparation you can do before your dog sets foot in the evaluation pen.