The Call That Started My Day
Last autumn, I received a call from a handler whose German Shepherd had failed his HIC the previous week. She was devastated. The dog had panicked at the sheep, refused to engage, and spent most of the test hiding behind her legs. She wanted to know what she had done wrong.
We talked for thirty minutes. Turned out she had driven three hours to an unfamiliar facility, arrived five minutes before her slot, and put her dog in a pen with livestock after he had been crated the entire journey. The dog was car sick, overstimulated, and completely unprepared for what he encountered.
Her dog had instinct. I saw him tested again six weeks later at Thornbridge Farm, properly prepared this time. Different dog entirely. He passed with comments about natural balance and appropriate pressure.
Preparation matters more than most handlers realize.
Physical Conditioning Starts Weeks Before
Herding work is physically demanding. A ten-minute instinct test might not seem like much, but the combination of excitement, movement, and mental processing exhausts dogs who are not conditioned for it.
Start increasing your dog’s exercise three to four weeks before the test. Add distance to walks. Introduce more off-lead running if you have safe spaces. Focus particularly on activities that require quick direction changes, since working around stock involves constant adjustment.
Swimming works brilliantly if your dog enjoys water. It builds cardiovascular conditioning without joint stress. Hill work helps too, as many testing facilities sit on working farms with uneven terrain.
Watch for signs of overtraining. Reluctance to exercise, stiffness after activity, or reduced enthusiasm indicates you are pushing too hard. The goal is moderate fitness, not peak athletic conditioning.
Essential Obedience Skills
You cannot train herding behavior before the test. That defeats the purpose of instinct evaluation. But certain obedience skills make the experience safer and more productive. Understanding what exactly happens during an HIC test helps you know what to prepare for.
Recall Under Distraction
Your dog needs to return to you reliably when called, even when distracted. The test environment contains the most exciting distraction your dog has likely ever encountered. You will not achieve perfect recall around first-time livestock exposure, but having a foundation helps you regain control when needed.
Practice recall in increasingly distracting environments. Dog parks, fields with wildlife, areas where other dogs are playing. Build the behavior gradually. Do not expect your dog to come away from sheep if they have never come away from a squirrel.
Leave It
The ability to disengage from something interesting on command provides a crucial safety tool. If your dog grips or gets too intense with livestock, you need a way to interrupt that behavior before it escalates.
Practice leave it with high-value items. Food, toys, anything your dog finds compelling. The command should work even when your dog is already engaged with the target. This takes months to build reliably, so start early.
Loose Lead Walking
You will be on a long line during the test, but the ability to walk calmly on lead helps with transitions. Getting from your vehicle to the testing pen, waiting your turn, moving around the facility. A dog that pulls constantly arrives at the pen already amped up.
The Week Before Testing
Schedule your test for a time when you can manage the surrounding days. Your dog should not have any major stressors in the week leading up to testing. No veterinary procedures, no boarding, no disruptions to routine.
Maintain normal exercise levels. Do not rest your dog completely thinking they need to conserve energy. Dogs kept inactive become more reactive, not less. Do not push harder than usual either. Stick to the established routine.
Practice loading and unloading from the vehicle. The test day will involve getting your dog out of transport in an unfamiliar location with novel smells and sounds. Dogs who struggle with vehicle transitions add unnecessary stress to an already stimulating experience.
The Night Before
Feed dinner at the normal time but consider reducing portion size slightly. Some dogs become nauseous under stress, and an overly full stomach makes this worse. Do not skip the meal entirely, as low blood sugar affects focus and behavior.
Stick to normal bedtime routines. Do not overcompensate by giving extra attention or treats that disrupt what your dog expects. Consistency provides comfort when facing new experiences.
Test Day Management
Plan to arrive at least thirty minutes early. This gives you time to locate the facility, find parking, and let your dog decompress from travel before entering the testing area.
The Journey
Keep the drive as calm as possible. If your dog travels anxiously, consider anti-nausea medication prescribed by your veterinarian. Play quiet music or talk normally to your dog. Do not feed a large meal before traveling, but bring high-value treats for after the test.
Stop halfway on journeys over an hour. Let your dog relieve themselves, drink water, and stretch legs briefly. These breaks prevent the buildup of travel stress that affects performance.
Arrival Protocol
Park away from the testing area if possible. Walk your dog around the periphery of the facility before approaching the pens. Let them process the new smells and sounds at a distance first. This gradual introduction prevents overwhelming sensory input.
Find a quiet spot to wait your turn. Avoid congregating near other dogs or too close to the livestock pens. Your dog should be calm and focused on you when your slot begins, not already overstimulated from watching others work.
What to Bring
- Water bowl and fresh water from home
- High-value treats for reward after testing
- A familiar blanket or mat for waiting
- Poop bags
- Long line if the facility does not provide one
- Weather-appropriate clothing for yourself
Do not bring toys that might distract other dogs or add excitement. Leave food puzzles and interactive items in the vehicle.
Mindset Matters
Your emotional state affects your dog more than most handlers realize. Dogs read human anxiety with remarkable accuracy. If you arrive nervous and tense, your dog will pick up on that energy and respond accordingly. Understanding what evaluators look for helps reduce anxiety. Review our guide to reading body language during testing before test day.
Practice calm breathing while waiting. Keep your body language relaxed. Talk to your dog in a normal tone. If you feel yourself becoming tense, step away briefly and reset.
Remember that this is an evaluation, not a judgment. Whatever happens in the pen provides useful information. A dog that shows no instinct is not broken or lesser. A dog that passes is not automatically destined for greatness. You are gathering data about your individual dog’s genetic heritage.
When Things Go Wrong
Not every test proceeds smoothly. Dogs panic. Handlers freeze. Equipment fails. Stock refuse to cooperate.
If your dog shows fear or stress that prevents engagement, most evaluators will suggest ending early rather than pushing through. This is not failure. It is responsible handling that prevents negative associations.
If you feel overwhelmed during the test, ask for a pause. Good evaluators understand that handlers need moments to regroup, especially during first experiences. Take a breath, refocus, and continue when ready.
If your dog behaves aggressively toward stock, the test will stop immediately. This protects the livestock and prevents your dog from rehearsing behavior that could become dangerous. Aggression during instinct testing usually indicates prey drive rather than herding instinct, which is valuable information even if disappointing.
After the Test
Regardless of outcome, keep the post-test period calm. Walk your dog quietly before loading for the journey home. Offer water and a moderate treat. Do not replay the test through excited discussion that amps your dog back up.
Let your dog rest on the drive home. Many dogs sleep heavily after testing, even brief sessions. The mental processing involved exhausts them more than physical exertion.
Within a few days, your evaluator should provide written feedback or be available to discuss what they observed. Take notes on this conversation. The details matter when planning next steps, whether that means progressing to formal herding training or simply understanding your dog better. A clear understanding of what your test results mean helps you interpret the evaluator’s feedback accurately.
Proper preparation sets the stage for accurate evaluation. It cannot guarantee any particular outcome, but it ensures that whatever happens reflects your dog’s actual instinct rather than environmental factors interfering with their ability to demonstrate it.