Retesting After a Failed HIC: When and How to Try Again
Guidance on deciding whether to retest your dog after a failed herding instinct test, how to prepare differently, and what realistic expectations look like.
Read moreSecond Chances at the HIC Test
Practical guidance on retesting after a failed HIC, when to give a dog another opportunity, and what to change between attempts.
A failed HIC is not always the final answer. Many dogs that struggle on a first attempt go on to certify cleanly when the conditions, the timing, or the handler’s approach change. Others confirm on a second attempt that the genetic material simply is not there.
The decision to retest deserves more thought than handlers usually give it. Failure caused by stress, unfamiliar livestock, or an off day for the dog is worth revisiting. Failure caused by genuine absence of instinct rarely changes with a second evaluation.
The articles tagged here help you assess what happened the first time, what factors you can realistically improve, and how to approach the second attempt with the right mindset rather than as a redo of the same setup that produced the original result.