The herding Ridgebacks met at Glenrose Farms on June 25, 2000. It was a sight to behold! Each of the 12 Ridgebacks present were tested for innate herding instinct by Laura Noll, who is an AKC and AHBA herding judge.

I personally became interested in herding when I took my three Ridgebacks to Laura's as a culminating activity for Twyla's puppy class. All three showed good instinct, but Twyla, at only 8 months old, was the best of all the breeds there! This included some real herding breeds! We continued with a few lessons, and Twyla got her Herding Instinct Certificate at Silver Bay a couple months later.

Laura began the session with a brief overview of what we would be doing, and what she would be looking for. Then each dog had about 15 minutes in the ring with the owner, Laura, and several sheep. While Laura and the owner back away, the dogs are supposed to herd the sheep toward them in a controlled fashion. Some of the dogs needed some encouragement, some needed none at all. This was an opportunity to see our dogs exhibit great instincts and lovely maneuverability. Laura qualified them according to the regulations of the AHBA Herding Capability Test. It includes such things as style, approach, eye, wearing, bark, temperament, interest, power, responsiveness, grouping of stock, balancing stock with handler. They either pass or do not.

Of the 12 dogs tested this day, 8 passed. This is a pretty good number, for dogs who have not been around sheep before, and who are reaching way back in their genetic history to pick up their herding instinct.

After our event, I contacted the representative in AHBA for information regarding having the Rhodesian Ridgeback approved on the AHBA list of herding breeds. What she told me, is that if we can provide at least 10 more dogs who have passed this test, given by an approved AHBA judge, they will consider a provisional 1 year recognition. During that year, several RRs would have to pass the two-part Herding Capability Test, and gain further titles in herding, in order for the breed to remain on the list. (Understandably, they don't want a lot of dogs to get the HCT certification and stop at that point.) This would require a little time spent training the dogs. So, it is a question of the amount of interest we Ridgeback owners have. I have recently been corresponding with Ridgeback owners in other states who are interested also.

Several members have expressed an interest in holding another herding event of this kind. It is a lot of fun for both people and the dogs, so be sure to attend if you can. We will likely schedule one this Winter if we can coordinate with the weather. I encourage all who have not tried it to come this time. This could give us the extra 10 passed dogs we need.

In the meantime, if you would like to take a herding lesson with Laura at Glenrose Farms in Jamul, contact her at:

Please contact me if you or anybody else is interested in herding.