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Your dog responds well to commands at home and in public, but how would he respond in a farm environment? There’s an easy way to find out: Sign him up for a Farm Dog Certified test. Open to all breeds of dogs, this test involves your dog performing a series of 12 exercises that are typical for a farm environment such as being in close proximity to livestock (who are always penned to avoid any altercations); jumping and staying on hay/straw bales; walking on unusual terrain; and jumping over logs. There is no herding involved. Instead, the goal is to assess his aptitude as a working farm dog by exhibiting self-control, confidence and trust with you or his handler.

If you have a small terrier or a Dachshund, you’ve undoubtedly already discovered their penchant to dig, stick their face underground, and emerge with something in his mouth, be it a mouse, a squirrel or some other creature. After you stop screaming in fright, your first instinct might be to reprimand him for catching that poor animal but really, you should reward him! He’s simply doing what these dogs were bred to do: To hunt underground, and that’s what Earthdog tests assess. Earthdog tests gauge how good a hunter your dog really is. They’re non-competitive and each dog is judged on his own abilities for seeking and locating rodents underground. But fear not, rodent lovers: In these tests, rats are safely caged and not harmed! If you are brand new to the world of Earthdog and would like to get involved, you should attend a test in your area by checking out the event calendar. AKC Clubs can be a great source of education for newcomers. Check out what clubs are licensed in your area by going to our online club directory.

Pointing dogs are unique individuals who by nature are both independent thinkers and team players. They hunt with courage and high spirit, searching for upland game birds in all types of cover and in all kinds of weather. They often range well out from their handlers in their quest, yet they keep in tune and respond to their human’s commands. A pointing dog must have a good nose to find scent and the intelligence to use the wind; it must also have the fortitude to search the terrain and cover that birds prefer. Once game is located, they point with great intensity, focused on the bird with muscles taut. It is an awe-inspiring sight! The well-trained bird dog stands steady, waiting for its handler to arrive. When the handler flushes the bird, he or she fires a gun; the dog holds point until the handler signals that it is time for the team resume the hunt. There are numerous pointing breeds with varied hunting styles which means that for every type of upland bird hunter there is a suitable breed. The AKC Hunt Tests and Field Trials for pointing breeds give owners a chance to showcase their dogs’ abilities.

AKC’s Herding Program offers both tests and trials. The herding test is offered in a non-competitive pass/fail format as an Instinct Test, Herding Test and Pre-Trial test. All are conducted within a fenced arena and includes the use of livestock such as ducks, sheep or cattle. During a test, a dog must demonstrate the ability to move and control livestock by fetching or driving and be sufficiently trained to work at the proper balance point to move the stock forward on the course. Herding Trials are competitive and dogs are scored on their herding abilities according to test level, course type and livestock type. There are three test levels – started, intermediate, advanced. There are three courses to choose from A,B,C with each course type focusing on various aspects of herding work such as versatility, control and movement of stock in an extended area, or tending to the flock in an unfenced area such a road or in grazing flock management. Throughout all field trials the teamwork between handler/shepherd and dog is essential.