Stockdog trials are designed to promote stockdogs and their proper training and care in Saskatchewan.  Clinics are held throughout Saskatchewan whenever possible, and members share as much knowledge as possible during these events.  Trials have three classes: Novice, Pro Novice, and Open.
An example of an Open run is as follows:

A trial begins with the dog standing next to his/her handler (see diagram below).  Three to five sheep are released at a distance of about 250 to 400 yards from the dog and handler. The handler begins by sending the dog to the left or right, out to fetch the sheep.  The dog should make a wide circle or pear shaped outrun and come up behind the sheep.  The outrun is worth 20 points.

Points may be lost for crossovers, line deviations, commands given, and other faults a judge may observe.  When the dog comes in contact with the sheep, that is when the sheep become aware of the dogs presence and begin to move away, this is called the lift and is worth 10 points.  The dog should approach the sheep quietly and steadily, not scattering the sheep.  Points are lost for slowness of approach, necessitating too many commands, rush or rough work and other faults the judge may see fit to penalize.

 

 

 

The dog brings the sheep to the handler in as straight a line as possible, through a set of panels at a brisk walk.  This is called the fetch and is worth 20 points.  A dog that brings the sheep quietly and straight, but narrowly misses obstacles, will receive more points than a dog that brings his sheep too fast, zig-zagging, and accidentally makes it through the obstacle.

The dog then brings the sheep around the right side of the handler, and proceeds to then drive them away to the left, 150 yards through a set of panels.  He cross-drives the sheep sideways 150 yards through another panel, then brings the sheep back again to the handler.  This drive is worth 30 points.  Points may be lost for deviation of line, missed gates, rushing, slowness, excessive commands, or other faults.  Until this point in the trial, the handler cannot leave the handlers circle to assist his/her dog in any way without being disqualified.  The handler now moves his dogs to the shedding ring, a 40 yard diameter marked circle.  Here he/she sheds (sorts) off one or two designated sheep from the others by maneuvering them into a line and calling the dog in between the sheep to be shed from the rest.  The dog must turn to the designated sheep and hold them to the satisfaction of the judge.  The shed is worth 10 points.  Points may be lost for not accomplishing shed when called in, failure to shed at a suitable opportunity, or if excessive handler work is involved. 

 

The handler then proceeds to a 6 x 9 foot pen where he/she must hold the gate with a 6 foot rope, using his/her crook (cane) to tap the ground and his/her dog to work the other side, the sheep must be penned.  Neither dog, handler, crook nor gate may touch the sheep in order to accomplish this task.  Penning is worth 10 points with a loss of points for excessive handler assistance, unsteadiness and other faults shown by the dog.

The dog's run ends with the closing of the gate of the pen.  Time allotted for the run is approximately 12 - 15 minutes.  The dog who completes his task the most efficiently, causing the least amount of concern and upset amongst the sheep, is the winner - time is used only as a tiebreaker.