Are the ducks safe?
Yes, if the trial is run properly. The ducks are used to dogs, and a dog that goes for them is stopped and eliminated on the spot.
Herding and livestock
Duck Herding
Herding trials in miniature: a few ducks, a course with obstacles and a dog moving them round it. Ideal for small breeds, which would have no business near sheep.
About the discipline
What Duck Herding is
Duck herding runs on the same principles as sheep trials: pressure, distance, direction. The animals are just much smaller, and the ground is scaled down to match.
Ducks stay in a tight bunch and respond well to a dog's pressure. That makes the format a good fit for small breeds like corgis or shelties, and for beginners.
If you want to get into herding, this is the gentlest way in. The field is small, so are the animals, the distances are short and there's far less risk for everyone.
How it works in practice
How it works
- a few ducks in a marked area
- the dog gathers the group and moves it
- steering them through obstacles or gates
- taking them over a bridge or through water
- penning the ducks in a small enclosure
- a time limit on the course
Which dogs it suits
- small herding breeds: corgi, sheltie, border collie
- dogs meeting herding trials for the first time
- teams with no access to big farms
What you need
- access to a club that runs these trials
- a small, enclosed area
- simple obstacles: gates, a bridge, a pen
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Duck Herding
Is it suitable for a small dog?
It was designed with dogs like that in mind. A corgi or a sheltie can work ducks without the risks it would face around sheep or cattle.
Is it only for beginners?
Not at all. There are advanced classes with complicated courses, where precise driving matters just as much as in the classic trials.
Where do I start without access to livestock?
With treibball. It uses exactly the same driving principles (pressure, distance, direction), only with balls instead of animals. The flank cues and the stop at a distance carry straight over. After that, look for a club running introductory duck clinics.
From the same category
Related sports
Sheepdog Trials
The dog drives sheep round a set course, directed by whistle.
Herding Trials
Trials where the dog keeps a flock or herd under control.
Cattle Dog Trials
The dog drives cattle, animals weighing hundreds of kilos.
We do not run Duck Herding
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.