The German Shepherd should appear alert and be eager for involvement.  Obedience should control choices. While both these German-bred dogs hold multiple titles, the German Shepherd Dog Club of America believes good temperament is instinctive and can be tested.  Both of these dogs have passed and earned a Temperament Certificate.  They were tested in responses to friendly, neutral, suspicious, and threatening strangers as well as footing, noise, and ability to cope with stress.  Ordinary stimulus are used, and the reactions are then scored.  It is not a competitive test, rather a number is used to gauge preferred responses.  The test is open to all breeds and also mixed breeds of dogs. Courtesy of vom Haus Drage akcgsd.com

(Note: Queen was eleven when she earned these titles)

Queen earned her AKC PT title with sheep that didn't want to give it to her!  The first day, the sheep got away from her on the return between the gates, but she went right after them and brought them back down the middle for the 2nd gate (she kept them closely covered after that!) and a clean re-pen.  The second day, she had to "collect" them before we could even begin the run, as they wanted to scatter.  Once they were convinced they were under her control, they were willing to be moved over the course, and, although they were ready to bolt, she kept them covered all the way and back for a very fast time.

These four dogs earned their Herding Tested title by qualifying both days at the Lazy L Ranch (where the owner raises Old English and Border Collies). AKC found them to be proficient in sufficiently showing a pause at the begining, controlled movement of the stock with turns, a pause at the end, followed by a recall.

 

Dogs, shown left to right, are Ischa vom Haus Drage, owned/handled by Bobbi Oawster (Clayton Stoud for photo), Lenga's Grand Sola von Beaty, owned by B. Oawster/handled by Cathy Wentz,  Hausmekon's  in Pursuit, owned/handled by Anja Heibloem-Stroud, and U-K Illo vom Haus Drage, owned/handled by B. Oawster.

Ischa vom Haus Drage X-N TC HT PT shows a style of closely working the stock (She likes to keep them one step ahead of the handler!), and is earning her first leg of the HT in this photo.    

                                 

  Ischa found the very large rings and fast sheep an effort to work while earning her PT.  Again, she shows her preferred style of herding while moving them smoothly along the fence line.  She had to show a controlled pause at the beginning, and collect my sheep moving them down the fence line and through the first and second gates at the end of the field.  She took them out and showed she could stop and hold the sheep, turn them back, and repeat the gates with a hold off the final gate and a re-pen at the end followed by a recall.  Ten minutes of time is allotted, with no excessive running of the stock (chasing), no gripping (biting), and satisfying the judge in the process!  It's loads of fun... when it's done. :)

U-F Sierra vom Haus Drage is our third generation of multiple High in Trial Companion Dogs.  Here she is shown (pregnant with her first litter) finishing her title.  The trip to Washington made a wonderful family vacation and we all enjoyed the scenery.

Brigadore vom Haus Drage was a very enthusiastic sheep-working dog.  He earned the Herding Tested title (above his Herding Instinct Certificate issued by a stock dog club) issued by the AKC last summer.  He was tested at a very relaxing and ruralistic Ranch along the Northern California Coastline, and then again on the well-kept grounds of the Herding4Ewe Ranch, also in Northern California. 

He has gone on to better things as a foundation stud dog for the Eye Dog Foundation of Arizona. Things like his AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate,  Therapy Dog Service work, GSDCA Temperament Certificate, OFA, and Eye CERF Certificates all made him appealing as a candidate.  Prior to his donation, they had taken several of his progeny into the program as trainees. Always in need of good dogs, they accept qualified dogs/puppies on a limited basis.