AHBA’s website describes the organization’s purpose as: “To support all breeds of herding dogs in the management of livestock; preserve and promote education, responsible breeding practices, and responsible livestock management techniques to both the public and the herding community.” Their mission is to “provide a framework for developing and testing dog and handler teams’ skill in managing livestock and to promote herding competition and good sportsmanship.”
From ASCA’s website, “The purpose of the Stockdog Program is to preserve and promote the instinct of the Australian Shepherd to be a versatile stockdog. The program showcases, preserves, encourages, retains, challenges, and rewards the working Australian Shepherd through the use of certification programs and challenging trialing disciplines on several classes of stock.” Per the ASCA Stockdog Program Brochure, “ASCA’s Stockdog Program currently recognizes over 50 breeds.”
The CCDA encourages the proper handling of cattle with stockdogs.This organization sanctions and promotes cattledog trials and stockdog clinics throughout Canada to promote better breeding, handling, and training of stockdogs. The CCDA finals are typically in July and their qualifying year runs form April 1 to March 31. Nursery dogs competing in the 2024-2025 qualifying year must have been born after October 1, 2021.
MSSA sanctions arena cattledog and sheepdog trials throughout the United States and Canada. Their national finals, a family-friendly, week-long event featuring both sheep and cattle competitions is held each June in Afton, WY. In terms of total runs, this is the largest stockdog competition in North America. The qualifying year runs from May 1st to April 30th. Nursery dogs competing in the 2024-2025 qualifying year must have been born after October 1, 2021.
The NCA’s website states, “The mission of the National Cattledog Association is to encourage efficient, low stress and humane cattle handling by promoting the use and demonstrating the value of well trained cattle dogs.” The organization accomplishes this mission primarily through supporting and sanctioning demonstrations, clinics, and cattledog competitions. The qualifying year ends March 30, although this date may vary year to year. For the 2024-2025 NCA qualifying year, Nursery dogs must have been born after October 1, 2021.
Rodear is a horseback competition in which a horse/rider and dog work together to calmly work cattle through a set of obstacles intentionally designed to require both the horse/rider and dog to complete. Rodear America sanctions competitions across 3 regions of the U.S. The national finals are in Texas in each October. A Rodear green dog is one that would be no more than 2.5 years old on October 1st of the current competition year. (e.g. For the year that leads up to the 2024 finals, the dog must have a birthdate on or after April 1, 2022.)
The largest trial sanctioning organization in North America, the USBCHA sanctions big field sheep and cattledog trials throughout the United States and Canada. While USBCHA sanctions only open and nursery classes, many trials offer lower level classes as well which may be co-sanctioned by a regional organization. USBCHA sheepdog finals are generally held late September or early October and its cattledog finals are usually held in mid-October. A USBCHA nursery eligible dog is one whose 3rd birthday falls on or after July 1 of the year in which that Nursery Final is held. (e.g. Dogs born on or after July 1, 2021 are eligible for the 2024 nursery finals).
AHBA’s website describes the organization’s purpose as: “To support all breeds of herding dogs in the management of livestock; preserve and promote education, responsible breeding practices, and responsible livestock management techniques to both the public and the herding community.” Their mission is to “provide a framework for developing and testing dog and handler teams’ skill in managing livestock and to promote herding competition and good sportsmanship.”
From ASCA’s website, “The purpose of the Stockdog Program is to preserve and promote the instinct of the Australian Shepherd to be a versatile stockdog. The program showcases, preserves, encourages, retains, challenges, and rewards the working Australian Shepherd through the use of certification programs and challenging trialing disciplines on several classes of stock.” Per the ASCA Stockdog Program Brochure, “ASCA’s Stockdog Program currently recognizes over 50 breeds.”
The CCDA encourages the proper handling of cattle with stockdogs.This organization sanctions and promotes cattledog trials and stockdog clinics throughout Canada to promote better breeding, handling, and training of stockdogs. The CCDA finals are typically in July and their qualifying year runs form April 1 to March 31. Nursery dogs competing in the 2024-2025 qualifying year must have been born after October 1, 2021.
MSSA sanctions arena cattledog and sheepdog trials throughout the United States and Canada. Their national finals, a family-friendly, week-long event featuring both sheep and cattle competitions is held each June in Afton, WY. In terms of total runs, this is the largest stockdog competition in North America. The qualifying year runs from May 1st to April 30th. Nursery dogs competing in the 2024-2025 qualifying year must have been born after October 1, 2021.
The NCA’s website states, “The mission of the National Cattledog Association is to encourage efficient, low stress and humane cattle handling by promoting the use and demonstrating the value of well trained cattle dogs.” The organization accomplishes this mission primarily through supporting and sanctioning demonstrations, clinics, and cattledog competitions. The qualifying year ends March 30, although this date may vary year to year. For the 2024-2025 NCA qualifying year, Nursery dogs must have been born after October 1, 2021.
Rodear is a horseback competition in which a horse/rider and dog work together to calmly work cattle through a set of obstacles intentionally designed to require both the horse/rider and dog to complete. Rodear America sanctions competitions across 3 regions of the U.S. The national finals are in Texas in each October. A Rodear green dog is one that would be no more than 2.5 years old on October 1st of the current competition year. (e.g. For the year that leads up to the 2024 finals, the dog must have a birthdate on or after April 1, 2022.)
The largest trial sanctioning organization in North America, the USBCHA sanctions big field sheep and cattledog trials throughout the United States and Canada. While USBCHA sanctions only open and nursery classes, many trials offer lower level classes as well which may be co-sanctioned by a regional organization. USBCHA sheepdog finals are generally held late September or early October and its cattledog finals are usually held in mid-October. A USBCHA nursery eligible dog is one whose 3rd birthday falls on or after July 1 of the year in which that Nursery Final is held. (e.g. Dogs born on or after July 1, 2021 are eligible for the 2024 nursery finals).