ONTARIO BORDER COLLIE CLUB

 Going to the post 

• plan to attend the handler's meeting and ask questions politely. It is solely your responsibility to know the course before going to the post.  
• tell the scribe your name and your dog's name as you pass them, not everyone knows you and your dog.  
• no socializing with the judge on the way.  
• if your dog doesn't walk quietly beside you, have the dog leashed, but don't drag him. Remember there may be spectators watching.  
• when getting ready to send your dog, do not wait for sheep to be set perfectly before sending your dog and conversely do not send the dog before the setup person has had an opportunity to reasonably settle the sheep.  
• don't talk to the judge at any time during your run. It's a good way to get DQ'd.  
• if your run isn't going well or the dog is running the sheep, retire. Do this by turning to the judge and saying thank you and then leave the post, immediately get or call your dog, clear your sheep off the field, if you can, and promptly leave.  
• always remember to close the gate of the pen.  
• if things don't go well, don't ask for a rerun. If the judge thinks you deserve one, they'll tell you.  
• do not automatically expect the judge to remember or critique your run after judging all day. 

Helping out 

• volunteer to help for any and every job that is available. Not only is it a good way for novices in particular to learn, it really does help the trial organizer. 
• if you have an applicable dog, be willing to do sheep setting, someone did it for you. The only way to learn this job is to do it.  
• sheep set out is not a training ground for young dogs.  
• if requested, always do your turn at exhausting sheep, no matter how your run went.  
• unless you are the scribe, collecting scores or going to the post, do not enter judge’s area while run is going on. 

Scribing/secretary 

• if you are lucky enough to be the coveted judge’s scribe, remember your primary duty is to annotate whatever the judge tells you to write, not to entertain.  
• be quiet as he or she watches the run, pay attention, and show you are truly interested and attentive and, more often than not, the judge will begin to talk about what he/she is doing and why he/she is doing it.  
• don't offer an opinion unless asked.  
• be willing to share the job with other people who are just as eager as you to learn.  
• do not monopolize the judge's time and space when they're not judging, someone else probably would like to meet him/her as well. 

Under the tent 

• be in good humor and provide your own chair  
• whether you have a good or a bad run, revel or commiserate in it for only 15 minutes, yours is not the only dog in the trial.  
• novices should find an open handler or two watching the trial, park your chair nearby, watch each run and listen quietly as they critique the run; much can be learned.  
• do not overly solicit open handlers for commentary or critiques of your run, if you want more details, take a lesson with that handler and pay them for their knowledge.  
• never criticize or question the judge's ability within their or the host’s hearing.  
• never unjustly criticize the trial or its host or organizers, remember you are a guest on their property. If the host requests no smoking or dogs in handler's tent, abide by the request. 

Sportsmanship 

• always treat your dog and other handlers with respect, and consideration. Particularly if you just had a bad run.  
• don't criticize or blame the sheep, the set out, the judging, the trial site, the camping, other people's runs, dogs - in short anything.  
• no cursing.  
• accept criticism of your run by other handlers as well as you accept compliments.  
• if a spectator asks you a question and you are not getting ready to run, take a minute or two to talk with them. Goodwill goes a long way.  
• always be gracious when receiving your prize for whatever placing regardless of if you felt you and your dog should have placed higher.  
• always return perpetual trophies. 

General 

• always thank the trial host, even if you don’t plan to go back - never forget how much work goes into putting trials on.  
• if you have a suggestion that may improve the trial, contact them after the trial when they can absorb it and appreciate it.  
• if sponsors are present, go out of your way to thank them, even if you never use their product or didn't win their prizes.  
• always clean up after your dog.  
• never leave your dog to wander unattended.  
• if you have a bitch in heat, keep her put away until her run and then away again immediately afterwards.  
• don't let your dogs bark. Ever.  
• no playing fetch or frisbee in the camping area or car park at any time.  
• keep your dog leashed around other dogs and people.   
• do not run generators for extended periods of time and avoid doing so beside another camper whenever possible. 

*Thumbnail photo credit to Heather Millen