Duke earned an AHBA
Herding Trial Dog Title on Sheep or HTD-Is
On July 28, 2001
He is the first Bernese Mountain Dog to earn a trial level title in Herding.
Miss Breeze passed her Herding Capability Test the same weekend or HCT
Charlie passed her Junior Herding Dog Test JHD-s
Herding by April Rifenburg
Roy Sage was Duke's herding instructor. For more information on Roy and his Aussies go to
Bernese were used as an all purpose farm dog in Switzerland. This required the dogs to be gentle with other animals as well as to have enough prey drive to be able to move livestock from barn to pasture, down the lane, through gates, and be able to gather up livestock in an enclosure and bring them towards the farmer. Berners are a large boned breed that as adults are on the mellow side and are not expected to perform as would a Border Collie. Bernese have their own herding style as do all individual herding breeds. Berners tend to drive livestock from behind and by weaving back and forth along the flocks side to keep the stock grouped, yet are able to run out to "fetch" an individual that breaks off from the group.
Duke HTD-1s (Herding Trial Dog First level on sheep)
Breeze HCT (Herding Capability Test)
Charlie JHD-s
