牧羊犬比赛

出自狗民百科全书

　　牧羊犬比赛，又称放牧比赛，是一项运动类赛事。比赛中牧羊犬在指导手引导下使羊群围绕一片区域，围墙或大门移动。这类赛事经常举行于山农区，在那里羊只广为散布于大面积的没有围栏的草地。此类赛事盛行于英国、爱尔兰、南美洲、加拿大、美国、澳大利亚、新西兰和其他有大面积放牧区域的国家。

　　有些赛事，只允许已知的放牧犬品种参与竞争。也有一些赛事允许任何受过放牧训练的犬只参赛。

A Sheepdog trial (also herding test or simply dog trial) is a competitive dog sport in which herding dog breeds move sheep around a field, fences, gates, or enclosures as directed by their handlers. Such events are particularly associated with hill farming areas, where sheep range widely on largely unfenced land. These trials are popular in the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and other farming nations.

Some venues allow only dogs of known herding breeds to compete; others allow any dog that has been trained to work stock.

【比赛历史】

　　数百年来某些种类的牧羊犬比赛一直被作为是农业博览会的一个组成部分。目前的比赛形式被认为是源于英格兰和苏格兰边境交界地区，而那里也是边境牧羊犬发源地。然而，该种赛事的组织团体认为有史以来的第一项牧羊犬比赛于1873年举行于巴拉穆尔，威尔士。

　　毫无疑问，牧羊犬比赛是由那些热衷于向朋友们展示他们牧羊犬技巧的牧羊人所设计的。一只训练有素的牧羊犬和它的孩子们能够被标上很高的价格。

Sheep dog trials of some sort or another have probably occurred at agricultural fairs and shows for centuries. The present form is thought to have developed originally in the "Borders" area between England and Scotland, from which the Border Collie also comes. However, the sport's organising bodies regard the first recorded sheepdog trials as those held in Bala, Wales, in 1873.

The sport was no doubt devised by shepherds keen to impress their friends with the skills of their sheepdogs. A well-trained dog can fetch a high price, as can its puppies, and can perform amazing feats of stockmanship.

【赛事种类】

牧羊犬比赛的形势有好几种，一种比较受欢迎的比赛要求一只或两只训练有素的犬只能在一名指导手的引导下控制三至六只羊。控制持续的时间和服从性均为重要的元素，因为参赛者将因为一只羊的路线偏离而被罚分。
另外一种受欢迎的赛事要求由两只牧羊犬参赛。比赛要求犬只将六只羊分成两组，每组各三只，并且轮流两群羊进行控制，使羊群排列整齐地在领头犬只的带领下通过规定的路线。另一组未受到引导的羊群由两只犬中的另一只守卫，该犬要有能力使羊群站在原地。做到这些远比听起来容易，因为两群羊总是会试图聚集到一起。
场地赛事也正在不断受到关注。场地赛事要求参赛犬在获得最低程度的帮助下移动羊群通过数个院子，包括把羊群聚集、有时还包括将羊群赶入或赶出卡车。
牧牛比赛，类似于标准牧羊比赛，在澳大利亚也是一项热门赛事。通常参赛犬也是牧羊犬。

There are several events, but the key element is the control of three to six sheep by one or two highly trained dogs under the control of a single handler. Both time and obedience play a part, as competitors are penalised if a sheep strays from the prescribed course.

Another popular event involves having the dog split six sheep into two groups of three and conducting each group in turn to small pens through a defined course by heading dogs. The group not being led is guarded by one of the two dogs, an eye-dog (from its ability to keep the sheep still by head movement alone). This is more difficult than it sounds because the two groups of sheep invariably try to stay together.

Yard Dog Trials are also gaining in popularity, too. In these competitions dogs have to move sheep through several yards, including a drafting race and sometimes into and out of a truck, with minimum assistance.

Cattle dog trials, similar to the standard sheep dog trials, are also popular in Australia and sheep dogs are usually used for this sport. Cattle dogs are not used in this sport.

【比赛内容介绍】

　　㈠比赛场地的布局千差万别。大部分经验丰富的指导手都认为某些重要测试项目是确保比赛公平与完成比赛所不可或缺的。这些项目包括：

犬只必须离开指导手去到一定距离以外去驱赶羊群
犬只必须控制羊群并把羊群带回指导手所在位置
犬只驱赶羊群远离指导手有违犬只的本能，因此这对犬只是一项很好的测试，应该被包含在比赛内容中
犬只和指导手应该能合力移动羊群进入某一规定区域，但有时也要求他们驱赶羊群进入车辆

　　㈡其他热门测试项目包括：

犬只必须根据评审官的要求将一群羊分成两群
落单测试，该测试要求指导手与犬只合作将一只羊从羊群中分理出来
很多比赛包含一项穿越测试，该测试要求犬只将羊群排列成一条直线，并使羊群从比赛场地的一侧移动到另一侧

　　㈢此外，其他还有一些比赛元素有时被加入赛程以增加比赛的难度。例如，要求犬只获取一群羊，将羊群带到指导手处，再回头去找位于比赛场地另外某处的一群羊，将它们带回指导手处。犬只必须分两次驱赶羊群，并将第二群羊与第一群合并。

　　大多数的比赛要求犬只独立的获取并驱赶羊群。在进行此类测试的时候，指导手必须距离比赛场地一定的距离。在其他的一些测试中则要求指导手与犬只配合完成任务。

The exact layout of the trial field can vary significantly. Most experienced handlers agree that there are certain elements that are important to ensure that the challenge to the dog and handler is a fair and complete test. These elements include:

The dog must leave the handler and fetch sheep that are some distance away

The dog must take control of the sheep and bring them to the handler

It is against the dog's instinct to drive the sheep away from the handler so an away drive is a good test and should be included

The dog and handler should be able to combine to move the sheep into a confined space, typically a pen but in some trials they are asked to load them onto a vehicle.

Other popular test elements that are often added include:

The dog must separate the group into two groups in a controlled way in accordance with the instructions from the judge. This may involve some sheep being marked and the dog and handler working together to separate them from the rest or some variation of that. This is known as shedding and is almost always required to be done in a ring marked out on the ground.

Singling is another test in which the dog and handler combine to separate one sheep from the group.

Most trials include a cross drive where the dog is required to move the sheep in a controlled way in a straight line from one side of the field to the other in front of the handler but some distance away from them.

In addition there are various elements that may be added to increase the level of difficulty of a trial. One such example is the double lift where the dog is required to fetch one group of sheep, bring them to the handler, look back and find another group, somewhere else on the trial field some distance away. They must then leave the first group and do a second outrun to fetch the others and bring them to join the first group.

In most competitions the dog will be required to do the fetching and driving tests on their own. During these test elements the handler must remain at a stake positioned during the layout of the trial course. During the shedding, singling and penning the handler usually leaves the stake and works with the dog to achieve the task.

【关于评分】

　　最流行的评分系统是这样的：

评审官观看每项测试并根据个人的判断评分
每一项测试内容都有一个最高分
每位参赛者在开始比赛前都是满分，比赛开始后评审官对每次错误进行扣分，每一项测试最多被扣除该测试的最高分
每项测试有一个时限，通常在15分钟
快速完成比赛没有奖励，但如果超过时限将失去该测试的全部分数，而后的测试也将被取消，该选手的比赛就此终止
参赛者必须按照规定的程序进行比赛
最后的得分为所有测试分数的总和

　　对于大多数的测试项目，评审官针对羊群的表现评分而不是犬只或指导手。然而，如果犬只围绕羊群跑动线路成一完整环，将被罚分。如果犬只咬到任何羊只则将被判失格。

　　该评分系统自1979年沿用至今。

The most popular scoring system works as follows:

A judge watches each run and assigns a score based on their judgment.

Each test element is assigned a maximum score. For example there may be 10 points for the cast (outrun) and so on.

Each competitor is assigned the full amount for each element before they start.

As they negotiate each test element a judge deducts points for each fault. For example during a drive the judge may deduct points when the sheep move off line. During each element they can only lose as many points as are assigned to that element.

They must negotiate each element in sequence before proceeding to the next.

A set amount of time for the whole course, usually around 15 minutes, is decided on before the start of the trial.

There is no advantage in completing the course in a short amount of time but if the competitor runs out of time then they will lose all the points for the element they were in the process of completing and all those that they have yet to attempt.

The competitor's score is the sum of their score for all completed elements.

For most elements the judge focuses on the behaviour of the sheep not the dog or handler. However if the dog rings the sheep (runs completely around them in a circle) they will usually be penalized. A dog that bites a sheep may be disqualified.

This points type of system has been in use since at least 1979[1] and may have been formalized at about that same time.