The Finnish Sheepdog Society, Suomen paimenkoirayhdistys (SPKY)
The organizers of herding trials and clinics are obligated to get acquainted with these guidelines.

Stock animals

The aim of SPKY is to improve the welfare of the animals being herded. It is the primary objective, without neglecting the well-being of the dogs and the people involved.

The owner of the animals bears the ultimate responsibility for the welfare of the animals. She has the right to cancel the event, if the welfare of the animals is not being looked after. The judge/coach always has the right to cancel the trial/training.

The animals should be in good condition and healthy. If an injury is suspected, the animal must be checked.

There must be a sufficient amount of animals in order to swap the animals often enough and to give them a sufficient amount of time for resting.

The organizer and the judge/coach must bear in mind the welfare of the animals during the event in all conditions, e.g. hot weather, heavy rain, length of the event, conditions in the pens, etc.

Dogs

The owner of the dog, as well as the coach, must consider the age, skill level, and physical fitness and health of each dog in the training, and plan the training accordingly.

It is good practice to start the training by checking the skill level of each dog and plan the training individually. If the dog is out of control, it should not approach the stock animals without a safe environment and a line.

In case a dog gets injured, the coach must be able to give advice to the owner. E.g. if the dog becomes lame during the practice, it should be stopped, the injury assessed, and the dog given a rest period, if needed. If a dog becomes overheated in hot weather, the owner should be advised how to cool the dog.

Training

Violence towards a dog is not allowed. Causing pain on an animal is a crime in Finland, and physical punishment is thus prohibited.

The coach should observe each dog individually and choose a method that the dog can understand without having to experience pain or fear.
The training should be based primarily on encouraging the right beahavior, not on punishing for the wrong behavior.

The coach should be aware of her responsibility for the effects of the training in the long term, e.g. after the training.

The coach should be honest on the limits of her own skills. If needed, she should ask for help from colleagues or refer the owner of the dog to a coach that knows how to deal with a specific problem.

Equipment

The usual equipment used in training are a long line, a short line, a collar, and a signaling aid (crook, stick, crop, whip).

The equipment should not be used in way that causes danger or distress on the animal, coach, or the environment.

The dog should be introduced to the equipment in a stress free environment. The signals given with the equipment should be taught in way that the dog understands how she is expected to react to them.
Using a line is recommended especially in the early stages of training.
Signalling aids may be used as an extension of the trainer’s body and arms. It is not allowed to use them for physical punishment.

A muzzle may be used if the dog is potentially dangerous to the stock animals. It also helps the owner to relax, because the risk of causing injuries is smaller.

Responsibilities

It is advised to agree on the responsibilities for injuries and physical damage before the training.

In general, the owner/trainer of the dog bears the responsibility for the dog and its injuries, as well as any damage or injuries caused by the dog on stock animals, other dogs, or people.

It is advised to agree on the responsibilities in certain situations, e.g. when the coach advises to owner to let the dog loose, or when the dog is under the coach’s command. If the stock animals are owned by the coach, the responsibility of possible injuries should be agreed on before the training.

The coach, judge, and the owner of the stock animals always have the right to halt the training or trial run. The owner of the dog may always refuse to proceed with the training.

People

Good manners are essential. Everyone should respect the stock animals, the dogs, and the people. The interactions between the coach and the client in a training situation are confidential.

The physical space of everyone must be respected. E.g. it is proper to ask for permission before taking hold of a person’s arm in order to guide her to the correct position or to show her how to hold the line.

Some coaches like to take command of the dog in order to see it’s skill level and to show examples of certain situations. A permission from the owner is required for this! It is also good to bear in mind the questions of responsibility when the dog is not under the owner’s command.

It is a good idea to explain some theory and and practices of the clinic before starting the training on the stock animals. This is the case especially with beginners.

It is recommended to demonstrate the goals and purposes of the training with an experienced dog beforehand. In trials, an example run may be used. When giving feedback, it is advisable to mention the positive observations as well as the critique.

Photographing and publishing

All published material should be in good taste and in a clear context.
Regarding clinics, publishing of photographs requires a permission from the owner of the premises and animals, the coach, and all people in the photograph. If photographing is prohibited, this must be respected. It is not allowed to publish the guidance given on clinics without permission.
Trials are public events, and photographing and publishing regarding trials cannot be prohibited.

Feedback

If something goes wrong, conditions are not up to requirements, feelings get heated, or there is reason for a reclamation, it is best to approach the people involved or the board members of SPKY. Talking behind people’s backs, handling issues on social media, or a sudden angry feedback usually lead to the erosion of trust and resources for future training and trialing.