Herding instinct test NHAT - April 5-6, 2025

Alytus Dogs Lovers Club "Bosko" is organizing the official herding instinct test NHAT - Birštonas on April 5-6th.

What is a herding instinct test?

The FCI Natural Herding Aptitude Test (NHAT) is an international test designed to determine the common characteristics of all shepherd breeds:

• interest in the herd;

• willingness to cooperate with the handler;

• ability to drive the herd, controlling its direction of movement;

• desire to find the most comfortable place in front of the handler in order to maintain control of the herd.

Herding instinct is a complex of herding characteristics and abilities, thanks to which a dog can control a herd of animals (domestic). This is a stereotypical (patterned), impulsive (instinctive) and still purposeful behavior of shepherds, which is not learned or acquired through experience.

What is the instinct test for?

• For herding breeds (e.g. Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Shelties, Belgian Shepherds, Collies, Corgis, etc. - you can find all breeds here)

• To assess whether your dog has the potential to be trained for herding

• For dog breeders seeking to confirm the working qualities of the breed It is

• Recommended that dogs over 9 months of age take the test

• Exam can be held then the dog isn't younger then one year old and must have passed NHAT.

  
  

Event information

• Event date: April 5-6, 2025. *April 5th is already full

• Event location: Birštonas, Panemunio k. 6 (Location)

• Judge: Audronė Naruševičė (LT)

• Participants will be issued with certificates of herding instincts test and herding working test, recognized by the Lithuanian Kennel Club

• Registration is already closed!

• For more information about the event, please contact: 068484569 Audronė.
  

Information for participants!

The participants' list here!

• It is recommended to arrive at the test and exam no later than 30 minutes before your start

• No special preparation is required!

• The rules of the exam and test can be found here:

• HWT exam rules

• NHAT test rules

• During the test and exam, we will provide coffee, tea and snacks, and the little spectators are invited to get to know the farm residents, ponies and alpacas! They are very welcoming to visitors and never refuse treats (carrots or bread)

• Since you will not only take the exam or test, but also be surrounded by amazing nature, you can really have a great time in the air, and thus taste and buy homemade Lithuanian cheeses from Audronė Kazlauskienė's farm!

• We are seeing your emails and will contact everyone soon, and if you have any questions, feel free to call +37060105012 - Julius.