Treibball

About treibball

Treibball, sometimes called urban herding, gives a dog the job of driving large exercise balls into a goal, working at a distance on the handler’s directions. It started in Germany as an outlet for herding breeds that have no sheep to work. It has since found a small but keen following in the UK among owners of collies, shepherds and plenty of other breeds. This page explains how the sport works, who runs treibball classes in the UK and what to ask a breeder if you want a puppy suited to it.

What this work involves

The handler stands by a goal while one or more large inflatable balls are placed out on the field. The dog goes out and around behind a ball, then pushes it towards the goal with its nose or shoulder, taking directions such as left, right, stop and come on. The dog does the driving and the handler guides with voice and hand signals.

Good treibball needs:

• Impulse control. The dog must wait, lie down and move only when asked.
• Distance work. The dog has to work away from the handler and still respond to cues.
• Calm, controlled pushing. Balls are moved deliberately, not chased or bitten.

Where there are competitions, several balls are set out and dogs are scored on how cleanly and quickly they bring them in. Rules differ between organisations. For many owners, treibball is simply a weekly class that uses a herding dog’s instincts in a controlled way, with no livestock involved.

Who trains and supplies these dogs in the UK

Treibball is run by owners and trainers. Owners train their own dogs, usually at classes run by local trainers and activity centres.

UK Treibball describes the sport as still new and emerging in the UK. It is developing a UK-based training course for pet owners and professional dog trainers, and lists workshops and events for people who want to try the sport. Beyond this, treibball classes are usually run by individual trainers and dog activity centres, so ask at your local training club.

Breeders listed on this site sell puppies, not trained treibball dogs. A breeder can give you a healthy, well-socialised puppy from parents with a steady herding instinct. The training is yours.

Breeds and lines

Treibball for herding breeds is where the sport began, but any breed can learn it:

• Border Collie. Strong herding instinct, fine control and a love of work.
• Australian Shepherd. Keen and quick to learn, with plenty of energy to channel.
• Shetland Sheepdog. Sensitive and responsive, and well suited to distance cues.
• Any breed. Gundogs, terriers and crossbreeds take part too. What matters is patience and a willingness to take direction.

Herding breeds bred purely for intensity can struggle to switch off. Some become fixated on moving things like cars, bikes or shadows. Choose a breeder who values a dog that can work and then relax. For Border Collies, the Royal Kennel Club lists eye testing under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme, hip and elbow scoring, and a range of DNA tests as recommended health checks. It will not register puppies from merle-to-merle matings.

What to ask a breeder

1. Have the parents worked stock, done treibball or taken part in other herding-style activities?
2. How do the parents behave at home? Can they settle, or do they fixate on moving objects?
3. Which health tests, including eye tests and breed DNA tests, have both parents had?
4. How do the parents react to children, visitors and other dogs? Do they tend to nip at heels?
5. Are these working or show lines, and which puppy would suit a pet home that wants a hobby sport?

Frequently asked questions

Is treibball only for herding breeds?

No. Herding breeds often take to it quickly, but any dog that enjoys working with its handler can learn. Many trainers find it useful for building focus and impulse control in all sorts of dogs.

Do I need livestock or a lot of space?

No livestock is involved, which is part of the appeal. You need a safe, enclosed area and a set of balls sized to your dog. Most people train in a hall or field at a class.

How do I find treibball classes in the UK?

Start with UK Treibball, then ask local training clubs and activity centres. Because the sport is still growing, classes are patchy, and some areas have none yet.

Do your dogs take part in treibball or herding activities, or do your lines produce steady, biddable herding breeds? Add your listing to Canine Breeder so owners can find you.