About the Author
I am James Whitworth, and I have spent the better part of three decades working with herding breeds in various capacities. My journey began with the Thames Valley Police, where I handled German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois for fifteen years. That work taught me the value of precision, timing, and understanding what makes working dogs tick.
After leaving the force, I established Whitworth Working Dogs in the Cotswolds, where I focus on competition obedience and instinct evaluation. Over the years, I have supervised hundreds of herding instinct tests and trained dogs from raw instinct to competitive herding levels.
Credentials
- Kennel Club A-Panel Judge
- KCAI Accredited Instructor
- IPO Judge
- Former Thames Valley Police Dog Handler (15 years)
- World Obedience Championship Representative
My Approach
I believe that understanding instinct is the foundation of effective training. Too many owners struggle with behaviors that stem from suppressed working drive. A Border Collie chasing cars, a Shetland Sheepdog circling children, or a German Shepherd fixating on joggers are often displaying misdirected herding instinct.
Proper evaluation through HIC testing gives owners clarity. It answers whether those behaviors come from genuine instinct that needs an appropriate outlet or from other sources that require different training approaches.
Why This Site Exists
After years of fielding the same questions from anxious first-time handlers, frustrated rescue adopters, and breeders trying to make sense of their litter assessments, I started writing the answers down. This site collects what I would tell a handler sitting across from me in the truck after a test, in a form anyone preparing for, recovering from, or thinking about an HIC can read on their own time.
The articles favor practical experience over theoretical purity. Where I have seen something work in the pen, I describe what worked. Where I have seen handlers go wrong in predictable ways, I name the mistake so the next person can avoid it.
Contact
Questions about herding instinct testing? Reach out through our contact page.