By the 1870s regular trials were also being held in Australia and in the United Kingdom, and by the end of the twentieth century the sport had spread to many countries of the world.

In competition, dogs demonstrate basic herding management skills assessed by the judge.

The pursuit of sheepdog trialling had been well established since the 1870s in all regions of the UK: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

At that time travel was difficult and people were less mobile, so sheepherding trials started as locally organised events.

William Wallace of Otterburn, Northumberland at the Hawick Trials of 1883 was credited with first demonstrating control of the dog "with a mere hiss at hand and a low whistle at distance".

In the 1890s Adam Telfer, of Cambo, Northumberland, bred and trained the dog that is considered the ‘father of the breed’ in border collies.

[9][1] The International Cynological Federation in addition to gathering style (Border Collie) established the rules for trials, tests and competitions in the traditional herding style that includes all other breeds from pastoral group except border collies.

[10] In traditional style competitions the handler is allowed to move with the dog on the field during the entire programme, and the difficulty level is determined by a set of exercises.

[1][10] Most popular breeds used for traditional style herding both in trials and every day farm work are the Pembroke Corgi, the Shetland Sheepdog, the Briard, the Australian Cattle Dog and Kelpie, the Smooth and Rough Collie and the Koolie.

During the shedding, singling and penning the handler usually leaves the stake and works with the dog to achieve the task.

The most popular scoring system works as follows:[11] For most elements the judge focuses on the behaviour of the sheep not the dog or handler.