Herding Dog Classes!

I love this new set of courses. I see so many people with the beautiful and intelligent herding dogs that really need something to do. To those herding dogs, that something is to herd. Every state has 4H and kids with sheep, goats, ducks, etc. Those kids are often willing to let you come and use their stock for a small fee. This helps the kids and helps your dog. Your dog and you will strengthen your bond even more and become a working team. If you have a herding dog...do it a big favor and let it do for you what it was bred to do. You will both have a blast! For more information, April Quist, in her "Border Collies" FAQ provides readers with some of the best and most thorough information on the web today."

New courses are now available. The whole press release can be found on PRWEB. Kathy Kawalec, of Dancing Hearts, Wholistic Training and Well-Being for Animals and People has developed Herding Dog Courses at E-Training for Dogs.


Who should take theses classes? Herding breed dogs with their handlers who are interested in a positive method for learning and teaching their dogs shepherding skills, for fun, for competition or for farm chores.
There are 12 courses available (The first two currently scheduled):
• Herding Dogs: Building the Foundation
• Herding Dogs: Basic Skill Building
• Herding Dogs: Practical Work and Expanding Skills
• Herding Dogs: Gathering and Driving, Level 1
• Herding Dogs: Pens, Gates, Ranch Chores
• Herding Dogs: Gathering and Driving, Level 2
• Herding Dogs: Herding Competition, Beginner
• Herding Dogs: Herding Competition, Novice
• Herding Dogs: Gathering and Driving, Level 3
• Herding Dogs: Advanced Penning and Shedding
• Herding Dogs: Herding Competition, Intermediate
• Herding Dogs: Herding Competition, Advanced

You will learn and practice skills designed to shape your dog’s natural herding abilities while you also learn how to read stock. Kathy’s methods focus on keeping the dog in a calm, focused, eager-to-learn state of mind – which helps the dog learn, and helps the handler to learn too!
Dogs will be started on a long line and reinforced for calm, quiet behavior in the presence of the stock. A clicker will be used to mark the “good moves” and the dog will be allowed to move towards the stock and make natural moves to control the sheep’s movement around the pen. The line is dropped incrementally, as the dog and handler learn the foundation skills of stock handling – that process is determined by the progress of each individual team.
Kathy’s methods, which are based upon clear communication, understanding and respect, are effective and positively reinforcing to dog and handler alike!