The Dancing Hearts herding program is for people who are interested in learning a positive method for teaching their herding dogs shepherding skills. Whether your interest is enjoying a fun outdoor activity with your dog, for competing in herding trials or for making your farm chores easier, you will enjoy Connected Herding!

  As a student at Dancing Hearts, you will learn and practice skills designed to shape your dog's natural herding abilities while you also learn about the stock animals and how they think and respond. Kathy's methods center 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!

Current scientific research suggests that the emotions are a strong motivating force behind all directed action. Striving to maintain balanced, keen and collected emotions with a focus on learning, creates a satisfying and positive experience for both dog and handler. Combining this wisdom along with good stock sense, a love for teaching, a mission of helping to really connect people and their dogs, and the strong desire to bring all these elements into an effective and benevolent herding program has given birth to "Connected Herding".

Kathy has successfully competed in all venues of herding events including USBCHA, AKC, ASCA and AHBA with her border collies for more than 10 years, with many wins, titles, high in trials and high combined. Currently trialing exclusively in national level field trials sanctioned by The United States Border Collie Handlers Association, Kathy has qualified for and competed in the National Finals, limited to the top dogs in the country.

Facilitating clinics and lessons both at her farm in Illinois, and around the Midwest, she has experience with all herding breeds, and her students have won many titles and ribbons competing in all venues.