•Online Herding Classes•

Building the Foundation Online Course (Level 1)

Purpose/Goal:To teach you the building blocks of raising and starting your herding puppy or dog to be your partner in livestock handling, whether on for farm work or for herding competitions.

Course Info:This Course will focus on providing you and your dog with the necessary tools for becoming partners both in your life and in your work with livestock. Raising your pup or dog to develop a strong and mutually respectful relationship through understanding the needs of your dog, as well as the basic obedience skills that will become the foundation for all your future training. Basic herding commands will be demonstrated, and you will learn how to prepare your dog for stock work using quiet leadership and positive reinforcement. This course teaches you and your dog basic skills which are important before you actually start your dog on stock, so dogs will not be introduced to livestock during this foundation course.

What you can expect to learn from this Course:

• The importance of genetics in selecting and training a herding dog
• Establishing a working partnership with your dog
• How to effectively communicate with your dog in a positive way
• Basic obedience skills required for a shepherd′s partner
• Understanding the principles of livestock handling
• The foundation herding commands will be learned and taught off stock
• What you will need next to start your dog on sheep or ducks

Pre-requisites:Dog and Handler must have all the skills taught in the course Building the Foundation. Puppies at least 5 months old, and dogs of any age may participate.

Purpose/Goal:To solidly establish the basic skills of stock handling and partnership between you and your dog; and to be able to accomplish simple herding tasks.

Course Info:This Course will teach you how to work together with your dog to move livestock. Your dog's natural instincts for herding will be developed, as well as teaching your dog to look to you for leadership. You will learn how to start your dog on sheep or ducks and begin to teach and use the herding commands in response to stock movement and learn to control their path of travel. Dogs will be working on a line in a round pen with school sheep, handlers or coach will be using a clicker to clarify “good moves”. The line will be dropped incrementally as the teams are ready to add this new level of difficulty.

What you can expect to learn from this Course:

• How to introduce your dog to stock for the first time
• How to teach your dog basic herding commands on stock
• Developing keenness, balance and partnership in your dog
• Learn to read livestock and how to convey effective information to your dog
• Methods for encouraging your dog′s stock sense to develop
• Gradually transitioning to a dropped line, as dogs and handlers have developed the necessary skills and partnership to stay calm and focused
• You and your dog will be able to accomplish simple herd tending tasks

   Click here for more info at e-Training for Dogs.

 

 

 

 

 

How this activity serves the Dancing Hearts Vision:  Connecting people and their herding dogs thru this natural outdoor activity will inspire mindful partnership, which leads to stress reduction, satisfaction and creativity.

 

How you serve our Global Community by participating in this activity: 5% of your tuition is donated to well-matched causes; the happiness that you and your dog experience will spread out, bringing joy and peace to everyone connected to your life.