Spring, Summer, and Fall Training Schedule:

Mondays 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.  and Wednesdays 12:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.

AT THIS TIME, ALL AVAILABLE LESSON SLOTS ARE TAKEN AND WE HAVE A WAITING LIST

Winter Schedule:

Is the same.

lessons@sheepycorner.com

952-492-3072

Lessons last approximately 30 minutes, contact us for cost.

 

click for more information about Chuck and Susane

 

 

Herding Instinct Evaluations
Susane will gladly evaluate your dog to see if it has any interest in herding and if s/he has any potential. Please understand, though, that for some dogs it can take several exposures to livestock before the instinct kicks in. This is especially true if the dog has had a lot of formal obedience training before being introduced to livestock.

 

For  Susane's training philosophy and musings, click here

What to Expect at a Lesson:

bulletYou will have very good lessons and some that are not so good
bulletYou will fall down, and possibly get stepped on by sheep
bulletYou will get dirty, and when it's raining, very wet
bulletYour dog will eat sheep poop - as a matter of fact, some dogs consider sheep walking Black Pez Dispensers
bulletYour dog will keep you humble, especially when you've bragged to your spouse, significant other, co-workers, etc, on how GREAT he's doing, and they come out to watch
bulletYou will get great satisfaction from working with the dog who is working in his instinct
bulletYour dog will get great satisfaction from being allowed to work in his instinct

 

MEET SUSANE'S STUDENTS

Click on the above link for photos and bios of Susane's current students

 

This does NOT happen....at least not very often!

 

    So, you want to teach your dog to herd livestock?  Then, let me start with a disclaimer: herding is a VERY ADDICTIVE sport!!!

    You're still convinced that you want to give it a shot?  OK, here are a few things you will need to get started:

 

bulletA herding dog, which doesn't only mean a breed listed in the AKC herding group. There are many breeds and mixes that can be taught some basic livestock handling skills.  However, if you're starting with a dog that was actually BRED to work stock, it'll make your quest a bit easier.
bulletA place to train and a good instructor
bulletSome basic obedience: Down, sit, stay, COME WHEN CALLED
bulletA working relationship with your dog: YOU are the team leader, no questions asked
bulletA dog that's old enough to take the physical and mental demands of training
bulletA dog that is physically fit, or at least able to get that way, and...
bullet...you should be physically fit too.  Or at least able to get that way.
bulletTime! (So you can train on a regular basis).

 

Basic Herding Skills

(everything a reasonably well-trained dog should know)
Gathering - the collective name for the outrun, lift and fetch

Fetching or Wearing - wherever the shepherd walks, the dog brings the stock

Driving - the stock is taken away from the handler by the dog, who should be TOLD where to take them.  If the dog's doing it on his own, without permission, well that's something else entirely!! 

Penning - putting the stock into pens, both free-standing and fence-line pens

Holding  - if no pen is available, the dog should be able to control the stock enough so that you can catch the animal.  Of course, if it's cattle we're dealing with, a holding pen of some sort might be necessary!