Herding - Page 1

Does anybody know of a herding trainer in the Northeastern part of Ohio, or eastern part of Ohio? Kind of around the Youngstown area?

http://www.karmaperformance.com/home.html

Ohio but I dont know east south or west..

Thank you very much, a bit further then I was hoping for but that might be an option. Thank you again.

Do you have a local schutzhund club?
Go to a meeting of theirs or email them & maybe you can find someone who can help you if you're wanting HGH type herding training.

Kelly Malone of Karma Performance is very nice, experienced, & knowledgeable in her field.
She does performance herding type stuff for like HIT and HRD titling with ducks and sheep, not necessarily HGH work. She is an AHBA Judge and has really done a good job with her niche. Check out her great achievements made with her girl Reva: http://karmaperformance.com/reva.html. She owns American show lines.

It's been my past experience talking with Kelly that she seems to know little about Kirschental kennels, reknown for German herding bloodlines & HGH titling/trialing.

There is a person tending (AKC C-course/HGH type of work)  outside of Lexington, KY and one in Battle Creek, MI (both have excellent credentials, being successful to the highest level of AKC C course and A course with multiple dogs) if you are interested in the type of work the breed does very naturally.  The GSD is the cadillac of tending on the same order as a BC is to the Gather/ fetch type of work they were bred for.  Sadly many of the GSD people try to fit the GSD square peg in the BC/Aussie/ACD/Kelpie round hole.  The results are dogs that are often unhappy, or are dogs that are lacking correct structure and drive to do what they were bred to do.  And then there is the whole handler issue.  If you tend you are much more likely to be able to handle your own dog, learn to read the stock and enjoy the relationship you enhance through the work.

When chosing someone to work with, look for an individual who has demonstrated excellence in the sport over years of experience. 

Susan

I have a somewhat silly question about this.  I was wondering if there was any kind of hereding (AKC, AHBA, ASCA) that was anywhere similiar to the HGH?  I ask because I would like to train twards an HGH, but herding options are limited where I am and I would like to see if I could try for the next best thing - and then maybe travel a couple of times to put the finishing HGH touches on and tweak the herding style.

Thanks so much!

~Cate

AKC C-course is tending.  It is based on the HGH as well as some elements from the French course.  Minimum number of sheep on C is 20.  However, dogs that  learn the skills necessary for good success on C, most will be able to do HGH with exposure to the larger flock required in HGH.  Not all will be successful but then not all HGH dogs are successful on C either.  However it is better than trying to force the dog to perform in a way that is against his instinct.  That is exactly what happens when you try to make a GSD work like a BC or Aussie.  Because GSDs are so willing to please , it can be done but it will be much more difficult for both the dog and the handler.   Trianing tending with a GSD is not rocket science, with work and time most handlers/owners can be successful.

Good luck,

Susan