Personal Herding Background and Trial Experience

I own and breed Australian Shepherds and have been a member of the CKC since 1993 and a member of the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) for 8 years.  Since 2000-2001, I have been a representative for the CKC Herding Council for the Northern Ontario Zone.  I have earned ‘Advanced’ herding titles in all-breed herding programs, and in October, 2001, I coordinated the first (4) CKC herding trials in Northwestern Ontario sponsored by the Thunder Bay Cocker Spaniel Club.  We had successful trials with just under 15 entries per trial and many titles earned over the weekend. 

This year was the first CKC herding trial I had the pleasure to compete in and qualify with all three of my dogs.  I have been trialing my dogs in ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) trials and in American Herding Breed of America (AHBA) trials for over 6 years. 

I have met all of the requirements required to become a CKC Herding Judge, except that the advanced titles I have earned are in the ASCA program instead of the CKC program.  I am however working towards the CKC HA title, and have accomplished the HI title on one dog, HS on two dogs, and HT on several others.

Below is an outline of my qualifications and accomplished, as laid out in the form sent by Lynn Leach, CKC Herding Representative, B.C. Southwest Zone.

Are you currently qualified as a herding trial judge by any organization?  Yes or No.

Yes.  I am on the Herding Council for the CKC as a herding representative for Northern Ontario Zone and am a qualified CKC Herding Judge.

On what types of herding courses have you competed?

CKC, ASCA, AHBA

List, with dates, herding clinics, seminars, lectures or classes you have attended.

Herding Seminars, Clinics, & Training I Have Received

In October, we (at Tucker Creek Farm) hosted a “CKC Herding Trial Judging Seminar” put on by Ms. Lynn Leach of Hope B.C., to better understand the scoring, ethics and rationale behind the CKC Herding Trial Program.  It was an exceptional seminar and improved my understanding of the CKC herding program extensively.  It has helped me and others who participated, interpret the CKC herding rules and regulations guidebook significantly.

I have attended many clinics held in the U.S.A. with several top trial judges and stock dog trainers including:

• Kathy Warren - May 1994

• Marie Murphy – June 1995, July 1996, July 1997

• Bob Vest – August 1996, May 1997, August 1997, May 1999, May 2001

• Nyles Sealine - September 1997

• Ann DeChant – July 1997

• Ben Means- July 1998 (Cattle)

• James Bergert - July 1999, July 2000, May 2001

• Jim Hartnagle – July 2000 (private lessons)

• JoAnna Yund – August 2000

• Roy Sage – May 2001

• Lynn Leach – October 2001

• Shelley Fritzke – October 2001

• Roger Stevens – August 2001, November 2001

Clinics and Trials/Tests at Tucker Creek Farm

For the past 6 years, we have held and sanctioned herding tests combined with a clinic here in Thunder Bay at our training facility – Tucker Creek Farm.  Clinics have always been filled to capacity (max 15 dogs/day, 2-3 day clinics once per year) with wait lists.  Clinicians at Tucker Creek Farm include some of the top ten judges and herding dog breeders in North America;

Bob Vest - Georgia: ASCA, AHBA, AKC stock trial judge - June 1998.

Roy Sage – Oregon: ASCA, AKC, AHBA stock trial judge - May 2001

Marie Murphy - Wisconsin: ASCA, AHBA stock trial judge - June 1995, July 1996, July 1997.

Ann DeChant – Michigan: ASCA breeder judge, AHBA stock trial judge – July 1997.

James Bergert - Minnesota: ASCA, AHBA stock trial judge – July 1999, July 2000.

JoAnna Yund – Minnesota: AHBA stock trial judge – August 2000.

Lynn Leach – British Columbia: CKC, AKC & AHBA stock trial judge – October 2001.

Shelley Fritzke – British Columbia: CKC stock trial judge – October 2001.

List herding titles earned by dogs that you have owned, trained and/or handled.  Include names of dogs, breed, as well as year and titles earned.

Titles Earned

I have earned nearly 20 herding titles with the various herding programs over the past 5 years including the CKC, ASCA, & the AHBA.  I have trialed my dogs in Minnesota, Alabama, Wisconsin, Colorado, Ontario.  I have earned a CKC breed Championship with my Aussie male and have points with my two younger dogs who I am sure will finish their CKC conformation, obedience and tracking titles in the near future. 

I am active in obedience, agility, tracking but primarily herding.  I have been very involved in the local dog community and support that by offering a very well designed training facility for sheep/cattle and duck herding.
 

Can CH Las Rocosa Tom’s Thunder HI, ATDdc, OTDsc, RTDc, HTDII, JHD, HCT aka “Tucker” is one leg short of his WTCH (needing only one qualifying sheep leg to earn a Working Trial Championship) with ASCA.  A  WTCH is an advanced title on each of the stock categories offered by ASCA (sheep, cattle & ducks).  This summer he qualified for three legs to qualify for Herding Intermediate with the CKC at our first CKC trial.  He is the first dog I have fully trained and I have learned a great deal from this dog and my many students and their dogs as well.  Completion of the WTCH will permit me to apply to become an ASCA judge and perhaps later on with the AKC and AHBA (American Herding Breed Association).

I have trialed and qualified with many other dogs for other people to earn their Herding Titles with the American Herding Breed Association including German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Shelties, & Rough Collies.  These titles were for early herding levels such as HCT (Herding Capability Tested AHBA) JHD (Junior Herding Dog AHBA) and Herding Tested (CKC).

Other dogs that I have handled to earn a title include:

 Yes

I have been actively trialing for the past 5 years and try to compete in at least 3 ASCA trials per year, One to two AHBA trials per year and hoping to also attend a minimum of 2 CKC trials per year.

Stock Handling Experience, Herding Trial Experience, Scribing & Timing

Since I have livestock of my own, I have a great deal of experience handling sheep and ducks and have personally conducted seminars to my own students on the subject of livestock handling.  I have over 40 head of sheep in winter and 80+ in spring and summer, and keep domestic ducks for herding training as well.

I have handled stock for a number of herding events (9 events at our farm every year including October CKC trials 2001), stock trials and clinics in Canada and the USA, including several herding clinics and trials held at my own farm.  I have committed time as a member of the Outback Australian Shepherd Club (OASC) on several occasions (June 1998, August 1999, June 2000) handling sheep, ducks and cattle.   Similarly, I have been timekeeper, and scribe/judges steward as needed at many of our own trials and clinics as well as abroad (particularly with OASC), and including a trial in Colorado (High Plains Australian Shepherd Club).

In October, 2001, I scribed and timed for CKC judges: Ms. Shelley Fritzke and Ms. Lynn Leach at our local CKC Herding trial.

I have been a volunteer ring steward for an agility trial as well as tracklayer for CKC tracking events.  I also have experience trialing in CKC obedience, agility and at conformation matches.

All Breed Herding Classes and Clinics at Tucker Creek Farm

I have a small hobby farm (Tucker Creek) with over 50 sheep and ducks and offer herding classes to people in the region.  I have been holding classes since 1995, 2-3 times per week and offered beginner to advanced, and trial ready classes this summer.  Over 15 regulars attend classes each week in the summer.  This past summer we held a cattle clinic for 1 day at a local Red Angus Cattle ranch.

I have taught many clinics both locally and in the USA to started, intermediate and advanced herding people and their dogs.  I find it a privilege to work with enthusiastic ALL BREED handlers and dogs.  This experience has taught me a great deal about the many different herding breeds, individual working style and temperament of over 10 breeds. 

I have trained a variety of dogs and the handlers of many German Shepherd Dogs, Australian Shepherds, Australian Cattle Dogs, Shelties, Border Collies, Bouvier des Flandres, Old English Sheepdogs, Rough and Smooth Collies, Belgian Sheepdogs, Tibetan Mastiffs, and many mixed breed dogs. 

Working with many different breeds and very different dogs, I have learned to read individual dogs very quickly and feel very confident starting any type of dog on stock.  Since the safety and well-being of my livestock and the dogs and handlers are the highest priority, I am careful to evaluate new dogs under controlled conditions. 

I have experience dealing with very aggressive dogs, highly enthusiastic dogs and dogs which require a great deal of encouraging and positive reinforcement to succeed in bringing out their greatest potential.  My training philosophy is based on positive reinforcement and establishing a teamwork attitude in the dogs and their handlers. 

I spend a great deal of time with my students on livestock handling and reading livestock since it is an essential element to successfully training a dog to an advanced level.  The dogs coming out of our training facility are independent working dogs that have learned to accomplish the team goals by using the particular style and herding ability they were born with.  Our students are demonstrating excellence in reading livestock, their dogs and the dynamic sport of sheep dog herding.

Sanctioned Events

Each year since 1995, we have held herding tests sanctioned by the American Herding Breed Association (AHBA), and to date, over 60 dogs from around the region, have achieved their HCT (Herding Capabilities Testing), JHD (Junior Herding Dog) and Herding Started & Intermediate (CKC) titles through their training at Tucker Creek Farm. 

We just accomplished our first sanctioned CKC test and trial from this location (Tucker Creek Farm) in October since there are many dogs now that are TRIAL READY.  Many of the dogs from our classes have traveled to the ASCA and AHBA tests and trials in Minnesota and Wisconsin and are doing exceptionally well.  We hope to encourage more participation in the CKC herding trial program and increase the attendance at events held in Canada.

Herding References: 

Ms. Lynn Leach, 58429 McKay Rd., Hope B.C. V0X 1L2.  Tel: 604-869-7656. 
CKC, AKC, AHBA Herding Trial Judge.

Ms. Shelley Fritzke, 28677 58th Avenue, Abbotsford, B.C. V4X 2E8. Tel: 604-857-7570
CKC Herding Trial Judge.

Ms. Carol Ann Hartnagle, 1363 Hwy 86, Kiowa, Colorado 80117. Tel: 303-659-6597. Las Rocosa Australian Shepherds (#1 Hall of Fame ASCA Kennel)
ASCA, AKC, CKC breeder judge, and Herding Trial Judge for ASCA, AHBA, & AKC.

Ms. Marie Murphy, N. 3029 945th St., Hager City, Wisconsin 54014 Tel: 715-792-5174.  Diamond Aire Australian Shepherds (#4 Hall of Fame ASCA Kennel). 
ASCA Breeder judge and Herding Trial Judge for ASCA & AHBA.

Mr. Roger Stevens, 175 Fortson Rd., Dothan, Alabama 36305. Tel: 334-692-3883. Pincie Creek Australian Shepherds. 
ASCA, AHBA Herding Trial Judge.