My journey with Mr. Jaz began six years ago when I fell in love with him at Kings Valley Collies located in Corvallis, OR. He, as an eight week old puppy, and I, a 40 year old man, jumped into each others arms. The love affair began.

Four years later, Mr. Jaz and I began taking herding lessons with Dave Viklund and working at Brigand’s Hideout as stock handlers during work days: trimming hooves, giving shots, shearing, feeding and cleaning up mounds of sheep pooh.

In February of 2008, Brigand’s Hideout sponsored a therapy dog seminar which Mr. Jaz and I attended. Because of Jaz’s herding and obedience skills, we became certified as a “Therapy Dog Team” through Therapy Dogs International, Inc. He also earned his “Canine Good Citizen” title, and so began our therapy dog work. Mr. Jaz and I make regular visits to nursing homes, hospitals and assisted living centers.

Good therapy dogs are grown and shaped over many years. Mr. Jaz has been working as a stock dog for about three years. He is use to all the weird farm machines, noises, other people, other dogs, strange smells, tight places, different stock and scary/alarming and stressful situations.

“Hey Jaz, Hey Jaz! Therapy dog! Therapy work! Let’s go, let’s go!!”

With those few words, Mr. Jaz is overcome with excitement. He jumps and prances around the house – yelping and barking with anticipation. I have to playfully wrestle with him to give him a good teeth brushing and try to give his rough collie coat one good grooming before meeting his favorite fans.

“Hey Jaz, walk with me.”

Mr. Jaz confidently, calmly and quietly stays by my side, knowing the rewarding, welcomed, yet serious work at hand as we walk through the doors of a nursing home.

Smiles broaden on the faces of the staff and residents as Mr. Jaz prances into the room.

“Hey Jaz, walk up, say hello!”

Mr. Jaz makes his way through a maze of wheel chairs, walkers, and ventilator machines, ignoring all the beeps, and medical alarms to give collie kisses and unconditional love to Josephine. She tells us her story of a tri-color collie she grew up with as a teenager in Carson, WA.

Mrs. Elsie, a partially paralyzed woman, holds out her hand and pets my collies’ soft and shiny coat while telling us her story of two collies she grew up with at a small farm in Iowa.

The staff also swarms around Mr. Jaz (the “Lassie Dog”, as he has become to be known as). Family members of the residents also open their arms for petting and unlimited collie kindness.

Mr. Jaz’s presence is intoxicating.

He’s a therapy dog, a Collie.

His herding training and experience is what makes him an exceptional therapy dog: He must work in tight places – negotiating through obstacles, wheel chairs, walkers, garbage cans and ventilator machines; ignoring the alarms, coughing, gagging and wheezing, while being calm, friendly and, most importantly, giving unconditional love, no matter what the situation.

Although many dogs make good house pets and companions, not all have the temperament and confidence to be therapy dogs. Collies, because of their nurturing and caring herding instinct, and because of their good looks and pre-conceived reputation (Lassie), make them very welcomed four footed therapists.

For more information regarding therapy dog work contact:

Therapy Dogs International, Inc.

88 Bartley Road, Flanders, NJ 07836

www.tdi-dog.org

“Hey Jaz! Hey Jaz! Hey Jaz!! Come with me!”

My collies’ ears prick up and a collie smile covers his face. His tail rises in excitement and anticipation. We walk into the spring morning and dew covered pasture towards the sheep.

He’s got a big task at hand – gathering, herding and sorting a large flock of sheep for an AKC trial!

He’s a trained herding stock dog, a collie!

*** More to come on our herding adventures***

Congratulations to Ashley who, with Caber, earned High In Trial on Course B Ducks (started) during the Oct 4th-5th (2008) herding trial. Caber now has his HSBd title (Herding Started, B Course on ducks) to go with his HSAs title.

Kathleen earned the second leg on Course B ducks with Vinnie her corgi during the same trial. Had she entered both days, she would have her Course B duck title now!

Ashley Hussey and Caber with Judge Debbie Pollard

This year’s camp was named “Herding in All Seasons” because you only needed to attend one day to experience it all!

Daily weather forecasts predicted temperatures well below normal for this time of year. Only one day did we have relatively clear weather – all other days included rain, hail, snow and even some sunshine!

Through all the weather changes, everyone seem to have a great time and learned a lot!

I am so happy I was there for the ’08 Sheep Camp as for years to come we will hear, “You shoulda been here in ’08!”

I can never tell how much we’ve learned and absorbed from camp until I see what we accomplish in trials in the year that follows. Always it’s shown that we learned and absorbed a lot. This time I didn’t have to wait quite that long . . . after working for 4 days with Roy and a day with Lynn (and in years passed lots of time with Dave) we came home ready to prepare for the Northern California Bearded Collie Regional Specialty Herding Trial.

There is a Trial (ducks then sheep) in the morning and then another of the same in the afternoon. We came home with two very important pieces of information from Lynn on ducks — one that I was moving in the wrong direction which caused a problem with the fetch and that my idea on how to do the hold pen was a good one and I should “teach my dog to do it”. I had to laugh as I was still looking for some other miracle cure.

With Lynn’s directions in mind – when the ducks started to move off the fetch line I moved as she had suggested and they beautifully straightened out and flowed around the cone and the rest of the run went as well as we not only qualified but went HIT for our Advanced Duck Title.

Then on to sheep . . . a nice outrun-lift-fetch and around the cone into the Y, Z and into the hold pen. Then following Roy’s suggestion for this facility Allie went behind and then came up along the panel to cover the sheep as they zipped back toward the gate. She took my Stop command and waited as the sheep settled just below the 4 and when all was settled & quiet I asked for an Away and got the head turn and release (thank you Dave) that zipped the sheep from the 4 to 5 and she came around the far panel to cover them from returning to me . . . just lovely.  That gave us our 2nd Advanced Leg and another HIT!

That afternoon our run was much the same but an extra step or two before stopping pushed the sheep too close to the 4 and lost us some points but we still qualified nicely for our Advanced Sheep Title and a RHIT.

Then at the end of the day we were awarded the High Combined Trophy!

Thanks to Nancy and all the Instructors who were committed to our learning no matter what the weather and thanks to all of my camp mates who had me laughing through it all.

BARBARA and ALLIE

(Cynamen Artisan Rising Star, RN, NAJ, CGC, HTAD-1, JHD-ge, HRD-1, and now, TADA — HXAs,d.)

Classes are a great way to learn by watching others in a small sized group. Classes tend to be a bit cheaper and focus on you being the handler.

There are two main avenues for herding lessons. You can take lessons to learn how to handle your dog (while teaching the dog the ins and outs of herding) or you can have the trainer be the handler (without you having to learn anything about herding). There can also be a combination of these.

Some people take lessons and also participate in classes, mainly to help with specific skills for their particular dog(s). This is especially true if you plan to compete in herding trials. If you are having the trainer be the handler, it is important to find out the availability of that trainer to handle your dog(s) at herding events. It would be a shame if your dog is ready for a herding trial but your trainer/handler isn’t available!

Also check about the estimated cost for each level, each herding title. Ask the trainer/handler how long he/she thinks it will take before your dog is ready to compete. Have a goal; for example, to have an AKC started title by August, or an AHBA Ranch Dog title by July. This will give you an idea how much money you might spend, and a timeline to re-assess your goals and needs.

Some trainers will give you a “per title” cost which is an excellent way to budget. A “per title” fee means the trainer will charge you one cost to receive, for example the AKC started title. So $1,000 (or whatever the cost negotiated) would pay for all training, all handling at trials, all expenses to achieve that title.

However way you become involved in the herding sport, it can be a lot of fun!

Chris has had a variety of breeds through the years and is quick to understand the differences between them. Different breeds, bred for different purposes, have different requirements. Not better or worse – just different. She has worked with almost every breed of dog through the years. She has also worked with owners who have a wide range of situations their dogs must fit. Helping a specific dog and a specific owner make the most of their relationship is Chris’ ultimate goal.

Chris is an AKC Judge for both Obedience and Rally and is actively involved in several training, herding and breed clubs.

Chris offers classes and private instruction in agility, obedience and rally at Brigands.

Check out her web page — www.PrimmersAllAboutDogs.com.

Email Chris at jcdoghouse@aol.com.

KARIN HADERLY – Karin is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She owns Fido Beta Kappa, a training school based in Castle Rock, Washington, that is dedicated to using the most gentle up-to-date training methods available. Karin has had dogs her whole life and began training professionally in 1994. Since then she has worked with well over a thousand dogs of all different breeds and mixes. Karin began teaching agility in 2001, and last year six of her canine students competed at the 2007 AKC Agility Invitationals. She is proud to say that two of them made the finals.

Karin was introduced to the gentle positive scientific training methods that are the basis of her training program in 1997. She is one of the lucky few to have trained with Bob & Marian Bailey, pioneers in the field of operant conditioning, spending almost 180 hours in their illustrious company. She also attends several seminars a year given by the world’s foremost trainers and behaviorists to keep abreast of the latest in gentle correction-free techniques, and also the latest in training and handling techniques in agility.

Karin’s obsession with the sport of agility began in 1998 when she started competing with her now-retired border collie, Strike, in AKC and NADAC events. Karin currently competes at the highest level in AKC and USDAA agility with her 9-year old border collie Quip. Karin and Quip have qualified to compete at AKC National Championships every year since 2003, were semifinalists at USDAA National Championships in 2006, and qualified for AKC World Team Tryouts in 2005 and 2006. Quip has his MACH, and will hopefully attain MACH2 and finish his USDAA ADCH this year. Her dogs have earned 39 agility titles to date. Karin’s youngest border collie, Chi, has just started his competition journey, and she is looking forward to a long and fun-filled career with him.

Karin offers classes and private instruction Thursday afternoon and evenings at Brigands.

Contact her at fidobkappa@yahoo.com.

Brigands has a variety of opportunities to learn to herd with your dog.

There are classes and private sessions.

There are also clinics, practice days and fun matches as well as herding camp.

In addition, after approval, individuals can come practice herding on their own. To do so, you must pass a written test and demonstrate your herding skills.

Brigands  ”labels” different sheep so it is easier for  newcomers to know which sheep would be appropriate to work.  For example, the best sheep for novice handlers/dogs will have dog collars on them (the “heaviest” sheep); those with yellow chain around their necks are used for the boundary flock.  The other sheep are “lighter” and are the ones used for the herding trials.

There’s bound to be injuries (with that unexpected grip!) and that’s okay … within reason.  All injuries and all grips must be documented.  

• Herding practice is available (after approval) throughout the day unless the facility is closed.