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Each trainer rents space and equipment/stock to provide lessons. Each will have their own fees (which include the space rental
fee, or stock rental fee, to Brigands). Please contact the trainer directly for specific information.
SOME TIPS ABOUT HERDING
There
are herding classes and herding lessons. Herding can be expensive but it doesn't have to be. It's important
to know what your budget is, how much you want to spend for the year (including herding trials, if you plan to compete) and
a goal for herding, whether it's an annual goal or long range goal. A goal can be to enjoy the sport, to earn some
herding titles, to earn a herding championship, etc.
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 hander.
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!
HERDING TRAINERS at Brigands
CAROL WOLFRAM -- Carol has been herding
with her briards for many years. Her expertise is with the boundary herding but she also has private lessons for the fetching
style of herding, on a limited basis. She has experience with both "upright" dogs and the "eyed" breeds.
Contact her by email at carol@justbijou.com
NANCY WARD --
Farming has been a part of Nancy's life from childhood with one set of grandparents owning
a dairy farm. Her parents "sent" her to live with relatives in Iowa on a farm for a summer with the hopes she would
realize farming and dogs could not be a "future." That backfired! She loved living the "farm life"! And
she had her first dog competition -- a field trial fun match with a young Pointer that she trained that summer. She loved
the experience and after receiving first place at the match, there was no turning back!
After college, she was given a poodle which she trained and competed with in obedience. Then in 1977, she purchased
her first herding dog, an Old English Sheepdog. After several years of showing, training and competing with the OESs, she
"got into" Bouviers and began to immerse herself in the herding world.
In
1999, Nancy and her husband moved to Battle Ground, purchased several acres where her real learning began. She continues to
herd with her bouviers but has also acquired a couple kelpies and an aussie along the way. Each breed has its own herding
style and temperament. She's always learning and trying new techniques to develop a working dog-handler bond.
Nancy has years of experience with both upright breeds and eye breeds. She has
also worked with some of the "unusual" herding breeds - rhodesian ridgebacks, spanish water dogs, and hungarian
pumi to name a few.
Her bouvier Jesse is the first bouvier to receive a herding
title on the AKC Course C (boundary herding). And although boundary herding is her favorite style, she also works her aussie
in Course A and B (AKC). And in the past, she has competed with her kelpies in AHBA trials.
At Brigands, Nancy offers a variety of classes: from introduction to herding through advanced herding
classes, as well as ranch dog classes and classes for trial experience. Once a person feels comfortable with
herding, Nancy offers supervised practice times. Private lessons are available on a limited basis.
She
is an AKC judge and tries to have a fun match from time to time during the year so individuals can have that "trial experience."
Email Nancy at nancy@BrigandsHideOut.com
TRUDY VIKLUND -- Trudy earned a Bachelors
degree in Animal science while going to school, which is also where she met her husband, Dave. Trudy has had an interest
working with and training dogs since a youth and originally trained obedience and agility dogs. In 1999 she got her first
Australian Shepherd, Kes, and started herding.
She enjoys trialing in ASCA, AKC, AHBA, USBCHA and cowdog trials
with her own aussies, and has handled dogs forothers as well. She has trained and/or handled several dogs to Working Trial
Champions (ASCA), AKC Champions and AHBA Champions.
Trudy has experience with both upright and "eye"
dogs and enjoys providing private lessons and clinics. She has experience with most herding breeds ranging from corgis, shelties,
collies, BC's, kelpies, rotties and many more.
Her emphasis is on teaching the dog and handler to work together
as a team, and to achieve calm, quiet, confident control of the livestock. Her focus is allowing (and helping) the dog to
properly feel balance, take control of the stock and make good decisions. The goal is to allow the dog to work, while being
respectful of both the handler and livestock.
She is currently competing with her 5-year old aussie, Tick in
Pro-Nov USBCHA, AKC, AHBA, ASCA.
She offers private lessons at Brigands as well as a few herding clinics.
Check out her web page -- www.DoubleVstockdogs.com
Email her at trudy@doublevstockdogs.com
DAVE VIKLUND --
Dave has worked with livestock since 1982 and has been using stock dogs since 1992. Being a "cowboy" he has worked
on ranches, feedlots, sheep outfits as well as having his own mixed farms. In 2001 he began competing with his dogs in herding
trials.
As he utilized his dogs on livestock operations he gained experience and would help other hands with
their dogs and training. Today he helps people with their dogs and questions for both general farm/ranch work and for competition.
Dave trains dogs with an emphasis on livestock handling, helping the dog to be where they need to be. and doing
the things they need to do, for control of the livestock. To do this he uses an approach of pressure and release using both
direct and indirect pressure. His approach is to develop a relationship of honesty and respect between handler and dog which
will then translate to the livestock.
Dave enjoys working with all breeds of herding dogs as each breed has different
strengths. He is known to say, "good work is good work regardless of breed." Dave has worked with a variety of herding
breeds, upright and eye breeds ranging from sensitive to strong temperaments.
Dave offers private herding lessons
throughout the week at Brigands, has regularly been one of the trainers at Brigands Herding Camp every March, and hopefully
will be having some cow clinics in the near future.
Check out his web site -- www.topstockdog.com
Email
him at dave@topstockdog.com
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