Herding Dog Training Series
Who should attend: Herding breed dogs with their handlers who are interested in a positive method for learning and teaching their dogs shepherding skills, for fun, for competition or for farm chores.
You will learn and practice skills designed to shape your dog’s natural herding abilities while you also learn how to read stock. Kathy’s methods focus on keeping the dog in a calm, focused, eager-to-learn state of mind – which helps the dog learn, and helps the handler to learn too! 
Dogs will be started on a long line and reinforced for calm, quiet behavior in the presence of the stock. A clicker will be used to mark the “good moves” and the dog will be allowed to move towards the stock and make natural moves to control the sheep’s movement around the pen. The line is dropped incrementally, as the dog and handler learn the foundation skills of stock handling – that process is determined by the progress of each individual team.
Kathy’s methods, which are based upon clear communication, understanding and respect, are effective and positively reinforcing to dog and handler alike!
Courses Available:
• Herding Dogs: Building the Foundation
• Herding Dogs: Basic Skill Building
• Herding Dogs: Practical Work and Expanding Skills
• Herding Dogs: Gathering and Driving, Level 1
• Herding Dogs: Pens, Gates, Ranch Chores
• Herding Dogs: Gathering and Driving, Level 2
• Herding Dogs: Herding Competition, Beginner
• Herding Dogs: Herding Competition, Novice
• Herding Dogs: Gathering and Driving, Level 3
• Herding Dogs: Advanced Penning and Shedding
• Herding Dogs: Herding Competition, Intermediate
• Herding Dogs: Herding Competition, Advanced
Instructor Profile
Kathy Kawalec owns and operates Dancing Hearts, a holistic training and well-being center in Manhattan, Illinois. Kathy’s methods for teaching dogs and handlers, are based upon clear communication, understanding and respect, and are effective and positively reinforcing to dog and handler alike!
Kathy has successfully competed in all venues of herding events including USBCHA, AKC, ASCA and AHBA with her border collies for more than 10 years. Currently trialing in National Level fields trials sanctioned by The United States Border Collie Handlers Association, she has qualified for and competed in the National Finals, limited to the top dogs in the country.
Facilitating clinics and lessons both at her farm in Illinois, and around the Midwest, she has experience with all herding breeds, and her students have won many titles and ribbons competing in all venues.
Kathy’s methods focus on keeping the dog in a calm, focused, eager-to-learn state of mind – which helps the dog learn, and helps the handler to learn too!
Herding Dog Training
