Speciality Clinics and Seminars

With the constant growth in popularity of herding and stock dog competition there are a number of well qualified and experienced handlers conducting general training clinics throughout North America.

I have chosen to narrow my focus and offer specialised clinics and seminars for those that have advanced beyond the very beginning stages of stock dog training and wish to enter the world of Sheep Dog Competition. In doing so I am able to offer "straight to the point" training and information that will assist the handler/dog team in being able to compete at their optimum level.

Judging Clinics/Seminars

The first response from most handlers just entering Sheep Dog Competition is " I don't want to learn how to judge, I just want to learn how to run my dog". Very understandable. However, most experienced trial competitors will tell you that there is no way possible for you to make a competitive run unless you fully understand the rules, where points are lost, and what the judge expects of you. A good understanding of the rules and how trials are judged will allow you to make sound decisions during your run when unusual circumstances occur, as they often do.

My Judging Clinics/Seminars include handout materials covering Rules for Trials, Judging Guidelines, and Tips from some of the top Handlers/Judges in the World. In 2003 my materials will be supplemented with video taped actual competition complete with graphic illustration of where and how points are lost.

Judging Clinics/Seminars can be customised to accommodate the specific needs of your club or group.

Trial Handling Skills Clinics

The "Handling Skills" Clinic starts with a lecture session with handout information and discussion covering the "do's and don'ts" all the way from before you actually reach the trial site until after you have exhausted the sheep at the conclusion of your run including "trial etiquette". In a trial course environment each handler/dog team is observed and given guidance determining areas of weakness and how best to correct or handle around the weakness. The emphasis on the clinic being to make handlers aware of the various "tricks of the trade" that will allow them to compete for MAXIMUM points not just to manage to get around the course.

This clinic has proven to be very valuable to handlers ready for, or already competing in, the Pro-Novice and Open Ranch levels. Also of great value to those just moving up to Open classes. This clinic works well when held in conjunction with a local trial with the clinic being held the day before. Also provided as a "stand alone" clinic. Groups of up to 10 handlers and dogs can be accommodated in a one day session. Larger groups should have more time available. This clinic may be supplemented with the video tape materials from the Judging Clinic/Seminar if time allows.

Penning Clinic

The "Penning Clinic" has been my signature clinic. Quite a number of years ago I realised that I had unique success and ability at the pen. Range sheep in my part of the country can be the most difficult of all to pen. After repeated requests from fellow handlers to show them how I managed it so well I started to break down the many elements involved in penning tough sheep. After identifying the key elements I started working on effective ways to pass that knowledge on to others. Many of the elements and skills required are easy enough to teach once I can get the student to understand the necessity of the skill involved. The stockmanship, or understanding of sheep behaviour, presented a different challenge. After no small amount of "trial and error" and refinement I have worked out a learning process that has proven to be highly effective with nearly all my students who were willing to follow up and work to develop the skills in themselves and their dogs to allow them to be successful a high percentage of the time.

The "Penning Clinic" identifies the skills required by the handler, the fine elements of training needed in the dog, the most common sheep behaviour problems encountered, and offers a step by step procedure for the handler/dog team to learn to pen FOR MAXIMUM POINTS in competition.

Rate and Availability Information for Speciality Clinics/Seminars

Contact me by E-mail at Roger@R-bar-N.com or by telephone at 970-352-1128 for Rate Information and schedule availability.

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