Training

Are you ready to be the leader that your dog wants you to be?

Contact us today!

The original Winslide gang(left to right)  Shasta,  Dance,  Eli,  Winslow,  Luca

The original Winslide gang
(left to right) Shasta, Dance, Eli, Winslow, Luca

Hi, I’m Linda Bell, a member of the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA), a member of a local ASCA affiliate club, Central Texas Working ASC, and a recent member of  the Texas Sheep Dog Assn/Texas Cattle Dog Assn (TSDA/TCDA). I am also a judge for the AKC ( American Kennel Club) and the American Herding Breed Association (AHBA).  I have been training and trialing for a number of years in all of these organizations.

I have trained and titled with all of my dogs through a WTCH, Working Trial Champion. I have completed other working titles, as well as competing and placing in the ASCA National Finals with 5 of my dogs so far. I have also trained and titled other breeds of dogs in ASCA, AKC and AHBA for their owners including earning a WTCH for a client’s Border Collie. My knowledge of the Aussie working style combined with my experience as a certified teacher in agriculture helps dog owners not only understand what to do, but why to do it.

Whether you need your dog trained for stock work or you need help with obedience and good manners, I am happy to help with both types of training.  We start with a good foundation and the basics so that both you and your dog will have better communication and trust. You will learn to speak your dog’s language to get better and quicker results both in stock work and obedience.  If you have a ‘problem’ dog, this type of training can also be the key that unlocks the door.

My philosophy? It is just as important to train the handler on stock as it is the dog.

When you come for stock lessons or clinics at my farm, you will be instructed on the fundamentals of stock work and herding concepts. The safety and health of the livestock comes first. I always say that my sheep don’t volunteer for this work! Specifically, you will learn how to read stock, where to position yourself and your dog in the arena, and how to place the dog where it needs to be. All dogs are worked individually. The primary goal for beginning handlers is to learn about the stock (how it moves, why it moves, what to expect), and how to keep their dog working constructively. All herding breeds accepted.

For more advanced handlers, advice and training for trialing strategies is available.

Contact us:

  • When you are ready to stop by and train;
  • For more information on clinics, private lessons, small group instruction and/or demonstrations;
  • To schedule an off-site clinic.

We are in Fredericksburg, Texas, just Northwest of San Antonio and West of Austin in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.

Wonderful article about Linda and the dogs of Winslide written for the Aug 2011 Georgetown View by Carol Hutchison.

 

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