Welcome to All About SheepDogs

A well-trained working sheepdog is the shepherd's best friend - cutting his workload and saving time and money. Of course, these dogs don't see what they do as work! Their reqard is pleasing their master, which means they go about their tasks with a cheerful spirit and instictive anxiety to receive approval, which enables the shepherd to carry out his work confidently.

In the UK we still have the largest national flock in the European Union and this is why the traditional sight of a shepherd and his dog is just as much a part of the countryside scene now as it was 50 years ago. It would seem that some things cannot be improved upon, but is this really the case? There are many more 'hobby' samllholders than before and many have working sheepdogs. SOme of our top Triallists are not shepherds - at least one is a retired builder.

This website has been set up to help and inform all those who work with sheepdogs, or would like to. There is always room for improvement and remember - no two dogs are the same. What may have worked for your first dog may fall apart with your second and subsequent dogs. So, on this site you will find advice and guidance on every aspect of owning and handling a working collie, together with news of interesting events and articles of interest about sheepdog people. There are also links to other organisations.

Although most of the site is aimed at the Border collie handler, just for good measure we include other well known breeds of working sheepdog - Kelpie, Huntaway and the Bearded Collie. In fact we currently have some Huntaway puupies for sale. They will be ready at the end of June. From working parents they live in south Herefordshire - if you are interested. 01934 73661 - caz@rackley.fsworld.co.uk

We have identified a group of people who have Border Collies but have no access to sheep and who are not farmers or shepherds. For these people we are planning to provide the opportunity for them to find out if their dog has the potential to work sheep and then for training to occur regularly. We would like to provide FUN sessions where the handler is also learning a different skill with their dog in a non-competitive situation. Once the dog's natural herding istinct has been aroused training will need to be sustained as it is - one could say - cruel to stop them. In the training section look at 'Herding'

In the world of shepherding a good working sheepdog can think for itself - sizing up a situation and acting upon it .... often before the shepherd has even become aware of a problem. What's more, the dog has the welfare of the sheep in mind just as much as the shepherd. He is protecting and managing them for you.

So it follows that the bond between shepherd. dog and sheep is a deeply special one, with the dog central to the relationship. Most sheepdogs have a natural instinct to herd - to a greater or lesser degree - and it is frequently the handler that requires the training!

We have found since this website was published that many people are contacting us about their badly behaved pet collies, some of which are from Rescue organisations. We have therefore included a newsection under the sheeepdogs as pets part pf the Sheepdog Breeding section - some thoughts about overcoming some of the challenges that non working collies present. People who have pet collies do not always understand the collie's strong herding instinctand and this alone can cause difficulties. It could be for some of these rebellious collies that the opportunity for them to work sheep in a controlled situation would answer a lot of their problems. A frustrated collie is a very unhappy animal.

Please look at the Resources page for frequent new information about Trainers or books. Training a Sheep Dog, a really handy 'does what it says on the tin' approach to Training, is available from either the International Sheepdog Society, phone 01234 352672 or office@isds.org.uk

OR you might prefer to contact All About Sheepdogs E: c/o caz@rackley.fsworld.co.uk T: 01934 732661 M:07703 197823

The South West News page is updated every two months with the South West report from the International Sheepdog News. No photos in this section as yet - we are still in trainng!

People still hanker after the old style One Man and His Dog television programme that was broadcast many years ago. In recognising this, the BBC produce an annual event that is filmed in a different part of the UK each year. This year was the turn of Somerset!WE decamped to the Mendip Hlls for a few days, met the lovely Matt Baker, the efficient Kate Humble and the well connected sheepdog man Gus Dermody. A Report of the programme appeared in the November 2010 editionof the International Sheepdog News.

So that folk can get up to speed for this programme we anticipate that some of you might like to attend Trials and so if you switch to the Resources page you will find a list of 32 contact details for the Trials Societies in the UK. Also in this section are the details of the five big Trials in the UK this year.To be published in May 2011 is a Leaflet for Spectators at Trials. This one A4 page, three fold document compiled and edited by Caroline Woolley gives a simple overview of what happens on the average Trial field and offers inforamtion about the International Sheepdog Society - to which anyone can join. You do not need to own a dog!