My first post... I've looked through some past posts but haven't seen this type of question for my area.
:help: I have two heeler puppies, boys, from different litters. One ~3 months and one ~4 months. I have cattle and sheep, and want to train these puppies to be proficient at herding them from one field to another on a regular basis (especially the sheep that don't like crossing my muddy gates). I also wouldn't mind if they could help get our pigs into the trailer once a year (if that's even possible?)
I have a full-time office job, and the farm is my morning/evening/weekend. On top of our other commitments ... that doesn't leave me much time with the dogs (I wasn't planning to get them for another few years ... but they're here now and I'd really like to make this work). I've worked with exactly 0 properly trained herding dogs, although I've been googling a fair amount. We've been working on general manners and commands, but I've seen no herding instinct from them with the livestock.
What I'd really love is to be able to send them to a "herding dog camp" for some amount of time and have them come back well trained (and the trainer could teach me before I bring them home). Second best, someone that would come to my house to train them and me maybe once a week or something? I live in Western PA (zip code 16141).
Any leads for this type of trainer would be very much appreciated. TIA!
:help: I have two heeler puppies, boys, from different litters. One ~3 months and one ~4 months. I have cattle and sheep, and want to train these puppies to be proficient at herding them from one field to another on a regular basis (especially the sheep that don't like crossing my muddy gates). I also wouldn't mind if they could help get our pigs into the trailer once a year (if that's even possible?)
I have a full-time office job, and the farm is my morning/evening/weekend. On top of our other commitments ... that doesn't leave me much time with the dogs (I wasn't planning to get them for another few years ... but they're here now and I'd really like to make this work). I've worked with exactly 0 properly trained herding dogs, although I've been googling a fair amount. We've been working on general manners and commands, but I've seen no herding instinct from them with the livestock.
What I'd really love is to be able to send them to a "herding dog camp" for some amount of time and have them come back well trained (and the trainer could teach me before I bring them home). Second best, someone that would come to my house to train them and me maybe once a week or something? I live in Western PA (zip code 16141).
Any leads for this type of trainer would be very much appreciated. TIA!