Herding Starts Here

We’re getting ready for a fresh start. Want to be first to hear when the course reopens?

You’re staring at the edge of the herding world and wondering “Where do I even begin?”

— OR —

You’ve dipped your toe in the water, and found out just how HARD this herding thing can be! Learning to herd is nothing like the movie Babe — but it’s worth it!

This isn’t your regular herding course. Heck, the sheep don’t appear till the last chapter!

I know — you’re excited. You want to put your dog on sheep… right now.

But maybe you don’t have access to stock. Or maybe you’ve already tried, and things went a little...western.

That’s exactly why I built Herding Starts Here.

How the heck do you train herding skills without stock?

You might have heard of pressure and release? Every good stock dog handler uses it. But if you come from the sport dog or pet dog world, it probably feels like a foreign language.

So I built a course that bridges the gap. One that teaches the feel, timing, and control of pressure and release without needing sheep — so you can practice anywhere, with any dog.

(Yes, any dog. These exercises work across the board. Herding dogs just tend to figure it out a bit quicker 😉)

This course is for you if…

✅ You’re new to herding and want to start off right
✅ You’ve got a dog that’s a bit… extra
✅ You’ve got a sensitive soul that’s easily turned off
✅ You want your dog to listen before – and more importantly – while there are sheep in front of them
✅ You’re feeling stuck, confused, or overwhelmed
✅ You want to learn handler skills you’ll use for years

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to…

✔️ Use pressure and release to shape behaviour
So you can stop your dog at a distance
✔️ Improve recall, leash work, and overall control
So you and your dog work as a team EVERYWHERE
✔️ Fix common herding issues: tight flanks, no stop, no pace, quitting
Just like experienced handlers
✔️ Understand your dog’s body language
So you can predict and prevent mistakes
✔️ Prepare both of you to work livestock calmly and confidently
So you can relax and enjoy working your dog on stock

Not just a course — a coaching program

New skills can be tricky. Every dog is different. That’s why you’ll have access to regular live group coaching — so we can troubleshoot, adapt, and figure it out together.

What Students Are Saying

“Great advice — I was too hard on my dogs and myself. We're starting to have more fun. So glad I signed up.”

“Whether you are new to herding or starting a new dog or pup, I highly recommend taking this course, and you will be happy that you did. Lisa’s course will help you train strong foundational behaviours in your dog that you will need throughout his career. The lessons are short, clear and concise, and Lisa is generous with her explanations. The videos are step-by-step and easy to follow so your dog is successful at every level.”

“Really enjoyed learning from Lisa with Herding Starts Here — I especially liked the 'stay there' exercise, which really helped my dogs when bringing sheep through gates. The lessons helped form a good, well-rounded foundation for herding dogs and were easy to implement. Lisa is friendly and genuinely wants to help. I loved the live sessions, and even watching recordings was useful.”

Your journey starts here.

Join the waitlist and be the first to know when registration opens.