online learning community
Sheepballs® Apr 2025
starting 30 Apr 2025 8 weeks
A practical online course with individual coaching to develop your skills and those of your sheepdog to enjoy a fulfilling and active life.
Lessons will include:
➤ Activities that simulate everyday sheep work that will give your dog an outlet for their inherited skills. Gathering their flock, controlling the escapees, sorting lambs and taking them to market.
We may call them Games but your dog will consider it Serious Work and tackle the job with their whole heart.
➤ A closer look at how your Sheepdog can become a first class companion: walking together: side-by-side and purposeful wandering without the need to become a traffic controller.
➤ Fire Drills for the unexpected moments: the emergency “there’s trouble ahead”.
➤ Planning a long term future of compatible living, satisfying their working needs and learning to enjoy this amazing dog.
➤ A Day at the Trials: a special live event watching the masters at work where you can appreciate the heritage that shares your sofa.
The Flock:
➤ The essential reading material for getting to know your Collie and the course. If you have not already joined please sign up; take a deep dive into learning about your dog. Subscription gives 3 months access.
YOU WILL NEED TO READ THE GETTING STARTED MATERIAL
IN THE FLOCK BEFORE JOINING THE COURSE
➤ Learn how the sheepdog brain views the world and what they consider worthy of responding to and why: learn to manage their responses without conflict.
This course suitable for:
Dogs over 5 months old of Border Collies or similar heritage. Feedback and coaching is available for one dog per person.
➤ Live sessions held Wednesday at 8pm UK (1900 GMT/UTC) for discussions, focus on specific topics and your questions. The session will be recorded and all material available for 3 months after the course finishes.
➤ Participation in the forums: posting progress reports, observations, planning, feedback.
➤ Lessons include a range of practical activities to learn with regular feedback on your progress. This is through videos you upload (maximum of 9 minutes total in 3 sessions per week) and your progress reports.
If you are enthusiastic about learning, developing and building your relationship, connection and skills then you will be very welcome.
£240
Format of the Course
Reading material will be available, alongside videos, forums and a weekly live discussions covering specific topics.
This does not certify competency in teaching, the use or inclusion of SheepBalls® in any advertising material. SheepBalls® is a protected by a registered trademark and can only be used by authorised Team SheepBalls® certified specialists.
Attendance Certificate will be available for active participation: joining the live sessions, questions, contribution to forum discussions, sharing case studies etc.
Setter Membership ➤
Includes access to all the library courses
course FAQs
Finding a Balance
Living with a collie is both a privilege and experience that brings tremendous pleasure when learning together and not in opposition. They are amazing dogs with generous passion to work with people and fulfil their role as the Other Half, whatever that job may be.
Many dogs have a working background heritage or a mixed package of sports and show dogs.
There is NO REASON why a dog whose entire parentage over many generations only knew life in a shed with irregular or seasonal events cannot enjoy a life with you, but we do need to make allowances and adjust routines to not let their Issues, or Reasons for Living, go beyond a healthy enjoyment.
Many a happy collie lives well in a front room enjoying full time company of people and some regular activities of the right sort.
Not for you
If you plan to be a passive spectator, auditor or intend to harvest material generated by the work of others then this is not for you. You will be given two weeks to demonstrate active participation with your dog after which your access will be limited.
If this type of commitment is beyond your interest then please do not join us.
Experience and empathy
Life with Collies for Kay began in 1973 and has travelled over 9 generations and 19 wonderful dogs with a sprinkling of second-hand guys.
Participation in dog sports from a beginner to Crufts championships forged a passion for training and skills for combining accuracy and joy. Sheep farming and shepherding for 12 years bought a new understanding of our collie heritage.
Kay has been teaching people teaching dogs for over 40 years in a great variety of activities. Online learning has developed into a first class learning format where daily individual feedback is blended with the richness of learning as a group. Great questions, varied lifestyles and adaptation through application brings together our passion for these amazing companions.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions: email kay
