mentorship programme
Team SheepBalls® 2025
Starting 12 Aug – 12 Feb
Team SheepBalls® is six month programme that provides support, practical work and recommendations to People With Border Collies and Collie-cousins.
Build a deeper understanding, enhance your skills and develop a world where your Sheepdog can thrive.
➤ Learn more about what is happening and why; the unique Border Collie Brain; how it has been developed for specific reactions and why the standard labels and recipes can seem to fail.
➤ Fine details in management techniques that make a significant difference to the quality of life for both people and Collies living together. Individual coaching to learn the skills and the value of the learning.
➤ Developing observation and analysis skills and teaching the essentials of the Pet Brain Repertoire; Sheepballs® Games; a range of activities; learning and concepts to balance life for the Collies.
➤ Building healthy lifestyle for Collies through restorative rest, handling, husbandry, nutrition and every day activities. Make plans for a long-term lifestyle. Strategies for dogs that are selecting the Wrong Sheep as outlets.
➤ An understanding of the Working Dogs, their training and use of inherited skills and intelligence.
This includes 6 months access to:
➤ Setter 3 Membership: with access to all the Workbooks
➤ The Flock of Collies articles and resources material
➤ Discount 65% on other Live Courses.
This course is a pre-requisite for anyone wishing to teach Sheepballs®
£864.00
Format of the Course
✦ Practical Activities: to develop the foundation skills with an options to work on the needs of individual dogs.
✦ Forum based Lessons and discussions: on topics that deepen understanding and covering the key elements living with Collies.
✦ Live Sessions: recorded held on alternate Tuesdays at 8pm UK (1900 GMT/UTC), for reflection, discussions, focus on specific topics and your questions.
✦ Individual Feedback: to develop your own learning plans with an option to upload up to 6 minutes of video per week.
✦ Course Material: available for six months after the course.
✦ Participants only: no auditors or spectators.
✦ Attendance Certificates: available for active participants: joining the live sessions, questions, contribution to forum discussions etc.
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 50 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
“Team SheepBalls® beyond my expectations, which a rarity in life!
The continual support, detailed and helpful feedback, the amount of knowledge you have and generously share, thank you!
And what a pleasure to be within a group that is diverse, so supportive and enthusiastic too, it’s certainly felt like a good team to be in.
I feel more informed and confident to help and guide people with Collies, whether it is an an issue of their dog honing in on moving cars or joggers on walks, or whether their dog is on the go at home and struggles to settle, or for pleasure – to learn a new activity such as SheepBalls®
It is a course that has rekindled the pleasure of learning. It has also increased my awe of Collies.”
Al Burns: Best Border Collie Club.
There are never enough homes for these working guys so the overspill flows into our front rooms. 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 an urban life with people, but we do need to make allowances and adjust routines to not let their Issues, or Reasons for Living, go beyond a healthy enjoyment.
There is a flood of myths created around these dogs, some in admiration, some in denigration – but those are people who don’t understand a Collie. Sadly modern media has bloomed more misinformation by labelling the dogs as freaky, obsessive or addicted. Generic solutions that pool all herding breeds as equal disregard the need for the Collie to exhibit their natural instinct.
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 a generous passion to work with people and fulfil their role as the Other Half, whatever that job may be. We need more people to understand collies and who can help People With Collies benefit from the right sort of support.
Membership is for 6 months and suitable for those who are just beginning or those already in the business who have recognised they need to upgrade their skills and understanding. There will be access to the group forums where complex cases and a growing list of activities that make a Collie’s heart sing will be maintained.