Has anyone had experience with this group?

On the 1st of May 2010 Diggers K9 Education was visited by the Channel 9's Talk to The Animals crew. Dr Katrina Warren interviewed them and had a go. The show will be aired mid to late July, episode 11.

If it makes it on this show, should they be accepted as quality handlers? I'm pretty keen to get Rasta involved with livestock.

Their details are located at http://herding.webs.com

Cheers
Shane

http://koolie.net/exons/index.php?showtopic=2578

I had never heard of them before and am only readingt up on them now, but i think the idea behind what they are doing is fabulous. As far as being quality handlers though im unable to comment, havent researched enough into it as yet.

TJ can possibly confirm this but I think she has had contact with them and one came up to a workshop at Elmore just before we lost access to the sheep we were using. If it was him, he had a good attitude for koolies, was gentle with them and had a good rapor with the dogs and handlers. I think it would be worth trying.

I know I've heard of them but can't remember in what context!! My advice would be to go and watch them first if they'll let you and watch the way they train the dogs and they way they train the handlers too. See what the feel of the place is and what the other handlers say about it.

I have not personally used them - a bit far from Canberra - but they have a good reputation on Dogzonline.

Cheers everyone for the feedback. I will check them out sometime soon. I am also attending the half day session at VicHerding next weekend that is arranged by Kate from Rozate Aussies at Nyora about 35 minutes south of Cranbourne and Pakenham, on the way to Wonthaggi.

Pretty excited to finally get Rasta exposed to some livestock. Will let you all know how it goes...

Hi Shane,
How did you get to find out about the vic herding thing? I would love to get our Sudo along to something like that. It was great to see the photos of your Rasta in action. :-)
Linda

Linda,

Visit the VicHerding Website, or get the notifications from the Vic Herding Yahoo Email Group and get in contact with Kate from Rozate Aussies. She is about to have a baby, but I'm sure your email will be answered by someone...

I have also booked Rasta and myself in to Diggers K9 Education on the 3rd July. It's an all day event for starters and beginners. This clinic is compulsory if you want to go back and do more advanced sessions with David at Diggers K9.

I believe he still has a few places, plus it would be great to see some Coolies around the place too. Maybe I'll see you there...

Thanks for the tip, Shane. I will look them up now. For the diggers K9 thing, do I just google them too? I will try that now too. Just might see you there if I can get on to them quick enough. Linda Jay

Silly Me... Just saw the contact at the top. I will go there now. Ta. Lj.

Diggers K9 website details listed.

Also, if anyone is interested, I have just finished a new website for Norm Keast. If anyone knows who Norm is, then they will know about Norm's Coolies

Still building the gallery though. Norm isn't on email, he doesn't even have a computer... So he can't be emailed. I just did this as a gesture and out of respect for his kindness towards me and allowing me to have one of his Coolies. He doesn't give them up easily, in fact very rarely.

Any feedback is always welcome of course to try to improve it.

Shane

very hard to tell one from the other lol they all look the same, very pretty

Great website Shane, is it a hoby or is it what you do? they are awsome sight together.

Yay! Thanks Shane. Loved Norms Coolie Website. Next time I go to Adelaide to visit my Mum, we are going to Tununda to see a show. (The bakeries make great German cakes up that way too! - Yum!)

Best place in the Barossa to have a feed or a coffee is Zinfandel German restaurant, 58 Murray St, Tanunda... Norm frequents that shop too, ute and trailer often parked out the front, full of dogs, while he has his scones and tea.

Seriously the best food in the Valley though, especially the platters, lots of traditional German foods all local produce too. They do breakfasts and also open some nights for dinner (Thursday through to Saturday I think???)

Norm's shows are not completely what you expect, lots of laughs, he's quite a character ol' Norm.

That is an awesome website you've set up, Shane.



His shows, he and his dogs sound awesome. I think to own a Koolie you have to be a bit of a character, cause they are such characters themselves. LOL

Hmm Norm shares my surname! Maybe I was destined to have a koolie! So far he's the second person in the dog world with the same surname I've found. There is a judge in NSW with the exact same name as me!! It has created confusion a couple of times so far!

Rasta did the beginners & basic herding training at Diggers yesterday...

David, who runs the show is a great handler, really knows the psychology and nature behind what he does. He's awesome with the dogs and understands them like I've seen no other. If anyone is in Melbourne or lives around Melbourne, then I can't recommend him highly enough. He is very one on one and makes it feel like your dog is the only one there.

A real successful day, looking forward to the next outing (maybe next week).

They can be found at Diggers Herding & K9 Education

Hello Shane,
I'm glad it turned out well, I had a feeling they were going to be good. I desperately wanted to take Sudo. I didn't get onto them quick enough, and they were full. And then I came down with this dreadful cold anyway, so it is probably just as well. He says there is another beginners class in about 3 weeks, so I am going to go to that one for sure. I just know Sudo will love it.
Linda and Sudo.

I will be attending the next pre/basic workshop day at diggers herding. with some young dogs.