This is part 1 of an excellent interview with Erin Eckert.  In this podcast episode, Jacque Tinker and Erin Eckhart delve into the intricacies of training and trialing Australian cattle dogs and Australian shepherds. They discuss the challenges of working with livestock, the importance of understanding dog behavior, and the impact of genetics on performance. They emphasize the need for resilience, continuous improvement, and the value of a supportive community. The conversation also touches on the importance of overcoming fear of mistakes, adapting to varying conditions, and the deep bond ..read more

Pull your toes in or put your steel toed boots on! We are getting real in this episode and some topics may be uncomfortable.  In this particular episode of the Instinctive Australian Shepherd Podcast, the host, Jacque Tinker, engages in an insightful conversation with Jodi Tietjen, a guest who has extensive experience in working with dogs, particularly Australian Shepherds and Border Collies. Jodi shares her knowledge and expertise on training and breeding these dogs, highlighting the significance of preserving good lines in the breed. She explains how breeding practices can impact the he ..read more

In this episode, Jacque speaks with Brad Hawkings, an Australian Shepherd breeder and trainer in Pembroke, Kentucky. About 5 years ago, Brad learned about a therapy dog workshop in his area. At that time thought that his dog, Bannock, would be perfect to enroll. Bannock not only passed with flying colors, but he was then allowed to go into any situation therapy dogs are allowed, schools, hospitals, nursing homes.  Soon after becoming certified, Brad and Bannock were invited to a camp for children with serious illnesses. Tune in to hear Brad tells this story, which is sure to bring you to ..read more

Today Jacque speaks with Joe Sheeran about Aussies. This is a very interesting conversation about Joe’s dog Woody the American Farm Bureau Federation's 2019 Farm Dog of the Year (the first Farm Dog of the year!). Joe has a fascinating story about how he came to work with Austrailian Shepherds. When Joe was looking for a dog, he met Rodger Stevens, owner of Pincie Creek Australian Shepherds. This is who he adopted Woody from. After that, Joe met Shelly Spotswood. She really introduced him to training his dogs for stock work. That led to trialing.  The way that Joe acquired Woody was very i ..read more

In this episode, Jacque speaks with Randy Kidd, owner of Kidd’s Australian Shepherd, about the history of Australian Shepherd, and what defines a working dog. They also discuss Australian Shepherd genetics and how it is so important when choosing a dog.  Randy Kidd grew up around working dogs. As he got older and started working in livestock, he decided it was time to get his own dogs. In 1979, Randy Kidd got his first registered Australian Shepherd and still works them to this day. He is the owner of Kidd’s Australian Shepherd.  Randy tells stories about working dogs and what a good ..read more

This is a very interesting episode about training with chain behavior and how explosion detection dogs! Jacque speaks with Élise Saint-Pierre, the owner of Dig It Dogs Canine Services and an explosive detection canine handler.  She started with training when she was in high school with her terrier mix. After she graduated high school, she went to British Columbia for 6 months to learn more about dog training. When she got back to Nova Scotia, she started boarding and private training.  For Élise, chain behavior training sessions are her favorite way to work with a dog because she can ..read more

In this episode, Jacque speaks with Aaron Steele, founder of Goats On The Go and host of the Farm Dog podcast.   This is a very interesting conversation about finding a working dog that works for you. When you are looking for a working cattle dog, it is very important to understand the dog’s genetics. Building a relationship with an outside breeder is important, especially if you want to know the dog’s background, training, and potential health issues.  It is important to know what dog you want for your lifestyle, and that is why podcasts like The Instinctive Australian Shepherd ..read more

Title: Clinic Hopping with Kathi Schwengel In this episode, I chat with Kathi Schwengel, an author and Australian Shepherd enthusiast. There are so many similarities between our lives, this conversation is like speaking with an old friend.  We talk about how having Australian Shepherds is like having a Ferrari without breaks. These dogs are amazing, they have such inner knowing, but you need to put breaks on them! We also talk about what it is like living with Australian Shepherds, living on a farm, dealing with sheep, ducks, and other animals. Kathi was working with the versatility line ..read more

This story is a nail biter. Trudy and her family escape the 2020 Wilhoit fire Oregon fire. She shares her story day by day and talks about how her Aussie, Jill rounded up the sheep and ducks.  Trudy talks about how the fire brought out the best and worst in people. She shares lessons learned and how she now prepares for potential disasters in the future. Thanks Trudy for sharing this amazing story.  Copyright 2021- The Instinctive Australian Shepherd Edited by: Dorien Vogelaar ..read more

Meet Sonja Galley, owner of Bindi, 2021 Farm Bureau Dog of the Year. Bindi saved Sonja's life on her family dairy when a rogue heifer charged Sonja and had her on the ground.   Bindi is Sonya's right hand on the dairy farm. This is not only a great story, which will leave you with a lump in your throat or tears in your eyes, it is a nice look into the life of an American farmer and her dog. Make sure you check out the video in the link below...It is very exciting.   Copyright 2021- The Instinctive Australian Shepherd Edited by: Dorien Vogelaar   Video of Bindi! https://www.youtu ..read more