IHerd

09/25/2025

Thank you everyone - your response to the survey was enthusiastic and insightful.

Here were the key takeaways:

✔️You’re afraid of ruining your dog.

✔️You don’t know what to do when things go wrong.

✔️You want to see untrained dogs in action.

✔️You want clear explanations of what to do and why.

⭐️Great news: I’ve spent over 30 years helping people with their dogs. I LOVE solving problems. The course was built with untrained dogs - you’ll follow them start to finish.

The methods I’ll show you are exactly the same ones I use with my own dogs - dogs that are useful on the farm, winners on the trial field, and part of our family.

I completely understand your worries about not wanting to ruin your dog. You love your dog - they are not “just a tool”.

And I know the panic of not knowing what to do when things go wrong. That’s why I’ll be right there to guide you.

Together we’ll explore why I teach the exercises in a particular order, and why focusing on fundamentals now, saves you headaches later. ☺️

Join me on October 4th when I kick off Starting Your Dog On Sheep.

This first run is special: It’s a small group, and your questions and feedback will actually help shape the course as it grows.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to begin - this is it.

https://www.iherdonline.com/starting-your-dog-on-sheep

09/23/2025

Sometimes the tiniest things can make a big difference when you start a dog on sheep.

I’ve been using a carabiner for years - and enough students have commented on it - that I thought it was worth sharing with you. 🙂

Starting Your Dog On Sheep is full of all kinds of tricks I’ve learned over the years. If you are keen to learn as much as you can about the process of training a sheep dog - this is a great opportunity to work with me.

Class starts October 4th.
https://www.iherdonline.com/starting-your-dog-on-sheep

09/22/2025

My new course Starting Your Dog On Sheep is almost ready!

I need your help as I put the finishing touches on the course. Please take this SHORT survey 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9TKH9KW

More info about my new course can be found 👉 https://www.iherdonline.com/starting-your-dog-on-sheep

If there's anything you'd like to add, that you don't see in the survey - feel free to comment below - or message me if you are shy. ☺️

09/20/2025

We often talk about “putting miles” on a dog - or that a dog “needs miles”. We fail to mention how many of those miles are spent walking backwards! 😆 Now that Jae has shown me that she is ready for more space - we’ll spend a lot of time together just walking. Using pressure and release I’ll allow her to walk forward - rewarding her for her thoughtfulness - and I’ll walk backwards so I can guide her, let her know when she’s right…and when she can make improvements.

09/19/2025

My first herding lesson nearly killed me 😂 (lungs, sand, and a very excited dog…).

Read all about it in today’s blog 👉 https://www.iherdonline.com/blog/what-s-stopping-you

09/19/2025

I’ve been “lucky” more and more these past few years on the trial field.

My luck started changing when my mindset changed (Thanks Kathy Keats!).

I have a mantra I repeat when I go to the post (especially at the big trials - to help with my nerves).

“Put your head down and do the work.”

At the end of the day, that’s exactly what trialling is - a job that needs to be done, in the best possible manner.

When I was 14, David Wilson from Glen Lee ASH Stud said something to me that I didn’t fully understand at the time, but it’s stuck with me ever since.

“Ribbons are won at home, and collected at the show.”

Back then, I probably just smiled and continued on my horse, trying to understand what he really meant. But now, 10 years (and plenty of mistakes) later, I think I get it.

You don’t “win” anything on the day. Not really.

The ribbons, the trophies, the clean scores - they’re just the end result of all the work people don’t see.

The long days at home when things aren’t going right. The hours spent fixing the same problem over and over again. The quiet moments when you wonder if you’re even getting anywhere at all.

Lately, that phrase has come to mean even more to me in the context of this old debate that always pops up:

“Work dogs don’t make trial dogs and trial dogs don’t make work dogs.”

Honestly? I just don’t buy it.

To me, a good dog is a good dog. If they’re truly a good work dog, well-handled, thinking, calm under pressure then they should be able to get around a trial course. Maybe not at the top level straight away, but they’ll have the foundation to give it a red-hot go.

And the same goes the other way. A good trial dog should be able to step off the ute and hold their own in the paddock or yard. Maybe the work’s rougher, the stock flightier, the job less predictable but if they understand what they’ve been taught, and trust you, they’ll adapt.

That’s where the ribbons are really “won” - in the hours no one sees.

The real measure of a dog (and a handler) isn’t the trophy shelf. It’s what happens in the yards. In the dry spells. When the dog stops a break in the mob quietly, settles after weeks of rushing, or takes a breath and makes a better decision.

I think of David’s words all the time, especially when I catch myself wanting things to happen quicker than they should, or feeling disheartened after a rough run.

Just keep showing up.

Do the work at home. Build the dog properly. The ribbons will take care of themselves.

And if they don’t? You’ll still have a damn good dog and that’s worth more.

Laura.

📸: WildFrame Photography

09/18/2025

Question. Are you seeing ads on my page now?

09/18/2025

Jae, who you’ve seen in the round pen a couple of times has graduated!

Putting a foundation on in a controlled setting has built good habits - and now we can really start to have some fun!

I’ve got some exciting stuff in the works -
this session with Jae is a hint!

Don’t want to miss out? Sign up to hear about all my upcoming projects - don’t worry, I won’t spam you! ☺️

https://www.iHerdonline.com/forms/2148938007

09/17/2025

Life on a farm isn’t all puppy dogs and unicorns!

I thought I’d let you know why I haven’t been “here” as much lately.

I AM still working dogs - honestly when I work a dog I can’t think about anything else - so it’s good for my mental health.

I DO have some exciting stuff coming up for iHerd that I’ve been working on all summer and I will be sharing some of that real soon.

I really appreciate your continued support.

09/11/2025

Is this stock dog training?

Nope! This is young Shep hanging out, chewing on a tendon and basically just being a dog.

Sometimes we can get so caught up in goals, deadlines and benchmarks- that we forget why we got here in the first place.

For me, it’s a true love of dogs and the like minded people I surround myself with.

At the core is community and family. Shep is part of my family. You are part of my community.

Sure, I love to win as much as anyone - but isn’t it great to just “hang out”?

What are your thoughts? What keeps you going? Got a shot of you and your dog hanging out? Share it!

09/10/2025

You know that saying - “Sick as a dog.”?

That’s me! 🤒

And…since I’m a one woman show…I’m going to TRY and take a day or two off.

I’ve got lots of iHerdonline.com news coming.

Stick around - I’ll start sharing soon!

09/06/2025

Both Moss and Jag got letters today. Jag gripped on the drive away, and Moss gripped when I called him in on the single.

That’s dog trialling!

Chelcii and Soot didn’t run today - so she was perfect! 😉

Congratulations to Jen L’Arrivee with Sam who was first, Lee Lumb with Dez who was second, and Jennifer MacDonnel with Rip who was third - girl power! 💥🏆

Picture of clever girls Jag and Soot, and dorky boy Moss. 🤓