06/19/2025
Today we are shining the spotlight on Catherine Hadley one of our Blue track Stock Dog instructors:
Catherine saw a herding trial at the age of 8 and decided that’s what she wanted to do. Despite almost always having a herding breed in her life, Catherine was never allowed to have sheep, and had to wait until she moved to Alaska to buy a farm and have her own stock. Due to the lack of trainers in Alaska, Catherine’s early training was done with books and videos, with the occasional lesson or clinic from trial judges. Many plane trips later to the Lower 48, Aurora became Alaska’s first AKC Herding Champion and eventually completed a WTCH and HTCH.
In 2022, Catherine moved to Casper, Wyoming for the chance to train and trial throughout the year. That proved to be a wise decision, and Catherine and Nessie were the 2025 National Western Stock Show Sheep Champions. Catherine enjoys working with new handlers and dogs and loves the “lightbulb” moments when it all clicks. Catherine raises and trains Border Collies and Aussies, but has trained and trialed many breeds to include corgis, shelties, Rotties, Samoyeds, and even Boxers. Catherine is currently an AHBA herding judge and AKC Farm Dog Certifier and CGC Evaluator. She is working towards an AKC herding judge. She also participates in obedience, rally, and agility.
