The Blog of Gordon Watt

Beginner and Advanced shedding clinics: 
October 25 (beginners) and October 26-27 (advanced)

Friday: October 25^th – This is a one-day beginner shedding clinic to teach dogs the basics of shedding.  A great opportunity to teach your pro-novice dog the basic principles of setting up and executing a shed.  Dogs that are entered in this clinic are not suited for the more advance clinic being offered.  Clinic will be limited to 12 dogs per day. Cost is: $125.00

Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th
This is an Advanced Shedding Clinic for dogs that are currently shedding.  We will be working on the correct techniques of shedding and an International shedding.  Clinic will be limited to 12 dogs per day. Clinic Cost: $250.00, Limited to 2 dogs per handler.

Audit Cost: $40 per day

Entries will be accepted with postmark starting on August 16^th. No early postmark entries accepted. The entry form (found below) is two pages. Please read both pages carefully.

Clinic will start at 8am with a 30-minute lunch break

Clinic spots will be filled with entries postmarked on September 23rd or later.  No early postmarked entries will be excepted.  If more than 12 entries are received, we will have a waiting list.  You will be notified by email as to your status in the  clinic. Cancellation date: October 16th. Checks cashed Oct 17th.

Click ➜ HERE for the entry form in PDF and click ➜ HERE for the entry form in Word.

Please contact Kerry Watt (bre.2002@yahoo.co.uk) with any question.

Gordon will be offering lessons at his farm in Alden/Harvard, Illinois.
Fall 2019 Lesson dates are:

October:  2, 8, 28 & 29
November: 20, 21, 22 and 25-27
December: 12, 13, 16-20

Gordon works with dogs and handlers at all stages from totally new to advanced skills. Private lessons are one-on-one sessions with Gordon where he helps guide you and your dog to the next steps.

As we get into the winter months, lessons are weather permitting.

Contact Kerry to set up your private lesson.
email: bre.2002@yahoo.co.uk
phone/text: 573-619-2393

Address and directions provided once lesson time confirmed.

Gordon will be offering lessons at his farm in Alden/Harvard, Illinois. Lesson dates are: December 18 – 23, 2018.

Gordon works with dogs and handlers at all stages from totally new to advanced skills. Private lessons are one-on-one sessions with Gordon where he helps guide you and your dog to the next steps.

Contact Kerry to set up your private lesson.
email: bre.2002@yahoo.co.uk
phone/text: 573-619-2393
Address and directions provided once lesson time confirmed.

Check the events calendar for other dates and locations for private lessons and clinics.

Gordon Watt will be offering a long list of clinics in the winter of 2018-2019. Please read through these definitions to be sure you are entering the correct level. If you have any questions, the contact information is at the end of this post.

Move Forward Clinics
For pro novice and open dogs. Dog must be capable of at least a 250 outrun and can drive a full cross drive. These clinics are designed for handlers and dogs wanting to move forward to the next class (pro novice to open) Designed for open handlers and dogs to further their trial course skills.

January 23/24
January 26-27
March 2-3
March 6/7
March 30-31
April 3/4
May 8/9
May 11-12

All “Open” Move Forward clinics held at Cedar Stone Farm, Cambridge WI

Novice Move Forward Clinics
These clinics are designed for novice handlers and dogs that compete at novice level and wanting to move forward to the next class (pro novice/ranch.)

November 24-25: Counting Ewe Farm, Raymond, Wisconsin
December 29-30: Laughing Frog Farm, Kansasville, Wisconsin
April 6-7: Nic Of Time Farm, Walworth, Wisconsin

Shedding Clinic
This clinic is for pro novice/open dogs completing at trials. This will be a basic shedding clinic to cater for handlers and dogs needs. (International Shedding clinic will be later in the spring.)

March 16-17: Cedar Stone Farm, Cambridge, WI

Judging Clinic
Judging clinic is open to all handlers. This clinic consist of is people running dogs on a course and everyone judges them. We watch and talk through them and compare points.

May 18-19: Cedar Stone Farm, Cambridge, WI

Puppy & Young Dog clinics
This clinic is designed for puppies 6 months and over. We will take dogs up to the age of 5 years. For first time puppies that need an introduction to sheep or puppies that have already started on sheep and young dogs slow starters late developing dogs.

Held at Nic Of Time Farm, Walworth, WI or Farm in Harvard, IL (Depending on weather)

Dates:
January 5-6
January 12-13
January 19-20
March 9-10

How to sign up for these clinics:
All clinics will be a cost of $230 for the 2 days with lunch included.  All clinics will be limited to 12 working spots. Auditing spots are $35 and includes lunch.

To book a slot at any of these clinics send email to bre.2002@yahoo.co.uk. In the email, state which clinic and how many dogs.

Checks made payable to: Gordon Watt sheepdogs
Mail to: PO Box 611, Lake Geneva, WI 53147

For those of you that have entered more than one clinic, individual checks for each clinic would work best please. Just put which clinic in the Memo section of the check. For weather purposes in case we should cancel, no checks will be cashed until the day before each clinic.

 

 

John and Connie Seraphine are happy to have Gordon Watt back at Heatherhope Farm, Sycamore, Illinois, and happy to invite sheepdog handlers for a clinic Thursday through Sunday, November 1-4, 2018 and again April 25-28, 2019.

Post by John Seraphine

We first had Gordon at Heatherhope in 2007, prior to his judging the Wisconsin Working Stock Dog Trial in Portage, Wisconsin, and for many years he has offered his expertise here both in early November and in April. It has been a wonder to watch him quickly get raw dogs comfortable with being in their “zone” for working sheep quietly and smoothly. It has also been a revelation to see him impart real skill and confidence to handlers—some of whom had become discouraged with past failures, only to be given new hope and motivation.

Of course, everyone has a good laugh as well. We develop thick skins as Gordon uses his Irish humor on us to keep us humble. And we even sometimes turn the tables on him and get to give him a rough time. Gordon assures us this is all a vital part of sheepdog handling.

We plan to open up 10 working slots a day for the clinic. If you get in touch via email we will keep track of you, but those slots are guaranteed on a first-come-first served basis for those who get their full $130 in for two times out with Gordon on that day. If you must pull out, refunds will be made if we can fill that slot with someone on the wait list or someone who begs for that slot at the clinic. In the past we have just about always been able to make those refunds.

The $130, or the cost for a one-time-out lesson, which is $75, or the cost of a day’s audit, which is $45, also covers the cost of a continental breakfast and a full lunch. Dinner is on your own, and a couple of nights we will go off to a restaurant with Gordon. Connie is well known for her down-home-friendly meals of breakfast and lunch. Speak up soon if you want to reserve one of a handful of camper spots on the farm, and consider slipping John a fiver for a day and night’s  electricity.

These are the most common questions asked about Clinic’s with Gordon. Here is how we handle it at Heather Hope Farm:

• Do you have to sign up for all the days? No. You pick-em.
• Is it a themed clinic? Only if “whatever you need to work on” is a theme.
• How many work spots does a person get? For us a “working spot” entails two times out with Gordon. You can go out with two different dogs or one dog two times. Keep in mind that a very young, inexperienced dog may only be able to mentally handle one time out a day.

• 

Please make contact with John Seraphine at heatherhopefarm@gmail.com, or 815-895-9736 for further information. But mail in your check payable to John Seraphine, 22417 Airport Road, Sycamore, IL 60178 to guarantee your spot. You can also see Heatherhope’s web site for directions to the farm.

We hope you can join us for the good doggy times this November and again in April.

Monday, June 18th Gordon will be offering private lessons at Cedar Stone Farm in Cambridge, WI.  This is the Monday immediately following the Cedar Stone trial.

Handlers signing up for these lessons will have a unique opportunity with Gordon. He will watch your runs during the trial and provide valuable feedback during your private lesson times. Gordon has impeccable memory and a keen eye when watching runs. During your lesson, he will help break it all down to explain what went wrong at the trial.

These lessons are perfect for handlers needing to brush up on trialing skills and to discuss how specific handling techniques can make all the difference in having a successful run.

Limited spots are available starting at noon on the 18th (morning times already taken.)

Gordon works with dogs and handlers at all stages from totally new to advanced skills. Private lessons are one-on-one sessions with Gordon where he helps guide you and your dog to the next steps.

Lessons are from 9-5 and cost $75. Several working areas including a 20 acre field.

Contact Kerry to set up your private lesson.
email: bre.2002@yahoo.co.uk
phone/text: 573-619-2393

Check the events calendar for other dates and locations for private lessons and clinics.