The Instinctive Australian Shepherd

In this update episode, Jacque Tinker shares major news from the working Australian Shepherd world—plus several big announcements you won't want to miss. The episode spotlights the Working Aussie Source (workingaussiesource.com), a vetted directory built to protect and promote true working-bred Australian Shepherds for the people who genuinely need them: ranchers, farmers, grazers, and serious stockdog homes. Jacque explains the purpose and history of the Working Aussie Source, how litters are reviewed, and why preserving concentrated working genetics matters. She also dives into the return of a legendary working-dog tradition: the Futurity, revived for the first time in 20 years, and now expanded into a multi-event weekend designed to showcase real ranch work—not just arena patterns. You'll also hear updates on upcoming events, how to support the Futurity, where to find trainers and resources, and a personal announcement Jacque has been waiting a long time to share. In This Episode What the Working Aussie Source is and why it exists How breeders and litters are vetted (and why that can be controversial) Why working Aussies need a purpose—and why placement matters The return of the Futurity and what makes it different today Why Jacque raised the Futurity age and structured it around real ranch tasks Introduction of the World Ranch Dog Finals (the updated "maturity" concept) Details for the combined 2025/2026 event weekend: April 23–26, 2026 How to sponsor and support: Friends of the Futurity Training opportunities, camps, and lessons through stockdogtrainer.com Big personal news: Jacque's Copper the Ranch Dog children's book series is underway Announcements Mentioned Swag shop: australianshepherdnation.com Discount code: INSTINCT10 (10% off) Futurity + Ranch Dog Finals: April 23–26, 2026 Support the event: "Friends of the Futurity" sponsorship option on workingaussiesource.com Cattle Camp + training: stockdogtrainer.com New books coming: Copper the Ranch Dog children's book series (Book 1 in illustration now; Books 2–3 in editing

What does a real working Australian Shepherd look like in 2025? In this episode of The Instinctive Australian Shepherd, Jacque Tinker sits down with Shawn Raff, a Georgia cattleman running roughly 4,000 head across large blocks of ground—and relying daily on one exceptional Aussie: Rooster. Rooster isn't a "weekend ranch dog." He's the kind of partner most people only hear about: moving 700–800 head in a couple of hours, shifting dairy heifers pasture-to-pasture, working chutes and tubs, and staying steady on concrete where one wrong move can cost thousands. Shawn breaks down what makes Rooster different—his natural stock sense, his ability to adjust his pressure based on the type of cattle, and the stamina it takes to work all day because "there is no putting him back." You'll also hear about Rooster's temperament off the cattle—calm, social, and beloved by everyone on the operation—plus the moment Shawn realized Rooster wasn't just a good dog… he was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of dog. From "thinking dog" instincts to heat conditioning, from real-world usefulness to trial-ring differences, this conversation is a powerful reminder of what we're trying to preserve: the true working Australian Shepherd. Plus: Rooster's recognition through the Georgia Farm Bureau, including public events, interviews, and meeting state leaders—proof that working dogs still matter, and still inspire. If you care about preserving the working Aussie, this one's for you. Join the conversation: Facebook group: Instinctive Australian Shepherd Show notes + links: theinstinctiveaussie.com Here are some cool links: https://youtu.be/N6gRhdrtyUs

In this episode I am talking with Kat Farrants from the UK about her successes with her Australian Shepherds in high levels of competition. We spend our time talking about dog sports and mindset and all things Aussie competition. It's a great conversation and I am sure you will enjoy more stories about the working Australian Shepherd. Kat Farrants has owned Aussies for 25 years, and bred for 20 years. She started in obedience with Shanti, her homebred Aussie, at pre-beginners, and in just 4 years, we were working Championship Class, and were the highest placed female Aussie in the crufts Obedience Championships. Her journey with Shanti was meteoritic. She quickly made Shanti's daughter, Gracie the third female Aussie Obedience Champion in history. Gracie is the only living Aussie Obedience Champion, and the only Aussie working Championship Class. For context, Kat has now competed at the Crufts Obedience Championships Five times, and in four of those times, she was the ONLY competitor of females to not have collies. This year, Gracie's been sick, so isn't at the Crufts Obedience Championships, and there are NO DOGS OTHER THAN COLLIES competing! UK obedience is a super tough tough sport, and champions are very few and far between. It's been amazing to have the first homebred female Aussie Champions and first Mother and Daughter champions. Gracie now competes in IGP (Schutzhund) and is the only Aussie to qualify IGP3 in the UK in history, and she has competed at National level in IGP. We are working towards the qualifiers for the world championships, where she is competing against Malis and GSD's and is aiming to be the first Aussie worldwide to compete at the IGP World Championships. Kat occasionally breeds, under the Solarwind affix, and she runs the Mindset for Dog Sports Membership, she is known as the Dog Sports Coach. The secret to Kat's success? Is it's all in the mind (and with Aussies this is the most important thing of all!) Find Kat's videos and websites below: https://www.youtube.com/@Dogsportcoachkat https://www.thedogsportcoach.co.uk/ Connect with Jacqueline Tinker: Lessons, trained dogs, occasional puppies, clinics, and trials Phone number: 817-948-8825 www.stockdogtrainer.com www.intinctiveaussie.com www.workingaussiesource.com

Ok. The Big Announcement I have been teasing is here! It turns out there are 4 announcements. BIG CHANGES coming for the Working Aussie Source.... Please share with your friends. This is very pertinent if you are trialing in January! Get in on this soon.... The season runs from January 1- December 31, 2025 Special props to Trudy VanDine Viklund Bruce Nelson Kristie Franks Fernand Ghen Bhoy Opelinia and thanks to everyone who has been supporting the Working Aussie Source over the years. Kristin Tara Horowitz, I hope this makes you proud! Announcement: 1) Website Update 2) Futurity & Maturity Announcements 3) WAS Dog of the Year 4) WAS World Ranch Check it out in this video announcement. Time to let our light shine!

In this podcast episode, host Jacque Tinker interviews Jan Wyatt-Owens, who is involved with Australian Shepherds and raises bulls for rodeos. They discuss Jan's involvement with Australian Shepherds, her experiences with training and trialing her dogs, and the intelligence and versatility of the breed. Jan also talks about her experiences raising bulls for rodeos, the process of raising and training them, and the dangers and challenges involved. They touch on the development of the Hanging Tree breed and the rodeo industry as a whole. Jan also mentions her excitement about getting a new puppy and the importance of giving dogs a good life. The beginning of the podcast [00:00:08] Introduction to the podcast and the goal of preserving the working Australian Shepherd breed. Jan's introduction and involvement with Australian Shepherds [00:01:34] Jan talks about how she got into the breed and her experiences with Australian Shepherds as working dogs. Jan's experiences with show dogs [00:04:32] Jan discusses her journey into the confirmation ring and her experiences with show dogs, including her champion show dog and the versatility of Australian Shepherds. The intelligence and reasoning abilities of Australian Shepherds [00:10:17] Discussion about how Australian Shepherds are intelligent and can reason, and how they can quickly learn from experiences. Raising rodeo bulls and the dangers involved [00:11:54] Conversation about the risks and dangers of raising rodeo bulls, including personal experiences with bulls causing harm. Competition and money in the rodeo bull industry [00:14:29] Explanation of the registration and competition process for rodeo bulls, including the importance of identification tags and the various events and prize money available. The challenges of raising rank bulls [00:20:53] Jan Owens discusses the difficulties of raising rank bulls and the shift towards rider-friendly bulls in the PBR. Training and handling rank bulls [00:23:46] Jan Owens talks about the importance of training and handling rank bulls, including the need for them to have good manners and be able to handle well. The use of flank ropes in bull riding [00:28:43] Jan Owens explains the purpose and technique behind using flank ropes in bull riding, emphasizing the importance of allowing the bull to kick freely. The Bulls' Athleticism [00:30:14] Discussion about the athleticism and care of bulls used in rodeos. Exposing Bulls to Dogs [00:33:35] The importance of exposing bulls to dogs from a young age and the role of dogs in handling the bulls. Impressive Working Dogs [00:37:15] Praising the skills and abilities of working dogs, specifically mentioning a dog named Dude and his impressive performance. The intelligence and versatility of Australian Shepherds [00:40:07] Jan Owens discusses how certain dogs, like Black Bear and Dude, took working dogs to the next level in terms of their intelligence and savvy. The confusion between Hanging Tree dogs and Australian Shepherds [00:41:02] Jacque Tinker explains the confusion that can arise when discussing Hanging Tree dogs, which were bred by crossing Australian Shepherds with other breeds, and Australian Shepherds themselves. The characteristics and variety of Hanging Tree dogs [00:42:01] Jackie Tinker and Jan Owens discuss how Hanging Tree dogs do not breed true and have a wide variety of appearances and working styles, making them not yet a true breed. The Rodeo Partnership [00:50:05] Jan Owens discusses the partnership opportunities in rodeo, similar to racehorse ownership, where people can co-own bulls and watch them compete. Owning Bulls and Broncs [00:50:42] Jan Owens explains how individuals can get involved in rodeo by owning or co-owning bulls, broncs, or heifers. Touring the Ranch [00:51:54] Jacque Tinker plans a field trip to Jan Owens' ranch to explore the rough country, see the bucking horses, and learn more about rodeo.

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 tears. In this episode, Brad shares advice on how he trains his therapy dogs, and about the Canine Good Citizen test, which is an expert-made training program designed to help you and your dog be the best you can be–together. Brad's mini farm is a prime place to raise and train Aussie's. He has been breeding Aussies for almost 20 years, striving to produce top quality Aussies which are both intelligent and healthy. His breeding stock is registered with either ASCA and/or AKC. He believes in the health of the dog. His dogs are on regular heartworm prevention, flea and tick control and have all the appropriate vaccinations. When they turn two, they go in for hip exams and get OFA certified. His dogs are not only working dogs but make lifelong companions. Connect with Brad: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bradford.w.hawkins Website: https://www.barknstomp.com Connect with Jacqueline Tinker: www.stockdogtrainer.com www.intinctiveaussie.com www.workingaussiesource.com

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 interesting. Woody was originally given to another owner, but after the owner gave him up, Joe stepped up and welcomed him into his life. One day when Joe was herding, his cow attacked him, only to be saved by Woody. He was injured, but Woody saved his life. Jacque and Joe also talk a lot about training their dogs to work with sheep, especially the stubborn ones. Dogs make mistakes, but as you spend more time with them, they learn and get used to different types of animals. No matter how much instinct they have, the Austrailian Shepherds still have to have an understanding of their duties. Joe says dogs really have everything they need to know inside of them, it's just like training a person you work with. He is a big proponent of allowing dogs to figure out things for themselves. This allows the dog to use their mind, make their own decisions, and be more proactive of the needs of their tasks. It may not go well the first couple of times, but once they learn more and do not need to be told what to do, it can save the situation. What separates Aussies from other dogs is the way they think. This episode really shares that what they can learn is unlimited. Link to Woody's Farm Dog of the Year video https://vimeo.com/309145572 Connect with Jacqueline Tinker: Lessons, trained dogs, occasional puppies, clinics, and trials Phone number: 817-948-8825 www.stockdogtrainer.com

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 see their true intelligence. A chain behavior is a multiple set of behaviors that a dog must do all of them, in order, for the dog to get the reward. Élise is also working with an explosion detection dog, a shepherd named Roberta. Élise keeps up on her training and works on a lot of nose work (scent detection) with her. When training, she says it's easy to get stuck in the frame of "this dog is not understanding the training" but Élise realized she needed to take a step back and train them based on what works for them. Élise focuses on shaping the behavior. She starts with a goal in mind, and rather than have them follow a treat, she teaches them the process. She likes letting the dog be creative so they can figure out the system, rather than just going through the systems. Élise has 2 "full-time" dogs with whom she focuses on obedience and agility training. Connect With Elise Saint-Pierre: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Élise.saintpierre.7 Dig It Dogs Canine Services: https://www.facebook.com/DigItDogsCanineServices Website: https://www.digitdogs.ca/ Connect with me, Jacqueline Tinker: Lessons, trained dogs, occasional puppies, clinics, and trials Phone number: 817-948-8825 www.stockdogtrainer.com www.intinctiveaussie.com www.workingaussiesource.com

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 of Aussies when she got her first sheep. She was trialing and training her dogs, but realized she was missing all the good stuff that happens when you do it "the right way". When you don't focus on the main end goal, you get to experience all the little goals, which she found was way more fun for her. She knew she wanted to continue taking her dogs to competitions, but she needed a break. She had to take a step back to find more joy for not only herself but her dogs as well. We discuss 'clinic hopping' and changing techniques. I suggest finding one mentor and mastering one method before finding another method to experiment with. Kathi is a fantasy author. Growing up, she spent a lot of time in the library with her librarian mother. Her newest book Bound In Shadow is available now on her website or on Amazon. Connect with me, Jacqueline Tinker: Lessons, trained dogs, occasional puppies, clinics, and trials Phone number: 817-948-8825 www.stockdogtrainer.com www.intinctiveaussie.com www.workingaussiesource.com www.australianshepherdnation.com Connect with Kathi: Kathi's Website: https://shadowdanceaussies.com/ Kathi's Author Website: http://klschwengel.com/ Kathi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadowdance_farm/ Kathi's Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/K.L.-Schwengel/e/B00ALKNP42%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

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.youtube.com/watch?v=IyG5vpFAB2c

Today we are talking about those naughty Aussie puppies and dogs! My guest, expert dog behaviorist and trainer, Sarah Dixon and I offer solutions to puppy behaviors and adult Aussie behaviors. This is part 2 of our awesome conversation about puppy training and adult dog training. Topics of this conversation: -Crate training puppies (dos and don'ts) -Overprotective Aussie behavior -Relationship building behaviors -Dog sports for relationship building Should you really get an Aussie in the first place? How to meet the Aussie's needs. Choosing the right breeder for your Australian Shepherd. Check out Sarah Dixon's resources for aggression and fearful. http://odysseyanimalbehavior.com/ Want to share your Aussie stories on the podcast? Go to www.theinstinctiveaussie.com and click on the big orange button and share your best Aussie stories with us! Edited by: Dorien Vogelaar 2021 Copyright 2021- The Instinctive Australian Shepherd www.theinstinctiveaussie.com

You thought the first episode was good? Part 2 of Around the Campfire with Larry and Glenda Teaff is even better! These two are such amazing story tellers. Re-join the conversation and learn about dog training and great dogs. Larry talks about how to judge power on a dog and what a dog has to do to be strong on cattle. Learn how to start dogs on cattle with a mature dog. Those of you who run under Larry as a judge should really listen to this. He shares what he wants to see in a trial dog as well as what is necessary to have in a ranch dog or ranch dog pair. These stories of amazing dogs and what they have taught us are inspiring and heartwarming. The philosopher in Larry pops out too! I love these two so much and this conversation will give you a hint about why! Edited by: Dorien Vogelaar 2020 Copyright 2020- The Instinctive Australian Shepherd www.theinstinctiveaussie.com

Today's guest represents 3 generations of working Aussie breeding. Beth Crandall visits the show to talk about her family's line of working dogs. This episode is just jam packed with great working dog information, ranching talk and dog training. This is one of those easy listening conversations about dogs that allows me to appreciate a working Aussie even more. Looking for a working Aussie? Check out the list of proven working breeders at https://workingaussiesource.com/listing-by-name/ Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss an episode! Edited by: Dorien Vogelaar Links: Farm Bureau Dog of the Year! https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty