The Instinctive Australian Shepherd

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  

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  

Today I get to interview Rick Hardin. Rick has been influential in the working Aussie for many years. This is a great historical episode - especially those of you fellow pedigree nerds!   We have lots of pedigrees to share of the dogs Rick mentioned. I will list the time and pedigree below. Enjoy!   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 Photo Credit:  Rambling Cowgirl

Ever wonder what a dog can do to help you out on your operation? No matter how large or how small your place is, your Aussie partner can help you get the job done!  Today's episode is a very practical episode. It's just me and my mic, surrounded by my best ranch hands, talking ranch and farm dogs! I am sharing the 6 chores my dogs do around the ranch on a regular basis, plus one thing they do naturally that makes the ranch life better!  Introduction [00:30] Working Aussie Source www.workingaussiesource.com [00:   ] The value of a working dog on a farm or ranch [09:20] Chore #1 Holding Stock off feed [16:37] Chore #2 Holding Gates  [18:18] I mention Susan Boyd interview I did in Episode 7 https://theinstinctiveaussie.com/%237%3A-ranching-high-desert [20:14] Chore #3 Moving Stock around the place [29:40] Chore #4 Loading Trailers [32:57] Chore #5 Gentling Livestock / Dog Breaking  [40:55] Chore #6 Working Cattle and Sheep [46:00] Bonus Task- Protection & Loyalty - Protection and Loyalty [57:00]- How to Find a  Working Aussie  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!  Produced and edited by Jacqueline Tinker

This episode is all about the athlete Australian Shepherd. I get to interview ultra runner, Michelle Coleman. Michelle Coleman is a true southern girl, hailing from West Tennessee, but has happily settled in the beautiful Flint Hills of North East Kansas. Michelle fell in love with trails and trail racing because it was kinder to her body, and most trail race directors allow her Australian Shepherd running partner, Stella, to accompany her. She especially enjoys hitting up the trails around Clinton Lake or Wyco in Kansas City, with Stella out in front and leading the way. Michelle puts into action her belief that runners should not limit themselves to just training with their four-legged running partner, but should also race with them as well, because it's loads of fun! Michelle divides her work time between basic cancer research at Kansas State University, and being office manager for her husband's business, Coleman Electric. Along with her wonderfully supportive husband, Tony, and their active, red-headed seven-year-old son, Andrew, Michelle shares her life with three red Australian Shepherds – Stella, Deuce, and Boom. In her spare time she coaches Girls on the Run, and Andrew's baseball, soccer, and track teams. Michelle enjoys sharing her experiences running and racing with her Aussies at her blog, "Running with Reds. IntroductionRunning with your Aussie Managing behaviors in a high drive dog [18:00] "The Snake" Race [19:00] Training Your Dog Trail behaviors and commands [22:00] Equipment [24:15] Canicross [27:30] Dog Friendly Racing [31:00] Girls on the Run [34:00] Injuries [38:00] Overweight dogs [42:10] Diet and Nutrition for K9 Athletes [47:10] Selecting the healthiest dog and best breeders [50:30] Resources: https://www.hurtta.com/global_en/ https://www.cleanrun.com/ https://howlingdogalaska.com/ https://canicrossusa.org/ Join our conversation and give us feedback on Facebook and join The Instinctive Australian Shepherd private group. Our website is www.TheInstinctiveAussie.com  This episode was edited by Dorien Vogelaar. Much appreciation to her for her efforts to help me stay on track!  

This episode is packed full of nosey topics like tracking, search and rescue, skijoring and more....This is a very interesting episode if you are thinking about starting in the sport of tracking or in search and rescue!  Christine Tait is my guest this episode. She does tracking, nosework, barn hunt and search and rescue and skies with her Aussies in Alaska! We discuss all things tracking and search and rescue!  Tantalize your inner zombie with our gross conversations about human remains and body farms!  Introduction Tracking: 11:45 Certifications Testing Training Titles and courses 22:15  How to get certified 23:30 Training 26:00 Search and Rescue 27:30 HRD training 28:30 Search and Rescue Commitment  29:30 HRD zombies and body farms 33:30 Differentiating between sports 40:30 Confusing the dogs 42:00 Certification for Search and Rescue 44:45 Training and Callouts 48:00 Book I mentioned: Hero Dogs ASCA Tracking rules: https://www.asca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/trackingrules.pdf AKC Tracking information: https://www.akc.org/sports/tracking/ Clinicians I mention in this episode: Dick Staal- https://dogtrainingdickstaal.com/ Vincent Ramirez

This episode is super fun. Tanya Wheeler is an ASCA, AKC, AHBA and CKC stockdog judge with many years of trialing, judging and training experience. We talk about everything from Tanya's moose rearing experience to the controversies in the trialing arena. I appreciate Tanya's intelligence and understanding of the breed and the issues the breed faces in trialing and working worlds. Tanya has recently released an online herding program. Check it out at www.thetalkingdog.ca Join our conversation and give us feedback on Facebook and join The Instinctive Australian Shepherd private group. This episode was edited by Dorien Vogelaar. Much appreciation to her for her efforts to help me stay on track!

Today I get to interview author Sheila Pierson who incorporates an Australian Shepherd, Jax. She took a real event that happened in her hometown and following her inspiration and muse to create an exciting adventure with an Australian Shepherd. This is a bit of a different podcast...you creatives will enjoy it!  I am sorry we don't have much Aussie stuff in this podcast. I indulged my creative side and the writer in me couldn't help it! I had to talk writing.  Download Endangered in the Ozarks today.  1:00 Learning about Sheila and her dogs 17:30: About writing that first book 19:15: Transition from Leadership books to Fiction writing 23:00 Book Overview- Aussie Jax is a main character 28:00 The 80s...yep we even talk about the 80s 30:00 Review of the characters and book launches   Check out Sheila's book and her website.  www.theozarkpost.com Check out her Facebook page The Ozark Post Check out other podcast epidsodes at www.theinstinctiveaussie.com  

This episode is packed with stuff for you and your dog. I have the pleasure of interviewing Billie Richardson, who with her dog Dan, won the 2018 Calgary Stampede Stockdog Trial, making them the first Aussie team in history to be crowned the winners at the Stampede! Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npi79Z6CoLQ Billie shares her lovely heart with us and reveals a passion she has for improving the mindset of handlers and trainers everywhere. I met Billie at a stockdog clinic she presented and fell in love with her attitude and "Never Say Die" spirit.   We talk everything from trialing to dealing with pressure! It's all about dogs' minds and human minds!  Check out this inspiring podcast and go out and "Train Harder" Here are our promised reading lists. These are the books and audios that impact our lives.  Billie's Mindset Reading List: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Anything from Tim Ferriss Mindfulness Meditation by John Kabbot-Zin Nine Secrets of Perfect Horsemanship by Don Blazer Jacque's Mindset Reading List: Anything by Jim Rohn (he has books and audio recordings) Being in Balance by Wayne Dyer (I have this in Audible and listen over and over) Anything he writes is amazing The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz - Best book ever!  Check us out at www.theinstinctiveaussie.com or in our Facebook private group called "The Instinctive Australian Shepherd"

Today I interview Dave Dourson from Kinetic Performance Dog Food company. This is a great conversation to listen to no matter what kind of diet you are feeding your dogs. Dave and his partner designed a dog food that feeds the most elite canine athletes, warriors and performance dogs in the country. The Department of Defense dogs (think the military dogs that are deployed overseas and at home), many police departments and sheriff's department K-9s across the country as well as many high level performance and competition dogs are fed Kinetic Dog food. I found out about Kinetic from another podcast I listen to called Working Dog Radio and decided to investigate it myself. This is a great product, and an awesome conversation about canine nutrition. Learn how to read a dog food bag label properly. Dave shares industry insider information on what all those things on the side fo the dog food bag mean and how they can sometimes be misleading.  We discuss the nutrition needs of the performance canine athlete and working dog and how dogs create energy from food. HINT: Not the same way people do!  Dave shines a light on some not so upfront practices used in the dog food industry that you need to know about. If your dog is a performance dog, a working farm or ranch dog or you have a dog suffering from medical or skin conditions, this podcast is a must listen.  WARNING: Nerd alert! There is some science being discussed and even a little organic chemistry near the end. Don't be scared...it's all digestible (pun intended). Check us out at www.theinstinctiveaussie.com or in our Facebook private group called "The Instinctive Australian Shepherd" Links and resources: https://www.aafco.org/ dave's email: dave@kineticdogfood.com  

Today I am talking to rancher, Susan Boyd from Boyd Ranch in Mountainair, NM. Susan uses her Aussies to work rough cattle on a huge ranch in rough terrain.  This is an excellent episode highlighting the intelligence, ability and trainability of the working bred Australian Shepherd. Susan shares her experiences ranching with dogs including some great stories! She tells us how she trains her dogs and the talks about an average day on the ranch for her cattle bred Aussies. After the interview, find Susan on facebook here or her website www.boydranch.net.  Check us out on Facebook at the Instinctive Australian Shepherd and the website www.theinstinctiveaussie.com

Today we are talking dock jumping with Heidi Mobley. Heidi and her friends developed the dock jumping program for the Australian Shepherd Club of America!   Heidi shares her experience getting the dock jumping program submitted and approved as an ASCA program.   We talk about training and preparing for dock jumping competitions. And address issues like dogs who are afraid of water and how to get them to jump of the edge of the dock!   Did you know the longest Aussie jump recorded in ASCA at the time of this recording was 26 feet! Where the nub lands! Heidi gives us some great advice on how to get started in the fun and exciting new sport of dock jumping! Jump in the water's fine!   Check out the ASCA dock jumping page: https://www.asca.org/dock-jumping/ Also http://www.ultimateairdogs.com/ where you can earn dual titles.       Check us out onf Facebook at the Instinctive Australian Shepherd and the website www.theinstinctiveaussie.com

This show is extra special.... two parts in one show! Woot woot!   Part 1 of this show we discuss the Working description of the Australian Shepherd. I introduce you to the Working Description of the Aussie at Asca.org. Click here to take a look at the written description of the Australian Shepherd.   We discuss Wear, Grip, Bark and Eye as it pertains to the working Aussie.   Along with the working description I add my own personal thoughts and interpretations of the working descriptions. And you get an assignment too!   Part 2 of this show I am thrilled to introduce you to Devin O'Branagan. She is an amazing author who features Aussies as main characters in her books. This interview is hilarious fun and Devin is just a fun fun person bursting with creativity and dog loving writing skills. Join us for this fun-filled half hour of laughter where we enjoy the quirkiness and fun side of our dogs!   From vampire fighting Aussies to Shamic predictions that Aussies are spirit dogs, this episode is packed with paranormal fun and adventure.   Contact Devin here: Devinwrites.com Check out Devin's Facebook Page Here Best Friends Animal Society   Check out some of Devin's books linked below on Amazon: Threshold Show Dog Sings the Blues Glory: The Legend Begins Red Hot Novels   Don't forget to share this podcast with your friends and leave us feedback!  Check out the podcast on Facebook at The Instinctive Australian Shepherd Check out our website at: TheInstictiveAussie.com

In this episode it is my honor to interview Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor, whose family was one of the founding breeders of the Australian Shepherd. Jeanne Joy is full of interesting information and history! It is so great to hear her talk about these dogs and how they were developed and came to be the breed we know now.  If you are new to the breed, you will get valuable insight into what makes your dog tick. This is the story of where they came from and why they are so special. If you look way back into the pedigree of your dogs, there is a good chance you will find one of Jeanne Joy's dogs there.  For those of us who know the Hartnagle family, it is a great pleasure to hear these stories over and over again and to learn more about these creatures we love. The working Aussie has a rich heritage. This is one interview you won't want to miss. Jeanne Joy talks about where the Aussies came from (hint: It wasn't Australia) and how they came to be such an important part of our history as a country and played an important role in agriculture starting during the second World War.  We discuss what the original Aussie breeders looked for in a dog and how they developed through some of the founding breeders and kennels. Jeanne Joy is a published author of all things Aussie and she talks about one of her books, Stockdog Savvy. Our conversation was so interesting and engaging it went really long- so this is only Part I of this great conversation. Keep your eye out for Part II coming soon!  Subscribe to get updates at itunes, spotify, google podcast or wherever you get your favorite podcasts! Visit www.theinstinctiveaussie.com to sign up for email updates and to stay in touch. You can also join our private Facebook group "The Instinctive Australian Shepherd" to keep the conversation going. 

There is nothing more amazing and breathtaking to me than to watch a dog doing what it was bred to do! Watching and Aussie helping with farm chores or trialing at a stock dog event is definitely exciting. This podcast is dedicated to the working Australian Shepherd. In this episode, I discuss the amazing things Aussies can do, how I got into Australian Shepherds and how you can get involved in preserving this amazing creature. If you have an Aussie, your dog has a heritage. Learn about them here.

What if your Australian Shepherd's biggest superpower isn't speed or herding instinct… but their nose? In this episode of The Instinctive Australian Shepherd, host Jacque Tinker sits down with Kallie Bongtrager, a Nursery Inspector and Compliance Officer with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources—and a handler who takes her working Aussies into the field to help detect one of the most disruptive invasive pests in the U.S.: the spotted lanternfly. Kallie shares what her job looks like on the ground—inspecting nurseries, tracking plant pests and pathogens, and responding to public reports—then takes us deep into the real-world process of training detection dogs on lanternfly egg masses (including the surprising challenges: "dead" vs. "live" eggs, changing scent over time, tiny odor cones, and why trust in your dog matters more than your eyes). You'll also meet her three Aussies: Que (retired, still brilliant, still hungry) Epic (the seasoned field dog with the "freeze-and-dance" alert) River (the young trainee learning the difference between "search" and "follow my footsteps") Along the way, you'll hear a jaw-dropping story about egg masses hidden inside a woodpecker hole and under bark—found by scent alone—plus a candid look at how conservation detection work is built through experimentation, mistakes, and miles. If you've ever wondered what "a real job" for an Aussie can look like outside the ranch—or you're looking for ways to channel that busy brain into meaningful work—this one will light you up. Topics include: conservation detection dogs, spotted lanternfly impact, training aids and scent tubes, field searches on the edge of infestations, handler trust, and why mental work can tire an Aussie better than endless fetch. www.theinstinctiveaussie.com  

Join host Jacqueline Tinker on a unique journey into the world of horse and dog trail activities. In this special episode, Jacqueline interviews two passionate enthusiasts: Danielle Beumkes from the Netherlands and Kimberly Watson from Texas. Discover how this exciting sport combines the agility of dogs with the grace of horses, creating a dynamic and fun experience for both animals and their handlers. Segment Highlights: Danielle Beumkes shares her experiences from the Netherlands, where horse and dog trail activities are gaining popularity. Learn about her journey with her Australian Shepherd, Tony, and her quarter horse, Lena, as they navigate this thrilling sport. Kimberly Watson, a pioneer of the horse and dog trail program in the U.S., discusses the challenges and joys of starting this activity stateside. Discover how you can get involved and what it takes to train your dog and horse for these unique competitions. Whether you're a seasoned trainer or new to the world of horse and dog trails, this episode offers insights, tips, and inspiration to get started. Don't miss out on this engaging conversation that celebrates the bond between humans, dogs, and horses. 🔗 Join the Conversation: Connect with fellow enthusiasts on our Facebook group, "The Instinctive Australian Shepherd," and visit our website at theinstinctiveaussie.com for show notes and more. Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform to stay updated on new episodes. See you on the trail! 🐴🐶   Resource mentioned in the podcast: https://hadtrailusa.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/541735102159617 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxhVWnpg3wc&t=18s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIhqaoCtzUg

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

Yes, Virginia, a Working Ranch Dog can Trial! Join us for this fascinating discussion about working ranch dogs and trialing dogs with Tom Collins from Fruitville, Idaho. Tom and I discuss the value of a working ranch dog and the fun of the game of trialing.  This conversation morphed out of a spirited discussion in the Working Aussie Facebook group. Tom and I share the opinion that a dog can work and ranch and then go win in the trial arena.  Tom and I share the honor of winning the ASCA Stockdog Finals Cattle Champion award. My dog Copper and I won in 2022 and Tom and his dog Doc won in 2024. We discuss the excitement and thrill of winning that honor and more importantly, how valuable each of our dogs are on our ranch.  Do you have a question or are you interested in a private or virtual lesson? Reach out to Jacqueline for more information!  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!