Sheepdog Demonstrations

My journey with working dogs began six years ago with Wilson, a puppy we brought with us when we moved over from Belgium. Like many first dogs, he taught me a lot, but it quickly became clear that he wasn't going to become the kind of sheepdog I would need for the work I was doing. 

As I had left my engineering career after relocating, I started helping local farmers in exchange for the opportunity to learn more about sheep and working dogs. Before long, those same farmers kept asking me to come back, and what began as a way to gain experience soon grew into a full-time career as a contract shepherd.

As the work increased, it quickly became clear that I needed more than one dog. That's when Faye joined the team. She came to me fully trained at seven years old and completely changed my expectations of what a great sheepdog could be. She set the standard that every dog since has been measured against.

Over the following years, both the work and the team continued to grow. Alongside contract shepherding, I found a real passion for training young dogs. I now train dogs for other people as well, and occasionally sell young dogs that may not suit my own system but have all the qualities to become excellent working dogs in the right home.

In January 2025, my wife and I bought our own hill farm, Lurgan Farm, a milestone that had been a long-term ambition. Having a hill farm means the dogs always have meaningful work to do, and the varied, challenging ground provides the perfect environment to train and develop them to a high standard. It's demanding work, but that's exactly what I enjoy, and it's what drives me to keep improving both as a shepherd and as a dog trainer.

Today, I keep around twelve working dogs, with three or four puppies coming through each year to ensure there's always a new generation learning from the experienced dogs. Watching young dogs develop into reliable working partners is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

No two dogs are the same, and that's what makes working with them so interesting. In an ideal world, one dog would do every job perfectly and never get injured, but the reality is that every dog has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some excel on the hill, some are exceptional in closer quarters, and others have the power and confidence needed for more challenging work. Understanding those strengths and matching each dog to the right task is a huge part of successful shepherding.

When I give demonstrations, I usually like to bring three or four dogs, each showing different skills and working styles. Together, they demonstrate just how versatile and intelligent a well-trained sheepdog can be.

I was raised with a farming background and worked as an agricultural consultant for 14 years before deciding to return to more practical farming. Like many farming families, I always had working collies around me, but everything changed in 2015 when I got a young Border Collie who became much more than a pet. Training her sparked a passion that I never expected and set me on a completely new path.

In 2018, I moved to Perthshire and, now with three collies by my side, decided to start contract shepherding. Since then, I have travelled around the beautiful Scottish countryside with my dogs, gathering sheep on the hills, working stock, helping with lambing, and training the next generation of working dogs.

All of my dogs have been bought as puppies and trained by me from the beginning. The process of training working sheepdogs has taught me far more than shepherding would have alone. It has taught me patience, loyalty, consistency and perseverance, while also helping me discover skills and confidence that I never knew I had. Every puppy is different and each one has taught me something new along the way.

Alongside my day-to-day work, I enjoy sheepdog trialling. For me, trialling is less about winning (although winning is also nice!) and more about assessing where my dogs are in their training and identifying areas for improvement. 

Today, my team consists of nine collies ranging from young pups to a lovely old retiree. Penny is the youngest at seven months old, followed by Wren at eighteen months. Tess is two years old, while Tris and Brae are both two and a half. Aida is six, Nellie seven, Dottie nine, and Mr Bug, the oldest and wisest member of the team, is ten and a half years old.

I consider myself very lucky to be able to do what I do. Together, they are not only my working partners but also a constant reminder that there is always something new to learn, both from sheep and from dogs.

I work across both businesses here at Lurgan Farm, mostly within the veterinary practice but also supporting the day-to-day running of the farm and helping wherever I'm needed.

In November 2025, my husband and I made the move to Highland Perthshire, and it has been one of the best decisions we've made. Since arriving, I've been warmed by how welcoming both the local community and the farming community have been. There's always someone willing to offer advice, share their experience, or lend a hand, and I've learned so much already from the people around me. 

Before moving into large animal practice, I worked solely in the small animal veterinary industry. It has meant a steep learning curve but I've always loved being outdoors, staying active, and challenging myself with new goals.

Although I'd had a very beloved Border Collie before, I'd never had the opportunity to work him but always wanted to try it. Now I have been gifted a young collie, Ayla, from the farm and I'm so excited to begin our training journey together. Watching her develop and learning alongside her has been incredibly rewarding, and I'm looking forward to seeing how we both progress over the coming years.

Every day brings something new to learn, and that's one of the things I enjoy most about life on the farm.