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Overview
Why buy from us?
If you or the country lover in your life has a keen interest in the “One Man And His Dog” trials that air annually on Countryfile, then this unique and hands-on Border Collie Experience day will get you learning how to work with livestock with just a whistle and man’s best friend in your toolkit! Located on a working farm in the grounds of Launde Abbey in East Norton, Leicestershire, your host and expert for the day will be Nij Vyas, the internationally renowned Border Collie handler, trainer and author. With over 30 years of experience, Nij and his dog Todd were part of England’s five strong team who won the team event at the World Sheepdog Trials in the Netherlands in 2017, so you’re going to be under the tutelage of the very best. As you’ll learn, herding sheep isn’t just a sport - it’s an essential part of day to day life on most working farms. Your day will start with you meeting the dogs. Border Collies are an eager breed, and relish in their role as farmer’s sheepdog. The pack includes Jake, Spot, Skye and Mac. And building harmony between you, them and the sheep is what makes this so special to witness out in the field. You’ll also gain insight into how young pups are trained in the training pen from age 7 months, progressing from excitable young scamp to fully trained champion sheepdog. You’ll learn the basic whistle commands - and see exactly how the Collies respond to these whilst performing their duties with panache. It’s not as easy as it looks, but under Nij’s tutoring, you’ll end the day calling commands and being able to get the sheepdog to carry out moves such as flanking left or right, stopping in standing or down positions, and outrunning and gathering sheep. This stirring day in the country will help develop the special bond between man and his canine companion - and after a day around the field, it’ll keep you both fit as a butcher’s dog!
Learn the traditional art of shepherding
Meet the sheepdogs and have a training session
Superb surrounding countryside
Runs on selected weekdays and weekends
Learn the traditional art of shepherding with Nij Vyas and his team of sheepdogs
Arrival and Welcome over coffee and cake
Meet the sheepdogs
Demonstration of sheepdog skills
Training sessions with an experienced Dog
Learn to use a sheepdog whistle (time permitting)
Please allow approximately 4 ½ hours onsite
Courses run from 10am - 2.30pm with a break for lunch (not included)
You will form part of a small group of up to 5 participants
Under 18s must be accompanied by a participating adult
A good, general level of fitness is required
This activity is not suitable for spectators however guests may join Nij during the lunch break
Selected weekdays and weekends throughout the year
Weekends are popular so plenty of advance notice may be required
Suitable waterproof outdoor clothing and boots should be worn
Clients dogs are not permitted on site
Accommodation can be provided upon request when booking
Our ethos is that your 'experience' should begin from the moment you first browse the site and we can deliver this because of:
- once you buy a voucher you are not then left to book the experience yourself. We handle your booking from A-Z, not only providing online dates but also dealing with the supplier to secure your date. Even after you have had your experience, we will ask you for a review of the event to ensure everything went ok.
- Our core staff have been working in the industry since 2004 and have all the experience necessary to deliver the experience that is perfect for you.
- Each venue and provider has been vetted by us and reviewed by our customers meaning we can give you honest, unbiased advice about what you are ordering.
- We have 3 lines of communication; phone, chat and email and our customer service centre is open 6 days a week. The average answer time for our call centre to answer is 20 seconds and we have a vast help section where you should be able to find any answer online.
- Once you have chosen a date, we will help to ensure that you get the confirmation in time for your event and if need be we will liaise with the supplier on your behalf if there is a problem.
- After each event we invite our customers to review the venue and the provider. This valuable feedback is then used to improve our service and also made public to other customers considering the same event. As a returning customer you will be eligible for a trackdays.co.uk discount code to use on your next purchase.
Border Collie Experience Near Me
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Leicestershire
Customer Reviews for the Border Collie Experience
Click here to see our customer reviews.
Jock Gardner
A truly wonderful day. Nij is not only a shepherd who cares for his sheep and dogs intelligently. He is also a superb communicator who does not speak down to those undergoing the experience.
The sheer magic of that moment when the dog reacts properly to the direction given by an amateur is difficult to recapture.
A truly excellent experience - thank you
G Gould
Good day out in beautiful surroundings.nij and the dogs were brilliant to watch working together.
David Harrison
This was a very enjoyable experience. Host Nij was very welcoming and knowledgeable and presented the experience in a very relaxed and informative way. Thoroughly enjoyed getting involved and would definitely recommend.
Alan Stewart
Great day with Nij and his sheepdogs. He's a very succesful trialist and the partnership with his dogs is absolutely amazing to see. There's plenty of information as to what's happening and why, all within friendly and patient chat. It was fun to have a go at verbal commands myself. I'd recommend this experience to anyone interested in country pursuits.
Jonathan Herbert
My wife and I had a superb day with Nij and his border collies. Nij's passion for his craft shone through and the bond between him and his dogs was a pleasure to behold up close. We even had the opportunity to round up the sheep with the dogs ourselves, which was an amazing experience.
Sue Flude
I had a brilliant day with Nij and his dogs. It was amazing watching the dogs working with the sheep to fulfil Nij's commands and quite exciting when I was able to have a go myself.
Gary Trow
So much fun and a knowledgeable host,this experience was amazing to see and with some hand's on experience made the day more enjoyable,great rural and scenic surrounding,
David Ballington-Graham
Fantastic day with Nij and his dogs. Fabulous setting at Laund Abbey his dogs had the sheep barking to their tune. We both enjoyed the day not to be missed if you like seeing dogs enjoying themselves doing what they are breed for. A Valentines present we both loved
Carole
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience day. The trainer was a really lovely man and explained everything to me in great detail. He told me exactly what to do and when so I felt confident all day. We spent lunch time together and chatted like old friends. I said at the begining of the day what I was wanting to do and it worked out really well.
Rosie Harkness
This was an experience for my husband's b'day. He thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Kevin Gavin
14 October 2024
This was an exceptionally good day out with a professional trialler,Nij was an absolute delight to be with,friendly, welcoming, helpful and obviously is a man at the top of his game, his Dogs were gems to be with and worked very well together, I would recommend this to absolutely anyone who has an interest in this but has never taken the steps yet,to see all of this in action up close and personal makes for a very satisfying day out
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