There is no shortage of sheep dogs being bred. However, a bonny sheep herding dog is another matter.
Talk to ranchers who are using dogs and ask them about their dogs. You'll likely get a name or two to start with.
Check out Agriculture Production shows and publications. Often where there is livestock gathered there is someone who uses stock dogs or knows where to find a sheep herding dog.
The internet The Internet may seem like an obvious search point but caution is warranted. We've noticed that those breeding and raising working ranch dogs are rarely those who are bothered with the internet. Their dogs typically sell by word of mouth.
Trial Dogs Give the dogs who are current trial champions a second combing over. Said dog may be a great sheep herding dog indeed, just make sure his repertoire includes ranch work because if you're a rancher in the business of raising sheep, then you have more than three of them for the dog to work. If you're smitten by a particular trial dog find out how the dog works in a ranch setting as well.
Breeders If the breeder comes out with a long list of titles, and sells puppies primarily to sport (agility and flyball) homes, consider going elsewhere. This doesn't necessarily mean the breeder has poor dogs but raising dogs for the sake of sport titles indicates they really don't have a ranchers needs and best interest at heart.
Should I buy a puppy or an adult?
Puppies are a great deal of work, especially pups bred to work. They're not mature enough to work livestock but need to bond with you and learn how to behave around house, ranch and livestock.
You want the pup to grow up to be your sidekick. Developing such a trusting partnership with a youngster will take patience and skill as well as a little luck in selecting the right pup in the first place.
An adult dogwill have been raised by someone else saving you all the angst of puppy raising.
Before you decide to buy, you can get a feel for what the adult dog is like and if it will suit your personality. The upside is adult dogs will be ready to train or be put to work. The downside is they may come with some habits you don't like or don't suit your situation. These habits will be harder to diminish.
If you like the idea of starting with a puppy yet don't favour the prospect of raising a pup consider asking someone else to background the pup for you. Back-grounding means someone else will do the puppy raising work for you. They will keep and rear the pup for you until it is mature enough for training.
How much can I expect to pay for a sheep herding dog
Good ranch dogs are rare gems so expect to pay more for them and consider it an investment.
Besides, you'll be hard pressed to find a piece of equipment or hire human help that is ready to go at the tip of a hat, knows how to move sheep better than you, can be fueled by kibble and rarely complains about the work, for the same price as a good stock dog.
Plus, learning solid stockmanship and handling your sheep in a low stress manner as dogs can, will only beef up your bottom line in the long run.
Prices will vary according to the country and the area you're in. Here are some guidelines for the Saskatchewan area:
Puppy - expect to pay several hundred dollars for a pup from notable working lines ($400 to $600)
Started dogs - typically have several weeks training thus know the basics well. Expect to pay in the price range of $800 to $2000
Fully trained dogs have many hours of training and experience and come will all the skills needed to go to work. You'll likely spend $3000-$5000 for such dogs.
Sending your dog elsewhere to be trained for you. This price varies with the individual trainer and amount of training you require but budget somewhere in the $1500 - $3000 range on top of the purchase price of the pup.
I've purchased a dog, now what do I do?
No matter what route you take in purchasing your sheep herding dog you'll need more training than the dog.
Since you've paid a few pennies for him you'll want to start that pup on the right foot.
If you purchase a started, fully trained sheep herding dog or have your dog trained by someone else it will be in your best interest to learn how to work the dog.
Include in your budget some funds for lessons or attending training clinics.
If you live in a remote rural area then clinics are your best bet. Clinics are typically two or three day events so it makes it worth your travel time.
If you live closer to populated areas you may be lucky enough to find a trainer closer at hand, who offers regular lessons.
If you haven't trained a sheep herding dog before then it's pretty hard to know if the training you're paying for is worth it.
Search out someone who is doing what you wish to do. That is, using dogs on their ranch.
The better trainers will come with several recommends. Otherwise, trust your gut. If the methods seem over the top, too complex to practice at home or seem too harsh look elsewhere.
To find leads for training, once again check the places where livestock are gathered, someone is likely to know trainers in the area. As well you can often find several sources on line.
If you happen to ranch in Saskatchewan, Dog Tale Ranch often hosts one or two herding events each year. We also know a few names to recommend if you're searching for quality training for yourself and your dog. Just use our contact form to reach us with your request.
Good ranch dogs are rare gems so expect to pay more for them and consider it an investment. 
