Training young sheepdogs: Interview with Joni Tietjen

The Kathy Keats Show

Training a young sheepdog is hard, especially to train them to listen but still keep that natural feel and be able to think. In this episode, I get to sit down and chat with Joni Tietjen, a top trainer with a passion for starting and bringing on outstanding young stock dogs.

We talk about training with feel, using the stock to teach, the direction of trialing, and so much more! Joni was incredibly open and authentic—you'll love this interview!

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More about Joni:

Joni has qualified for USBCHA sheep dog finals every year and been in the top 10 National open and nursery finals with numerous dogs. Joni and her dog Ben were the first to capture the National Nursery Championship in consecutive years. 2016-2017

She has also been Reserve champion at Meeker, Soldier Hollow, and has finished in the top 5 at Kingston and the Bluegrass.

Joni has fairly recently turned to cattledog trials and is enjoying success there as well, winning Reserve champion in the USBCHA Cattledog final 2021 and then MSSA Ultimate Stockdog champion in 2021.

Music: Put the Good Stuff In by Studio Monkey with permission