Churchmount Working Sheepdogs – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Churchmount Working Sheepdogs

Churchmount Sheepdogs

Kids & Family

Frequency: 1 episode/1d. Total Eps: 16

Welcome to the Churchmount Working Sheepdogs podcast. In this series, I interview handlers and experts from Ireland and around the world about their experiences. The series aims to spark new ideas for training and handling and to share both my experiences and the experiences of my guests. You can support us on Patreon: patreon.com/churchmountsheepdogs and keep up to date on our website at: churchmountsheepdogs.ie. The series is in part sponsored by Away With Dogs, a new Sheepdog Trial YouTube series. Find out more at awaywithdogs.co.uk.

Read moreCollapse

Site

RSS

Apple

Data updated on 12/08/2026

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - Pets & Animals
13/08/2026
#89
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Pets & Animals
12/08/2026
#76
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Pets & Animals
05/08/2026
#74
🇨🇦 Canada - Pets & Animals
27/07/2026
#98
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Pets & Animals
24/07/2026
#99
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Pets & Animals
11/07/2026
#69
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Pets & Animals
13/06/2026
#88
🇨🇦 Canada - Pets & Animals
09/06/2026
#84
🇨🇦 Canada - Pets & Animals
08/06/2026
#36
🇨🇦 Canada - Pets & Animals
01/06/2026
#83

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

https://www.patreon.com/churchmountsheepdogs
16 shares

http://www.holmgaarderik.dk/
1 share

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 32%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

In conversation with Nigel Watkins - No Holds Barred

Friday, September 11, 2020 • Duration 37:44

This is a very frank interview! Someone said to me that they have heard all the Churchmount interviews on soundcloud and that this one is by far the best. This one is where the world renowned Nigel Watkins is talking sheepdogs. Nigel is true to form with no holds barred!

Nigel tells me about how Foot and Mouth disease closed down sheepdog trials in 2001. But it was different then because trials could reopen at any time. ‘Nobody knew when, nothing was cancelled’ . Whereas this time with the Covid, everything is cancelled for the year. Nationals, International and the World Trial are all cancelled.

In this interview, Nigel goes on to talk about trialling and judging internationally. he talks about how preparation is very important now and how all the top handlers prepare their dogs for sheepdog trials.

Support the Show.

Read moreCollapse

In conversation with Dr Viola Hebeler - A veterinary surgeon’s approach to sheepdog training

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 • Duration 18:19

What trails does a veterinary surgeon look for in a sheepdog? I first met Dr Viola Hebeler back in 2015 and the European Nursery Championship. I was attracted to her dog’s way of working and got to see him run again in the final there.

Viola works as a veterinary surgeon yet finds time to train her dogs to compete at continental and world-class competition.

In this interview Viola explains how she got started with working sheepdogs, the traits she looks for in a dog, where she gets her dogs from and the type of training facilities she uses.

Support the Show.

Read moreCollapse

In conversation with Mirjam Lettner - Austrian sheepdog handler

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 • Duration 40:29

In this interview Mirjam talks about how she got started in sheepdogs. To my surprise, I discovered that she was a city girl growing up. She had no exposure to livestock and didn’t even own her first dog until she was 24. Mirjam describes what it was like to start out as an Austrian sheepdog handler and explains how it came about that she followed her passion to Ireland.

This is a great example of what it is possible to achieve in this sport regardless of whether you have any relevant background experience or not. Mirjam talks about what she likes in the character of a dog. She tells me what it was like to compete in the Irish National and to almost win it. She also explains how her preparation for the International greatly helped her on the day.

Support the Show.

Read moreCollapse

In conversation with Alastair MacRae - The MacRae Way

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 • Duration 50:37

What does it take to achieve success in sheepdog training and competitions? I was lucky enough to talk to Alastair Mac Rae about qualities in successful dogs and the mindset and ambition of a top handler.

The plan was to make a 15-minute interview. however, the conversation broadened a bit and we went for nearly an hour and a half! In the end, I decided to make it a 3 part conversation.

Support the Show.

Read moreCollapse

In conversation with Erik Holmgaard - Insights from a world class handler

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 • Duration 09:14

Erik is a world class handler but he is the kind of trainer who adjusts his training and thinking to whatever dog he is working with. Erik also shares his knowledge and experience, by giving lessons to handlers at his training centre in Denmark and also doing a number of clinics internationally every year.

Support the Show.

Read moreCollapse

In conversation with James McGee - Talking focus, staying inside the boundaries and hitting the goal in sheepdog training

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 • Duration 36:32

Like alot of people, I know that James is a top handler. I know that he has won an International Supreme and a World Trial. What i didn’t know is that he won the second National that he ever ran in and then went on to come 2nd to Neil McVicar and Spot in the 2005 International. I didn’t know that James had won 3 Nationals and has been placed highly in many Supreme finals. I was there to see him in 2015 in Scotland when he placed in the top 5 with Silver. I was in Scotland again last year to see him place 3rd with his 17 month old Jess.

I called James McGee the day before yesterday and I asked him if he would give us an interview for our handler podcast. It was very short notice but James kindly agreed. ”Give me a call this evening after dark” he said. I had never spoken more than a couple of sentences before this with James. I am probably his opposite because I never prepare for anything, so I was feeling suitably nervous! I needn’t have been.

Support the Show.

Read moreCollapse

In conversation with Serge Van Der Sweep - Preparing for the World Sheepdog Trial

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 • Duration 45:49

In this interview I asked Serge Van Der Zweep to give me some insight into how he got started. He discusses which handlers influenced him the most, what advice would he give an open handler and how he prepares for a World Sheepdog Trial Final.

Serge is one of those handlers who are not dependent on that one good sheepdog coming along and instead, for over 20 years, he has been able to keep coming up with world-class sheepdogs.

Serge’s ideas and opinions are not necessarily rules to go by, but they are definitely ideas to digest and consider. I always find it easy to follow someone who can ‘walk the walk’ in these days of talking the talk.

Support the Show.

Read moreCollapse

In conversation with Con McGarry - renowned Irish handler

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 • Duration 33:32

I am fortunate in that I often find myself in conversation with Con McGarry. Last year we traveled together to the European Nursery Championship in Holland. We were due to travel again to it this year but of course, Covid19 changed all our plans. That said, I did get to travel with Con and two other directors, to ISDS meeting in Kendall in early February. It is always very enjoyable to travel with Con because he is a well of funny anecdotes and very amusing jokes.

Support the Show.

Read moreCollapse

In conversation with Ian O'Carroll - Glan Y Gors Sheepdogs

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 • Duration 13:58

I was on my way to the ISDS directors meeting and I called to collect my dog Bruce from Ian. Ian stands sheepdogs for stud at his kennels. He keeps Serge Van Der Zweep's Gary and James McGee's Sid /Seth and people bring their border collie female bitches to be mated to these champion trial dogs. Ian breeds and ships border collie working sheepdog pups all over the world.

Support the Show.

Read moreCollapse

In conversation with Aled Owen - Foot & Mouth and discontinued trials

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 • Duration 29:35

I know that I don’t need to remind you of the gravity of the situation we are facing at present with this virus. However, I think that as sheepdog enthusiasts, we are very lucky in that at least we can escape from the news into our own dog world for a while.

Back in 1999, I remember being at the International and seeing Aled win Supreme Champion with Roy in Trawsgoed. In 2000 I saw him win the Supreme again in Armathwaite, but with Bob. (I was there this time myself, as a member of the Irish team!) Those were tremendous achievements and as we know he would go on later to add two more Supremes and two World Trials to the list. For me, I think the really interesting achievement was how he came back after the 2001 gap to win the very first World Trial in Bala in 2002.

So it was great to get talking with Aled Owen and find out what he did 2001. How did he retain his focus or did he set new goals to get through the year? I know that when I got out of the habit of trialing that I lost my focus and I left sheepdogs in 2001. I didn’t come back until 2015. (I don’t want that to happen with me this time.)

Support the Show.

Read moreCollapse

Churchmount Working Sheepdogs – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Churchmount Working Sheepdogs – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Patreon1

Other1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Patreon1

Other1

Apple Podcasts

Spotify