Performance Dogs In Action is a highly qualified facility offering dog training with a focus on herding instincts. The experienced owner and trainers provide a positive learning environment for dogs of all levels. The program includes hands-on herding experiences with goats, sheep, and pigs, guided by the trainer. The facility boasts a beautiful property with walking paths and a water feature for dock diving. Dog owners have praised the trainers' expertise and the enjoyable experience for their dogs.
We had heard about places nearby the Bay area where dogs could herd livestock and after doing some research, I found Performance Dog in Action located right outside of Sacramento. After texting Nola my dog's information, she slotted us for a 15 minute evaluation. It's $40 cash for her to train Maple on how to herd goats and also get some energy out of her. The whole location was very dog friendly with obstacle courses and even a manmade pond for dogs to cool off in. Nola recommended us to have Maple soak in the pool before her herding evaluation and it was a great idea because she pretty much dried off during half of the evaluation. Maple was a bit nervous, so she used her barking to herd the dogs initially. After a couple minutes, she used her movements to herd the goats and even chased one goat that left the pack. We were a little embarrassed with how much Maple barked in the beginning but she almost got it at the end! Nola is super patient, corrected Maple, and encouraging! Highly recommend reaching out to Nola to see if this is a good fit for your dog. We really enjoyed it!
Our dog loved it here! Yes the trainer is pretty old school and may yell at your dog, we didn't mind. Our dog respected her. We went for a Sunday when you bring your dog to "check on their herding instincts." It was great! Approximately 20 minutes our dog got to run around and herd the goats with instructions from the trainer. She had a little flag that she held which let our dog know if he was doing something incorrectly. The property itself is very nice, we got to walk around for a while after the herding experience. You can run your dog on the property afterward. She has goats, sheep and pigs! The property also has a water feature for dogs who want to do "dock diving." We drove 2 hours to get to this place, and def willing to do it again and suggesting other people with herding breeds take their dogs here!
If you are serious about learning agility, consider lessons with Kevin. He is smart, professional, sensitive and very experienced. His instructions are clear and well-paced. As a teacher myself, I tend to be critical of other people's teaching. Kevin is exceptionally gifted. I have a small (11 lb.) dog who I rescued last year during the pandemic. She's 9 years old and she has struggled with confidence issues. She enjoys agility and it's a fun way for her to build confidence. I have never been made to feel like she's not a "real" agility dog despite her age and size. Kevin has been patient and helpful and it's been super fun for me and the dog.I have no doubt that Kevin could take on any interested owner/dog and have success at any level from novice to competitive. I can't speak to the rest of the facilities and offerings, but the agility with Kevin has been fabulous.