Sheepdogs at the Iowa Sheep & Wool Festival June 14 - 15, 2008 Dallas County Fairgrounds ~ Adel, Iowa Down the centuries, tens of thousands of bright-eyed and sharp-witted sheepdogs have kept uncountable millions of sheep in order by sheer force of personality, a certain look in the eye, and an occasional nip on the nose.  It is almost unimaginable that a dog could do all that just with a command or a whistle. You won’t find any couch potatoes at these sheepdog events because they love to work!  Come and see them work their magic. Point/Time Sheepdog Trial Friday Evening, June 13, 2008 *Important Note* This event takes place before the start of the Festival.  There will be no other events taking place and no gate fee charged. CLICK HERE FOR SHEEPDOG TRIAL FLYER Sponsored by the Iowa Herding Dog Association Iowa Herding Dog Association Website Contact Debbie Meier with Questions: 515-854-2060 or 515-227-6248, waynescustomltr@cs.com Sheepdog Training Demonstrations Saturday and Sunday starting at 9:00 a.m. and at 10:30 a.m. South of the Livestock Barn Nyle Sealine will provide training demonstrations with a variety of dogs at different skill levels.  Come and get your questions answered.  This is not a session where you will be able to bring your dog.  If you want one-on-one training with your dog you must sign up for the Training Clinics that will be offered each afternoon.  See information below.    Sheepdog Training Clinics Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. each day South of the Livestock Barn This is your opportunity to have one-on-one training with a professional handler and trainer.  Nyle Sealine will be conducting training clinics where a maximum of eight dogs will be admitted to the clinic each day.  If desired you may sign up for one session each day.  Pre-register your dog by calling the Iowa Sheep Industry Association at 712-736-2109.  Cost per dog is $40 if paid by June 9, 2008.  After June 9th cost is $50/dog.   Sheepdog Training Demonstrations and Sheepdog Training Clinics are partially funded by the Iowa Sheep & Wool Promotion Board

We are very pleased to have Nyle Sealine, Princeton, Missouri conducting Sheepdog Training Demonstrations and Sheepdog Training Clinics this year.  The Clinics are new in 2008 and a great opportunity to have one-on-one sessions with your dog in the training seat.  Please refer to the information above on how to register your dog for the Clinics.  There will be a limited number of dogs each day so reserve your spot early so you don't miss out on this opportunity!

Nyle Sealine Nyle Sealine grew up on a grain and diversified livestock farm in Central Iowa.  As a sophomore in high school Nyle began shearing and raising sheep.  When he graduated from high school, he remained on the family farm until he was 22 raising hogs and sheep, feeding lambs and shearing. After spending two years in the army Nyle married and returned to farm life with a ewe flock of his own.  He continued shearing and fed out lambs.  He also was an order buyer of feeder and market lambs.  Today he continues to have his own ewe flock and to shear.   When Nyle was in high school, he read an article on working sheep dogs and later wrote a paper on this subject.  It was difficult to find anything in print in the 50's on sheep dogs.  He wanted a dog to help him with his sheep operation and bought his first Border Collie, Jeanie, age 4 months, from Bob Fritz in South Dakota in 1964.   Nyle has been breeding Border Collies for over 40 years.  He has tried to maintain in his dogs working ability, athletic ability, sound body and mind, livestock sense and biddability.  He looks for a good depth in the dog's eye.  Depth provides a kind nature.  He does not want a dog with too much or too little eye.  He has had many good dogs.  Dogs that really stand out are Rock, Moss, Beau, Jill, Fritz and Ben.   In the beginning Nyle learned about training dogs by trial and error.  He has been blessed with excellent stock sense and the ability to recognize the working abilities that dogs have.  Consequently, over the more than 40 years he has been using and training dogs, Nyle has developed his own training methods.  Nyle shares this knowledge at the two-day training clinics that he does each year and first began doing in 1973.  He has given clinics in 11 states.  On his farm in Princeton he takes private students.  He will also take outside dogs in for training.  His dogs and students have gone on to work both sheep and cattle and to win numerous trials.   Trialing has been a part of Nyle's life for many years.  He is a trial judge for the American Kennel Club and the American Herding Breed Association.  He judges 3 to 5 trials yearly.  He began trialing his own dogs in 1969.  Within two years he was winning trials nationally. In 1975 and 1977 he had the AIBC Dog of the Year.  He won the Open Class at the Iowa State Fair in both 2002 and 2003 and placed 2nd in the Pro Ranch Class at the Minnesota State Fair in 2004.  Nyle was able to retire the Best Handler Perpetual Trophy at the Iowa State Fair after being awarded this trophy three times.   Nyle enjoys helping others get the most out of their dogs.  He is always willing to share information with new and old dog handlers alike.