Herding Clinics

WCSDS sponsors and holds clinics to promote knowledge about the training and use of herding dogs.

Whistle & Crook Stock Dog Services Herding Clinic

With Paddy Fanning, Ireland  ·  Wolston Farm  ·  September 26 & 27, 2026

Paddy Fanning, from Glenealy, County Wicklow in Northern Ireland, was born to four generations of farmers. In 1985, when Paddy was a young teenager, his father got livestock. It wasn't until 1997, when Paddy returned home from working a couple years in Canada, he discovered his father had increased his sheep numbers. Paddy decided to get and train a sheepdog. That same year, he started trialing.

In 2000, 3 of the 60 dogs in the international were dogs he trained, including his own on the Irish team. When Foot & Mouth disease shut down trialing in 2001, Paddy "retired" from trialing and in 2002 moved away from full time farming to seek a new career. It wasn't until 2015 that he returned to competitive trialing. Since then, he was on the Irish Team in the 2018 International after placing 3rd out of 150 Irish handlers in the Irish National. In 2022 he qualified two dogs in the Irish National and again competed in the 2022 International. Most recently, Paddy represented Ireland in the 2023 World Trial, making it all the way to one of just 16 handler/dog teams in the World finals championship.

Paddy is an approved ISDS judge, judging trials in the UK, across the European continent and a few trials in the United States the last couple years. He considers himself a part-time sheep farmer and has six to ten dogs at any time helping with his Cheviots on the mountainous areas surrounding his Wicklow home. He also has a social media presence sharing training videos and interviews with other handlers on his Churchmount Sheepdogs YouTube and Patreon channels.

We are planning 1–2 more clinics for 2026. Details on additional clinicians and dates will be available soon — check back here or watch our calendar for updates.

Previous Clinics

Allistair Lyttle, Ireland

Wolston Farm  ·  June 20 & 21, 2026  ·  Private lessons June 18 & 19

Allistair Lyttle is a prominent sheepdog trainer, breeder, and competitor from Pettigo, County Donegal in the northwest of Ireland, where he manages a farm of about 250 acres. His agricultural work includes shorthorn cattle and a diverse sheep operation, such as mule crosses (Lanark × Bluefaced Leicester), Lanarks, Cheviots, and pure-bred flocks of Bluefaced Leicester and Blue Texel.

Sheepdog Training and Competitions

Allistair began sheepdog trialling at the age of 8, initially under his father's guidance. He has since become a world-renowned trainer, competing and judging at regional, national, and international levels. His achievements include:

• Perfect score at the 2025 Irish National — the first ever perfect score at the National
• Irish National Champion and Reserve Champion in 2017
• Multiple qualifications for the Supreme Championship at the International Sheepdog Trial (highest placing: 5th in 2008)
• Member of the Irish International Team many times, including with 2 dogs in 2021 and 2022
• Three-time member of the Irish team at the World Trial, including in 2023 with 2 dogs