Two Men and Their Dogs - working sheepdog demonstrations

Every week during the summer, local farmers and champion sheepdog trainers Jed and Kenny Watson, will be holding demonstrations on their farms at Postbridge on Dartmoor, to show how they train their dogs for work and competitions.

Brothers Jed and Kenny have farmed on the moor all their life. As their sheep, cattle and ponies graze over many miles of open high moorland, their sheepdogs are not only constant companions, but also essential helpers whenever stock needs moving.

Both have decades of experience in working sheepdogs and Jed has competed at the highest level including as Captain of the English National Team at the World championships.

Being keen to share their knowledge not only of training sheepdogs, but also the joys and challenges of farming on Dartmoor, they are holding sheepdog demonstrations from 6.30pm each Thursday evening from 4th May, until the end of August, and Thursday afternoons from 2.30pm during September. As well as seeing their dogs working and young dogs being trained, there will be plenty of chances to ask any questions you have about farming or training dogs.

No booking is required, just meet in the car park outside the Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centre at Postbridge (Postcode PL20 6TH). The fields are a few hundred metres’ walk along a rough track from the car park, so please wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions; remember even in the summer the evenings on Dartmoor can be chilly. Feel free to bring a folding chair or mat to take to the field to sit on. Well-behaved dogs on leads are also welcome.

Thanks to the support of Dartmoor National Park’s Farming in Protected Landscapes Scheme, the events are free, but given the vital service it provides to both visitors and residents of Dartmoor there will be a collection for the Devon Air Ambulance.

For more details please visit www.facebook.com/DartmoorSheepdogs.