Top sheep dog trialist visits

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 454, 22 September 1992, Page 5

Top sheep dog trialist visits

One of New Zealand's most successful sheep dog triallists will be at Ohorea Station on Saturday to demonstrate his methods of training sheep dogs. Paul Sorenson's demonstrations in the South Island last year attracted crowds of up to 350 people. From the time he followed a drover and his mob of sheep from his Hamilton home to the Frankton sale yards when he was five years old he has been fascinated by sheep and sheep dogs. Before he took a keen interest in dogs Paul broke in horses. In his early twenties he started to shift his interest to dog training and sheep dog trials. John Armstrong from Kaitieke taught Paul most of the basic requirements of breaking

in a dog. Although John always had a good team of dogs he did not compete at the trials. The Sorenson dogs have had some most unusual names, such as Boom, Sound, and Stretch for his huntaways and Paint and Smith, for heading dogs. He has

won a New Zealand title and has been in 22 Island or national finals. Paul will demonstrate his simple no-nonsense methods of training dogs. He will discuss what to look for when choosing a pup, how to correct faults in dogs and

answer any questions that might arise. The day is being organised by the Wanganui sheep dog trial centre and is sponsored by Tux. It should be helpful to everyone from the beginner to the dog triallist.