Kent and Lori Herbel have been training dogs since 1979, though Kent started using dogs to manage cattle on the ranch back in the mid-70’s. Since then, he has continued to use dogs on ranches he has owned or managed in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. Kent started trialling dogs in 1989, and taught his first clinic in 1990. He and Lori now travel all over the United States teaching, competing and judging. They currently teach approximately 20 clinics per year.
Kent and Lori have successfully competed in both cattle and sheep trials in several venues. Kent and his Border Collie Sweep are the 2018 National Cattledog Association National Open Champions, having earned the title by being the only dog/handler team to complete all three go rounds in the field with perfect scores. Kent has qualified and competed in the NCA National Finals, and has also qualified for and placed in the United States Border Collie Handlers of America National Finals. Kent has also qualified for the Mountain States Stockdog Association Finals, winning Reserve Champion Nursery Dog in Afton, Wyoming in 2018.
Kent has also won Open Grand Championships and Open Ranch Grand Championships at the Houston and San Antonio Stock Shows, and has won Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion several times at the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
Kent’s training methods have been proven to work on all breeds and all ages of dogs. He has a unique way of teaching that helps handlers learn to build a strong working relationship with their dog, with an emphasis on communicating clearly, quietly and fairly. His methods are focused on the actions and reactions of the livestock, and teach the dogs to be responsible partners capable of being successful in practical ranch work, at home or on the trial field.
Lori has competed successfully on both sheep and cattle, though photography is now her main focus. She has been the Official Photographer for the National Cattledog Association Finals, the United States Border Collie Handlers Association Finals, the Mountain States Stockdog Association National Finals, and the Australian Shepherd Club of American Nationals in addition to numerous local and regional trials.
