"Simon was excellent in bringing his carefully thought-out system of training from starting a young dog to doing advanced work. He was as charming as he was thoughtful and an excellent teacher."
Louise (Molly) Westling, Oregon

"Every one is still buzzing about the clinic."
Alison Deilke. Washington

On Marionvale Teddy:
"Teddy is the most amazing pup I have ever had. This pup is beyond my wildest dreams of what an Australian Kelpie would be. His agility and intelligence are so much more advanced at his age than any cattledog pup I've ever owned, and I am enjoying this pup more than any I have ever raised before. And he's a fine looking dog too I might add..."

"That was a wonderful clinic; Simon is truly an awesome teacher and I really learned so much from him. Was fortunate to be able to work my ACDs with him the Friday following the clinic and it was a great opportunity!"

"That Clinic was the best I've ever attended, and I really got a great deal out of it. I do hope he will come back to us all next year: I hope to show him Teddy's progress then!"

"I feel so very fortunate to have met you and attended your wonderful clinic. It was, without a doubt, the best herding clinic I have ever attended and I only wish I lived so much CLOSER to where you are so that I could just come by for lessons every week! But I will have to settle for when we get you to come back to us all here again, (and I hope that I will be able to show you a very good foundation on my Teddy Pup by then!) We will try to put in for better weather next time too.
Teddy is the most amazing pup I have ever had. This pup is beyond my wildest dreams of what an Australian Kelpie would be. His agility and intelligence are so much more advanced at his age than any cattledog pup I've ever owned, and I am enjoying this pup more than any I have ever raised before. And he's a fine looking dog too I might add...
Thank you for a wonderful Clinic, and especially for the chance to work with you on Friday, that was a wonderful opportunity for me and I was so glad to have the chance to work my dogs with you. You have truly helped to make sense of it all to this newbie!
I will be in touch and keep you posted on news of Teddy as he comes along here!
Take care,"
Shirley A. Oberg. Arlington, WA

"Oh my gosh!
Thank you for such a great weekend. Simon has captured my attention and sparked my enthusiasm on breeding. I was really getting depressed on which direction to go.
I totally enjoyed his seminar and was a huge learning experience for me."

"I hope all of the attendees got as much out of your seminar as I did. Your training methods will work for any type of behavior wanted. You just happen to have those Cadilac Kelpies. They are by far one of the most beautiful working dogs I have ever seen.
I also would lke to thank you for sharing information about your breeding program. I am so unhappy with the way cattle dog "breeders" seem to be going I was a bit frustrated. Our converstaion sparked my interest again and I have planned several breedings to instill the type and temperment I want.
I look forward to you returning to the US and will keep in touch to see how things are going.
Thank you again.
Warmest regards"
Patti Salladay
President Cascade Australian Cattle Dog Club, Cattle dog breeder

"Just wanted to write and tell you how much I enjoyed the clinic this weekend. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of it and for your hard work and hospitality. I have got to see a couple of the dogs that attended for their weekly lesson and they are much improved after working with Simon (handlers have taken much of what he said to heart and are improved as well). I have also used some of his introduction stuff with other breeds this week that are not taking control of their stock like I would like and they started to take control."

"I just wanted to drop a line to let you know how much I enjoyed the clinic you put on. The spinns and variations you put in were very helpful and I have students that have wanted to use them since. I have been able to see 4 of the other kelpies that were at the clinic and handlers have much improved and thus so have their dogs.
Thanks for all your help and patients. I look forward to doing more with you and have started talking to some of the others at the clinic about helping Susan get you out this way again."
Dave Viklund
Oregon herding trainer/instructor

"It was a pleasure meeting you...and of course, the pups are wonderful! We will look forward to seeing you next year. Thanks for your insight, candor, and wonderful sense of humor. We take ourselves way too seriously, I'm afraid. I'll keep you posted on Motje. We love him dearly, and he is a perfect fit for our family it seems. Good on ya'"
Karyl Hansen Woodinville, WA

"He's a very talented teacher. Cappy has always been good and when we had Lynn Leach out I was really impressed. Simon took it to a new level. Great presentation, genuine passion and really useful delivery."
Tracy Bennett-Carlton RN
Carben Copy ACDs & GSDs & The Dogs Ladies

"It's taken me a bit to find time to write, but that's not because I didn't LOVE your clinic at Susan's. It was wonderful, and very helpful. That last day when you put the sheep in that pen at the top of the out-run was great, and Dave built one for his classes, and it's been great to get Mowgli a longer "top" on his outrun. It's also been good for Libby -"the little eye-dog", who is NOT pregnant :- ( - as she was in the habit of just waiting for the dog-broke sheep to come to me, and then run over and get behind them! We really worked on her the other day, and I think it helped her understand that not all sheep will run to me!
I can't wait to see the pups you brought over, NEXT year! Did you see the movie of "Teddy"? How amazing!!
Thanks again, Simon. Your clinic helped SO much, and we are all hoping you will come back."

"I'm so glad that Chris and I were able to come up and work with you, Simon. I wish you didn't live so far away, but I'll be back up in May when you come again. Maybe you'll see a big improvement - like, "brakes" on Mowgli, and NO nipping from Lib - at least that's what I'll be aiming for.
Many thanks to both of you for a wonderful,- and helpful time last week. Simon, I'll see you in May, and Susan, hopefully I'll see you in Nov. (or whenever)
Carol Hibbard -and Jim, Mowgli, Libby and Boomerang

"I enjoyed your clinic very much and am so glad I attended. I look forward to your tips in stock dogs magazine and hopefully we'll see you in the spring."
Gina McDonnell, Canada
Canadian herding instructor/trainer, Kelpie breeder.

"Dear Simon
I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed watching you with the dogs and people..... looking forward to next year..... I am learning to speak Aussie so that we can have even more laughs."
Laurie Glied, Michigan

"I enjoyed your clinic and have told a number of people about it. I like your methods of training and the fact that you care about your dogs and how they are trained. So many trainers are too hard handed in their training methods and I don't care for that. It was a pleasure meeting you. Glad you enjoyed your trip here and got home safely."
Marcy Wright, Demi and Decker
Pawsitive Kneads, LLC
www.pawsitivekneads.net

"Hi Simon,
I hope you have adjusted back to life in Australia. Are you over the jet lag yet? I just wanted to say thank you so much for coming and putting on such a nice clinic. I not only learned a lot, but had a great time. It also made me realize how much I enjoy herding (even with my fluffy dogs). Also thanks so much for spending extra time working with me and my dogs I really appreciate it. I have to say I really enjoyed watch the Kelpies you bred work they were really nice and fun to watch. Tracy was working Rivia last weekend and she is doing a great job Rivia was working really nicely for Tracy its amazing how far she came just with the time you were there.
Anyway thanks again and it was really nice to meet you."
Jenny Scheytt and the hairy beardies, Michigan.

"Simon,
Thanks for doing a great job with clinic. I quite enjoyed myself. I didn't envy you on the first day with a clinic ranging from people with a lot of herding experience to people with virtually no herding experience. You handled it well.
I spent some time this morning on the net looking for books etc on Kelpies and Australian (or was that Austrian?) herding trials. I went out and worked the dogs and played around a bit letting them be dogs and virtually saying nothing to either of them. Interesting experiment. The Belgian kept arching and tucking in the edges - like he was working 500 sheep and not 50. The BC would balance and hold sheep to what ever he felt the point of balance should be - me, the gate, a pen etc. Cool.
I am now thinking about welding up a drenching shoot.
Thanks again,"
Jay Mycroft, Canada