Empire Ridge Ranch

03/09/2025

This little trouble maker once again set Trigger off like the very gates of hades had opened into our yard! I’m glad he/she is content in the back yard, but Trigger has some concerns

01/09/2025

No drop in rally today! Everyone enjoy their Labor Day! See you next week ❤️❤️🐾

31/08/2025

The clouds were pretty, and we saw a Gila monster! ❤️❤️

30/08/2025

Spark is on the hunt! What I found when I flipped up the cow rug is in the comments. I DO NOT have a live and let live policy for those! It’s incredible that she heard it moving under the thick leather and fur of the rug! Good girlie, Spark! ❤️🔥🔥

28/08/2025

I’m selling my two Jacob ewes if anyone is interested. They’re both a year and a half old, never been bred.

28/08/2025

Meet Mango - I’m already mad for this dog! What a sweet soul! She thinks the world is very scary and we’re going to help her learn that the world is AWESOME!!

27/08/2025

🚨 Did you know? 🚨
The same way we build strong, steady protection dogs and powerful herding dogs… is the way we help pet dogs with reactivity.

It’s not about forcing obedience or “controlling” emotions. It’s about building nerve — the dog’s ability to stay grounded when pressure and big feelings hit.

👉 Little wins build big confidence.
👉 Confidence builds resilience.
👉 Resilience means fewer explosions, calmer walks, and a dog that can think instead of react.

I see it every week — the same principles that make a Border Collie trust himself on sheep, or a Malinois stay steady in the bite work, are what transform worried pet dogs into calm companions.

Do you wonder why your dog seems calm until he isn’t? Or freaks out at the doorway when people arrive? Does your dog bark and lunge at people walking towards you on walks? All of these are signals that your dog may need help dealing with everyday pressures. Read our blog to understand why your dog may be making the choices they’re making, and what we can do to help them

Did you know that the difference between a reactive pet dog, a strong herding dog, and a confident protection dog often comes down to the same hidden factor — nerve?”High-drive dogs are often praised for speed, energy, and intensity. But those qualities alone do not determine whether a dog can s...

27/08/2025

We had our last night of Introduction to Scentwork class. Our pups found all of the hides, and it was finally cool enough to include vehicle and outside hides. Our next introduction to Scentwork starts next month. ❤️❤️🐾🐾

26/08/2025

We had a lovely morning this morning herding with the pups! We will begin herding for everyone Oct 1. Check out our website for details. Trigger is really getting it! I’m so proud of her! And Laney, much younger mentally and a big goof is figuring out how to find her inner Zen. Good girlies! ❤️❤️🐑🐑🐑

26/08/2025

Trigger had a LOT to say about this fellow hanging out in the tree behind the house. She was barking like invaders out of Mad Max were flooding into the yard, and I went out and followed her gaze to this innocent and rather alarmed little fellow hunting lizards in the tree. I thanked Trigger for her fearsome intervention, and asked her to please stand down so this little critter could carry on without further alarm. She did not approve, so I took her inside and distracted her while the snake made its exit.

23/08/2025

We had another trainer invite helper Maleaq James down for a two day workshop and we got to work Trigger with him today. He is a really nice guy, good eye, and educational. This is a tough sport with a long learning curve, so any opportunity to learn is gold! ❤️❤️