Trainer gives housebound herding dogs an outlet

Jerry Stewart plucks a long Misty cigarette from his mouth while standing in the midst of several acres of flat land offering little more than flocks of sheep, some fencing and rows of eucalyptus. But for him and other herding dog trainers, the Perris property is near paradise. From under a fatigued black cowboy hat, the grizzled trainer calls out commands in a low, calm voice -- away to me, go bye, walk up -- coupled with indistinguishable sounds -- "chka, chka, chu" -- to make the young border collie move the flock of sheep where he wants. About 90 percent of people who train herding dogs in the United States do it for sport, said Peggy Richter, board member for the American Herding Breed Association. That number has remained steady over recent years, Richter said. The only change has been that more breeds of dogs are being trained. Border collies and Australian shepherds are traditional herding breeds, but less active dogs that make better companions also are being trained. Richter, a herding trials judge, said about 100 herding events a year are held throughout California...PressEnterprise