FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — South Florida and the Treasure Coast are some of the most dog-friendly areas in the state.
We’ve got great dog parks and beaches, but there is an alternative way to ensure your dog gets great exercise.
A hidden gem on the Treasure Coast where your dog can tap into its instincts and herd some sheep!
Tucked away in west Fort Pierce is Draxen Farms.
Driving past Trowbridge Road, you might very easily miss it, but down a dirt path, you will find a place where modern dogs adopt an old-school lifestyle.
Shepherd Mike Horgan has been training dogs for 30 years.
In the early 2000s, Mike took his rottweiler, Drax, for an instinct test at a farm and he turned out to be the star of the show.
“Seeing the instinct kick in, really hit me,” explained Mike. “It’s one thing to teach a dog all of these little routines to do and that’s great but when you are working the dogs’ instinct. It’s like they’re letting you in their world.”
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Mike and Drax were hooked!
Inspired by those training sessions, in 2008, Mike opened “Draxen Farms” — a nod to the dog who started it all.
The logo features a red and white border collie named Liam; the dog who helped Mike open the farm.
Nearly two decades later, the farm is home to 40 sheep and a training ground for dogs of all shapes and sizes.
Mike told CBS12 News about 90% of the dogs that visit him have never seen a sheep and probably never will outside of this farm.
“I’m willing to give any dog a chance. I mean who am I to say your dog can’t herd if you can’t put it on stock?” said Mike.
So, CBS12 News decided to send reporter Victoria De Cardenas to see if her dog, Gypsy, could pass the test!
“So this is Gypsy, she is a four-year-old goldendoodle, she’s about 75% poodle. I like to describe her with a dating profile — like if she had one!” said Victoria. “She loves other dogs, she loves other people, and long walks on the beach, and her biggest fear is missing out! She always has to be with me and today she is going to learn how to herd some sheep!”
Poodles are working dogs, according to Mike, so hopes are high going in.
“There’s little instincts that we look for in the very beginning, the desire to work, the ability to just gather, things like that,” explained Mike.
Here’s how it works:
Each dog gets three lessons with the sheep during a visit.
Each lesson is five to 10 minutes long and what Mike looks for is bark, bite, presence, and speed.
“We have to get in their heads and tell them that we are a team and there is a mission we are trying to accomplish. And after a while, these dogs start to understand what we want from them,” said Mike.”
Victoria’s dog, Gypsy, was really excited to get started!
Once Gypsy was hooked to a lead, it was show time!
“I’m going in with you?” asked Victoria.
“You can!” replied Mike. “Now i will say the sheep run blindly! They call these sheep knee knockers.”
These sheep are used to the presence of dogs, and they often gravitate towards human when in the pen.
Gypsy was definitely curious, chasing some of these ‘dog broke sheep’ but she needs a little help from a Connor, the border collie.
“But you can see that she’s drawn to the movement — this is exactly how they start,” explained Mike. “See how she’s picking up her pace? She starts thinking ‘yeah, I can own these guys!’”
To Victoria’s surprise, Gypsy picked it up quickly!
After a few turns in the pen, she earned a 20-minute break.
During round 2, Mike had Victoria stand outside of the pen. This time around, Gypsy started to understand what was being asked of her and her confidence soared!
“So, what she just did is called a gather, she went around and they all came off the fence together and she brought them all to me,” said Mike, as Gypsy started to circle the sheep and bring them to the middle of the pen.
“I’ve seen this behavior in her but I didn’t consider that herding,” said Victoria.
“Where? At the dog park?” asked Mike.
“Yeah!”
Gypsy was doing so well during this round, we moved to a larger pen.
Mike said he wanted to see if Gypsy could replicate what she did in the first pen with sheep that are a little more intimated by dogs.
She started strong, but needed help from Maisie, another border collie.
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“That’s it, that’s it! That’s what I wanted to see the gather!” exclaimed Mike. “Good girl! Okay, that was good!”
After a few minutes here, it was time for a break – Gypsy was wiped out! She was too tired to try a 3rd round.
“The third time out with new dogs is usually it for new dogs,” laughed Mike.
Mike says in addition to the physical exertion, this is a mental exercise for the dogs as they try to figure out what is being asked of them.
“If you were to give Gypsy a grade for today, what grade would you give her?” asked Victoria.
“B+! She didn’t quite make the ‘A list’ but she definitely did a good job, especially for her first time!” said Mike.
Mike says this is a great way to stimulate your dog’s brain, build confidence in their abilities, and strengthen your bond as an owner.
If you’d like to try this out, Mike charges $45 a session!
To learn more about Mike’s accolades and training courses, check out his website.
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