Barbara Sykes MBIPDT, who has spent a lifetime getting to know these fabulous animals, very ably fronts the course. She is Internationally recognised as an authority on the breed, has trialled dogs for England, and has written six books which have been translated and are being sold globally. The work she has done has attracted extraordinary media attention in the past two years

Barbara's friendly manner and sense of fun will put you at your ease from the offset, "We want you to enjoy the day, but we also want you to feel that your experience has been a positive one." To this end no effort is spared in providing you with a quality, value added and unique day

Vicki Sykes, Barbara's daughter, has herself been working and trialling sheepdogs since she was a youngster. Several years ago she was the 'Young Handler' representing England at the International Sheepdog Trials and for her Country on One Man and His Dog. Vicki carries the same enthusiasm as Barbara when it comes to the lessons we can learn from going back to our most basic animal instincts

She is, in her own right, a first class trainer and communicator with the added benefit of having worked for some time in the Corporate arena. Vicki will also put you at your ease the moment you meet her. "People come here not knowing fully what to expect, it's nice to be able to chat with them briefly to break the ice before we get fired up with the activity itself."

Barbara Sykes MBIPDT

A lifetime of experience around animals stands behind this short résumé. From the earliest age I was exposed to the skills of animal husbandry, and, in particular, the boundless enthusiasm and intelligence of the working sheepdog. With Border Collies as constant companions I have been privileged to study and observe both pack and individual mentality on a daily basis and at close hand, which has enabled me to write 6 books on understanding dog behaviour and talk on many occasions to various clubs and societies.

MY WORK:

'THE SHEEPDOG EXPERIENCE' (Teaching shepherding skills) Commenced 1983: Open to the general public and now officially in it's 21st year, the Sheepdog Experience is proving ever more popular. Throughout this time I have become very used to working with people and adept at identifying their personal strengths and vulnerabilities. From the years of experience was developed a corporate offering…

Commenced 1999: This was a natural progression from the above as the parallels between 'pack and profession' are extremely poignant. Delivered to professional teams away from the workplace, participants have been able to draw their own parallels and associate them with the way they work and interact/communicate with others in their own environment. There are no boundaries to the type of company this activity benefits with the full gamut being represented, from legal companies and financial institutions to caterers and engineers, local government to theologians (and many more).

A serious presentation with an important message though delivered in a 'user friendly' manner (accompanied by the Mainline top-dog - Skye (optional)). This talk is the progeny of the Corporate Collies day and has been delivered with extremely positive feedback at several conferences (video and endorsement available on request). Delegates have included representatives from all of the top high street names - M&S, Next, George, Levi, Tesco etc.

(Luncheons, After Dinner, Clubs and Societies - anything up to an hour). A humourous look at the life experiences of a Lady Farmer (myself). The style and content of this talk varies greatly, being tailored to the specific audience. I am generally able to assess the audience quickly and adapt accordingly. (Accompanied by Mainline top-dog - Skye when requested and when suitable).

1982 - 1992 Qualified and competed in the English National Sheepdog Trials for ten consecutive years

1983 Represented England as part of the winning English Team in the International Sheepdog Trials

1994 - 2003 Inception and continuance of glossy magazine 'Freedom of Spirit' now with global subscriber base and growing.

1994 - 1997 TV: Trained dogs to take part in children's television programmes Woof and Out of Sight, and 'prime time' Peak Practice

News items: Calendar, Look North, Central TV

1995 - 2001 Had six books published (3 x hardback 3 x softback) which are now selling globally. One book has been translated into French, German and is currently being reviewed for the Japanese market. This book is now in its third print run.

TV: Vets in the Country, Country File, Great Drives, Pets Part of the Family (USA), Pet News (USA), Matthew Margolis - pet trainer for the stars (USA), Look North, Dogs with Jobs (National Geographic), One Man & His Dog (this Christmas - a special on the Corporate Day)

Radio: Woman's Hour (twice), Most BBC Regional Stations, Radio London, ABC Radio (Australia), Radio Japan Live.

Other Media: Half to full page coverage in Times Educational Supplement, The Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Express, Management Today, Director Magazine, 'M' (Sunday Mirror), Metro, Telegraph & Argus, Dalesman, Country Living and various other magazines, papers and periodicals.