A SKIPTON farmer has launched his own sheepdog handler training clinics.

James "Amos" Dewhurst, has launched Winterburn Working Sheepdogs as a new business but also to promote and encourage renewed interest in sheep dog handling.

He said: "Sheepdog societies across our region are suffering and numbers are declining. We used to have five Pennine Nursery Societies. One has folded and some of the others are struggling.

"If something is not done soon, more societies could well disappear. We urgently need to attract new blood, including people from non-farming backgrounds."

Mr Dewhurst, a long-standing member and stalwart of Trawden Sheepdog Society, has been breeding, working and training sheepdogs for more than 45 years. He regularly competes in local nursery and agricultural show trials.

He farms predominantly Swaledale and Blue Faced Leicester sheep and also keeps a small flock of Welsh Balwens.

He will offer an initial assessment, demonstrating his methods of training with his own dogs, before watching each handler with his or her dog to assess if the dog is at a suitable stage to begin training.

He then plans to run small group sessions of no more than four or five people at a time, with each handler tutoring their own dog for around 15 minutes, before observing other dogs working with their handlers.

Mr Dewhurst also takes in dogs for training, although he feels people will get much more pleasure from training their own dogs under expert supervision.

He is eager to pass on his skills to all age groups – from students to semi-retired people from non-farming backgrounds to farmers keen to enhance their handling talents.

Mr Dewhurst said: "Sheep dog handling and trialling is an age-old tradition and we must do all we can to preserve such skills, while at the same time creating renewed interest in the work of our sheepdog societies."

He can be contacted on 01729 830 535, 07709 078 698, or email amos1954@yahoo.com.