Farmer, Dog Trainer, Herding Teacher: My Life's Journey

Let's meet, I'm Audronė Naruševičė, a farmer, sheepdog handler, and dog trainer. I live and work in Lithuania. My journey with sheepdog training started back in 2008 when I went to work in Sweden. There, I worked on a dairy farm. While in Sweden, I acquired my first Border Collie named Knustats Trėją, and I began to understand that these dogs are naturally inclined to work with farm animals.

I returned to Lithuania in 2009. I completed my studies in animal husbandry technology at the Lithuanian Veterinary Academy.

In 2013, I started farming, and currently, my farm is home to about 40 different breeds and crossbreeds of sheep. Recently, I acquired Lithuanian coarse-wooled sheep.

One of my biggest achievements was in 2020 when I took the sheepdog trial not as a participant but as a judge. During judging, I gained a wealth of knowledge by inviting sheepdog specialists from various countries, organizing seminars, and participating in internships. Later, I conducted the Lithuanian Kennel Club's dog trainer exams and became a national-level judge – not only in Lithuania but also in the entire Baltic region.

My activities and life are balanced between farming, cheese production, sheep farming, and dog training. Despite officially being called a farmer and a dog trainer, I am both – it is important for me to balance and integrate both of these areas in my life.

Dogs have been an integral part of my life since childhood. I had my first encounter with dogs during my summers spent at my grandmother's in the countryside. Currently, I have four Border Collies.

My journey in dog training began 19 years ago, practicing agility in Kaunas at the "Nasrai" dog training and sports center. However, I only seriously immersed myself in farming ten years ago. Currently, I participate in sheepdog trials in Poland, which are held over 600 km away from Lithuania. It is very important for me not only to participate in competitions but also to pass on my experience and knowledge to my students.

My farm constantly experiments with various sheep breeds. My flock of sheep is diverse – ranging from traditional breeds to newly acquired Cameroon sheep, which pose a real challenge and reveal different physical characteristics.

It is important to emphasize that when training dogs for herding tests for the first time, it is crucial to use accustomed sheep that are not afraid of dogs but are still manageable and safe. This training methodology helps dogs to reveal and strengthen their natural herding instincts.

I am convinced that regulations in herding must be balanced and deliberate. Owners are prohibited from using violence against animals, and in competitions, dogs are prohibited from biting the sheep unless it is done safely and painlessly.

I always enjoy training sessions where owners actively participate and engage in their dogs' training, while the dogs demonstrate their natural herding abilities. My goal is not only education but also to create enjoyable and positive moments for both dogs and their owners.

In the future, I plan to conduct even more experiments on the farm, expanding sheep breeds and promoting herding festivals in my country. I hope that this will not only spread herding traditions but also connect people with nature, dogs, and the farm way of life. This is not just my profession but also a life passion that I aim to share with the world.

More about me interview with Agroakademija.lt