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Better Than Fetch™ Herding Games
Learn the best fetch alternative that fulfills herding instinct without sheep for Border Collies and Herding Dogs.
Every day I hear, “I’ve tried everything and nothing works for my frustrated Border Collie.” That's what I thought too. Until I learned how to fulfill herding instinct.
Not endless fetch. Not harsh obedience drills. Not farmland. I simply fulfill herding instinct, and it was the one thing my Border Collies actually needed.
Fulfilling your herding dog’s instinct requires NO:
Sheep or farmland
Endless fetch
Harsh obedience drills
Expensive equipment
Hours of daily training
Prior herding experience
Here's how it works:
Start foundation
and management
(Set your dog up for success with Show & Switch™, and also control what they watch, have access to, and how they spend their energy)
Name and reward
stalk, flank, block
(Encourage the 3 herding behaviors: stalk, flank, and block - and also build impulse control for a reliable stop. We'll show you our exact methods to achieve this)
Put it all together
(If you internalize our entire BTF philosophy, you'll be able to combine your foundation, control and named behaviors into a complete instinct-fulfilling experience via structured herding games)
We've done the hard work of breaking herding instinct fulfillment down into a clear, step-by-step framework — all you have to do is follow it with your dog.
What's included?
The 4 Better Than Fetch™ Herding Games
Goalie Dog™ — Built for dogs who thrive on interception, fulfilling their need for blocking and catching fast movement through a structured herding game that sharpens flanking, speed, and accuracy.
Ball on a String™ — Created alongside Raven (our reformed car-chaser) and refined through teachings from sheep herding, this game builds deep stalking focus, reliable stops, and controlled flanking that turns obsession into calm control.
Outrun Game™ — Modeled after the iconic wide outrun of sheepdogs, this game teaches anticipation, distance, and precision while giving your dog the space and freedom to use their herding instincts.
Soccer Collie™ — Through trial, error, and significant refinement with our 7 Border Collies, Show & Switch™ turns this popular game into a replicable system that balances stalking, flanking, blocking and stopping.
our Show & Switch™ Method that makes all BTF herding games possible — so your dog drops what they’re holding and locks onto you, instantly building focus and engagement.
how to teach with clarity using step-by-step methods rooted in learning science, explained so you can implement them easily with your dog.
how to reward without confusion with our clear guidance that removes guesswork and frustration during training, helping your dog progress faster, happier and more consistently.
how to work with your herding dog’s instinctual behaviors (stalking, flanking, blocking, stopping, and distance) and turn them into reliable, on-cue skills.
41+ step-by-step training videos with voiceover narrations, captions, and transcripts in English, German, French, Italian and Chinese so you never feel stuck or left behind.
[bonus] you'll get lifetime access + free updates so your dog can keep learning and improving, year after year.
[bonus] the BTF Resource Hub that houses all your supporting learning organized in one place for easy reference.
Price: $197
Frustration from unfulfilled herding instinct often looks like:
Explosive barking and lunging at cars, bikes, scooters, or joggers
(the herding brain trying to control movement with no outlet)
Circling, micromanaging or being the “fun police” to other dogs
(compulsion to “organize the sheep”)
Obsessively fixating on shadows, lights, or reflections
(instinct desperate for movement to control)
Heightened sensitivity to sound, causing barking and jumpiness
(a nervous system on high alert with no purpose)
Self-soothing or compulsive behaviors (acral licking, tail chasing, pacing, even chewing walls/floors)
Doesn’t this make sense why everyday moments trigger our highly instinctual herding dogs? Once you see it, the next step is clear: fulfill their instinct the right way.
Can I really fulfill my dog’s herding instinct without sheep?
Yes. That’s exactly what Better Than Fetch™ Herding Games were designed for. Inside, you’ll get immediate access to our complete step-by-step system that builds trust and connection through play, gives purpose to your dog’s natural behaviors like stalking, flanking, blocking, and stopping, and turns their frustration and obsessions into calm, controlled fulfillment.
Remember, these aren’t “just games” — they’re the first replicable way to meet your herding dog’s instinctual needs without access to livestock.
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Does This Sound Familiar?
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Your dog is physically exhausted from repetitive fetch, frantic herding-ball chasing, and long walks but still mentally wired.
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They're overstimulated after exercise, instead of calm and settled.
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They're restless at night, pacing, barking and waking you at odd hours.
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They're constantly hypervigilant, unable to truly relax.
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You feel your dog could be doing more with his brain.
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You want a fun activity to replace boring, repetitive walks.
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You're looking to build a stronger partnership with your dog.
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Your dog stands in the park staring at you, clearly asking, "What's next?"
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Your dog is frustrated and restless.
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They pace nonstop on leash or behind fences.
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They whine in a frantic, high-pitched tone.
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They're desperate to chase and stop moving things.
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The're so fixated on what's in front of them, it's like they can't even hear you.
You're in the right place if your Herding Dog is...
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Nippy and bitey
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Obsessively pacing or circling
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Staring and snapping at ocean waves or fine movements across fields
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Starting to fixate on shadows or lights even as a puppy
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Alert, antsy, or easily startled
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Physically tired after exercise, but mentally still wired
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Frustrated and unable to settle after fetch
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Constantly seeking mental stimulation and challengess
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Unable to play or train normally because they fixate and hoard toys
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Nervous, sensitive, and needing more resilience and confidence
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Looking aimless and bored
That’s why we put together
Better Than Fetch™
Herding Games
Better Than Fetch is the only structured herding games course with multiple games designed specifically for Border Collies and Herding Dogs.
You'll get:
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Clear, step-by-step instructional videos featuring numerous demo dogs
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Techniques to teach your dog to stalk, flank, and block
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Play-based, frustration-free methods (including our signature Show & Switch™ technique that actually makes herding games possible)
What BTF Students Are Saying
“Henry, our Kelpie, absolutely loves herding sheep, but we can only get out to do that a few times a year because of time and cost. He’s never really cared for fetch or balls, so I wasn’t sure if this method would resonate but I knew walks alone weren’t fulfilling enough on a daily basis.
A friend mentioned she was using Yen’s herding games with her Kelpie and was seeing amazing results. After chatting with Yen about my reservations, she gave me confidence in the method and I decided to give it a go.
Even just a few lessons in, I’ve noticed such a difference. Henry’s play has so much more purpose now—he’s more switched on, more satisfied, and actually tires himself out (sometimes even stops for a drink mid-play!).
He’s now keen to play with balls because the games give it meaning. It’s been such a great way to work his instincts more regularly - as an suburban owner of a working dog, I’m very happy to find BTF herding games”
GRACE & HENRY THE KELPIE
Australia
“We have a now 4 year old border collie, Bowie. He is a rescue dog.
When we adopted him, we realized he was very reactive. We tried all the usual tips and training, but no luck.
Then by chance we discovered Yen's course, and we're hooked. We bought straight away, the videos are great, easy to follow, and the results worth the cost.
When ever we had questions, Yen always supported us, and was able to adept the lessons to our dog.
We have a much deeper understanding and trust with him, his progress and our all quality of life improved greatly.”
REBECCA, NORINA
& BOWIE THE BORDER COLLIE
Germany
“I'm appreciative of the short simple videos so far! It really makes sense already and I love how you've kept it so easy to follow and quick... My kicks need some work but regardless of the balls she missed she was completely focused. Later on small kids who were crying and making lots of noise and who had their own balls came right next to us. She would usually bolt to them but while she did stare for a bit she did not stray and eventually kept playing the game with me.”
MILEY THE BORDER COLLIE & HER MOM
Australia
Who is This For?
Heading Dogs
Border Collie
Working Kelpie
Australian Koolie
New Zealand Heading Dog
Bearded Collie
McNab Shepherd
Welsh Sheepdog
Icelandic Sheepdog
English Shepherd
...and more
These breeds herd primarily by using intense eye, stalking, and positioning themselves to control livestock direction.
Droving Dogs
Australian Cattle Dog (Heeler)
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Old English Sheepdog
Swedish Vallhund
Briard
Mudi
Puli
Huntaway
...and more
These breeds herd primarily from behind or alongside livestock using active movement, barking and/or controlled nipping.
Versatile Dogs
Australian Shepherd
Shetland Sheepdog
Belgian Malinois
Rough/Smooth Collie
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Laekenois
Dutch Shepherd
German Shepherd Dog
White Swiss Shepherd
...and more
The breeds are known to use both heading and droving styles depending on the situation, flexibly adjusting their technique.
Our Proven 3-Step Framework
1
Foundation + Management
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The foundation of Show & Switch™ is critical to succeeding in BTF herding games and that's why we dedicated an entire module to it.
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Set your dog up for success from the start by carefully controlling what they watch, have access to, and how they spend their time.
2
Name & Reinforce
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Clearly encourage and reward the three key behaviors your dog naturally uses in herding: stalk, flank, and block.
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With a strong foundation from step one, you'll now heavily reinforce all these behaviors, including building a reliable stop.
3
Put It All Together
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Combine your foundation, effective management, and clearly named herding behaviors into one structured herding game.
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As your dog becomes confident and their behaviors grow stronger, you'll naturally find yourself needing less active management.
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The end result: A complete, instinct-fulfilling herding experience. No sheep required.
Who is This For?
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All herding dogs (from city collies to country dogs)
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Dogs who finish activities more amped-up than calm
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Dogs who struggle to settle or seem constantly restless
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Dogs prone to frustration or overarousal
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Dogs who chase, fixate, or obsess over moving objects
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Dogs who are bored and looking for new things to learn
Our Success Stories
Raven, former car-chaser
For nearly two years, Raven couldn’t handle seeing a single moving car or child without charging. No training could break his obsession. Not even steak. So what finally changed everything?
Three key things:
1. I stopped exposing him to triggers completely for one year (no walks or outings).
2. No more cookies for not chasing. We would immediate emergency U-turns if surprised.
3. Without sheep, I put together Better Than Fetch™ Herding Games with a huge focus on stalking, the longest and most mentally rewarding part of herding.
A year later, Raven is calm and focused in busy parks, completely ignoring cars, joggers, and kids. Same dog. Fulfilled instincts.
He taught me that even the most reactive Border Collie can change if you meet their instinctive needs first.
Charm, former obsessive circler
For six years, Charm trained and competed in agility, but the sport never brought her true fulfillment. She compulsively circled other dogs, fixated intensely on movement, and became injured from repetitive turning.
These three big realizations changed everything:
1. The more instinct a sheepdog has, the less adaptable they'll be without a proper outlet.
2. What Border Collies find fun to watch, they'll eventually want to herd. It's genetic.
3. Without a herding job, they will invent their own, often obsessively.
Introducing Better Than Fetch™ Herding Games gave Charm’s instincts a real job by fulfilling her need to stalk, flank, and block, and stopping her compulsive circling.
One year later, Charm is calmer, happier, more confident, and moving better than ever. After years of sports, Charm finally found the job she always needed.
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Trusted by over 1,000 students in 49 countries. These are just a few of their testimonials.
Some Key Skills You'll Learn
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Stop your dog destroying toys out of frustration.
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Teach your dog to easily switch between toys (Show & Switch™ method).
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Use directional cues to improve your dog's listening skills.
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Build reliable control, even from far away or around distractions.
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Quickly break your dog’s fixations and redirect their focus back to you.
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Adapt your training easily to your dog’s natural strengths.
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And so much more!
What You'll Learn
Stop Frustration in
Toy Destroyers
Frustration blocks learning. Our approach clearly addresses your dog's instincts, preventing frustration from developing or effectively reducing it if already present.
Seamlessly Switch Between Toys
An underrated yet powerful skill, toy switching develops flexibility, quick redirection, and improved focus through our Show & Switch™ method.
Directional Cues For Enhanced Listening
BTF Herding Games use the same directional cues in sheep herding, training your dog to precisely follow directions while remaining focused on their target, such as a ball.
Build Reliable
Long-Distance Control
Our layered training approach builds realistic, dependable focus and control — even in distracting outdoor environments full of movement.
Break Fixation and Boost Focus
The Show & Switch™ method teaches all dogs but especially Border Collies and Herding Dogs to redirect attention from distractions back to you, quickly and reliably.
Adaptive, Non-Linear
Training Methods
Instead of progressing through rigid, sequential steps, our Show & Switch™ method allow training to stay flexible and adapt to your dog’s instincts and reinforce existing strengths.
What's Included in
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41+ In Depth Video Lessons complete with Training Narrations and Closed Captions for Easy Learning
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Lesson Transcriptions available in English, German, French, Italian and Mandarin Chinese
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BTF Resource Hub Library
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Lifelong Access to All Course Materials
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Automatic Access to All Future Course Updates
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The Four Core Herding Games in the Better Than Fetch™ course:
Our pioneer Better Than Fetch™ herding game taps into your Border Collie’s or herding dog’s natural talent to stalk, flank, and block. Rooted in the core philosophy behind Better Than Fetch™, this game offers a close alternative to traditional sheepherding — one that gives your dog a structured job and aligns with their instinct to control movement, just like a true working sheepdog. The foundations were loosely inspired by Kay Laurence but significantly developed, refined, and perfected through our own extensive hands-on experience.
Built especially for dogs who thrive on physically intercepting movement, this structured game lets them fully express their natural talent for blocking movement directly with their mouth. Inspired by elements from competitive disc dog sports, Goalie Dog transforms your dog's love of jumping, catching mid-air, and enthusiastic "contact" into satisfying, structured play. Hugely popular among our Shepherd and Cattle Dog students, it’s also a favorite for Border Collies who prefer direct interception over wider flanks.
Built on the core principles of Show & Switch™, BOAS is a cornerstone of the BTF Herding Games courseb and consistently a student favorite. Originally created and perfected alongside our own reformed car-chaser, Raven, this game introduces advanced cues like "Easy," to slow your dog's stalking pace, and "Stand," to halt them mid-chase. The teaching framework is deeply influenced by Emma Gray's foundational approach, thoughtfully structured to ensure clear progress and meaningful results, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro.
Inspired by the iconic wide, pear-shaped outrun unique to Border Collies and Kelpies, this structured herding game gives all herding breeds a chance to run, anticipate, track, and catch — guided by precise directional cues. Perfect for dogs who thrive on speed and chase, especially frisbee enthusiasts. Adapted from mindful movement exercises used by agility pros such as Martina Klimešová and other world champions, it builds both physical precision and mental clarity.
What Makes Better Than Fetch™ Herding Games Unique?
BTF
Created by Dog Sport Experts: Our expertise in competitive dog sports inspired methods we've made replicable for all dogs, especially Border Collies and Herding Dogs. These methods are designed to match the speed, intensity, and determination of your dog, setting them up for lasting success.
Authentic Herding Instinct Fulfillment: BTF Herding Games directly tap into your dog's instincts through our methods including Show & Switch™ — offering genuine herding fulfillment that goes far beyond typical ball-chasing games or other commercial herding toys.
Resolves Movement Reactivity at the Source:
For Herding Dogs like Raven, whose car-chasing was driven purely by herding instinct, BTF Herding Games combined with the BTF Management Protocol (available free in our resource hub) is the ultimate solution. If your Border Collie or Herding Dog is like Raven, this approach will succeed even where everything else has failed.
Instinct-Driven Training, Beyond Props: While many herding activities rely heavily on cones, barriers, or specialized toys to artificially manage distance or mask training gaps like poor impulse control, BTF Herding Games directly activate your dog's herding instincts through our effective, proven methods.
No Sheep, No Problem: Unlike occasional livestock classes that can’t provide daily instinct fulfillment, BTF Herding Games deliver meaningful mental and physical stimulation entirely within your control — giving your Border Collie or Herding Dog the satisfaction they crave, whenever and as often as you want.
Hi, we're Yen & Claire
We're a mother-daughter team inspired by our Border Collies to create Better Than Fetch™.
What began with Raven, our instinct-driven and car-chasing Border Collie, became our way of honoring herding instincts — aligning his natural desire to control movement with structured, fulfilling play even in the city.
Today, through our original Show & Switch™ method and extensive dog sports expertise, we help guardians discover how to fulfill their dog's herding instincts without sheep, transforming struggles like Raven’s car-chasing into clarity, trust, and thriving partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can BTF herding games help dogs who don't play with toys much? We do have dogs who start the course with little interest in toys and eventually learn to play - because we cover getting focus and attention in the course. With dogs who are distracted, we recommend training indoors to get the groundwork before transitioning to outdoors. Ultimately, if your dog already has an interest in chasing toys - you will have an easier time with Show & Switch™ foundations.
Q: Is my dog too young or old for herding games? A: BTF Herding Games are suitable for dogs of all ages, from 6-month-old puppies to 10-year-old senior dogs - there’s no age limit. Whether your dog is young and curious, older and inexperienced, or has been reactive for years, these games provide a meaningful way to fulfill their herding instincts and bring purpose to their lives. In the case of older dogs who have been reactive for many years, it is expected that more time and patience is necessary.
Q: Does my dog need a good recall for herding games? A: We recommend developing a strong foundation with the first two modules indoors before going outdoors for dogs with a poor recall. Finding some lower traffic areas and having your dog on a long line are good management strategies.
Q: Are your video lessons only conducted in English? A: While our video lessons and closed captions are narrated in English, we provide downloadable transcripts in English, German, French, Italian, and Chinese to make the content easily accessible.
Q: I want to start my Border Collie or Herding Dog in sheep herding classes. Will herding games help prepare him for training on sheep? A: Yes! BTF Herding Games are designed to develop key skills like focus, impulse control, and responsiveness, which are essential for sheepdog training. These games introduce foundational skills such as the ability to stop, directional cues, and controlled movement that can be seamlessly transitioned to working with livestock. While they’re not a substitute for actual herding classes, they provide a strong starting point for building the instincts and behaviors needed for control around sheep.
Q: Do I have to stop walking my car-chasing dog? A: If your dog is constantly getting frustrated by seeing all the movement he can't control during walks, taking a long break is an effective way to manage arousal and stress while working on building your partnership with him and fulfilling his herding instinct. This was instrumental in helping Raven stop chasing cars. Walks can be included back in your routine in due time (every dog is different).
Q: Do you offer 1-2-1 coaching for herding games? A: Our course is the most comprehensive, affordable, and varied sheep-herding alternative available online. Whether you're looking to resolve car-chasing rooted in the instinct to control movement or simply want to give your herding dog breed-specific fulfillment, you'll find all the information you need to confidently get started - no trainer required. And of course, our students are always welcome to ask questions along the way.
Q: Is PayPal the only payment option? A: Yes. For any issues regarding payment, kindly contact us for available options.