If you are looking for games other than fetch and tug of war to play with your dog, then you want to contact Marcia Welch at Positively Best Friends in Edgecomb. The 20-year dog trainer teaches livestock herding to her homo sapien and canine clients. The activity is designed to build a bond between man and man’s best friend.

Welch competes regularly in livestock trial competitions around the country. She teaches her pupils how to guide ducks and sheep around an obstacle course at a Mill Road farm in Edgecomb. The course’s purpose isn’t to prepare a dog for corralling livestock on a farm. It’s intended to provide the clients — both man and dog — a sport which is fun and builds rapport between the two.

On May 22, Welch held a livestock herding class. None of the students have livestock, but they all had a desire to participate in a fun, new activity with their dogs. Even though several breeds are genetically inclined to herd, the class is designed for all dogs. The only requirement is the dog has an interest in the livestock.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” Welch said. “Some do it because they need a dog to help around the farm. Others, just for the excitement. A dog doesn’t have to be from a herding breed to do this. This sport has plenty of poodles, border terriers, boxers and chihuahuas.”

Welch’s class begins by showing her human clients how a herding dog moves livestock, in this case call ducks, around a small obstacle course. Afterwards, two of her former pupils perform the same task with their trained herding dogs. Welch wants her human clients to first experience how difficult herding is from a dog’s perspective.

“It’s frustrating when a dog doesn’t do what you want them. So the humans herd the ducks first to get a sense of it. Sometimes people will say dumb dog, but it’s really the dog just showing its independence.”

Welch has trained her own Australian shepherds for over 20 years and taught herding for 10. She has earned two Australian Shepherd Club of America Working Trial Championships and one American Kennel Club Championship.

In her training class, she is assisted by two former pupils, Dawn Mulcahy of Hallowell and Barb Gibson of Edgecomb, who have trained with Welch for more than five years. They both began their dogs in obedience class before moving onto herding. Mulcahy said the best part of herding is doing something with your dog that you never imagined doing.

“It’s really fun to be able to work with your dog with stock,” she said. “Both of my dogs love it and I love doing it with them.”

The obstacle course is located at Gibson’s farm on Mill Road. She herds ducks and sheep with her two Bernese Mountain dogs, Tugboat and Nessa.

“When I heard about herding as a sport it sounded interesting. So I tried it with my dogs and they both enjoy it. Tugboat took to it right away. I think he loves being around his duckies,” Gibson said.

Welch’s course also attracts pupils who may want dogs to herd livestock on their farms. Ben Kann and his wife, Betsy Levine, of Liberty used a herding dog when they lived in Connecticut. They recently lost their dog of 15 and a half years. They have ordered a French Briard puppy. The Waldo County couple were looking for a Midcoast training session in case they want to begin handling livestock again.

“Once we got to Maine we were too busy for livestock, but we’re thinking about clearing a section of field and putting in three sheep,” Kann said.

Joanna Hall of Rockport and her three sons own a Border Collie, another breed associated with herding. “Jaks” came from a 350-acre farm in North Carolina where he participated in herding. Hall is taking the course to allow her dog to live his heritage.

“It’s in him. That’s what he’s bred for. His mother is a Northern Ireland champion herder. So we are taking the training so he can live the life he was born for,” Hall said.

Welch said her course isn’t only for those who want to handle livestock or compete in competition. It’s mainly for having a fun activity for both a dog lover and their “best friend.”

For information about Welch’s classes, visiting positivelybestfriends.com or call 522-6001.