Keepstone Farm

Lessons are individually tailored and offered on a flexible schedule with no mandatory commitment. Training includes instinct testing, handling instruction, private lessons, and practice sessions using live livestock. Clients can progress from beginner to advanced levels in AKC, AHBA, USBCHA, and ASCA herding events. Susan works with each dog and handler to identify personal goals and develop a training path suited to the dog’s breed, energy, and ability.

Pricing Summary

Pricing is available upon request by contacting Susan Rhoades via email. No public pricing is listed; fees are customized based on lesson type, duration, and client goals. A 24-hour cancellation notice is required to avoid full charge.

Policies

A 24-hour cancellation notice is required to avoid being charged the full fee for a missed appointment. All dogs must be leashed on property unless actively working in a lesson. Visitors must ask permission before approaching other dogs or entering fields with guardian animals. Waste must be cleaned up and disposed of properly. A 5 mph speed limit is enforced on property, with dogs and livestock having right of way.

Keepstone Farm is a herding dog training facility located in Berryville, Virginia, offering lessons and training for all breeds of herding dogs, from puppies to adults, and for handlers of all experience levels. Run by Susan Rhoades, an AKC and AHBA herding trial judge, the farm provides private lessons, practice sessions, instinct testing, and training for competition or recreational herding. The facility features 75 acres of dedicated arenas and fields with sheep, ducks, turkeys, and cattle for live livestock training. Susan encourages owners of non-traditional herding breeds—such as Corgis, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Boerboels, and Lacy dogs—to participate in herding trials to preserve instinctual traits. Keepstone also hosts dog trials and field events like agility, barn hunts, and coursing, and offers fully trained herding dogs and dog-broke livestock for sale. The farm promotes a welcoming, respectful environment with clear etiquette rules to ensure safety and camaraderie for all clients and their dogs.

Clients can schedule flexible lesson frequencies without long-term commitments, and no home livestock is required. Keepstone partners with Quality Inn for pet-friendly lodging with reduced rates for clients attending lessons or events, and is conveniently located near Winchester and the Regional Airport.

Susan’s expertise spans multiple herding organizations including AKC, USBCHA, ASCA, and AHBA, and she has trained dogs to earn championships across breeds, including the first Boerboel and Bernese Mountain Dog to earn AKC and AHBA herding titles.

Accomplishments

Susan Rhoades is an AKC and AHBA herding trial judge with over ten years of experience. She has trained the first Boerboel and Bernese Mountain Dog to earn AKC and AHBA herding championships. She has also trained the second Cardigan Welsh Corgi to earn an AKC herding championship and the first to hold both AKC and AHBA championships. Her own Border Collies compete successfully in multiple herding organizations.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients should email Susan Rhoades at keepstonefarm@gmail.com to schedule an initial consultation. No phone calls are accepted; all communication is handled via email to avoid interrupting training sessions. Susan will respond promptly to arrange a time for an assessment and lesson.