SoCal Herding

SoCal Herding offers structured group classes held on Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings at their Rancho Ventoso facility. Classes include instruction in herding techniques for competition, farm work, or companionship. Students may enroll in a 4-lesson package or pay per drop-in (for former students). Instinct tests are offered during morning class days. Boarding and additional training are available for enrolled students. Public demonstrations at events provide observational learning opportunities.

Pricing Summary

Group classes cost $240 for four lessons to be completed within five weeks. Drop-in sessions for former students are $80 per class. Instinct tests are $80 per dog, with a 50% discount if enrolled in classes on the same day. Boarding is $45/day and training sessions during boarding are $25/session, available only to enrolled students.

Policies

Students must text ahead to check availability for instinct tests. Classes are held on a fixed schedule with no mention of cancellation or rescheduling policies. Drop-in classes are only available to former students. Boarding and training are restricted to enrolled students.

SoCal Herding is a specialized dog training business focused on herding breeds, founded by Ted Ondrak, a licensed herding judge for the AKC, AHBA, and USBCHA with over 30 years of experience training dogs using techniques learned from the world’s top shepherds. They offer group classes at their Rancho Ventoso facility in Palmdale, CA, on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, teaching dogs for pleasure, competition, or livestock work. Their team includes experienced trainers like Kelly Ondrak and Chandra David, who have trained multiple herding breeds and have hands-on experience with livestock and exotic animals. The business also hosts public herding demonstrations at local events like the Seaside Highland Games and Scottsfest, allowing owners to observe training in action. They provide boarding and training services for enrolled students’ dogs, and offer instinct tests for new herding dogs. Their approach is rooted in traditional herding methods passed down through decades of hands-on work with working dogs.

They serve dog owners in Southern California who own herding breeds such as Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois, and offer structured programs for both novice and experienced handlers. Their unique advantage lies in their deep connection to working dog traditions and their visibility in media and live events, demonstrating real-world results.

Additional services include dog boarding at $45/day and training sessions at $25/session for enrolled students, but they do not offer grooming, walking, or daycare services.

The business is not a breeder, pet store, or general dog trainer—it is exclusively focused on herding breed training and performance.

Ted Ondrak has trained dogs for TV shows on Animal Planet, NBC, National Geographic, and PBS, and has been featured in Time magazine and the Los Angeles Times, adding credibility and recognition to their program.

Accomplishments

Ted Ondrak is a licensed herding judge for the AKC, AHBA, and USBCHA, and a founding member of the AVSC. He has trained over 10 herding breeds to working titles, appeared on Animal Planet, NBC, National Geographic, PBS, A&E, and Fox, been featured in Time magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and Associated Press, and authored content for the books Working Dogs and Big Dogs/Little Dogs. He has conducted herding demos at major events including the Queen Mary Scottish Festival and Seaside Highland Games.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients should review class times and fees on the website, then contact the business by phone to inquire about availability. New herding dogs can take an instinct test during morning class days. Enrollment in the 4-lesson package is the primary entry point for training.