Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine - Issue 11, December 2019

The Australian

WORKING

STOCK DOG Magazine

Snakes & Dogs snake avoidance training

The Way We Were: Laurie Slater

VET CHECK: Peter Brown on Raising Pups

Know the signs for Pancreatitis

A DOG’S LIFE:

Richies Finn

December 2019

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Issue 11

UK Training for Aussie Dogs?

Welshman Kevin Davies back in Australia!

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From the Editor Some of you will know that Wayne and Mandy Flintham decided to sell the magazine after the December 2018 issue. They hatched the idea and have built it up over the last five years to be the publication we all love today. Along with a team of dedicated helpers including Zoe Crouch, Annette Ross and Kasie LoSurdo they produced 10 issues of the Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine, ran a series of working dog schools raising money for mental health support, ran an auction raising money for the Dolly Foundation, and sponsored plenty of trials and other working dog events throughout the country.

I have now purchased the magazine and am excited to take it forward. I live in NSW with my partner, where we breed Kelpies and compete in yard, utility, three sheep and cattle trials as well as using them for station work. I hope the working dog industry will continue to support the magazine both by advertising in each issue and by reading and sharing it with friends. I will be bringing products along to as many trials as I can so you can all have a look at what we have and purchase anything you would like without waiting on postage. There will be a few changes and new things coming for 2020, so stay tuned!

As I’m writing this, a large portion of our country is in severe drought, and other parts are fighting the opposite issue of being waterlogged. Bushfires are burning out of control over large parts of NSW and QLD with massive losses of property, stock, wildlife and even human lives. Our country can be a

hard land and it has pushed many of us to the brink. I want to send our thoughts and best wishes to anyone struggling with the extreme weather or the bushfires and note that it is important to seek help if you are struggling to cope. We have included some links to mental health services on page 81, please do find some help if you are having a hard time. It is in these difficult times we see communities’ band together and pull each other through. Hopefully the next 12 months will bring some much needed relief.

Wishing everybody a Merry Christmas, and a Happy (and hopefully rainy!!) New Year.

Kind Regards, Lauren Vest Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine Email: lauren@stockdogs.com.au

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All material in this magazine is protected by copyright laws and may not be reproduced in part or full without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher and contributors does / do not accept liability for any opinions or techniques described within The Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine.

Printed in Australia by Bluestar Pty Ltd and Distributed by IPS.

Publisher and Editor: Lauren Vest Email: lauren@stockdogs.com.au Phone: 0431299186 Mail: 571 Kangaroo Mt Rd, Coolac NSW 2727

Design Director: Kasie LoSurdo Chief Designer: Annette Ross Advertising Designer: Kerri Hill Contributors: Lauren Vest, Amy Cutler, Peter Brown, Peta Bauer, Jess Kimpton, Catherine Rains, Stacey Doolan, Tully Williams, Ken Sykes, Kevin Davies, Daniel Lenzo, Karen Stephens, Shane Beauglehall, Peri Chappell, Joel Davis, Jean Hydleman, Rod Cavanagh, Phoebe McGillivery, Mark Pelley, Dr Sarah Langton, Ryan Ackers Front Cover Credit: Henty Machinery Field Days Advertising, Articles & Stories Email: lauren@stockdogs.com.au

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 2019

On the Cover

8.

The Way We Were: Laurie Slater

12.

Raising Pups with Peter Brown

18.

A Dog’s Life - Richies Finn

40.

Vet Check: Pancreatitis

48.

Snakes and Dogs: Part Two

56.

Kevin Davies Down Under

18 Richies Finn

34

Station Profile: Kangaroo Mountain

38 Jerilderie Auction

74

2019 Supreme Champs

28

Photo Essay

56 Ken Davies Down Underr

8 12 16 18 22 24 28 34 38 40 44 45 48 52 55 56 58 60 64 68 70 73 74 79 81 82

The Way We Were: Laurie Slater Raising Pups with Peter Brown Cobber Challenge A Dog’s Life: Richies Finn Weekend Warrior: Jess Kimpton Stockman Profile: Fred Rains Photo Essay: Amy Cutler Station Profile: Kangaroo Mountain Jerilderie Working Dog Auction Vet Check: Pancreatitis Lets Spin a Yarn A Tribute to Bert Dogs and Snakes: Part Two Training Pen: All Cover and No Push Training Pen: Get the Basics Right Ken Davies: A Welshman Down Under International Sheepdog Society Trialing Guerie Golden Collar Wrap Up Casterton Kelpie Muster Wrap Up 2019 Victorian Yard Dog Championships 2019 AU Working Cattle Dog Champs NSW Utility Championships Wrap Up 2019 Supreme Sheepdog Championship All Round Utility Stock Dog Trials Breeders Directory Mental Health

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THE WAY WE WERE Laurie Slater Story and images by Lauren Vest

L

aurie Slater is a genuine bushie and a well-known character on the three sheep trialling circuit. With a reputation for excellent handling and talented dogs, he is also generous with his knowledge and time for newcomers to the sport. He has led an interesting life with many great stories to share and has always had a good dog or two by his side. I sat down with Laurie at his home in Murrumbateman to have a chat about dogs, trialling, and his life working in some of the best country Australia has to offer.

Born in Gundagai in 1933 he was one of seven children.

His father was a farmer and it wasn’t long before Laurie was following in his footsteps, pulled out of school at 11 years old to work on the property. During the summer Laurie was set to shepherding sheep in the hills around Tumbarumba –with only his dogs for company and a hessian blanket to sleep in of a night. Dogs were a part of the family from the start, with Border Collies for the stockwork and Greyhounds and Fox Terriers for rabbiting.

As a young teen Laurie was offered work by the Grahams who owned the 32,000 acre Bongongo Station at Adjungbilly, at the foot of the Snowy Mountains. A big place with some very rough country and plenty of opportunity to hone his skills as a stockman and dog handler on both sheep and cattle. He had been there a few months when the boss asked Laurie and about eight other jackaroos to go and get 300 wild heifers out of the scrub that had evaded muster for quite a while. They headed out to bring them in without any dogs and despite much effort, they couldn’t yard them. Laurie was pretty underwhelmed by the attempts to muster them and told the boss if he wanted Jackaroos riding around playing cowboys and Indians chasing stock around it wasn’t the place for him. In response the boss asked if he could go and get them mustered with his dogs – Laurie said sure! So Laurie headed out with his dogs and just one other bloke. They camped out there for a week and spent time educating the heifers to dogs – he said they worked them a fair bit at night. Come the end of the week and they walked the heifers into the yards and the boss was mighty impressed!

Laurie was quickly promoted to a manager’s position and most of the Jackaroos were let go, replaced by Laurie’s team of very capable Border Collies. He stayed at Bongongo for 30 years and became renowned throughout the district for his quality

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dogs, his stockmanship, and consistently well educated stock.

They were long and hard days at Bongongo – It was around a 20 mile ride to get stock in from the furthest paddock for shearing. Calves were marked by roping and stretching them out one by one. There was always a lot of wild cattle to handle, calves were weaned at 8 months and then let go in the bush paddocks and only brought in once a year.

Laurie has always had a bit of attitude about him and he remembers one time when the boss went away for three months holiday leaving Laurie to look after the place, organise shearing and do all the stockwork. On his return he showed up at the yards where Laurie had a mob nearly in and started tapping his watch to hurry him up. Well, that didn’t sit well with Laurie, so he rode his horse up and swung him around and knocked the boss right over, making sure to tell him that’ll be the last time you watch the clock with me!

Horses were a big part of Laurie’s life along with the dogs. They were necessary for getting stockwork done at Bongongo and he also broke in a lot of horses for people. He competed in rodeos until he was around 50. He was in demand as a hazer and trained a lot of young rodeo competitors, as well as doing some campdrafting. When he was breaking in lots of horses he had a cattle dog - if he was thrown off his horse the cattle dog would chase after it, grab the reins and bring it back to him.

During his time at Bongongo Laurie was cast as Ned Kelly in a street parade in Gundagai. They put on a re-enactment of Ned Kelly robbing a pub. Laurie came wheeling in on his horse complete with fake beard and tin hat, dashed into the pub and held it up, and made his getaway with a bag of cash. With one

THE WAY WE WERE small hitch, he swung up onto his getaway horse, who took offense to the bag of loot and promptly bucked him off! The second attempt at mounting went a bit better, and Ned Kelly made his successful getaway with his cash and his bruised ego all the way back to the five mile where the dog sits on the tuckerbox.

Farewelling Bongongo Station, Laurie moved to Canberra in the early seventies. He spent time as a bricklayer, backhoe driving, and gained his plumbing license. He has a good-sized block near Murrumbateman where he still breeds and trains his Border Collies today, as well as mentoring and helping people learning the ropes of three sheep trialling.

Laurie started his trialling career in 1983 with a dog called Cloudy, who at that time was strictly a station dog. Laurie was running the trial at Murrumbateman, organising the sheep and setting up, but not running any dogs. A friend wanted to see Cloudy work so he showed him off and was promptly told he should quit station work with him and take him trialling.

So off trialling they went. Cloudy came second in his first trial and won his second. Laurie caught the attention of the trialling community right from the start!

Laurie’s first dog was called Spider and he was from his fathers

breeding. He has always bred his own dogs and tries to go back to his own lines as much as possible without getting too close, using outcrosses only when needed. He started his Wondara line of dogs in 1985 with Cloudy and a bitch he got off well known trialler Ross Dodge. He says his best dog was sired by Spider and was named after him, out of a black barb bitch.

Laurie broke young Spider in to three sheep – He took him to two trials and placed second both times. He even worked in front of the queen when she came to watch the Supreme in 1992, doing a demonstration as well as placing second.

However, he decided he would be better as a station dog and so he was. He was super intelligent and would work anything, sheep, cattle, goats, and more. He worked in the yard and in the paddock and would happily back sheep.

Laurie has a fantastic trialling record - he estimates he has won upwards of 100 trials. His favourite win was Port Fairy in 2015, with Wondara Drift. Drift won the Open, and also won Dog of the Year. Laurie also placed first, second and third in the Novice with his own Wondara dogs, as well as second in the Improver. He brought home over $7,000 that one weekend!

When asked how trialling has changed over the years, Laurie said overall it hasn’t changed dramatically. The handling has gotten much better and dogs are also improving. He said

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THE WAY WE WERE judging used to be a bit more stringent and more based on practical stockwork and there was more attention payed to settling the sheep and working them properly instead of rushing them down the ground. The new rule of 20 points lost if you don’t pen your sheep can encourage people to rush their sheep to get there. It is also a lot more competitive and political nowadays. There is more jealousy and cunning involved than there used to be!

Courses haven’t changed much from when Laurie first started trialling. There were more Kelpies involved when Laurie started but soon the Border Collies started to dominate. The collies had much better feel on their sheep whereas the Kelpies tended to frighten the sheep, which made it more difficult to settle them to get around the course successfully. Laurie’s collies set a high standard and lots of handlers switched to collies to try and beat Laurie’s dogs at trials!

Laurie always starts Storyhis bydogs Peterout Brown in the with paddock. input from He used Snowto call his dog Spider his Ellis, round Geoffyard Gibson because and Robert he would Johnson always keep the sheep together perfectly for the pup he was working.

He always had an older dog holding the sheep for the pups.

You must have pinpoint control on the dogs to position them exactly but maintain the natural work in the dog. Laurie teaches the dogs to know where they need to be and how to break their sheep in. He is more about ‘educating’ his dogs than training and drilling. He didn’t choose his pups, he would keep them all to see how they would work, starting them at around 7-9 months. He could then make an informed decision about which pups to keep and which would be better as good working farm dogs.

Laurie is a larger than life character, always ready with a joke or some quick wit, and happy to help anyone committed to the sport of three sheep trialling. His achievements are extraordinary and reflect his phenomenal skill at reading both his sheep and his dogs. Laurie is a stockman through and through. He has been a fixture in the dog trialling world for many years and hopefully will be for many years to come!

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GOOD ENOUGH TO BREED GOOD ENOUGH TO FEED

RAISING PUPS

T

By Peter Brown

here is not a single correct method for breeding and rearing pups, but there are plenty of poor decisions that can be made that will affect the end result. It stands to reason that proper rearing and nutrition are the keys to giving those young dogs every opportunity to reach their genetic potential, both mentally and physically.

This is my method of breeding and rearing pups up to 12 weeks of age.

semen from a clean sire goes a long way toward avoiding disease transmitted at joining. If AI is the chosen method of fertilization, then a progesterone testing pro-gram carried out by a Veterinarian should be undertaken. This allows se-men to be delivered at the peak time for fertilization. If the bitch is working particularly hard as she is approaches cycling and joining, cut back on the workload and have her on a rising plane of nutrition.

MATING AND GESTATION Once the decision has been made for a particular joining, make sure both the bitch and sire are healthy and free of any disease or infection. There have been some horror stories about sires rendered infertile or having a lowered fertility after picking up a problem from an unclean bitch. Consequently, an infection or transmittable reproductive disease can have a ma-jor effect on the success of a joining. Consult a Veterinarian for guidance and testing of dogs prior to mating.

Artificial insemination with either stored or freshly collected

Make sure that vaccinations and worming are up to date. Prior to and after joining to the selected sire, keep the bitch securely housed and away from other male dogs until her heat cycle has been completed. Cease all stock work 3-4 weeks prior to the whelping date as this is the start of the third trimester, a time puppy growth and development is at its peak. Worm the bitch with a good broad spectrum wormer 1-2 weeks prior to whelping as this will reduce the opportunity for round worms to pass to the pups through the milk. Allow the bitch to become familiar with the whelping box or secure

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compartment in which you want her to whelp. Pro-vide a suitable bedding material as bitches like to nest in preparation for the birth of the pups. Good quality soft straw or newspaper torn into strips make good nesting material. Avoid bedding that can be inhaled by puppies or can impede their movement by entanglement. Try to have a safe envi-ronment for the pups, one where they can’t suffocate or be rolled on by the bitch. A rail on the inside of the whelping box prevents a lot of these inci-dents and gives the pups a safe place to sleep.

WHELPING Try to be present, or at least regularly checking the whelping bitch. Early decisions are the best response particularly if the bitch is struggling to whelp and a Veterinarian needs to be consulted. Once the bitch has cleaned and fed the pups, I like to handle them. Pups are born blind and deaf so rely on smell and touch. This is an opportunity to start the bonding process.

Reassure the bitch while handling the pups as some bitches, particularly maiden bitches can become distressed and anxious.

Bitches need to be well fed when pregnant, particularly in the last trimester and while suckling pups. Protein is the building block for growth and devel-opment and should be balanced with good quantities of energy, vitamins and trace elements including minerals. Feed her twice a day as this will maximize milk production and optimum growth in the pups.

REARING THE LITTER Hygiene is important as it is the first defense against disease and infection. If there are pups that have rear dew claws, remove them within the first few days after birth. At this time, they are not connected by bone or cartilage and it is a simple procedure. Remove and replace soiled nesting material and clean food bowls regularly. Weigh pups every 2 weeks and worm with a puppy worming suspension according to the direction on the label. Weighing helps identify any pup that is not growing at a similar rate to its siblings. Offer food to the pups at about 3.5 weeks of age. It should be of a soft, warm and slightly runny consistency. Weetbix and warm milk seems to be a good mix and is fed twice a day. Once the pups are eating well start to introduce a pinch of seaweed meal (high in minerals) and some mashed sardines or good quality fine beef mince. The volume of added protein (sardines or beef mince) in the mix is dependent on the pup’s weights and food consumption. As the bitch’s milk supply begins to decrease offer the pups three meals per day as weaning is not far away.

From about 5 weeks of age start to introduce some soaked good quality puppy kibble to the mix and after several days slowly decrease the volume of weetbix until it is out of the mix. Puppy kibble, milk, seaweed meal and good quality protein will be their food up until 12 weeks. Bones that they can’t swallow or pieces of raw meat they must chew are a good substitute for one of their meals now and then.

First vaccination is administered at 6 weeks and I always use C6 which is a more comprehensive vaccine. It covers all the standard diseases plus some that are transmittable to humans. C6 controls Canine Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis, Adenovirus Type 2 (respiratory disease) Parainflu-enza Virus and Bacteria, and two forms of Leptospirosis (Canicola and Haemorrhagiae) .

Weaning takes place at 6 weeks of age as it is about this time that the bitch has stopped cleaning up after the pups and is losing interest in feeding them. Weaning should be a much simpler process now as the pups have been educated to feeding

and feeding times and are now well handled, confident, socialized little dogs. Leave the pups in the familiar surrounds of the bitch box and the kennel to which they have become accustomed. Interact with the pups regularly to allow the have complete confidence in humans. Encourage them to explore areas away from the kennels and ex-perience the outside world under your guidance. Continue to weigh and worm the pups with a suspension wormer until they are 12 weeks old or are 10kg. At 10kg they can move onto a good quality worming pill suitable for a dog of their weight. The second vaccination is given at twelve weeks of age which gives immunity to diseases covered by the vaccine for 12 months. The pups are now ready for their new homes, fully vaccinated, well socialized with people and other dogs, have some experience with the world at large, and are responding to simple commands.

The graphs below are of two litters sired by the same sire and whelped on the same day. Both litters were reared alongside each other, fed identically and weighed and wormed on the same day.

LITTER 1 Maiden bitch whelped 25/4/18 Weighed and then wormed with DRONTAL Puppy Wormer @ 1ml/1kg Date weighed 9/5/18 23/5/18 6/6/18 20/6/18 4/7/18 18/7/18 26/7/18

NB. Feeding commenced at 3.5 weeks.

Faecal sample submitted to Vet 1/7/18 presence of hook worm detected. 4/7/18 product for worming changed to a Vet prescribed product.

LITTER 2 3rd litter whelped 25/4/18 Date weighed 9/5/18 23/5/18 6/6/18 20/6/18 4/7/18 18/7/18 26/7/18

NB. This litter was also wormed on 4/7/18 with the Vet prescribed product.

It is reasonably difficult to avoid a hook worm issue in our warm wet climate during autumn and early winter as conditions are perfect for their prolifera-tion. Normally bitches are bred to avoid this time of year as summer litters don’t seem to be challenged as much by Hook Worm but moderating their body temperature becomes an issue.

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FAIRDINKUM KELPIES

Dogs bred to think for themselves and get the job done Contact: Janelle 0407759338

Email: nelscartage@bigpond.com

Fairdinkum Kelpies are strong versatile dogs, bred to work with natural ability in either open country or thick scrub

Story and Images

by Peta Bauer

COBBER

CHALLENGE

The Cobber Challenge is a celebration of the unsung heroes of Australian farms - working dogs. Twelve competitors are selected; two each from TAS, VIC, NSW, QLD, SA and WA. These dogs are given a GPS collar that tracks their distance, working duration and speed over a three-week period. Points are accorded, the dogs are ranked and by the end of the challenge we have a new Cobber Champion.

When asked if I would be interested in entering the 2019 Cobber Challenge, Jed instantly sprang into my head. Let’s just say Jed has always been a handful, as a pup he was the biggest in his litter and would use his size to sit on his siblings and not let them up. As his training started, we knew he would be a keeper, he showed a nice balance of both his parents which is why we have done this cross a few times now. His sire Sweep has a lovely calming affect on his stock with the strength to back it up, he was beautiful to watch as a young dog covering the ground but unfortunately a run in with a cow when he was a young dog left him with fractured pelvis. He never quite had that lovely flowing motion once he was healed. Jed’s mother

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Henti is a little work horse with a ton of power and just like her son she was and still is a handful to work.

I can remember going to yards one day with Jed, Henti, Sweep, Gooch and my two daughters. My eldest daughter was very funny and pointed out that Jed and Henti where the two names I said the most all day! All I could say was that’s because they liked hearing their name, but really it was because they where always pushing the boundaries.

Only being on a small farm when Jed was being trained and when he started taking Sweeps place, Jed did a lot of running!

He has a big heart, and stamina in a dog we really hadn’t

It all nearly came to an abrupt end on the second weekend, I was getting Jed out of his kennel to help move some sheep and I was on the phone to the bank and he did the most silly jump out of the kennel and got his front leg caught. So here I was with a dog caught by his front leg yelping while trying to act normal to the bank! Luckily, I was able to grab him and pull him up without breaking his front leg.

Story and Photos By Nan Lloyd Winning the Cobber Challenge was a year of firsts, plus breaking a record. First Border collie to win - that was a huge high. I am all for a great work dog no matter what breed but to be the owner and breeder of the first collie, that is a big achievement for me.

To be the first female handler to win is another privilege I will hold onto for years to come, for so long it has been a male world, but slowly more and more females have been entering the agricultural sector and succeeding. It is so good to see, and I know my two daughters will always have a strong link to agriculture. seen until him, though Henti isn’t too far behind. If he wasn’t kept that bit tired and the edge taken off him, he was pushy and would override commands thinking he knew better.

Over time he has proven himself to be what we call a true allrounder; he works just as well in the paddock as he does in the yards.

Doing the challenge was very big eye opener to see what Jed actually does. There were a few technical hiccups in the first few days, losing a whole day’s data and part of another. However, a few tweaks of the handheld and a lot of AA batteries later it was pretty smooth sailing. The support behind the scenes was excellent - it would not have a been a easy job sorting through everyone’s data and getting up on the website so quickly each day.

Jed did an impressive 717km in three weeks, that is 7 marathons back to back. That is also over 200km further than the distance from our house to Melbourne! I now know that I really take for granted what our dogs can and will do for us. We all know they are there when we need them whether it be in the yards pushing up sheep or out in a scrubby paddock with wild cattle on the run, but when you add up what they do, at the end of day it’s pretty amazing no matter what breed they are.

During the challenge we had our normal stock moves to do, we run 25,000 sheep and 1,500 cattle on 10,000 acres so it’s a lot of movements. We also had to get the ewe’s ready for lambing which meant they all had to come into the yards for worming and drenching.

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A DOG’S LIFE Richies Finn - Natural Talent Shines Through story and images by Lauren Vest.

Cover photo Henty Machinery Field Days

H

ypro Premium Ambassador Mick Hudson is no stranger to the winners circle at three sheep trials and lately his 5.5yo bitch Richies Finn has been the one to get him there.

Finn is a black and white Border Collie, sired by Wondara Snap (Springvale Buddy x Wondara Fairy) and out of Richies Meg (Richies Kane x Richies Miss). The Richies dogs are bred

by Geoff Richie from northern NSW who was a top handler in his day and very well known in the trialling community.

Wondara Snap is owned by Mick and has been a huge influence on his handling and the breeding of his dogs.

Finn came home to the Hudsons at six weeks old. She is lucky to be here today, Hookworm nearly killed her as a young pup.

The standard worming recommendation of 2,4,6,8,12 weeks doesn’t adequately cover the Hookworm life cycle and in the gap between the 8 and 12 week worming, Finn became very ill. She needed a blood transfusion and it was touch and go whether she would make it. Thankfully she pulled through and has well and truly repaid the time and money spent to keep her well.

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When Finn was a young dog, Mick was busy with his properties so he sent Finn up to Jess Kimpton in Sydney for some foundation training (read about Jess and Josie Kimpton in our Weekend Warriors article). Jess spent time with Finn, teaching her to recall, stop and started her balancing up and learning how to work sheep. Once she returned home Mick was able to continue with her education. He prefers to use the word education as opposed to training when it comes to dogs. He educates the dog to have the knowledge of how to correctly work sheep within itself, instead of having to teach it movements and exercises.

His dogs are worked without commands aside from their name, a recall, and perhaps a bit of a stop, until they are around 12 months old. It’s all about setting things up to let them learn how to feel their sheep, rate and find the right balance point without them realising you are teaching them anything. Mick believes it is important to work young dogs on quiet sheep in a confined area so you can always set them up for success. This prevents them learning or practicing bad habits and builds

A DOG’S LIFE Richies Finn - Natural Talent Shines Through

their confidence with lots of wins. There have been a lot of dogs ruined by handlers over commanding them as a young dog before they have built their confidence and experience!

Mick spends a lot of time building a dog’s desire to work sheep.

Between one and two years old Finn continued gaining experience and confidence and had a few runs in the novice at smaller trials. It was the lead up to the Supreme Championships in Tasmania in September 2015 and just quietly Mick thought she might be good enough to win there.

She was only 18 months old when the Supreme came around and it was a big trip for a young dog! She ran in the Novice and all was going her way - she ended up winning the novice over two rounds. This meant she could enter up into the Improver/ Open. Well, Finn worked her heart out and won the Improver and made the top 20, then the Open final. She missed the hat trick by half a point – coming in second at her first attempt at the Supreme Australian Championships to one of her kennel mates – Mick’s dog MGH Boy. Just to stick it to Boy, on the way home they competed at the Dundee Open 3 sheep and Finn came away with the win with Boy placing second to her this time.

Since then she has proven it was no fluke and has gone from strength to strength. In 2017 she won the open at Koroit, the Commonwealth Championships at Port Fairy, and qualified for and won the Champion of Champions at the Nationals in Canberra. In 2018 she won the Three Sheep at the Stock Dog Spectacular ($5,000 prize money), the QLD Championships, and again qualified for and won the Champion of Champions at the Nationals. In 2019 she has won at Finley, placed second in the NSW Championships at Molong, second in the NSW Selection Trial, 2nd in the Bungendore Trans Tasman trial, won the Henty Field day trials and third in the Supreme Australian Championships at Dalby QLD. She is currently leading dog of the year for NSWSDWI with 41 points. Most recently she won the open Three Sheep at the Geurie Golden Collar trial, running two scores of 98 on some very difficult sheep. To date Finn has won 11 open trials and 2 Champion of Champions at the Nationals and hopefully more to come!

So, what is it that has made Richies Finn so successful from such a young age? Of course, much credit must go to the topclass handling and training she has had throughout her life.

Mick believes there are three things that are essential for any combination to be successful at three sheep trialling - timing,

balance and distance. Without those three things you are going nowhere. You must be able to control distance, get your timing right, and find correct balance which is always being in the perfect position, dog and handler. Distance – there is a zone where the sheep are comfortable, and a zone where they are uncomfortable, and you must understand where those are to be able to work with them successfully. Mick has refined his own timing and balance as well as that of his dogs through many years of mustering, having covered 2-3 million acres of back country and mustered hundreds of thousands of wild goats and other stock. Being able to muster wild goats and produce the dogs that can do so has paid for a lot of what Mick and his wife Carolyn have today.

When you pair a top handler with a top dog, great things are bound to happen. Finn has the natural ability to read sheep herself, but she is also very obedient, doesn’t fight command and always reacts straight away to direction. These traits can be hard to find within the one dog. Often a natural dog will fight command and want to work on its own initiative, and a dog who is easily commanded can lack or lose some of its own natural instinct and feel. The pairing of excellent natural instinct with a biddable and compliant nature is a huge asset in the trial ring. Beautiful balance and distance are also some of Finn’s advantages. She adjusts distance on sheep herself depending on the stock. Mick thinks it comes through her father Wondara Snap. It is interesting to note that the three dogs Mick had in the top ten of the Supreme this year at Dalby were sired by Snap. They all seem to be natural at reading sheep and adjusting their distance and work to settle the sheep and calm them using their own intelligence.

Mick would call that ‘feel’ on sheep. Snap has had a huge influence on the dogs Mick is working today and he credits him for really setting him up well. Snap was bred by Laurie Slater at Murrumbateman (featured in ‘The Way we Were’).

Mick got him as a little pup also. He was intended for someone else and the person who had ordered him decided against him because he was longer coated, so Mick took the risk which certainly paid off! All of Micks dogs go back to Wynella Digger (Arends Patrick/Gillards Sky – both full bred NZ heading dogs). Arends Patrick was as good a dog as Mick has ever seen. He was owned by Bernard Arends who brought him to Australia from New Zealand. Mick believes the Arends Patrick blood brings a lot of calmness into the breeding and that is also where the tri colour comes from. Finn herself can

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A DOG’S LIFE Richies Finn - Natural Talent Shines Through

be excitable at home and can be highly strung. Mick doesn’t mind though because she is also obedient so it doesn’t become an impediment. Mick and Finn have a great bond, and you can see it when Mick talks about how Finn loves to smile. He can ask her to smile and she will curl her lips up to give him a grin!

Amongst her busy trialling schedule Finn has also had two litters of pups. The first was sired by O’Kanes Charles Dickens (Ben (A UK bred dog) x O’Kanes Kasey Chambers) bred and owned by Paul O’Kane. Charles brings in the lines of O’Kanes Evonne Gooloogong through his dam – Evonne was one of the best bitches Australia has seen. A bitch pup from this joining was sold at the Stockdog Spectacular at Tamworth, bought

by Robert Johnston of Shady Acres Working Stock Dogs for $5,200. She has started cattle trialling, already winning futurities and maiden trials, and by all accounts Robert thinks a lot of her.

Her second litter was sired by Evlyngra Vern owned by Ken Jelbart (O’Kanes Blaze x Morgans Delilah – Both parents are sired by Hudsons Scott owned by Graham Halsall). This brought in another cross of O’Kanes Evonne Gooloogong, as well as Hudsons Scott who has been one of the most prepotent champion sires of three sheep dogs in Australia. Mick has kept a bitch from this joining (MGH Jellie) who is around 9 months old and he rates her as exceptional so far. He has broken in a lot of dogs over the years and is a big believer that what you see early on is what you end up with. He will usually pick a pup within the first three or four lessons on sheep. An exceptional pup will do the right things from the very start. The pup (Jellie) is a bit highly strung, like her mother, but Mick thinks the highly-strung ones often make the better dogs. It is easier

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to wreck them but if you can get them right, they are often great. Hopefully she can mature and follow in her mother’s footsteps!

Mick believes the most important thing with working dogs are breeding, education and nutrition. He feeds his dogs and pups a premium product called Hypro Premium Grain Free Working Dog and Hypro Premium Grain Free Puppy. Mick has never had his dogs perform as well mustering livestock on a station or in the trial ring since he started using Hypro Premium Grain Free working dog biscuits (if you have a high performance engine you would not use low performance oil!).

There are four generations of sheep dog trainers and triallers in the Hudson Family. Mick’s grandmother, Maisie Hudson, was a well-known judge throughout the eastern states of Australia. In 1959 Maisie Hudson judged the Nationals at Manuka Oval Canberra. His grandfather, Archie Hudson, won the Champion of Champions at Bathurst 1953, he also judged the Nationals at Canberra. Mick’s father, Pip Hudson, has represented Australia three times, won a Supreme Australian Championship, a Commonwealth Championship, two NSW Championships and many other Open trials and is a very well known name in the sport. The fourth generation is being carried on by Micks son Harry who at seventeen has already had his share of trialling success. With a pedigree like that on the handler side and what is shaping up to be the continuing of a great dynasty from Snap, through Finn, and now onto her progeny, the future looks bright for the Hudson family and Ritchies Finn.

Elfinvale Stud Kelpies Ad.pdf

Est 1956.

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3:02 pm

“Continuing to breed strong, intelligent and forceful working dogs for the yard and paddock” GUARANTEED TO WORK! WKC eligible Including half day training @ Elfin with all pups sold

(Melville Forest, Victoria)

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E: elfinpastoral1@bigpond.com FIND US ON FACEBOOK

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ELFINVALE STUD KELPIES

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WEEKEND WARRIOR Jess Kimpton

Story & Photos by Jess Kimpton

With no background in the working dog world, coming from the very different scene of agility, obedience and showing, Jess shows first hand that you don’t have to be a farmer to train stock dogs and do well in sheep dog trials. Jess chats to us about how she got started in the sport, and the challenges of producing capable sheepdogs without any practical farm work or background.

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live on small acrage in East Kurrajong, NSW with my mum Josie, surrounded by a menagerie of animals. We breed Quickstep Border Collies and I help handlers train their dogs for sheep trialling in my spare time.

I’ve always had dogs growing up, and my mum, Josie, took me with her from the time I was four, to agility training and trials with her show border collies. I would borrow her dogs (and any other animal) to train tricks and agility to, and got my first dog, a Shetland sheepdog (Kelly) to train myself when I was 8. We competed in agility and when I was about 12 met Colin Webster through ANKC herding.

Colin trained Josie and me in stock dogs and introduced us to 3 sheep and purpose bred working dogs. Kelly the sheltie got up to competing in started A on sheep when Colin told me I needed a ‘real dog’ so I could come to 3 sheep trials. He gave me a one in a million dog, Ivanhoe Shep, who taught and won me so much. He got me hooked on all things working dog.

I remember the first time I saw my mentor’s dogs at a trial, and I was so impressed with how perfectly so many dogs all behaved loose! This wasn’t something I’d ever seen before growing up in the ‘city’. They were all so well controlled, mannered and friendly I wanted to know how he trained them. When I saw them work the sheep, I thought they were magic, and when

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I got the opportunity to ‘work’ one of his dogs I was hooked.

Looking back now I must have been terrible, but a good dog will make anyone feel like they’re on top of the world.

When I got Shep we were working towards being the best we could be. I thought I knew what I was doing since we were quite competitive and often came home with ribbons, but really, he did all the work and I came along for the ride hindering him more than helping probably! He was a fantastic dog and the start of Josie and I’s Quickstep bloodline.

“We train on seagulls” was a common phrase mum and I would tell people when we lived in Warriewood, NSW. Access to stock was only available by driving out to Orchard Hills for ANKC training, or to Bathurst where our mentor was based.

I’d never had anything to do with livestock before, but I could train my dogs tricks and I would use my pet chickens to practice teaching Shep his commands.

The biggest challenge was that I could not read sheep, so everything was theory based - if dog is in X position then the sheep should move in Y direction, accounting for a draw. It took a while to understand the finer points, so I was lucky that my dogs were natural workers.

WEEKEND WARRIOR Trialling at first, I would sometimes get asked if I was there to watch with my pet or holding someone’s dog for them.

Shep always did us proud and would put up a good score on the board which just drove me harder to get better - I wasn’t born into this but I really wanted to be a serious competitor and listened to all the constructive criticism and ignored the naysayers. I wasn’t just a blow in from the beaches, I was here to stay and do it properly!

I was still at school. Colin Webster who was, and still is, mum and I’s trainer and mentor. He’s still my first port of call when I just can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong training a dog and his knowledge is invaluable, without him I would never have gotten anywhere. Also, to Mick Hudson for believing in my ability to start a dog. There’s so many triallers over the years who have given me advice and I’ve watched and wanted to be as good as. Work until your idols become your rivals!

I have come home with some great results over the years and every ribbon Ivanhoe Shep won me is framed. I’m extremely proud of the dogs I’ve bred that other people have handled to success as well, on and off stock including champions in tracking and agility as well as on the 3 sheep course and farm.

I also get a huge kick out of seeing people I’ve helped over the years achieve their goals with their dogs. Some of my more recent memorable achievements would be Quickstep Kim winning the Open at Sydney 2017, running off against Billy Davidson for Open at Murrurundi 2019 (ended up 2nd), placing 3rd in the trans-Tasman at Port Fairy 2018, scoring 100 in both Advanced A and B at the Dogs NSW Spring Fair 2019, Quickstep Tig winning the Novice at Koroit 2019, Riverdance Sweep finishing 8th in the Open at Port Fairy 2019, Armitages Smithy winning the Novice at Molong State Champs 2017, and Newcomen Stitch placing 3rd in the Novice at Molong State Champs, 2019.

Ivanhoe Shep was the beginning of our line of Quickstep border collies. From him we have bred some great dogs such as Quickstep Kim and Quickstep Tig, the latter who produced some equally great pups. Our foundation bitch, Armitages Smithy, was a much tougher dog and she put strength into the line. For me I need a dog that can be a competitive trial dog on the weekend, help me around our small acreage at East Kurrajong, NSW, during the week and above all have a solid, friendly, and biddable temperament. A bonus is a dog that will be able to work different stock types. Intelligence and softness are a huge priority for me, as I don’t enjoy training a dumb dog or one who will be difficult to handle. I want other people to get the experience Shep gave me. Feedback I’ve gotten from dogs I’ve bred on farms is they’re competitive trial dogs as well as brilliant work dogs, such as Quickstep Tango. Not all my dogs go to working homes, so I need them to be able to have an off switch and be happy to be couch potatoes in pet/ performance homes - some live happily in Randwick, Sydney!

To this day I still catch myself just stopping and watching the dogs, amazed by how talented and clever they are.

Genetics gives them the instinct, I utilize it in a way that I can command what I need and when, and the finished dog will do a whole course for you and problem solve on their own.

It’s an incredible team sport and not just about telling a dog what to do at all. I pinch myself how lucky I am running my dogs, whether that’s on sheep, cattle, ducks, 3 sheep or another association. The friends I meet along the way make trialling a great getaway.

My list would be too long if I included everyone over the years who’s inspired and helped me to improve, so I’ll keep it as short as possible. Firstly, my mum Josie, who is as dog mad as I am and made it all possible to have the opportunities while

My own dogs live in our backyard unless they need to be put in pens, as they keep my free-range chickens safe from foxes.

Otherwise their ‘work’ is shared around who gets to bring the sheep in at night, or who is getting trained that day. I try to tune them up each a couple of times a week, unless I have a pup/untrained dog who I will work lightly (usually 15-20 minutes a day), 6 days a week until they need a break to just be a dog again. When they’re ready I start training again. I believe in quality training over quantity, as I don’t have the facilities or stock available to get my dogs out doing hours of farm work, and I don’t want to mentally overload them with information.

For anyone wanting to get started in herding/working stock with their dogs, my advice is to find a trainer to help you get started, or if there’s a training club near you go along for a try.

There are plenty of sites online where people get together to talk about working dogs, and it’s easy to get recommendations through there or find out trial dates. Attend a few, see what you would like to try and talk to people. We all started somewhere so don’t be shy! People are welcoming to new faces, and there’s something out there for everyone. I still compete ANKC with my current Shetland sheepdog (and our border collie trial dogs), which is a great way to get into the sport if you are like myself and start out with show dogs. It will also challenge your trial dogs at the advanced levels so is great training and by no means just a stepping stone!

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STOCKMAN PROFILE Fred Rains F

red Rains and his wife Catherine are the faces behind Lokabe Working Dogs, a Kelpie stud which has gained a reputation for producing strong, practical work dogs with big engines. From South Australia to the Riverina and Southern Tablelands of NSW Fred has managed large properties in challenging country, running both sheep and cattle.

Fred left school at the age of 17 and started his first job as a jackaroo for Watervalley Pastoral, in the south-east of South Australia. Growing up, Fred’s dad was a stockman, working on large stations in Queensland and northern New South Wales. His first boss Russell Parham was a horse and dog man and got Fred into training and working dogs. Fred got his first great dogs from Russell and his sister Tammy - a station bred bitch called Donna, who was a Kelpie cross Border Collie, and a Wyreema kelpie bitch called Amy. Fred had various other dogs in the early years, however after he began trialling in 2005, Fred decided that his dogs were not able to work to his liking (soft and too much eye - not enough push), and so he sold most of his dogs and started again with dogs from Kippakoop (Poley), True Blue (Josh) and Eulooka (Inman).

Early on in his trialling career, he benefited from the knowledge of experienced triallers including Matt Webb (the breeder of one of Fred’s most successful dogs, Kippakoop Poley), John Latty, Rex Hocking, Lyndon Cooper and Rob Macklin. By this time Fred was a manager for Watervalley, and his job involved a great deal of stock work for him and his dogs. Not only did he manage the stockwork on the properties that he

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story by Lauren Vest photos Catherine Rains oversaw, but he was often called to assist other Watervalley properties for things like dipping, crutching and mustering scrubby country, as by then he was known to have great dogs that could handle the work.

Fred made the big move from South Australia to New South Wales in 2014, to take up the manager’s position at Kangaroo Mountain, near Gundagai. It was a big property with some very rough country, running both sheep and cattle, and was a great testing and proving ground for the dogs he was breeding. It also meant he could test his mettle against a whole new circle of triallers – the area in NSW they moved to has one of the highest concentrations of handlers and triallers in the country. Both Fred and his dogs have proven to be stiff competition whenever they get to a trial. The Lokabe crew moved on from Kangaroo Mountain to Oakdale at Bowning,

NSW in 2016 and most recently Fred is part of the Romani Pastoral Company at Kanangra at Muttama, NSW. Fred was working to establish a line of dogs that had plenty of intensity, as he didn’t want to ever be in the position where his dogs couldn’t handle any job that they were given. Two of his dogs, Poley and Josh, are both sired by Saltpan Cobber, who goes back to Capree Cobb. On his mother’s side, Josh goes back to a dog called Silvercity Asset (Rowdy), who was an exceptionally strong and tough dog owned by Rick Jones. Both Poley and Josh excel at yard work, and Josh is an incredibly strong dog, even managing once to back a stuck bull backwards out of a race through sheer strength, courage and determination. When Fred and Catherine got together, they started to look at maintaining that intensity whilst adding a bit more biddability into their dogs (Lokabe dogs are tough and known for their intensity, but they are also known to come with a few grey hairs – definitely not dogs for the fainthearted!)

The early great dogs that form the foundation of Lokabe dogs – Inman, Twisty, Poley and Dawn, are retired or passed away now, and Josh and Emily are semi-retired. The newer generations have big shoes to fill, as Poley and Inman were both State Yard Dog Champions (Poley in South Australia, Inman in New South Wales), and both have placed second at the Australian Yard Dog Championships. Poley also took out the coveted Ultimate Stock Dog competition in 2016, which at the time was the most complete test of a dog’s all-round ability on both sheep and cattle.

Amongst the younger generation of Lokabe Dogs, Minky is a standout. He is a Twisty/Poley pup and has worked a lifetime in his five short years. Minky’s stamina has always

been exceptional, even when a work dog shortage meant he first went out to work the hills of Kangaroo Mountain at just 10 months of age. Minky has had his fair share of injuries and was looking at full retirement in early 2019 after ongoing intermittent lameness. X-rays indicated a previously undiagnosed likely fractured pelvis, with the associated arthritis causing the pain and lameness. However, Minky started on Antinol, a natural joint treatment with no known side effects. His lameness resolved, and he has not only been able to continue trialling but has also been able to return to almost full-time work. Lokabe Working Dogs are now sponsored by Antinol, and Fred and Catherine are both seriously impressed with the positive impact the supplement has had on their dogs.

Sapphire (Dawn/Josh) and Storm (Emily/Inman) both bring a little more paddock work into the Lokabe dogs (whilst still being very capable in the yards), and Asher (a descendant of Josh and Storm) has all of the toughness of the foundation dogs but with increased biddability, which comes down from his grandmother Rain, who is sired by Tundabardi Buster.

Whilst he enjoys the work, Fred’s passion is his dogs. Training them, working them, and trying to improve them with each generation. Fred and Catherine both enjoy teaching and helping others learn how to train their dogs, and always try to make time for newcomers to the trialling scene.

While they run their own working dog schools every now and then, they recommend that newcomers try to attend workshops by several different trainers, and then work out which techniques work best for them and their dogs. Trials are a great way to get a good look at a number of dogs in the one setting, and to get an idea of what type of dog/breeding may be the most suitable for their needs.

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Breeding and training quality

WORKING KELPIES for sheep and cattle work

WORKING DOG SCHOOLS Come to us or host one of your own

Pups, Started and Going dogs regularly available. www.lokabedogs.com lokabedogs@outlook.com

 

@LokabeWorkingDogs

PHOTO ESSAY Photography by Amy Cutler Foxy Fotos Rural Photography Photography enquiries to Lauren Vest: lauren@stockdogs.com.au

I

have been involved with working dogs for just under 10 years. I enjoy challenging myself and my dogs through trialling and working in challenging country. I have travelled around the country spending time with many other dog enthusiasts, as well as heading over to NZ and spending time with international trainers to learn everything I can about getting the best out of my dogs. Their abilities continually amaze me, and I get so much pleasure in spending time with them.

I am currently taking a break from working on my furry family to focus on my human family, but they are still very much a part of my every day.

I still love to see updates and catch up with my dog friends and one day will get back into trialling, but for now it’s family life and getting my own photography and design business up and running doing all forms of portrait photography. I love doing newborns and I’m very excited to have a big wedding coming up. But photographing children of all ages is the best fun and allows me to really explore my creative side. So, for all your photography and graphic design needs feel free to give me a bell. Find me at Foxy Fotos Rural Photography on Facebook.

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Kaden’s working dog schools run a comprehensive training program that has been carefully constructed for the development of a confident and well rounded sheep dog. Denise tackles training with all her heart and enthusiasm (this is considerable), and her drive to get the best from the dogs is admirable. Her philosophy of patience, kindness and positivity allows the dogs to shine. Working through an issue is tackled with a can do attitude and positivity and importantly no punishment (for dog or handler). Feedback is delivered sensitively but directly and there is always a solution to a problem. Denise not only assists the training of trialling dogs but overlays this with the practical needs of dogs working sheep on a working station. Kaden’s way works. Being welcomed into the Hawe home and spending 5 days training my dog here was a wonderful experience that I hope to repeat next year.

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KADEN’S ONLINE WORKING DOG SCHOOL A complete program | Focusing on the stage between pups and ready to work.

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STATION PROFILE: KANGAROO MOUNTAIN

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he area south of the Hume Highway and between Gundagai, Tumut and Canberra covers the foothills of the Snowy Mountains and the edges of Kosciuszko and Namadgi National Parks. There are several well-known stations in the area that each have a rich history, including Bongongo Station, Cavan Station and Narrangullen Station. It is country that can be hard on the stock that run in the hills and hard on the families that live and work there. There is a long history of exceptional stockmen, dogs and horses that have been produced in the area. In regard to working dogs, it is notable that at the Australian Yard Championships at West Wyalong in 2016, four handlers out of the top ten came from within around 50km of each other in the Brungle/Gobarralong/ Adjungbilly area.

Kangaroo Mountain Station is in between Coolac and Adjungbilly, around 15km south of the Hume Highway and roughly halfway between Sydney and Melbourne. On one

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story Lauren Vest photos Lauren Vest and Suzi Northcott

side the boundary is the Adjungbilly creek and the front section of the property runs up the creek valley. The station is 6,872 acres and a mixture of arable land, grazing slopes, and serpentine hill ranges. The managers residence, as well as the shearing shed and workers cottages, are situated at the front of the property along the creek. The valley, bounded both sides by sheer hill faces and split down the middle by the clear running Adjungbilly, makes for some spectacular scenery.

Several smaller tributaries run into the Adjungbilly from the ranges either side, some forming small waterfalls as they go.

The creek is a huge asset to the station, providing permanent water, and as many paddocks as possible take advantage of the creek frontage to reduce the amount of water infrastructure needed. The station currently runs around 4,500 sheep, a mixture of crossbred and merino ewes, and around 650 Angus breeders. The ewes are joined to terminal rams for a prime lamb with a selection of ewes joined to maternal rams to breed replacement breeders.

STATION PROFILE: Once you leave the valley at the front of the property, the country gets progressively steeper and rougher – The property covers another two ridgelines behind the valley on the south west side of the Adjungbilly creek. The hill country is very scrubby and rocky, with several sheer rock faces and inaccessible areas.

In times past all the mustering was done on horseback, and despite the efficiency of motorbikes and buggy’s nowadays, horses are still needed for some of the rougher areas. Kangaroo Mountain has always been overseen by capable managers and they have always needed very good dogs in order to manage the stock in the rough country effectively. There are extensive areas at the back of the property that no vehicle can access so dogs must work out of sight, finding and flushing sheep and cattle out of the scrubby and steep areas and back into the open where they can be mobbed up and moved along.

The station was owned by the Graham family since 1948 and was purchased by two outside investors in 2009, when it was put under the management of Growth Farms Australia. Previous managers include Shane Piper, a well-known horseman and

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stockman, and Fred Rains who is featured in our Stockman’s Profile. Kangaroo Mountain is currently managed by Adam James, a young stockman and the man behind Jindi Kelpie Stud.

The original property was much smaller, and the actual Kangaroo Mountain is right out the back of the property as it stands today. There is an open valley right at the back end of the station, where the original homestead once stood – all that remains is a few pavers marking the old garden path. There is also a fire tower located in this section of the property – It is manned through the peak fire season to give early warning of any fire risks. The property grew as settlers’ blocks were purchased and added into the holding. There are several ruins spread throughout the property – old houses left to fall into disarray, and old stockyards grown back over and reclaimed by the trees and scrub. The installation of laneways has made moving stock from one end of the property to the other much more efficient and made a lot of the old holding yards obsolete, however the distance and the elevation from front to back mean it is still a hard slog bringing stock from the back

range paddocks in to the sheep and cattle yards at the front of the property. The very back of the property borders on pine plantations and often semi-feral stock must be mustered out of the pines.

A lot of the land through the front valley is pasture improved or sown to grazing crops, but the bulk of the country is the rougher hill areas with native pastures. The station is an explorers dream with all the old ruins, as well as old mining shafts from the gold rush days sprinkled throughout the ranges and rougher country. The views from the top of the range are extraordinary – On a clear day you would swear you can see all the way to Canberra! The landscape changes dramatically as you move from the front of the property to the back, and one of the more spectacular features are the masses of Grass Trees in one section of the range at the back of the property.

They are spectacular with their spears standing tall and give that section of the property a very different feel.

It is hard to convey the ruggedness and beauty of the area in words or photographs, but it is a truly special part of the country and part of our agricultural history.

JERILDERIE WORKING DOG AUCTION story by Stacey Doolan photos by Ruben Pics

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hat started out as an idea over a few beers as a featured event at the local show, has grown to become a hugely successful annual event and highlight of the calendar.

Run by affiliation of Jerilderie Apex and Elders, the Jerilderie Working Dog Auction (JWDA) has been running now for 14 years and has gone from strength to strength. It is fast becoming one of the premier auctions in the country and has a reputation as a great place to buy a genuine dog for work or trial.

A line up of top-quality dogs, along with a great crowd of buyers on the grounds and over the phone made 2019 the most successful JWDA to date.

Elders Jerilderie auctioneer Nick Gray was helped by a team of colleagues to put 52 dogs through auction, with 46 selling for an average price of $5,979, up $1,639 on the average from the 2018 sale.

Significant mention goes to Shane Maurer who broke the Australian record price with Lot 50 Eveready Possum – a trained 3yo red and tan bitch - selling for $25,000 to repeat buyer Dwayne Evans from Wilcannia. Possum was also in pup to well-known sire Boco Wonder. This is the second year Shane has topped our sale with an Australian Record price, which is testament to the quality of his dogs presented for auction. Possum was bred by Nathan Cayfe of Eveready Kelpies and was sired by Capree Dually and out of Milburn Molly.

6 dogs in total sold for over $10,000 with some of the notable sales being $17,820 for a 2yo trained Station Bred Kelpie owned and trained by Michael Joss of Beaufort Vic. Moe was purchased by a bidder on Auctions plus from Kojunup, WA. Adam James sold Kingsley Chevy (Coogee Trooper x Kingslea Tess III), a trained 3yo red and tan bitch, for $12,500 to local Finley boys Will and Jack Sexton. Chevy will be used as a breeding bitch for their stud Cango Kelpies.

These prices go to show that even in tough years a good working dog is always valuable to livestock enterprises –

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Sometimes even more so in the tougher times as a good dog or two can save paying wages to extra staff.

A full list of sale results throughout the years can be found on our Facebook page (Jerilderie Working Dog Auction) or the website www.workingdogauction.com.au.

In the past 3 years, a total of 118 dogs out of 142 have been sold for an average of $4702. With Auctions Plus coming on board 2 years ago, we have been able to greatly widen our bidding area and have now had purchasers from every state of Australia, except the NT. This platform allows those that are too busy or too far away the chance to purchase a quality working dog without having to

make the journey to Jerilderie. Over the past 2 years we have averaged 365 viewers and 19 active bidders via Auctions Plus, resulting in the sale of 12 dogs through Auctions Plus.

All proceeds from the auction are passed directly back to the Jerilderie community via the Jerilderie Apex Club.

After a convincing vote, the 2020 JWDA will be held on Saturday 29th February. Entries close 1st February 2020 - Forms will be available on Facebook or via the website.

Catalogues for the 2020 auction will be put on the Facebook page and website by the 3rd February.

For any enquiries please contact: Andrew Rutherford 0427 861 515; Warwick Doolan 0429 445 964 or email Stacey.doolan@ elders.com.au

One step at a time...

Jerilderie Working Dog Auction 2020 The 2020 auction will be held on Saturday 29th February. Entries close 1st February 2020 - Forms will be available on Facebook or via the website. Catalogues for the 2020 auction will be put on the Facebook page and website by the 3rd February Entries Close 1st February.

Auction Saturday 29th Feb 2020.

Jerilderie Racecourse.

Demos From 9am Auction begins 1pm.

Stock Dog Add_Half page.indd 1

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1/10/19 8:52 am

VET CHECK Pancreatitis Pancreatitis translates to ‘inflammation of the pancreas’. The pancreas is a glandular organ that nestles under the stomach and along the duodenum. The healthy pancreas has 2 main jobs, firstly to secrete digestive enzymes that help break down the nutrients your dog eats, and secondly to secrete insulin and glucagon (hormones that regulate the utilisation of these nutrients). The digestive enzymes are normally stored safely as inactive forms within pancreatic granules. In pancreatitis these enzymes are activated early before reaching the small intestine and they instead begin digesting the pancreas. This causes a lot of inflammation and damage to the pancreas.

What causes pancreatitis?

Although the inciting cause of pancreatitis is often unknown, in most cases it can be due to the following: •Hormonal imbalance (e.g. diabetes mellitus or hypo-thyroidism) •Certain medications •Trauma to pancreas •Pancreatic tumour •Sudden high fat meal •Reflux of digestive contents into pancreatic duct

What are the signs of pancreatitis?

There are two forms of pancreatitis; acute (quick and severe) or chronic (slow and mild). If your dog has acute pancreatitis, they typically have signs of vomiting, diarrhoea, a painful abdomen, and possibly a high temperature. These signs are an emergency and your dog should be taken to a veterinarian immediately. Many complications can develop from acute pancreatitis, and the success of treatment depends on an early diagnosis. A dog with chronic pancreatitis may have very mild signs such as having a reduced appetite, being quiet, and disinterested. It is worth noting that the signs of pancreatitis are not specific and could be caused by other diseases, so it is crucial to diagnose or exclude pancreatitis so that your dog can receive the most effective treatment possible.

How is pancreatitis diagnosed?

Pancreatitis cannot be diagnosed on one sole lab test alone, but several steps are often required to exclude other potential life threatening causes and increase the suspicion of pancreatitis.

To begin with your vet may require: • A thorough history e.g. diet, medications, pre-existing conditions • Physical examination • Blood tests e.g. complete blood count, biochemistry, inhouse snap test SPEC cPL • Diagnostic imaging e.g. xrays or ultrasound

A six month old female border collie named Raven having an examination with the vet and checking the abdomen for signs of pain.

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Raven receiving an abdominal ultrasound to check the pancreas for signs of inflammation.

VET CHECK Pancreatitis What does treatment involve?

Ongoing care

Treatment for acute pancreatitis is based on supporting recovery and managing complications associated with pancreatitis. Typical measures taken include hospitalisation, intravenous fluid therapy, nutritional support, pain medications, and medications to stop vomiting. Other steps may be taken depending on the state of your dog.

Initially you can expect regular check-ups with your vet to ensure treatment is working well. Some patients that develop chronic pancreatitis eventually require immunosuppression to control signs. Unfortunately, there are some patients who never recover and continue to worsen despite best efforts by your vet.

For milder forms of chronic pancreatitis it is worthwhile evaluating your pet further for potential risk factors such as inflammatory bowel disease, liver inflammation, or diabetes mellitus. Further treatments for these diseases may be required.

The next step for any form of pancreatitis is to switch to an ultra low fat diet which your veterinarian can recommend and prescribe for you. This diet must be fed exclusively - your pet must not ingest treats, tid-bits, or scraps. If you must feed treats then they have to be low fat such as vegetables (no onions or garlic), fruits (no grapes or raisins), or commercial low fat treats.

Check out this free App for your phone First Aid for Pets Australia

Dr Sarah Langton BVSc BVetBiol GradDipEd The Pet Practice Veterinary Clinic 3/1083 Albany Hwy, St James WA 6102 Raven being hospitalised and treated with intravenous (IV) fluids for rehydration and IV medications.

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B

D O GS

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TO ED

WOR

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Riverside

Working Dogs

Riverside Jake

Open to breed, Semen collected 2014 Australian open cattle dog of the Year 2014 Nsw Open cattle dog of the Year 2018 Australian open Championship winner Grafton 7 Times represented NSW State Of Origin Winner of 12 Opens.

2014 Australian Maiden Championship winner Red Range 2014 Australian Novice Championship winner Red Range Dot has bred multiple trial winners but most importantly she has bred great working dogs.

Hylite Dot

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BEN GOULD | 0416354061 Follow us on Facebook and Youtube: Riverside Working Dogs

Let’s spin a yarn!

Let’s spin a yarn about your best mate! Best yarn’s are published, and win an AWSDM cap, ACME whistle, lanyard and travel mug. Send your Yarns to annette@stockdogs.com.au

OLLIE

by Ryan Ackers

Congratulations Ryan, you have won a AWSDM cap, ACME whistle & lanyard and travel mug.

I look after a cattle breeding property in the hills in Victoria.

It was about a month ago out in the rain going on dark checking heifers when we noticed a new calf had wondered off up a hill well out of reach from cow mob. I thought I will send “Ollie” back and try bring it back, little calf was struggling on it feet to stay straight and too young to be worried about dogs yet, so “Ollie” stopped and looked at me for a second and started nudging the calf side to side keeping it on its feet for the 400-500m back to me and buggy where we finally caught up with the mob.

Another time we were out mustering some steers that had escaped during a storm that broke some fences. We found 100 odd in a mob on a hill so I sent “Ollie” back to get them, she hesitated so I told her again “go back”, she looked again and took off in different direction, as you can imagine I yelled every word under the sun at the dog. She was gone over two different sets of hills by now out of sight so I just waited it out.

10 minutes later I saw a mob of cattle slowly walking over the far peak with a proud little collie behind them, then the next peak and together with the other steers. “Ollie” had known where the other rouge steers had walked off too and knew where to find them. so she took it on herself to go get the full job done not just half as I had asked.

She always sits up closest to driver seat on buggy and won’t let any other dog go in that spot. I have learnt over the time she knows more about stock them I ever will and trust her calls when she casts off these days as there are pages of stories similar to these about this little dog.

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A TRIBUTE TO ‘BERT’ Last issue we featured a harrowing story of loss from the McGillivery family who lost their home to the St Patrick’s Day fires in Victoria in 2018.

Pheobe McGillivery has sent us this tribute to their fathers border collie Bert who was tragically killed on that day.

B

ert was a wonderful dog. He was my father’s Border Collie.

It was his job to help Dad move the sheep both in the paddock and in the yards. He was especially good at doing yard work. Bert loved to run alongside the sheep and head them off, which is great in the yards. However, in the paddock you only want the dog to head off the sheep if they are going the wrong way! You need to be able to command the dog to stop, which Bert did, even though he was keen to race ahead.

When working in our shearing shed, Bert loved running underneath the sheep to get to the front. Sometimes, he would run along the backs of the sheep to encourage them to keep moving when they halted, because of the light coming through the battens in the shearing shed floor. Lambs can be especially stubborn if they have never been in a shearing shed before.

Bert enjoyed sitting in the wool at shearing time, or on the top of the biggest wool bale. He had to constantly check the catching pen doors, to see if there were any sheep in there! He would nip at the sheep through the crack, so they soon learnt not to stand near the doors!

by Phoebe McGillivery

wasn’t any sheep work to do, and it gave us time to be with him. Sally, Bert’s mother, would often come and join in. Sally used to try and stop Bert from getting the ball by holding onto it! Then, we would have to get the ball off her, before we could kick it again.

Bert used to wait for Dad at the back door and scare the cats away. Socks and Lillybelle were the only cats brave enough to sit on the pew and dare him to come near! Socks let Bert know who was boss straight away. She would whack him on the nose with her claws. He learnt very quickly!

Bert used to go with Dad everywhere, whether to the windmill to check the water, or into town to collect supplies. He would be in the back of the ute, running from side to side on his chain, with the wind rushing through his fur and with his tongue hanging out! You could never go out the door, without saying, “Hello” to Bert and giving him a pat. He would always be there to greet you with his huge eyes and a lick.

Bert tragically died during the St. Patrick’s Day fires in the Garvoc area on 17th March 2018. We were unable to rescue him or his parents, as we left with only our lives. Bert was just one of the many animals lost on that night. There were animals everywhere that were special to people but couldn’t escape the path of the fire.

Bert was a loving and loyal companion. He was a very special dog and a great friend. We will always miss Bert and never forget him.

My sister Sophia breeds Border Collies. Bert was in a litter of six pups. Dad used to show off Bert’s skills to the people who came to buy puppies. Bert would jump up onto the skip or into the back of the ute. He would also demonstrate how to ‘come,’ ‘stop,’ and ‘stay’. Bert would have suited canine sports, because he was direct and fast. Bert could run up to speeds of 50 kms per hour in a fast sprint!

Bert loved to play ball. We would kick the ball and he would run after it and catch it. Then, he would bring the ball back and drop it at your feet. He would look up at you, waiting for you to kick it. Whenever we went out to the clothesline, Bert would come running and beg you to kick the ball! Playing with the ball kept him occupied and fit, especially when there www.stockdogs.com.au AWSDM

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Kookami Springs Working Dogs The merging of Staben Working Dogs and Nygard Working Dogs

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Dogs & Snakes Part 2 - Canine Snake Avoidance Training Photos and Story by Mark Pelley ‘THE SNAKE HUNTER’

I

n the last edition, I wrote about how to identify snake bites in your dog, treatment for snake bites and provided general tips around the home to keep your dog safe from snakes. This article is much more focused on specifically training your working dog to avoid Australia’s venomous snakes through our Canine Snake Avoidance Training program.

WHAT IS CANINE SNAKE AVOIDANCE TRAINING? When considering the amount of time, effort and money we put into our dogs, we want to take the best steps to ensure they’re safe and protected at all times. Like all things in life, prevention is better than cure. Therefore I strongly recommend for working dog owners to consider Canine Snake Avoidance Training.

Canine Snake Avoidance was originally developed in Australia by Seth Pywell, dog behaviour modification specialist (Perth).

After Seth reviewed traditional methods of teaching dogs to avoid snakes based on training developed in the U.S.A, he found significant weaknesses as USA or other training methods were unable to be ‘generalised’ to Australia where dogs work or are at home.

Of great benefit to us, the original training methods were specifically designed for working dogs as well as hunting dogs. This is because these types of dogs are generally inquisitive in new environments and are well driven.

The concept of training, while difficult to get right, is simple. Dogs are taught to form a negative cognitive and emotional association to snakes to achieve a change in behaviour upon encountering them.

To achieve this, our behaviour modification program initially applies operant conditioning in training whereby the dog learns cognitively that when it visualises a snake, it needs to move away. The dog experiences mildly unpleasant stimulation when it moves towards a snake, and on retreating from the snake, it receives praise and food reward. This process is repeated until there is established in the dog a deep comprehension that it is to avoid all snakes.

Following, the next phase of training involves classical conditioning techniques. The purpose of this phase of training is to achieve an involuntary emotional state of fear and apprehension when the dog encounters a snake.

This is demonstrated to have been achieved when the dog vigorously pulls away.

HOW A DOG VIEWS SNAKES The reason we need a dog to both understand what to/not to do around snakes and to also be taught to fear them

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is because we need a dog to recognise that approaching a snake will cause more discomfort than any desire to approach it.

Without this training, to a dog, a snake is an extremely attractive creature that moves in curious ways. Dogs, especially working dogs that have high drive and energy, often interpret a snake as a very excitable ‘chew toy’ or something to play with or kill. Because a dog would likely not have had interactions with snakes before, it will be very inquisitive to a snake’s smell.

The dog is likely to bring its nose extremely close to a snake to smell and as a result the most likely place for a dog to get bitten is on the nose/face.

RELIABLE TRAINING Considering the significant risk to our working dogs, we need to ensure that the training is very reliable. What makes proper Canine Snake Avoidance training reliable is when there is the outcome of a dog avoiding all snakes in all circumstances, all locations and whether or not the owner is present. This is only achieved when the snake avoidance training has been ‘generalised’ for all snakes and locations. That means that whether or not the owner is present, on the farm, in and around the home or in some strange location, no matter what type, size or shape the snake is, we need to ensure that the dog will avoid it.

FALSE TRAINING AIDS AND PROPOGANDA Unfortunately, since this training program was developed, one of the biggest training issues that has occurred in Australia was that well-meaning, inexperienced operators (including qualified dog trainers) have attempted to duplicate Seth Pywell’s Canine Snake Avoidance training method without truly understanding the core principles and general application of the training to be effective and reliable. The result is ‘unreliable’ outcomes whereby the methods taught by these operators only work with the dog in specific circumstances but not all scenarios (or snakes). Three of the biggest issues noticed are: False: Positive Only Training One of the biggest issues propagated is that ALL undesirable behaviours can be modified through ‘positive’ only methods of training. This includes rewarding a dog (with praise, food treats etc.) when the desired behaviour occurs and withholding a reward during undesirable behaviour from a dog. There are only a very specific set of circumstances that must be in play to render these ‘positive only’ techniques effective and canine snake avoidance is not one of them. The issue with using this training technique when it comes to snake avoidance, is that the dog’s desire to interact with a snake will far outweigh any reward offered or withheld. From a working dog perspective, the reward of approaching a snake is far greater than anything else at that moment unless it has been trained properly to possess a deep cognitive understanding to NOT approach snakes as well as a fear of them.

False: Rubber snakes and snake skins Another issue I’ve witnessed when it comes to canine snake

Copperhead Snake

Death Adder Snake

Non venomous Black Headed Python

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avoidance is the use of false training aids. This commonly includes the use of rubber snakes or snake skins. These training aids will only effectively to teach the dog to avoid rubber snakes and snake skins that but will be completely useless to teach dogs to avoid live snakes.

False: Only venomous snakes can be used: It is a deceptive claim to state that you need to use venomous snakes to teach a dog to avoid venomous snakes. Instead, proper snake avoidance training generalises for dogs to avoid all snakes whether or not they are venomous. The reason is simple: Except for the better known venomous snakes, most Australian people cannot tell whether a snake is venomous or not. Dogs are no different and as such, they need to be taught to avoid any snake they encounter not just supposed “venomous” ones.

Mark with an Eastern brown snake

It has been falsely propagated that venomous snakes need to be used as they have a different “smell” to non-venomous varieties. To understand why this is not the case, we need to understand how a dog interprets the world through its nose.

When a dog detects any odour of any animal, it detects: 1. Gender (whether or not the animals is male or female) 2. Individual (The dog can identify an individual such as this is Claire, or this is Mark).

3. Species (The dog can determine – this is a dog, this is a snake, this is a koala).

A dog does NOT smell a snake and discern “this is a woma python” and smell another snake and say “this is an eastern tiger snake”. Instead, when smelling a snake a dog would interpret: This is a snake, gender, and identify it as an individual. But other than that, to a dog, all snakes smell like a snake. There is no difference in smell between venomous and non-venomous varieties.

WHY DO WORKING DOGS BENEFIT WELL FROM THIS TRAINING? As stated, working dogs are generally very forward going, inquisitive and are confident in new environments. They have a high drive to work and please their owners. Self-discovery is a very important in the canine snake avoidance training and the appropriate temperament for a dog is to be as much as possible like a typical working dog. If you feel that your dog would benefit from canine snake avoidance training, this usually occurs in Autumn or Winter during the year as the rest of the year I’m catching venomous snakes all over town. Get in touch with me to discuss if canine snake avoidance is the right thing to protect your dog from snake bites.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mark Pelley – The Snake Hunter, is a Melbourne based venomous snake catcher and canine snake avoidance trainer. Mark has been trained and certified by Seth Pywell in the proper techniques and methods about Canine Snake Avoidance Training. He offers this course in Melbourne. Mark is passionate about protecting both endemic snakes and dogs from each other.

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The The Training Training Pen Pen

with withTully TullyWilliams Williams

The andrelationship DON’Ts” forbetween successful sheepdog training “All Training cover andPen no -“DO’s push” The cover and force

Tuullllyy ss T m Wiilllliiaam W

Tully hashas beenbeen training sheepdogs since since he TullyWilliams Williams training sheepdogs was years started competing in three-sheep he12 was 12 old, yearsand old, and started competing in threetrials at 15.

Heathas varying almost sheep trials 15.trained He has(to trained (tostages) varying stages) 400 sheepdogs, and bred and nearly 100 litters of litters his Camalmost 400 sheepdogs, bred nearly 100 of his paspe Working Dogs. In 2007 CSIRO published his Campaspe Working Dogs.

Inthe 2007 the CSIRO published ground-breaking book “Working Sheepdogs”.

He is curhis ground-breaking book “Working Sheepdogs”.

He is rently the vice-president of the newly formed AUSDS currently the vice-president of the newly formed AUSDS (Australian Utility Stock Dog Society).

(Australian Utility Stock Dog Society).

Reducing sheepdog training to a list of do’s and don’ts is not “All cover and no push” such an easy task!

But herecover is my listforce of what I believe are The relationship between and some of the more important DO’S and DON’TS

By Tully Williams (Campaspe Working Dogs) for successful sheepdog training.

There is a common saying, and one I have used myself on #1 - DO obtain the best quality pup or dog possible. This first various occasions, that such-and-such a dog is “all cover and point is also one of the most important. A pup or dog with no push”. And whathas this is athat the dog in high-quality instincts thebasically potentialmeans to make high-quality question has enough holding ability but lacks in the forcing worker. A poor-quality pup will never make a high-quality department.

In other it can control stock,YOU but can’t shift worker, no matter how words, much training it receives.

CANthem, particularly theFROM stock are to move.

NOT MAKE A SILKwhen PURSE A reluctant SOW’S EAR. Go to a reputable and experienced breeder with a proven track record, someone whodo guarantee’s Many dogs indeed fittheir this pups. description, to varying degrees.

And equally as commonly we also see the opposite – dogs that #2have – Onplenty the other hand, fall holding into the ability. trap of thinking of force butDON’T lack much that a well-bred pup will make up for poor training.

While it is And, quite often, there is a belief that these two opposites very true that “you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear”, – holding ability and force – are mutually exclusive,itor is also true that EVEN SILK CAN BE RUINED. If you want to at the very least that they are inversely related. In other end up with a top working dog, then both good breeding and words, the more holding ability a dog has, the less force it sound training are essential. will have, and vice versa. And there is certainly some truth this,remember and in some bloodlines moreinsoa sheepdog, than in others.

Dog understanding to leave snakes alone #3to- DO that without keenness you

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have nothing. must want toand work sheep.

So ifthey yourare Which traitsThe are dog linked to others, how strongly pup lacks a bit of heart, or is a bit on the soft side, then train linked, can vary from bloodline to bloodline. slowly and haveinplenty of patience.

With goodhigh keenlevels pup, of The problem, my view, is that this ideaa that with plenty of heart, you will be cover and force can’t exist side by side, can become something able to train much more quickly. of a limiting belief amongst breeders (and judges, and buyers).

After all, if you believe that it simply isn’t possible to have a #4 – DO take the time to learn and use a sound commandthat has a high degree of force, and a high degree ingdog system.

Thisboth is what I call “money for nothing”.

A good of holding ability, then that will influence your selection and commanding system gets superior results even if you don’t do breeding aims. This is because the pup is clear on exactly any extra training. what we want, and we avoid confusion and hesitation. Most If you ask breeders what they consider to be most important so-called “commanding systems” have simply evolved without in much real thought, rather being carefully planned.

Have a working dog, some willthan say “force”.

Other’s will say “holding enough commands to cover all situations, and DON’T ability”. I say that neither is much value without the other,use and commands thatifconflict other as “GET certainly not you arewith looking forcommands, top quality,such all-round dogs. out” here”.

To and me, “GET the two most important aspects of a working dog are holding ability AND force. If a dog can both hold livestock, #5 – DON’T have a conversation with your dog in place of and move them, then you are a big part of the way towards clear, simple commands. DO use the same clear command to having a good dog. mean the same thing, every time. why is there this signals common view “hold” andinconsist“force” are #6So – DON’T use arm and the that training stick mutually – thatpointing dogs caninhave “cover” oryou “push”, ently.

Pick aconclusive system (either the direction wantbut As I said there– is truth thecan’t puphave to goboth?

– definitely myearlier, preference orcertainly chasing/ some blocking this. and It isstick muchtoeasier, indeed easier, to breed dogs theinpup) it. If you wantvastly to train in the quickest, most manner then use that the arms or stick toor thateffective do one or the other, orDON’T to buy dogs are good at one sometimes block the pup and then at other times to point in the other. But it is certainly possible to have dogs with a high thedegree direction you want it to go.

You will just confuse the pup, of both - not common, but it is possible. training will slow down, and the results will be inferior.

The answer, I think, lies to a large extent with a #7 – DON’T allow bad habits to form. This is a big one. misunderstanding of the interplay between force and some When it comes to training, it is always much easier to preof the other instincts. When we say, “all cover and no push”, vent bad habits than try to cure them later. This will help we basically a dog that always moves around stock, but training to gomean as quickly and as effectively as possible. rarely moves directly towards them to shift them.

This point can manifest in all sorts of ways. Just a few are: • DO train in a controlled situation (such as a smaller area, or Some dogs do until this simply they are weakwill (afraid) with quiet stock) you arebecause confident everything go to in varying can also have very strong dogs, well a largerdegrees. area, orBut withyou less-handled stock.

• DON’T a command be obeyed, orWhy that is unafraidgive of stock, that stillthat can’tmight movenot stubborn sheep. you cannot enforce.

Otherwise, you are simply creating the is that? In those cases, it is generally some other instinct that habit of disobedience. causing the problem, or a lack of some other instinct.

• DON’T cast a some dog further than it have is ready For example, dogs simply wayfor, toounless muchyou eyeare – in in which a position to prevent mistakes. case it doesn’t matter how strong and unafraid they are, • DON’T work a dog in practical work before it is well-trained they are not going to effectively move stock (and particularly and ready for it. larger numbers). Other dogs are just very steady to the point • DON’T work a dog in trials before it is ready. If you take of being “doughy” thedogs way will dough, or perhaps thick them out before they(picture are ready, quickly learn they honey, moves) in which case again they are not going to can ignore you at trials, and get into bad habits. effectively move stock.

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The Training Pen

Cont....

“All cover and no push” The relationship between cover and force But when it comes to cover, and where I believe the problem lies when talking about “all cover and no push”, is that cover is not the problem. Unlike eye, you cannot have too much cover. Cover does not work against force. In fact, cover is a vital ingredient of good force. The best forcing dogs are strong dogs with exceptional cover and footwork – these dogs make the best forcing dogs by far, whether in the paddock, yards, shed, or truck.

no brain”. The best forcing dogs are those with high-quality instincts that tell them how and when and where to use that force most effectively.

So in my view, when breeding we should always aim for a high degree of both holding ability and force, and make sure we pay attention to the other instincts that enable that force to be used at the right time, and in the right place, and in the right way.

Either hold, or force, without the other, is of little value.

So, the problem is never too much cover. The problem is often related to excessive heading instinct (which is very different to cover), and often to the lack of the opposing traits to counterbalance that heading instinct, such as “drive” or “balance” (the instinct to follow stock, or work them from behind and guide them in the desired direction).

So, no matter how strong or forceful the dog might be, they tend to negate that force by blocking the stock, because they keep getting too far around to the head, and actually prevent the stock from moving, or at least make it more difficult. And quite often, they also force too far around towards the head, and don’t like applying force on the tail or the point of balance.

In such cases, many people think they need dogs with more force, or less cover. Actually, they what they need are dogs that force in the right place, and that give the stock somewhere to go, and that then back off (and thereby reward the stock) when the stock moves off (this comes from having “distance”). The dog’s position has as much to do with moving stock effectively as simply how much force it has.

So, in order to have dogs that move stock most effectively, some of the other traits are vital. The best forcing dogs:

(Note: For more information on the many instincts that make up the top-quality working dog, and the complex interplay between them, the first section of “Working Sheep Dogs – A practical guide to breeding, training and handling”, and the DVD “Natural Ability – The instincts of the high-calibre working dog”, deal with this subject in detail. Visit www.campaspeworkingdogs.com and www. workingsheepdogtraining.com.)

1. Force in the correct place (this requires “drive” and “balance”), covering as they do so. The movement that comes from cover, combined with force, moves stock far more effectively than less movement or less cover, provided it is applied in the correct place.

2. They give their stock somewhere to go when they force (which also involves having sufficient “drive” and “balance”).

3. They then back off or ease the pressure when the stock responds to the force, and so train the stock to respond to the force in the right way.

In this manner, the stock will become good to handle whether on the farm, or even in the short time available in a sheepdog trial. The best forcing dogs are not dogs that are “all brawn and www.stockdogs.com.au AWSDM

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Standing at stud (L-R above) Tundabardi Buster | Myamba Moss | Lokabe Ace

Breeding versatile working Kelpies selected for natural ability.

Our dogs are proven in genuine station work on both sheep and cattle, and the highest levels of trialling. Pups and started dogs available regularly.

Enquiries and inspections always welcome Adam James - 0417 830 669 | Lauren Vest - 0431 299 186 Look us up on Facebook @ Jindi Kelpie Stud

The Training Pen with Tully Williams

The Training Pen -“DO’s and DON’Ts” for successful sheepdog training Think Like a Canine. Getting the basics right.

with Ken Sykes

work with their dogs to gain a level of control. Life would have been much more pleasant for both dogs and owners if they had simply worked on the basics from the beginning.

Ken Sykes

A young pup is naturally looking for leadership and guidance - if the handler adopts the right attitude and sets appropriate boundaries, the pup will be happier, and life will be more pleasant for all concerned. Lead training should start from weaning. Don’t be too demanding on correct behavior and make the lead training as enjoyable as possible for the pup.

One thing that is never tolerated is the dog out in front pulling on the lead. Walk slowly, stop, change direction - if necessary, wave a drafting cane or rake across in front.

Ken Sykes has been involved with working dogs for most of his life. He has managed extensive sheep, goat, and cattle properties in the New England Region of New South Wales, and in the traprock region of Queensland. Over recent years Ken has become involved in sheep dog trialling and is a regular competitor on the Queensland circuit as well as giving working dog demonstrations at field days. Ken has been a regular contributor to various magazines and has travelled extensively in Australia and internationally to talk on livestock management and nutrition

F

or experienced stockmen or dog handlers some things are thought of as so basic and common sense that we forget that for the newcomers, it is all new and unknown territory.

I have been surprised at the number of people who have contacted me over the past few months with a well-bred kelpie pup over 12 months old that they wish to start on stock work – But their dogs don’t even have the basics like coming when called or walking calmly on the lead. I have seen a 17kg kelpie pulling an 80kg man all over the paddock. They love their dogs but have unwittingly created juvenile delinquents!

Fortunately, kelpies cannot buy drugs or steal cars, but they can certainly cause some problems for their owners. These young dogs can usually be salvaged if their owners are prepared to put in the hard yards, act like a true Alpha, and

Work on the recall. In a controlled area call the pup to you and make a fuss when he returns. If necessary, put the pup on a long light lead. Don’t reel him in like a fish - give gentle tugs, making sure the pup gets heaps of praise when it gets to you.

Before starting on stock, the young dog should at the very least walk calmly on the lead, sit on command, and come when called.

Ideally the pup should walk calmly beside or behind the handler off lead, stop and stay, and readily come when called even when distracted. When first introduced to stock it is not unusual for all previous training to be forgotten in the excitement - but with calm consistency and a controlled area, control will soon be regained, and fairly rapid progress can then be made.

How to select the right pup and form a strong partnership

Easy to follow step by step, age and stage appropriate training for herding and livestock guarding dogs. Use canine communication and instinct training conditioning for positive results.

Age old training practices combined with recent scientific discoveries on how dogs learn. $30.00 including postage in Australia Signed copies available from the author at kwsykes@bigpond.com

Think like a Canine add.indd 1

27/9/19 4:30 pm

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KEVIN DAVIES A WELSHMAN DOWNUNDER

I live in North Wales, not far from Bala, the site of the first sheepdog trial. It’s also the site of the first World trial in 2002 which local handler Aled Owen won with his dog Bob. I work in a few various jobs - I look after a few hydro-electric producing sites, I also do some dry-stone walling and fencing contracts but in the last few years I’ve started taking more dogs in for training.

My own dogs are an 11yo semi-retired bitch Lliw, who was a very good hill bitch and was good enough to win an open trial as well as lots of other placings. Ken, an 8yo dog, the best work dog I’ve had. He is a bit too pushy and tight to be a successful trial dog on these small Welsh fields with light sheep. The others are just youngsters as I tend to sell most but will have to keep something in the next year or two. I have a 14-month

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Story by Lauren Vest, Photo by Daniel Lenzo

very natural bitch by Neil Gillon’s Sweep - a dog I admire as a work dog who’s also successful in top level trials. There’s also a very nice 8-month dog by Gelert, a dog who Mike Northwood of come-bye.com has been selling semen out of worldwide. I also have a couple of pups by Ken and out of a sister to Brenna (the bitch that sold for $30,000 in Skipton sheepdog sale) she’s a daughter of Aled Owen’s famous Cap. I look for a dog who has courage, stamina, balance, and pace.

A dog who’s happy to be in the spots most dogs would rather not be in, but also with stock sense and a willingness to listen. A dog who stands with authority in the right spot doing nothing, for me, is better than the busy looking dog running everywhere and doing nothing.

I like to do all aspects of work more than trialling to be honest,

Kevin Davies is a handler/trainer from Wales in the UK. He has come over to Australia twice now to give clinics and lessons. The UK methods of handling/ training can be quite different from what most learn in Australia, and it has been great for us here to have access to some different ways of working with our dogs.

I

live in North Wales, not far from Bala, the site of the first sheepdog trial. It’s also the site of the first World trial in 2002 which local handler Aled Owen won with his dog Bob. I work in a few various jobs - I look after a few hydro-electric producing sites, I also do some dry-stone walling and fencing contracts but in the last few years I’ve started taking more dogs in for training.

My own dogs are an 11yo semi-retired bitch Lliw, who was a very good hill bitch and was good enough to win an open trial as well as lots of other placings. Ken, an 8yo dog, the best work dog I’ve had. He is a bit too pushy and tight to be a successful trial dog on these small Welsh fields with light sheep. The others are just youngsters as I tend to sell most but will have to keep something in the next year or two. I have a 14-month very natural bitch by Neil Gillon’s Sweep - a dog I admire as a work dog who’s also successful in top level trials. There’s also a very nice 8-month dog by Gelert, a dog who Mike Northwood of come-bye.com has been selling semen out of worldwide. I also have a couple of pups by Ken and out of a sister to Brenna (the bitch that sold for $30,000 in Skipton sheepdog sale) she’s a daughter of Aled Owen’s famous Cap. I look for a dog who has courage, stamina, balance, and pace.

A dog who’s happy to be in the spots most dogs would rather not be in, but also with stock sense and a willingness to listen.

A dog who stands with authority in the right spot doing nothing, for me, is better than the busy looking dog running everywhere and doing nothing.

I like to do all aspects of work more than trialling to be honest, watching a dog over half a mile away (800m) on a hill working on his own initiative with a bit of help is more my idea of a Border Collie than whistling continuously for a few minutes around a small field - but each to their own, horses for courses.

With young dogs - try to do as much with him out of the training paddock as you can, take him with you to do whatever else you can. Teach him manners, being on a lead, travelling - anything that gets him used to new situations, people and

sounds etc. Take him to sheep at 5/6/7 months occasionally and see what he wants to do and take it from there. The one best thing that happened to me was to have a few hours with Aled Owen in a training field - I learnt more in those few hours than in months on my own and the dog’s improvement afterwards was remarkable.

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of difference in the Border Collie dogs in Australia compared to UK dogs from what I’ve seen, because most are from semen imported from ISDS dogs.

Kevin Bell from Mendooran (2Bells Border Collies) has been importing top quality semen from UK dogs for a few years now and the rewards seem to be coming through. I would

There is a growing number of ISDS bred dogs being used in Australia, especially breeding using frozen semen. ISDS stands for the International Sheep Dog Society – The registry for Border Collies, originating in the UK and now internationally. So, it is of extra benefit to handlers who have these UK bred dogs to be able to learn from great handlers who have been working with them for years. Feedback from the clinics has been very positive. Kevin was kind enough to answer some questions during his most recent trip to Australia at 2Bells Border Collies in Mendooran.

say that for the work you do in Australia you need a dog with plenty of stamina and a sound constitution with plenty of forward gears - because the conditions are pretty tough with the large numbers you deal with and the heat and size of the farms.

I have seen many impressive feats that these dogs have done from picking out a single ewe that was having daily treatment from the flock on their own, to refusing to leave a sheep stuck in a fence, ledge, crevice etc when far away on a hill. Their feats in a work situation is what impresses me the most and it’s something we are losing (in the UK) by breeding too much to well-trained successful trial dogs who do little or no work and need continuous commands to carry them around a trial field.

Looking forward to the next 5-10 years – I can’t see a big change, there will always be someone wanting dogs to do work in areas where quads and horses struggle to go. Even with drones making an appearance they will have only limited use. On the other end of the scale, plenty will be wanting to bring home a shiny cup from a trial field. I think there will be always a use for these fantastic dogs.

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INTERNATIONAL SHEEPDOG SOCIETY TRIALING

Story By Daniel Lenzo Photos Carol Mellin

T

he International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) may be not well known in Australia but was founded in 1906 in the UK with trials beginning in the same year. It is the largest registry for working Border Collies in the world, with the greatest number of registered dogs found in the UK. The society registers over 6000 border collies every year. ISDS trials were designed to represent general farm work and are made up of various components.

There are seven components to a trial (national course) – outrun (cast), lift (initial approach and first movement of sheep), fetch (sheep are brought back toward the handler, may be taken through a gap), drive (the dog takes control of the sheep and takes them away from the handler and through obstacles), shed (splitting some sheep out of the mob and keeping them separate), pen and the single (splitting one sheep off the mob and keeping it under control).

In the outrun the dog leaves the handler (who stays at the post) and is sent around the sheep either to the left or right and ideally finishes behind the sheep at the point of balance. There are 5 sheep, three are unmarked and two are marked with collars.

During the lift the dog may slow or come to a complete stop; They then take control of the sheep and move them towards the fetch gates. During the fetch the sheep are guided through the fetch gates (a gap made with panels) in a straight line towards the handler’s post. Once the sheep reach the post, they go around behind the handler in preparation for the triangular drive leg which consists of the drive away and cross drive.

The dog must take the sheep on its own through two more drive gates/gaps. The judges are looking for drives where the sheep move in a straight line. Weaving, stopping and the dog

In ISDS trials the handler can help the dog and move around while penning - in contrast to our three sheep trials where the handler must not move or influence the sheep. When completed the sheep are released from the pen and taken back to the shedding ring, where one of the two marked sheep will be shed, and remain from the other sheep until the judges indicate they are satisfied the dog has the sheep under control - The trial is then complete.

Each year the four nations: Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales run national trials. Entry is generally from accumulating enough points from smaller trials held during the year.

A national course has a 400-yard outrun (365 metres) and a 450-yard drive section (410 metres). The top 15 handlers from each nation will qualify to compete in the International, where the supreme champion will be crowned. The top fifteen competitors will run off in the final with a modified double gather course - this is like a national course, except the dog must fetch two packets of sheep. Once they have collected their first mob and brought them down the field, they are given a ‘look back’ command and must leave their sheep and go and collect the second lot and then combine the two, which results in a mob of twenty sheep. During the shed five marked sheep must remain in the shedding ring out of the twenty sheep.

The World trial is run using the same national and international course layout, but it is only held every three years. The 2020 World trial will be held at Castle Howard, York, UK. More information can be found on the ISDS website: www. isds.org.uk Extract from ISDS webpage..

Meet the ISDS

The Pen

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going to the head of the sheep will lose points. Once the drive leg is completed the sheep are brought to the shedding ring which is a 40 yard ring marked on the ground. The shed is the next component where the handler and dog must shed (split) two unmarked sheep from the five, without going outside of the ring. When judges indicate the shed has been successfully completed, the handler and dog put the sheep back together then move to the pen with the dog bringing all the sheep to the pen. The handler and dog must pen the sheep with the handler holding on to the rope attached to the gate.

In 1873 the first recorded sheep dog trials were held in Bala, North Wales, but it was not until some 33 years later that The International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) was formed, following a meeting of English and Scottish sheep-men in 1906.

Shortly afterwards the first International Trials were held in Gullane, Scotland and, except during the war years, have continued to be an annual event. Now over 100 years later, the ISDS has well over 6000 members from all over the World.

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National Singles Course

There are 5 sheep, 2 un-marked and 3 marked with collars to be taken steadily around the course, successfully negotiating the gates, a shed, pen and single.

There is a time limit of 15 minutes for each competitor to complete the course with 220 points maximum allocated by 2 judges (110 each). Points will be deducted for various faults.

The top 15 competitors from the 3 days (top 5 from each day) will go forward to compete against the top 15 competitors from England, Ireland and Scotland at the International in Scotland.

Points are allocated as follows: Outrun (either side) 20 points; Lift 10 Points, Fetch 20 Points; Drive 30 points; Shed 10 points; Pen 10 points, Single 10 points = 110 per judge.

The Gates

National Brace Course

10 sheep will be gathered by 2 dogs. One sent out on the right hand side and the other dog sent out on the left hand side. Crossing at the completion of the outrun is permissible.

After completing the Fetch and the Driving, the sheep will be divided equally by either dog within the shedding ring. One group of 5 will be penned in one pen where the dog will be left in charge. The other dog will then pen the remaining 5 sheep in the other pen.

There is a time limit of 20 minutes to complete the course, with 2 Judges judging out of a total of 280 points.

Points are allocated as follows: Outrun 20 points, Lift 10 points, Fetch 20 points, Driving 30 points, shedding 10 points Penning 20 points = 140 points per Judge.

The top 2 competitors from the 3 days will go forward to compete against the top 2 competitors from England, Ireland and Scotland at the International in Scotland.

The Shed

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Guerie Golden Collar Wrap Up story and photos by Lauren Vest

Held in October, the Geurie Golden Collar was an actionpacked weekend showing off working dogs at the highest levels in four different types of trialling. Spread over the fantastic facilities at Geurie Showground were the Golden Collar Cattle Trial, the Central West Yard Dog Championships, a Three Sheep Arena Trial and a modified International Sheep Dog Society Trial. There was also a Futurity held for the Cattle, the Three Sheep, and the Yard Trial. The major sponsor for the trial was Hypro Premium, with Sean Hickling on site all weekend to talk to triallers and organise sales of their premium working dog biscuit which was available for a discounted price at the trial.

the rest of the trial, with plenty of runs scoring well into the nineties throughout the open trial.

The cattle trial was held in the iconic arena that is the venue for the popular annual Geurie Golden Bit Campdraft.

With current drought conditions cattle have been difficult to source for any sort of event, so it was great to be able to hold a trial of this size, with 250 entries spread between maiden, novice, open, and the feature event, the futurity.

The Central West Yard Dog Championships were held in the rodeo arena next door to the cattle trial. The sheep were fairly light and inclined to break, which made the outside work challenging for the competitors. The yard futurity, with the same age limit as the cattle futurity, was held over three rounds - each judged by a different judge and with different challenges incorporated into each round. The first round required handlers to mark their choice of three sheep in the drench race with chalk, and then draft them out once they reached the draft obstacle. The second round asked for a touch – The dog must hold the sheep against the fence while the handler walks in and touches a sheep with their hand.

The third round had a bonus challenge where points could be gained – Once you took your position at the gate for the first force pen, if you could fill the pen without commanding your dog you would gain five extra points.

The futurity was an age limited event, open to dogs 4 years and under at the time of the trial, with a prize pool of $5,000.

Held over three rounds, it was hotly contested, with some fantastic young dogs on display. The winner was Adam James from Coolac, with his bitch Jodie, with Jamie Sturrock second with Seth. Jamie and Seth also claimed the maiden trial as well as the open, with the novice going to Murray Wilkinson and Boo. There was also a class for the juniors, with competitors BJ and Jack from Backtrack, Will Cox, Cal McKay and Marshal Hinze who all received prizes.

Only one combination successfully completed this challenge – Nick Foster with Scorcher. The futurity was won by Adam James with Moss, one point ahead of Michael Johnston with Sam. Encourage was won by Patrick Potter and Lolly, and the maiden and novice events were both won by Glen Noakes working Abbie. The improver was claimed by Daniel Pumpa and Benji, with the open win going to Greg Walton working Max. There were also classes for the juniors – The assisted class was won by Emily Cox and the unassisted class was won

by Will Cox, in his last event as a junior.

The cattle proved challenging on the first day of the trial, quickly picking dogs that weren’t hitting the right position or which showed a lack of strength. On the first day only a handful of dogs finished the five-minute course. As they were worked down the cattle settled and worked beautifully for

The Three Sheep Trial was run by the Dubbo Sheepdog Workers Club and was held in the grass arena behind the camping area, which made for a sizeable course. The sheep proved quite testing for the dogs, particularly the bridge obstacle which brought many combinations undone.

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The three sheep futurity was won by Bill Davidson and Stormy, running a 99. Daniel Pumpa and Benji claimed the encourage, the maiden and the novice classes. The improver was won by Tegan Perry working Fly and the open was won

by Mick Hudson and Richies Finn.

For handlers keen to try something different with their dogs there was an International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) trial held on the Sunday in the campdraft arena. See our article on ISDS trialling for a more thorough explanation of the trial course and rules. The course was modified for the arena and to make it achievable for competitors as it is a very different style of trialling to what we are used to here in Australia!

The only thing similar in this country is the B course run by the Herding Associations. The course included a drive, where the dog must take the sheep away from the handler and through obstacles on its own. This can be challenging for our dogs as all the other styles of trialling we have do not allow the dog to cross between the handler and the sheep, and it is almost impossible to have a successful drive section without the dog crossing.

There was also a shed included, which is splitting two sheep out of the mob of five and keeping them separate – this proved to be the most difficult section of the trial with only a few combinations achieving a successful and tidy shed. It was great to see people willing to try something new and increase the skills of themselves and their dogs. Hopefully this style of trialling will continue, and we will be able to improve our performance as we practice! This is the style of trialling run at the world trial held every three years, and it would be great to one day see an Aussie able to compete.

The ISDS trial was won by Kevin Bell and his bitch Belle, with equal second going to David Mackereth with Shep and Jamie Sturrock with Seth.

winning the encourage, maiden, and novice three sheep trials as well as the improver yard trial, Adam James winning both the cattle futurity and the yard futurity, and Mick Hudson winning the open three sheep as well as judging the cattle futurity and making the novice cattle final.

If the weekend wasn’t busy enough, there was also a working dog auction held on the Sunday. It was limited to started and going dogs. Dogs were demonstrated on sheep and cattle on Sunday morning and the sale was held after lunch. Top price for the sale was MGH Zeela, a young Border Collie bitch by Gundagai Happy out of Perangery Marge, presented by Mick Hudson, making $10,000. The sale averaged $3,440.

Handlers are already looking forward to next years Golden Collar and picking which dogs to prepare for the futurities.

Huge thanks must go to everyone involved with running the weekend, especially Kevin Bell and family, and Ryan Johnston.

A special mention also to everyone who worked in the back yards, the canteen, announcing, judging, and anyone else who jumped in and lent a hand. Sponsors for the weekend were Hypro Premium Dog Food, Matt Weber and Family, Carter Lyndsay and Weber, Wayne Woods, Ryan Johnston, Steve Flatley, The Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine, Stockmans Collars and The Australian Working Border Collie Registry.

The Geurie Golden Collar proved a great opportunity for those with versatile dogs to compete in more than one trial on the same weekend, and there was crossover between all the different areas. Notably Daniel Pumpa and Benji

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Story and photos Karen Stephens

Casterton’s 23rd Annual Australian Kelpie Muster

The Australian Kelpie Centre is overrun by kelpies……

Casterton celebrates its iconic brand as the Birthplace of the Kelpie breed with the annual Australian Kelpie Muster, held over the June long weekend every year. The Muster includes the family-friendly Kelpie Festival on Saturday and showcases the Premier Australian Working Dog Auction on Sunday.

Saturday’s Casterton Kelpie Festival It is the Saturday festivities which stop traffic - the street is closed off as Kelpie owners show off their dog’s unique abilities in a series of endurance and skill tests, with city-based Kelpie dogs taking on their country farming cousins.

Among the attractions is the Kelpie Hill Climb, an actionpacked race up Casterton’s iconic Blueberry Hill racing around the Fleur de Lee, and the Stockmans Challenge which includes an obstacle course for horse, rider and kelpie to achieve.

For those looking for speed, there is the Kelpie Dash - a 50 metre sprint in the town’s main street, whilst Kelpie Pinball tests the dogs patience as it guides Indian Runner Ducks through an obstacle course.

Brian Linke with Meg from Angaston in the Barossa Valley travelled to Casterton to try his luck at the Kelpie High Jump event.

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The Kelpie High Jump is always a crowd pleaser with dogs this year vying to beat the world record of 2.951 metres jumped by Bailey owned by Tegan Eagle in 2016. For those looking for a test of endurance there is the Kelpie Triathlon which includes three events, the Kelpie Dash, Kelpie High Jump and Kelpie Hill Club.

Casterton Kelpie Association president Karen Stephens said each year thousands flock to the town to enjoy the unique showcase of events, music, food, wine and festivities.

“The Australian Kelpie Muster is unlike anything else in Australia. Our town comes to a standstill to celebrate this iconic and much-loved working dog, which was born here and

Shane with Dusty in the highjump

has assisted to completely transform Australian agriculture,” she said.

Veteran competitor Shane Beauglehall returns with Dusty for a record breaking 14 years.

Shane Beauglehall travels from Melbourne each year with his beloved Kelpies Dusty, Jock and Ronnie to compete in the annual Kelpie Triathlon event and vie for the opportunity to be crowned ‘King of the Kelpies’. Shane also competes in three sheep, yard and utility trialling with his three Kelpies but always makes time to attend the muster each year.

A record breaking 23rd annual Australian Premier Working Dog Auction A record breaking $280,000 worth of working dogs were sold at this year’s auction with the top price achieved by Western District breeder Jack Leonard - receiving $15,000 for two and a half year old Kelpie Whiskey, who is now working on a property in Keith SA. But all eyes were on young Daniel Lutz of Henty who put up a 2.5-month-old kelpie pup, Princess who returned him with a record breaking $3,250. The purchaser said this little pup showed great potential and had all the right breeding that he was looking for.

Real-time online bidding for Kelpie auction For the first time a global audience tapped into the Australian Premier Working Dog Auction as it streamed live on AuctionPlus, an online bidding portal.The popular rural auction site teamed with the Casterton Kelpie Association in 2019 to stream the sale action to attract a new buyer base, particularly those in remote and regional locations.

A total of 66 dogs offered by the country’s most successful Kelpie breeders, went under the hammer following five hours of yard demonstrations at Island Park. During these displays vendors showcased the agility and overall skill set of the Kelpie dogs in working sheep in paddock and yard.

Auction chairman Jack Matthews said the new online partnership would allow buyers to watch the bidding and participate in “real time” from the ease of their mobile phone or laptop.

A large crowd filled the stands at to witness the annual Australian Premier Working Dog Auction “Given that it was the first time we have trialled the live technology, the committee is happy with the overall level of engagement through the online portal with AuctionPlus“ he said.

A crowd of more than 3000 people attended the auction, travelling from Far North Queensland and Western Australia to purchase a dog. A large viewing audience also followed the action on the Casterton Kelpie Association Facebook page which livestreamed the bids taken by auctioneers Bernie Grant and James Tierney.

Casterton leads shire visitation growth Casterton’s profile as Australia’s Kelpie capital has attached a 51% increase of visitor over the last 12 months since the official opening.

The centre recorded the biggest growth of the period across the shire’s three visitor information centres.

We invite everyone to come to Casterton throughout the year and soak up the history and friendliness of our community.

CKA President, Karen Stephens with Daniel Lutz with Princess and Auction Chairman, Jack Matthews

Casterton: The Australian Kelpie Centre attracted record visitor figures.

A large crowd filled the stands at to witness the annual Australian Premier Working Dog Auction

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GET MORE OUT OF YOUR DOG FEED –

AND YOUR DOGS. There’s no question your working dogs go the extra mile for you. In an average day, they can run further and work harder than an elite athlete, managing hundreds of livestock over all kinds of terrain, whatever the weather.

It’s important to make sure your dogs are getting everything they need in their diet to stay in peak condition.

Gut health is a significant part of looking after your working dogs properly. Maintaining the right balance of beneficial bacteria, prebiotics and antioxidants will help to ensure healthy digestive function, so they’re getting the most out of their food and performing at their best. Importantly, good gut health is also critical to supporting your dogs’ immune system, energy levels, recovery, appearance and overall wellbeing.

Together with Cobber Working Dog’s proven balance of protein, fats, complex carbohydrates and essential nutrients, our new formulation offers your dogs all the benefits of good gut health: Better absorption of nutrients Prebiotics in Diamond V Original XPC promote a healthy digestive tract with a balance of beneficial bacteria.

More energy and faster recovery

That’s why we’re improving our Cobber Working Dog feed with Diamond V Original XPC. This unique gut health supplement has been formulated in line with over 70 years of research by Diamond V, world leaders in all-natural fermentation products for pets and livestock. It includes unique metabolites (proteins, peptides, antioxidants, polyphenols, organic acids and nucleotides) together with beta-glucans and mannans, specifically designed to support canine health and performance.

The supplement has been scientifically proven to support fat and protein digestibility, increasing energy and helping your dogs get back to work quicker.

Stronger immune function Diamond V Original XPC’s unique metabolites balance gut bacteria to support the immune system and optimise gut morphology.

Reduced inflammation By reducing levels of pro-inflammatory markers and protecting against oxidative damage, Diamond V Original XPC reduces inflammation within the body.

The new Cobber Working Dog with Diamond V Original XPC has a rounder, chunkier kibble shape and the same delicious taste – your dogs will clean the bowl every time. It’s also been specially formulated to offer optimal benefits at regular feeding levels, so you can just keep feeding your dogs as you normally would.

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story by Peri Chapell

Joe Spicer with GoGetta Clue

The 2019 Victorian Yard Dog Championships The 2019 Victorian Yard Dog Championships took place in Omeo, in East Gippsland, on the 27th to the 29th of September. The trial ground, set at the foot of the rolling green hills, made for a picturesque backdrop to compete in front of and a welcome change for those used to looking over dry and dusty paddocks!

with her three year old kelpie, Marista Zoe. Beginning with coming equal second in the Novice, followed by winning the Improver, and then going on to qualify for the Championship top 25. Bree and Zoe finished the Open in second place, and placed third in the State Championship, also making her one of the state representatives for Victoria for next year.

Lyndon Cooper from South Australia and Bill Luff from NSW were the Championship judges and were impressed with the handlers and dogs over the three days. “The level of competition was terrific, it was a good few days”, Luff said. “I really enjoyed the weekend; it was very well run, and it was good to see a few NSW people getting down for it as well. “ The Maiden and Novice ran on the smaller ring with fierce competition, under the watchful eye of Judge Neil Lynch from NSW.

Bree said it was a great trial. “The organizers should be proud.

It was amazing to receive all the support and encouragement I did over the weekend; everyone was backing us. I set myself the goal of reaching the Novice final with Zoe because I knew she had the ability to make it. But she succeeded far beyond my expectations”, said Bree. Joe Spicer from Glenthompson in Victoria, with 4 year old kelpie GoGetta Clue, had a convincing win in the Open.

Dale Thompson from Benalla in Victoria took out both the Maiden and Novice, with his dogs Brokenriver Tex and Brokenriver Sheba. Sheba and Tex are 3 year old kelpie litter mates bred by Dale and his wife Carolyn. “I’m proud of Sheba going from Novice status and ending up fourth in the Championship over the course of the weekend.

It’s great to see the consistency of this litter, and I’m pretty happy with the joining, seeing them all out on the trial ground doing well with their owners”, Dale said.

It was an exciting three rounds of competition for the Championship over the weekend, with Adam James of Coolac in NSW and his dog Myamba Moss, the 2018 National Kelpie Field Trial Champion, hot on Joe and Clue’s heels going into the final of the Championship. Improving with each round, Adam and Moss went from eighth place after the first round, to finish second in the Championship.

Bree Cudmore from Hamilton in Victoria had a stellar weekend

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With a strong lead heading into the final of the Championship, Joe and Clue were able to maintain their form to win the 2019 Victorian Yard Dog Championship. Clue is a son of GoGetta

Bree Cudmore with Marista Zoe

Brue, twice Australian Yard Dog Champion. “I’m pretty happy with young Clue. He’s following in his father’s footsteps and always performing on any type of stock”, Joe said.

Of the level of competition in the Championship, judge Bill Luff said “There was no doubt Joe and Clue were the pick of the bunch, but the main thing that impressed me was the young handlers, and how well they’re going down in Victoria. It’s great to see so many young handlers coming up, both male and female, as well as some good young dogs getting about.”

Dale Thompson continued his consistent weekend, with

Kate Jubb with Woodja Cruise

Sheba coming fourth in the Championship, closely followed by 10 year old veteran GoGetta Package and Joe Spicer in fifth place. Kate Jubb and Woodja Cruise finished in sixth place, followed by Vin Gedye in seventh and eighth with Scoriochre Pontus and Scoriochre Turbine. Irish-Victorian up and comer Aiodh Doyle came in ninth with his dog Cash and rounding out the top ten was Mick Hedger from the Monaro in NSW, with his dog Alby.

In the Encourage class, up and comer Ross McIntosh from Victoria had a convincing win, coming in first and second place with Boss and Goose respectively.

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2019 Australian Working Cattle Dog Championship Story by Joel Davis & Lauren Vest Photos Joel Davis and Helen Finlay

The 2019 Australian Working Cattle Dog Championships were held at Wallumbilla, QLD, on the weekend of 8 - 11th August.

I

t was the first time the national championships have been held at Wallumbilla and it was very well run by Ross and Pauline Kehl, Anita Albeck, Helen Finlay and many others.

More than 50 competitors travelled from as far north as Home Hill and throughout New South Wales to take part.

Thanks to the overwhelming number of nominations, trialling started at lunch time on Thursday and triallers were still taking to the arena under lights at night. There were 180 dogs in the first round of the open championship.

Congratulations go to the new Australian Champions for 2019: Open Champion Paul Wroe and Natel Tippy, Novice Champion Jamie Sturrock and Craiglea Seth, and Maiden Champion Ross Kehl and Moonya Boots.

Held on the Saturday evening the always popular Working Dog State of Origin, like the football this year, came down to the final minutes - only 2.5 points separating Queensland and NSW as the final competitors stepped into the arena.

The teams for the State of Origin consist of the five top dogs and their handlers from each state plus a ‘wild card’, based on the highest score for each state in the open competition.

New South Wales emerged victorious, defeating Queensland 524 points to 509.5.

Members and competitors got together on the Friday night for ‘Peter’s Happy Hour’ and raised their glasses in memory of one of QWCDTAI’s most inspirational and

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influential triallers, Peter Finlay. His family have certainly made him proud with all their efforts at the 2019 trial.

We would also like to thank our generous sponsors who supported the trial – We couldn’t run it without them. Please consider supporting them if you have the opportunity!

Cobber, Santos Pty Ltd, Wallumbilla Pharmacy, Parkers General Store, Albeck Enterprises, RW PA Kehl Pty Ltd, Graham and Christina York, John and Trish Rowbotham, Paul and Madonna Mole, Tamarang Pastoral Company, and Sunshine Hardware – Roma.

State of Origin Teams: Team QLD: Barrie Hughes and Electra Shiloh Dan Killey and Double K Squirt Ross Kehl and Karinya Nelson Glenn Dickson and Chelbrook Becky Stephen Skewes and McNamara Scotty Paul Wroe and Natel Tippy Team NSW: Dave Bennett and Benrose Spring Ben Gould and Riverside Jake Geoff McClennan and Merlot Duke Zac Ede and Woottin Charlie Dick Chapman and Ziggy Robert Johnston and Shady Acres Tania

Results: Open: 1. Paul Wroe & Natel Tippy 2. Stephen Skewes & Warrie Glen Rosie 3. J amie Sturrock & Craiglea Seth 4. Paul Wroe & Jackson’s Silver 5. Ross Kehl & Karinya Nelson 6. Warren Taylor & TJ 7. Steve Biles & Jenny 8. Warren Taylor & Barru Shadow 9. Isaac Hotz & Wilderness Basil 10. Glenn Dickson & Chelbrook Millie

Novice: 1. Jamie Sturrock & Craiglea Seth 2. Steve Elliott & Diamantina Benji 3. Ross Kehl & Karinya Nelson 4. Stan Hughes & Crawford’s Sian 5. Dick Chapman & Belle 6. Jeremy Shaw & Jack 7. Ann Staatz & Cherry Gully Jacket 8. Antony Mulder & Narroonda Ritz 9. Jeremy Cummins & Crawford’s Betty 10. Robyne Sherwood & Billeric Whin

Maiden: 1. Ross Kehl & Moonya Boots 2. Jeremy Shaw & Jack | 3. Jeremy Cummins & Crawford’s Betty 4. Antony Mulder & Narroonda Ritz 5. Tim Flynn & Wildcard Mike 6. Isaac Hotz & Wilderness Daughter 7. Stan Hughes & Crawford’s Squirt 8. Tim Flynn & Wildcard Bell 9. Isaac Hotz & Wilderness Basil 10. Emily Holcombe & Paddy

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As Australia’s only magazine dedicated to the working dog industry, advertising in the AWSDM magazine is the best way to get your ad seen by those in the working dog world.

Our April issue will have a focus on breeding – A perfect time to advertise dogs at stud, breeders, and other related products for 2020. Ads start from as little as $45 excluding GST. Packages available for all 2020 issues.

Contact lauren@stockdogs.com.au for more info!

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NSW Utility Championships Wrap Up Story & Photos by Lauren Vest

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ugowra was the host for the 2019 NSW Utility Championships held in May this year. Utility trialling is a combination of paddock work and yard work and is a great test of a practical all-round sheepdog. More than 120 dogs were entered for the weekend with trialling kicking off on the Friday. Bill Luff from Adjungbilly was the judge for the open and novice events with Robert Cox judging the nursery (an event for dogs new to utility trialling).

This year the girls came out on top – each class being won by a bitch. Taking out the NSW Championship was Nigel Brazier working Braziers Sky with a total of 178 points over two rounds. Greg Walton and Karana Max were just one point behind the winners. The novice was claimed by Maurice Metherall and his bitch Wilbo Joy, with a 171 point total. The winner of the nursery event was Jono English with Frankie.

“Another big thank you goes to Michael from The Gentle Cow, Peter and Bev Slaven for supplying breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, thank you so much,” the Howells said.

Thank you also to sponsors: CopRice dog food, Pengilly family for sheep and carting, Barru Working Kelpie Stud, Greg and Tracy Walton, M.A. and A L Bray, Mick Welsh Steel Fabrication, Karana Kelpie Stud, Grant Howell Auto Electrics, Denise Howell Hairdressing, Pacifica Boer Goats, K.M.W.L. Livestock, Eugowra Quality Meats, Central Hotel, AGnVET Supplies, Stockmans Dog Collars and Allure on Main.

Once again run under the capable hands of Kevin and Kay Howell of Karana Kelpies, the weekend went smoothly and was a great exhibition of some talented dog and handler combinations. The Howells also thanked everyone who helped in any way, and especially Grant Howell, Greg Walton and David Brassell for helping with set up on the Thursday and then working in the back yard throughout the trial.

Final Results: Novice Nursery 1. Maurice Metherall – Wilbo 1. Jono English – Frankie Joy 2. Glen Noakes – Karana Abbie 2. Ben Coster – Coopendale 3. Neil Croxon – Jack Lucy 3. Les Everleigh – Hiltons Ivy Open Championship 4. Nigel Brazier – Braziers Sky 1. Nigel Brazier – Braziers Sky 2. Greg Walton – Karana Max 3. Maurice Metherall – Wilbo Joy 4. Ben Coster – Coopendale Lucy 5. Gary White – Whites Jimmy U/P Adam James – Tundabardi Buster www.stockdogs.com.au AWSDM

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Story by Jean Hydleman Photos Tammy Preston

Supreme Australian Sheepdog Championship Dalby 2019

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he Supreme Australian Championship remains the premier sheepdog arena trial in Australia. Lasting for at least a week, the trial sees Australia’s best three sheep triallers come together to compete for the DogPro Plus Supreme Championship and for the Ted Gaby shield in the Interstate Challenge. However, the Supreme is more than just a display of top-notch trialling - it is also a very inclusive trial with the addition of competition at the Encourage, Novice, and Improver levels.

Under the banner of the ASDWA (Australian Sheepdog Workers Association) running the Supreme is delegated to each state in rotation – and in 2019 it was Queensland’s turn. Over a year ago Dalby, in the Darling Downs region was selected as the venue. Dalby is a medium sized country town with a population of around 12,000. Despite its relatively small size, Dalby has a good selection of shops and cafes and, more importantly, is very accessible from other locations being only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Brisbane and just two hours north of the NSW border.

When the location was selected, nobody would have envisaged that the drought that has gripped Queensland and NSW would still be very much in play. One of the original reasons for selecting Dalby was the availability of sheep – as the trial would need over 1,000 in all. Keeping that many sheep up to scratch so they are capable of being taken round a trial ground is a huge challenge and as Linda Mitchell, President of the Queensland Working Sheepdog Association, said “The sheep are great and more than stood the test of the trial. Coming from a drought affected area, they are a credit to the owners, Grant and Fiona Borchardt, and we very much appreciate the way they honoured their commitment to us.” Grant Cooke, President of the ASDWA agreed, adding that this was an

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absolute testament to their commitment.

Despite the challenges caused by the drought the local businesses did lend their support in terms of sponsorship and donating raffle prizes. Main sponsor, DogPro Plus, was also very much a presence - with a display near the grandstand and staff available to talk about the benefits of their products, including the new Hypro grain free range. DogPro have been an important supporter of sheepdog trialling in Australia and sponsorship manager, Sean Hickling, commented that the event had gone “exceptionally well, and it was a very well organised event, one of the largest for a long time in terms of numbers of dogs and competitors.” Mr Hickling added that it was “great to see some old returning supporters [of the DogPro product] as well as new ones”.

The drought was very much a theme throughout the Supreme and many of the triallers coming from greener areas were shocked by the dry conditions compared with the relatively good pasture they still had at home. In a short opening ceremony, the local speakers Paul McVeigh, Mayor of Western Downs Regional Council and Frank Chiverton, President of the Dalby Show Society, both stressed the importance of bringing a national event to their regional drought-stricken town, urging all visitors to go shopping locally. Also welcoming the triallers to the region was local MP Ann Leahy who is a trialler herself.

In return, both Grant Cooke and Linda Mitchell spoke of their appreciation of the commitment shown by the town towards making this event possible. The state representatives were also introduced and everyone enjoyed the Reconciliation Choir’s rendering of the National Anthem.

The drought was also a theme in the catering for the trial which, along with the cleaning, was undertaken by the Rotary Nomads. All money raised from this will go to funding

STATE REPS

NSW: Mick Hudson and Ritchies Finn and John Perry and Boco Rafa Queensland: Garry Barker and Barkers Clifford and Geoff Gibson and Swampoak Myha South Australia: Milton Cross and Andrina Floss and Anthony Ireland and Oakdowns Byn Tasmana: Lee Jamieson and Shannondoah Steele and Bernard McGlashan and Somerville Nell Victoria: Jess McLeod and Morgans Nick Choice and Susan Young and Granan Lady Western Australia: Grant Cooke and Grassvalley Sky and Peter Gorman and Coshies Dusty drought relief. Linda Mitchell commented “It was great having the Rotary Nomads taking the catering and cleaning off our hands.”

The 2019 Supreme was the largest in terms of entries since Cobar in 2015. The organising Committee operated two rings to enable completion within the seven-day time frame, with Novice, judged by Mick Rigby and Encourage, judged by Peter Mitchell held in the smaller second ring. The smaller ring made use of sheep already worked in the Open ring making them a little more settled for the less experienced dogs. In the larger Open ring, the judges were Stefan Cross from South Australia and Michael Grant from Tasmania. Trialling started at six most mornings and the second round of the Interstate Challenge was held under lights on the Saturday night to get through the large amount of entries.

The sheep used in the trial were light to work, making it important for the dogs to give them space and stop still when requested. Less experienced workers found them challenging but the performance of Australia’s top triallers showed how it could and should be done. Even so, they still came to grief occasionally, particularly with their less experienced dogs. A combination of 2018 and 2019 drop, the sheep were generally willing to take direction when handled correctly with the dogs giving them space to move and time to think before moving off.

An important part of the Supreme is the Annual General Meeting of the ASDWA, which was held on the Wednesday night. Because the ASDWA is a federal body, members are the individual states - meaning that only the state delegates can speak and vote. However, all individual members of the member states are entitled to attend and listen to the proceedings.

The Thursday night dinner continued the theme of Queensland informality, having no set seating or top table and limited presentations - restricted to a speech by Grant Cooke and a presentation of caps to the 2019 DogPro Plus Test Team (selected at the Hawkesbury Supreme the previous year) by John Camilleri, Managing Director of Hypro pet food, the team’s main sponsor. Mr Camilleri and his wife, Joyce, will be travelling to New Zealand with the Dogpro Plus Test Team consisting of Bernard McGlashan (Captain), Grant Cooke, Michael Grant and Paul O’Kane. John Camilleri spoke briefly of Hypro’s commitment to the Test Team and to sheepdog trialling in Australia before the informal part of

the evening began. All present were enchanted by the singing and playing of Sebastian Curtis, Frank Chiverton’s grandson, accompanied by Pip Hudson who also plays the accordion with great aplomb. The final days produced more consistent quality work, as triallers tend to save their best dogs to the end.

Spectators were treated to three rounds of the Ted Gaby Interstate Challenge and the DogPro Supreme Top Twenty and Top Ten rounds, as well as the Hip Pocket Improver final.

The Interstate Challenge is run on the Trans-Tasman course which is a combination of the Australian Supreme Course and the New Zealand course, which is used for all Trans-Tasman Test trials. As such it presents new challenges for the dogs and handlers alike; with the race replaced by a two-part obstacle known as the Maltese Cross plus a requirement to drive rather than carry or balance the sheep between some of the obstacles.

The sheep, as presented, proved almost impossible to drive and at least one State representative came to grief each round.

The second round under lights produced slightly lower scores and the first round had to be finished under lights which once again begged the question about whether this was the best way to select the Australian Test Team. Whatever the views on selection, all three rounds produced work from the dogs and handlers which demonstrated why these teams had earned their places. As the competition entered the third round, South Australia were ahead and held on to their lead, with Western Australia sneaking in to take second place. This was the first time that South Australia had won the Ted Gaby Shield in its 26-year history and, as such, was a popular win - with both State Reps, Milton Cross and Anthony Ireland, earning places in the Australian Team to take on the kiwis in Tasmania next year. The other two team members were Grant Cooke from Western Australia and Lee Jamieson from Tasmania. Geoff Gibson from Queensland is the reserve.

The Improver Final included two kelpies handled by Adam Miller and Les Eveleigh, but was ultimately won by Garry Barker working Barkers Jive. Garry also went on to win the DogPro Supreme with Andersons Holly in what proved to be a nail-biting finish. The Top Ten scores ranged from 165.5 up to 180.5 but the field was wide open after leader Marong Maddie, handled by Mick Hudson, crossed in her last round so earning a zero. Garry and Holly scored 92.5 in the last round for a total of 266, fighting off the challenge from second place Tony Elliott and OK Indiana Buckles who scored 253 and Mick Hudson and Ritchies Finn coming third with a final total of 252.

As the triallers headed home, they were already planning the trip to the next Supreme – Campbelltown in Tasmania which will be held 17 to 25 October 2020. Tasmanian President Lee Jamieson has planning well in hand and informed us that Tasmania “will have a lead up trial that will be held at Meander in the North of the State and from there we will have the Supreme in Campbelltown.” Even though the logistics of travelling to Tasmania will be hard for most competitors, Mr Jamieson is confident that the trial will be well attended, concluding “The feedback we are getting from our members is that we will get about 200 dogs. It will be a big week for us with a Novice, Improver and Open events as well as the Ted Gaby Shield and the Trans-Tasman Test. A number of events will be run under lights.”

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OPEN

IMPROVER

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NOVICE

ENCOURAGE

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2020 National Sheep Dog Trial Championships

Celebrating 77 years of Sheepdog Trialling in the Nation’s Capital Compete for the chance to win a replica of the Governor Generals sash!

Trial will be 11 - 15 March 2020 8am - 4:30pm Daily Spectators entry by donation to cover all days.

Canteen | Available every day including coffee cart on weekends.

Raffle Tickets available at the trial Approximately 50 handlers and 200 dogs. Top handlers from every state competing in Australia’s longest running, most prestigious sheepdog trial.

Commentary available, plus walk the course at lunch.

Hall Village Showground, Hall ACT 2618 Entries close February 2020 Contact: natsheepdogtrials@gmail.com www.nationalsheepdogtrials.org

Essential Natural Traits for the ‘All-Round Utility Stock Dog’

by Rod Cavanagh

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igh quality practical working stock dogs must possess a number of essential natural traits – traits which are distinctively different yet compliment and add to one another extensively. A deficiency in any of them can greatly affect the ability of these ‘all-round utility stock dogs’ that use their own initiative to collect, control and move stock.

The Australian Utility Stock Dog Society Inc. has specified practical ‘Stock Dog Challenges’ that test as many Essential Natural Traits as possible. These competitions identify the brilliance as well as the inadequacies that working stock dogs possess, which also emphasises the value and importance of ‘all-round utility stock dogs’ – for SHEEP and CATTLE work.

• Stock dogs that can be sent on long casts in the ‘back paddock’ and relied upon to muster scattered stock over various terrain, often out of sight, and bring them to a desired destination in a controlled manner, are to be applauded.

The training, handling and welfare of livestock working dogs is acknowledged by the Society as being extremely important, but it is the Essential Natural Traits that will determine the future of high quality ‘all-round utility stock dogs’ in Australia and internationally.

• Stock dogs need to be intelligent, biddable, friendly, loyal, and unafraid of vehicular travel, thunder and whip cracking.

They must have stamina and agility, accompanied by calm confidence.

www.ausds.org

• Close-at-hand work is also required for stock dogs, in sheep yards, shearing sheds etc. and in confined areas to free jammed sheep - along with controlled and effective bark and the backing of sheep.

• Other natural traits when working stock include: driving stock to, with, and away from the handler; holding together; block and hold; force; tackle any confrontation from stock with strength but without savagery; distance; width; break; heading of stock; eye; balance; cover; freedom of movement; anticipation; and minimal activity.

Stock dogs that possess a high degree of all these essentialnatural traits, accompanied with plenty of ‘heart’ and with ‘purpose’, are the type of dogs required for the breeding and selection of future champions. www.stockdogs.com.au AWSDM

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28/10/19 8:05 pm

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Mental Health

Everybody feels down sometimes, and it ain’t weak to speak – Sometimes we need more than man’s best friend to talk things out with. f you are struggling with the drought or anything else in your life, please check out some of the links below:

The beyondblue Support Service is available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1300 22 4636. Webchat and email options are also available via www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support.

Trained mental health professionals can provide free and confidential short-term counselling and offer referrals to local support services.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 Aussie Helpers: Virtual psychologist - call 1300 665 234, text 0488 807 266 or visit https://aussiehelpers.org.au/aussie-helpers-virtual-psychologist-for-drought-affected-farmers/ Donations - www.aussiehelpers.org.au

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Wondering what to buy the dog lover in your life for Christmas?

Check out our range of merchandise, whistles and training materials online at www.stockdogs.com.au

FREE POSTAGE | www.stockdogs.com.au Or check out our 2020 subscription deal on page 2!

MICK HUDSON MGH WORKING DOGS Mick is a third-generation stockman & working dog trainer.

He musters cattle, sheep & feral goats on his properties with his working dogs & also competes with these same dogs in 3 sheep dog trials to showcase his stockman skills & ability of his well educated dogs.

Mick has been very successful in the last few years, winning the National, Commonwealth & Supreme Australian Championships + many other open trials.

He also won NSWSDWI Handler of the Year and Dog of the Year in 2015 & 2017 and is representing Australia in 2018.

Mick has 2 day training clinics at his property near Dubbo NSW & from time to time has MGH bred pups for sale. See website for information & contact details.

“I feed all of my dogs nothing but the best, so I can get the best out of them.”

Mick’s passion & dedication to his dogs starts with nutrition & to achieve the best results he feeds them the most complete high-performance food he can.

www.mickhudson.com.au

Nothing but the best for Mick’s dogs!

Hypro Premium with REAL KANGAROO & TURKEY for High Performance Working Dogs is a Complete & Balanced Grain Free diet specially formulated to help maintain the health & well-being of all active dogs breeds, age & size.

TYPICAL COMPOSITION Crude Protein Fat Calcium (min) Phosphorus (min) ME (kcal/100g)

32% 22% 1% 0.8% 405

NUTRITIONALLY FORMULATED FOR ADULT WORKING DOGS Optimal blend of extra proteins, fats, and oils, vitamins and minerals to help keep your active dog healthy and happy.

INFUSED WITH MEAT FOR MUSCLES Real kangaroo and turkey meats supply the protein with essential amino acids which are the building blocks for the development and maintenance of strong active muscles.

DEVELOPED WITH BEET PULP & CHICORY ROOT FOR DIGESTION Beet pulp and chicory root, excellent sources of prebiotic fibres, encourage beneficial bacteria to help improve digestion and provide healthy firm stools.

OMEGA 3 & 6 FOR SKIN & COAT Sunflower, flaxseed, fish and emu oils provide essential fatty acids (omega 3 & 6) to help maintain healthy skin and shiny coat.

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NSW Sheepdog Workers Association Inc.

Queensland WorkingSheepdog Association

Victorian Working Sheepdog Association

EMU OIL FOR ANTI-INFLAMMATORY Emu Oil is and excellent source of essential fatty acids (Omega 3, 6, 9) to help nourish your dog’s skin, and joints.

To order Contact Hypro Pet Care

Hypro Pet Care continues to be the MAJOR SPONSOR of

Australian Sheepdog Workers Association

NATURAL ANTIOXIDANTS FOR IMMUNE SYSTEM Peas, carrot, spinach, alfalfa, tomato, blueberry, cranberry and apple contain natural antioxidants that can help support the development of a strong immune system, helping maintain good health for active dogs.

South Australian Working Sheepdog Association

Western Australian Working Sheepdog Association

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Sean Hickling Mobile: 0408 626 784 Email: sean@hypropetfoods.com.au 15 Box Avenue, Wilberforce NSW 2756 www.hypropetcare.com.au