Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine - Issue 18, March 2022

The Australian

WORKING STOCK DOG Magazine

Stockman’s Profile:

Clinton Hall

5 TRAINING Q & A’s

March 2022

RRP $10.00 (incl. GST)

Issue 18

A DOG’S LIFE:

Koonama Cracka

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Editors Thoughts We are a quarter of the way through 2022 already! We hope you have had a lovely Christmas and New Year’s along with a well-deserved break. Along with most, Covid-19 sure had an effect on both of our families over Christmas and New Year’s but none the less, we got up to lots of dog training and work.

With many more working dog auctions coming about, we feel this is great for the industry to help grow the knowledge and respect of a good work dog. We attended the inaugural Working Dog Challenge in November last year and despite the weather, we had a great weekend and enjoyed the concept. It is great to see the country opening up again, allowing us to travel to these events and trials.

Dan and I have noticed a real thirst for training from not only our readers but also our DogTorque listeners. This issue we have put together five training articles, we hope this is a start as to what is to come of 2022.

By now all four episodes of Muster Dogs have aired and appears to have been loved and enjoyed by not only the working dog community but also the general public.

We have some lovely DogTorque merchandise coming for winter so please keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information as we have very limited stock!

We are looking forward to another great year full of dogs and learning.

We are very happy with how our March 2022 Issue has come together, enjoy!

Laura & Dan

The Australian

WORKING

STOCK DOG

Magazine

Publisher and Editor: Laura McKillop and Daniel Camilleri Email: laura@stockdogs.com.au or dan@stockdogs.com.au Phone: Laura – 0459 031 729 or Dan – 0448 009 226 Mail: PO BOX 3003, Grose Vale, NSW 2753 Front Cover Photograph: Koonama Cracka owned

by Nick & Katrina Foster | Photography by Megan Rutherford Photography

Advertising Enquiries: Daniel Camilleri Email: dan@stockdogs.com.au Contributors: Megan Rutherford (Megan Rutherford Photography), Laura McKillop, Daniel Camilleri, Nathalie Grimmer, Maree McKillop, Dr Jasmin Hyatt, Peter Brown, Monica Polkinghorne, Kevin & Kay Howell, Scott Amon, Susie Goodyear, Mick Hudson, Jamie Sturrock, Frankie Aston, Ken Sykes, Sharne Haskins (Ranvet), Dr Kathyrn Humphries (Elanco), Western Advocate, DogTorque, Holbrook Cattle Dog Trial Committee, Regional Livestock Exchanges. Angie Snell, Nan Lloyd, Nick & Glenice Webb, Clinton Hall Advertising, Articles & Stories Email: laura@stockdogs.com.au

www.stockdogs.com.au The Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine takes due care and diligence in the preparation of this magazine, but is not responsible or liable for any mistake, misprint or typographical error. Articles that appear in The Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine do not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of The Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine or its officers and employees. Nor does publication of said articles constitute an endorsement of views that they may express. Accuracy of all material

is the sole responsibility of the authors. Appearance of an advertisement in The Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by The Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine or the goods or services offered therein. The Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine is not responsible for any unsolicited material of any kind. No Part of Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine may be reproduced by any means without the written consent of the Publishers.

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Featured

Article

Regular

08 Training Q & A with Kevin Howell 18 Working Dog Fitness

22 Stockman’s Profile - Clinton Hall

14 A Breeders Perspective

42 History of Sheep Dog

11 Vet Check - Foot Pad Injuries

27 Training Q & A with Susie

Trialing Part I

30 A Dogs Life - Koonama Cracka

Goodyear

56 Dehydration and

52 Rising Star - Aoidh Doyle

Electrolytes for Working Dogs 68 Colouring Competition 69 Kelly’s Kennel 44 Training Q & A with Mick Hudson 70 Controlling Lice in Sheep 34 The Training Pen with Ken Sykes 48 Transport Map of Australia 64 Training Q & A with Jamie

84 Dogs Australia: New Tricks 72 Coming Events 91 Mail Order Form for Old Breeds

Sturrock

92 Business Directory

74 - 84 Around The Grounds

93 Breeders Directory

88 Gone, Never Forgotten

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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.

If you are struggling with anything, 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-psychologistfor-drought-affected-farm-ers/ Donations

www.aussiehelpers.org.au Rural Financial Counsellor Service: 1800 686 175 (for advice about locating counsellors in your area)

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Trai

Casting w Kay and I have been farmers all of our married life raising 2 children Grant and Tanya. I am a 3rd generation farmer and have always had a keen interest in working dogs and started the Karana Kelpie Stud in 1987.

Since semi retiring we have concentrated more on the Kelpie Stud as this is what I wish to do in my retirement.

We are both very proud of our dogs and feel they are part of the family. I believe that dogs are truly mans best friend and they have my greatest respect.

Our aim is to try to improve the already great breed of dog the Working Kelpie, and make these dogs available to those who wish to enjoy working with a quality dog. I have won nine National Kelpie Field Trials and come second 13 times.

Why is cast important?

I believe if a dog does not have a natural cast, he will never develop into a reliable mustering dog in the paddock. If your paddock work is done in an easily mustered situation where the land is flat and the paddocks are small with no obstacles you will get away with a dog that is not a true casting dog because he can see the stock at all times.

However, if you have paddocks that are hilly with gutters, big boulders or heavily timbered that you cannot ride a bike through then you will need a true natural casting dog that will go out and actually search for stock that he is not able to see.

These dogs will search for stock using their great ability to cent and track stock along with their ability to hear sounds.

They will actually do a search by casting to the other end of the paddock and if they haven’t found any stock, they will then work their way closer in a grid like fashion until they find stock and the more opportunity the dog has to do this kind of work the better, they will get at it and they will also get to know a particular paddock and learn where stock might be camped.

If he doesn’t get it perfectly the first time don’t give up, give him more opportunities so he can learn from it. If they are not natural casting dogs, they will not do this and I believe it cannot be taught successfully. Natural casting dogs are usually more cautious and work further off their stock and are less likely to leave any stragglers behind.

How much natural cast do you want in a dog?

Me personally, I like a lot of natural cast and if you can get a dog that works well in the yards as well as has a natural cast then you have a true all-rounder. Another reason I like a natural cast in my dogs is that my preferred trials are Utility Trials. A natural cast is very important to get your dog out wide and deep in behind the sheep to not to upset the sheep, then gradually bring your dog in to get the sheep to lift off at a walk.

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As I said in the previous question, a natural casting dog is naturally more cautious and reads their sheep better when handling small numbers of sheep.

Do you have a preferred shape?

Yes, I prefer the full, round shape. I find these dogs will cast further and do what I described in the previous question. The only disadvantage with the round cast is that it takes a bit longer but it is worth the extra time for the better result. Dogs with a pear-shaped cast are good in most situations and they get on the job done a lot quicker. They usually get on with the job when they get there the only thing that can happen is if the stock are spread out or in a number of different mobs then the dog is more inclined to get the first mob he comes to and bring them. It is a bit of a case of horses for courses.

How do you train cast?

When I am starting my pups off, I will only work them in the big holding yard leading up to the main yards because I like to let the pups have plenty of room to develop their own style of work. I don’t like small round yards at all, as I want my pups to feel free to do what comes natural to them and not be forced to be in close when they are not ready for that – they will come in when they are ready.

Once my pups are confidently working the small training mob (around 20 merino weathers), I will start to take control by moving in with my training wand which is a nylon stick about one metre long with a small piece of cloth about the size of a handkerchief tied to the end. This small piece of cloth is what the pup responds to because it is very visible and it is silent so it doesn’t create any fear in the young pup. When they are confidently moving, I use what we call the block system where I tap the flag on the ground when the pup comes round my side.

A & Q ining

with Kevin Howell He will turn and travel in the opposite direction so that way I get them traveling from 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock on the opposite side of the small mob of sheep. I like to use more sheep in my training mob than most dog trainers do because I like to have enough so they create a bigger circle of sheep and the pup has a bit of distance to travel before I am blocking him and sending him the other way. While doing this I will start putting a word on the direction the pup is traveling I use “BACK” for anti-clockwise & “ROUND” for clockwise. One word only, no “GO” in front of the word otherwise you will be starting every command with “GO”.

Once I think my pup is ready for it, I will start my training for casting. Before that you need to have your pup taught to stop and stay because I need him to stay where he is until I get between him and the sheep before I allow him to go to work. As he starts his outrun towards the sheep, when he is about opposite me, I will tap the flag stick on the ground in his direction which has the effect of getting him to run wider, at the same time give him the command “OUT”. This way he will learn that the word “OUT” means to get further off his sheep, I also use the same word once he is in behind his sheep if he is coming in to close & if necessary as I say the word, I might whack the flag stick on the top of the sheep he is nearest to which has the effect of him getting further off. As he gets older and is learning to cast fairly well and knows what his side directions are I will set him up in his staying position while I will get off centre.

Then using his side command call him to come out my side which gets him to run wide to get around me and in behind his stock. Once he is doing that well in the big yard you can go out into a small paddock and gradually create more distance without allowing him to cross between you and the sheep. One good exercise to avoid him crossing over is to do the casting along a fence line & he will always go the way where there is more room so to get both sides working equally you alternate sides by allowing the sheep to run past you when he delivers them to you and then send him the other way and so on.

To teach him to search for sheep in timbered hilly country get him to work the sheep into the timber and allow the sheep to run up into the timber a certain way until they are out of site, then send him after them. As he gets better at it allow the sheep to run further away each time and he will learn to find sheep that way, the noises will be closer and the smells will all be fresh. The more natural casting he is the quicker he will learn it and save you a lot of work, he will love doing it but he will never learn it unless you give him the opportunity.

Be prepared for things to go wrong and if they do try setting things up better and try again it is a team effort.

I love dogs and I enjoy working with them they are an amazing animal.

We have moved to Warwick, QLD! Est 1956.

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Vet Check - Foot Pad Injuries Article by Dr Jasmin Hyatt BVSc (Hons) DipACT MANZCVS (reproduction) Veterinary Reproduction Consultancy Pty Ltd (02) 6301 9550, Orange, NSW

Injuries to the foot pad occur commonly, especially in dogs traversing rough terrain! Whether it be a wound from running continuously on a rough surface, or a laceration resulting from a sharp stick or piece of glass, it can be a very painful injury. If not treated fast and effectively injuries to the pads may have long-lasting effects.

Dogs rely on their foot pads to insulate and protect their paws, absorb shock, and create traction with the surface they are on. The footpad of dogs is a highly specialised tissue. It has two layers; the tough fibrous layer to resist the tension and forces generated during weight bearing, and a fatty layer that acts as a cushion to distribute these forces. Because it is so specialised if this tissue gets injured it has to regrow and can’t be replaced with normal skin tissue.

Early signs a foot pad injury in your dog •

Limping

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Bleeding from the underside of the paw

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Constant licking of the paw

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Discolouration of the hair of the paw (secondary to licking)

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More likely to occur on pads of the front limbs

What should you do?

There are a few golden rules for treating these injuries as soon as possible 1. CLEANLINESS: These wounds are obviously in the perfect location for contamination. If healing is to occur the wound needs to be flushed clean of any debris and washed with an antiseptic.

2. ELEVATION: The wound needs to be relieved of any of the pressures of weight bearing by elevating the rest of the paw.

3. BANDAGING: To keep the wound clean and to promote healing the wound needs to be bandaged. The bandage material needs to be non-adherent and the dressing needs to be changed daily to begin with.

4. VETERINARY ATTENTION: A visit to your vet will allow them to assess the damage and the requirement for further treatment. This may include surgical debridement of the wound, suturing (stitching) of deep lacerations, splinting to elevate the wound, dispensing of antibiotics to prevent infection, and assessment of any other injuries. They will also be able to give advice on suitable bandage materials and how often the bandages will need to be applied for.

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Book all 4 Issues in advance and receive 10% OFF To Book call or email: Dan - 0448 009 226 | dan@stockdogs.com.au Laura - 0459 031 729 |laura@stockdogs.com.au

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A Breeders Perspective Article and Photos by Scott Amon - Barru Kelpies I appreciate this magazine asking for my opinions on breeding working dogs. My wife, Trish and I have kept working dogs since 1984 and decided to establish a Kelpie stud in the very early ’90s. We are a registered stud under the Working Kelpie Council of Australia and have serviced the grazing industry with well over 1000 dogs over the past two to three decades.

I offer my opinions on what I see as the most important RESPONSIBILITIES one should undertake if wanting to breed working dogs.

Firstly, you need a clear idea of the style of working dog that you want to breed. This is extremely important. From the very beginning, we wanted to find a line of dogs that showed they had obviously strong inherited ability to manage stock with limited training or command. I have always put natural ability as the number one attribute of any dog that I contemplate breeding from. If you want dogs that can be trusted out of sight, display an inherited ability to calmly control stock and require limited training to simply get a job done - natural ability is number one.

I firmly believe that if you are breeding dogs specifically for stock work on farmland (which is where the largest portion of the working dog market is), you will be dealing with a great many people that have limited training ability and want a dog to go straight to work and be able to manage stock reasonably well without the dog needing to be taught. A few basic commands and you can get a lot of work done with dogs like this.

I guess other people would add that temperament, trainability and type are also important, and I agree. But for me, nowhere near as important to what I see as largely ‘correct’ natural shepherding traits.

I am convinced there is a big difference between a working dog trainer and a working dog breeder. You can, of course, be both or either. A few people do both very well - but they are few and far between in the scheme of things.

The ‘trainer’ is largely after a biddable nature that fits their system and demeanor so that they do not have to fight the dog for the high level of control required for high-end trialling.

Whereas, the average stockman or grazier is just after a dog to get the work done.

This has been proven to me time and time again over the past few decades. Almost exclusively, the thousands of clients and potential clients that have viewed our dogs over the years have wanted to see what our dogs do when you say nothing, rather than how well they may or may not be trained. I was told by a very wise and successful working dog breeder, “breed a line of largely natural correct shepherding dogs and the world will beat a path to your door”. I’m still convinced he was right.

I see the capabilities of working dog trainers constantly improving. And I believe that we presently have some of the greatest trainers our country, and possibly, the world has ever seen. I think this will only improve even further with the sharing of knowledge that is occurring nowadays. However, without breeders striving to preserve lines of working dogs that are blessed with volumes of natural ability, I do wonder whether the preservation of these inherited traits have as bright an outlook as the training camp does. It is important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that by far, the greatest percentage of working dogs bred will be utilised by graziers with limited training ability and will always require a line of genuine natural dogs to manage their livestock in a calm and proficient manner.

Bottom Image - What a working dog does when left to its own devices (not commanded) should be seriously considered by all serious working dog breeders.

Left hand page image - Natural ability comes in all shapes and forms, from natural backing to natural distance and stock reading/shifting ability. Getting as many attributes as possible into the one package should be at the forefront of a breeder’s mind when making breeding decisions.

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Working Dog Fitness

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Article by Frankie Aston - Certified Canine Fitness Trainer, Certified Canine Hydrotherapist.

DogFit Conditioning & Performance

he value of working dogs has been greatly highlighted in Australia, with well known stock dogs and their progeny being included and recognised as working assets on farms and stations across the country. Many of us working dog breed lovers ignite our own love of the breeds through competition herding and playing sports like agility, that fit with our dogs’ genetic drive for work. Keeping our dogs fit and healthy and preventing injury where possible has become an accepted part of working these breeds of dogs, be it for stock work or for competition.

In saying “Australian working dogs” I generally refer to a number of key breeds: the Australian Kelpie, the Border Collie, the Australian Koolie and the Australian Cattle Dog. As dog sports have developed, so has the understanding and study of canine movement for the purposes of fitness and health. Herding has started to take off as a competitive sport for many working breed dog owners. With this shift, competitive sports dog owners who have fitness and health programs in place for their dogs bring the application of fitness and health programs into focus. As we would for any athlete or high-performance competitor, it makes sense that we keep dogs in great form to perform the physical work required to do their jobs. In this article, I will take a brief look into appropriate fitness programs and common injuries of Australian working dogs.

The physical attributes of the dog will often speak to the functionality of the work it applies itself to. The physical conformation of the dog when we look at herding dogs, for example, shows the balance of power through the body as more balanced than many other breeds. Herding dogs’ key function is to round up and guide stock from a location A to a location B, under the guidance and direction of their human handler. Their physical demand during work involves, and is not restricted to, crouching, slow stalking, fast pace running, trotting, lying down, standing still in stalk position, driving at high pace into a point, and canter at endurance pace.

As you can imagine, every muscle group can be engaged in their activity, and needs to be available to the dog to complete their work skilfully and with precision. They more often have large muscles in the rear legs to power their stalking and a shallower sternum to enable the crouch.

While form and function go hand in hand, for working dogs who often have long and demanding workdays, peak fitness is essential. Work and sports appropriate programs are, in my opinion, the most effective programs for the type of physically demanding activity our dogs participate in. Essential elements of fitness for herding include cardio and endurance work, lean muscle build and maintain, and flexibility build and maintain.

Coupled with a balanced nutritional diet and well cared for life, dogs are more likely to thrive in their health and fitness.

In a fitness program for working dogs, cardio work goes hand in hand with building fitness and endurance for working dogs. Training or working sessions that include fast moving translations from lie down to get up will enhance cardiac beat elevation. Longer runs over distance at a canter pace will support endurance.

Lean muscle is built through targeted fitness programs that are designed to mimic the movement of the muscle group for a specific application. For example, crawling and ducking exercises will mimic the use of muscle groups for stalking strength. Generally speaking, the slower the exercise, the quicker it builds muscle. Rest and recouperation enables muscles to repair and rebuild quickly. Training sessions for strength should be every other day.

Flexibility is a key piece of the fitness puzzle for herding and working dogs. Flexibility that supports strength is important through good range of motion throughout the body. From neck, front and back limbs, wrists and toes, spine, and even in the tail. Stretching exercises done at the end of training, working or strength sessions, when the muscles are warm, grows and maintains flexibility.

While good health and fitness is maintained, injury can occur at any time. I have known the fittest dogs to have accidents that cause injury. While studies on causes of injury in working and performance dogs are still minimal, there is good evidence that common injuries for

our herding and stock dogs can include iliopsoas strain or tear, ligament strain in rear legs, and shoulder injuries.

More common injuries are often soft tissue and ligament injuries, which present themselves as lameness in front and rear limbs. Lameness can present as limping, hopping, standing off the leg, and laying off the side of the leg.

The two most common strains I see in clients’ working or performance dogs are iliopsoas and shoulder strains.

The iliopsoas is effectively the muscle that enables the rear leg lift and pull forward movement in the dog. It is very much like a human groin muscle in its function of lifting the thigh towards the body. This muscle can be strained through play, slipping on surfaces like tiles or even wet grass. Unfortunately, this muscle is also prone to repetitive injury.

Shoulder injuries in the supraspinatus muscle of the shoulder happen when front limbs move away from the body at speed. Stumbling and sliding on slippery surfaces can contribute to this. The injury is very much like a rotator cuff injury in humans. As it is a tendon that is damaged, it can become calcified as it repairs, which can in turn can cause lameness or arthritis.

With a great fitness program, great therapist, and regular review of a dog’s performance of movement throughout their life stages, these injuries can be somewhat preventable. At the very least, a fit working dog will have a great baseline for recovery if they do experience an injury.

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“When you have a really good dog, it is a pretty marvellous thing to have”

Stockman’s Profile

Clinton Hall

Story by Laura McKillop & Clinton Hall

From a young age, dogs were always a fascination for Clinton Hall. As a toddler, he would disappear to play with the family Labradors, then as an early teen, he would be out till after dark with his collie-cross hunting dog, Ugly. Clinton was nearly six years old when he moved from Donors Hill Station in the Gulf Country to Havilah Station at Collinsville, along with the family Labradors. His father, Bob Hall took over the management at Havilah, being the fourth manager in two years. Havilah Station would run up to 20,000 head of cattle, which at the time were very much out of control in 1970 due to the terrible Harrisia cactus problem as it made working cattle very difficult, even on horseback.

In 1974, the beef slump saw a nine-man stock camp reduced to three men. This gave young Clinton Hall a job outside of the classroom. The stockmen still working the station at the time jokingly threatened to go on strike when they agreed that, “a kid shouldn’t work that hard and not get paid”. This led to Clifton being paid one dollar a day, then double on a Sunday.

For him, it wasn’t a job, but rather a privilege. Clinton went on to explain how stockmanship was like a religion at Havilah, and his biggest influence on stockmanship came from his father, Bob Hall.

Bob mustered cattle with no whips, no yardsticks and no noise, “as Brahmans have big ears”, using simply a horseman leading the herd from the paddock into the yards. Bob Hall was a pastoral supervisor for Stanbroke Pastoral Company where he looked after five properties, whilst also managing Havilah for over 30 years. Clinton spoke about how his father never worked dogs on cattle but did have a brilliant Kelpie Dog when he was overseeing a sheep property as a young man.

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His belief was that every cattleman should work sheep for at least twelve months. Bob modeled his stockmanship off the herding and feel of that good Kelpie dog. Clinton said his father, “never said sheep were dumb animals, but rather that you had to be smart to work them properly”.

Clinton’s wages went up from one dollar a day to thirty dollars for providing a pig Hangi to the local Kiwis, racecourse and workmen building the Bowen River bridge. Clinton’s hunting dog Ugly, could catch pigs brilliantly, but she also introduced him to herding by working a mob of pigs.

At the time, dogs weren’t allowed to work cattle at Havilah, but Ugly could pen the milkers’ calves that didn’t like yarding, just like a trial dog. This planted the seed in Clinton that he would like to have working dogs on cattle. At 17 years old, Clinton spent time under the well-respected stockman Mr Jack Fitzgerald. He explained how Jack could handle 1,500 fresh weaners by himself and yard them before dark. He described him as “one man on a horse with a flash of rum hidden in the saddlebag and cranky as hell”. Clinton went on to explain how Jack could see a problem before it happened. He would explain to him when, where, who and how the problem was going to happen and then the solution, all before the problem even occurred. Jack said to him, “that to be a good stockman, you need to think one hundred per cent of the time” and this has stuck with Clinton to this day.

At 21, Clinton got the job of head stockman at Millungera with his two young bitches, Jess and Bonnie. Their father was part Harlequin Dane and their mother was a brilliant cattle dog.

These young dogs were a fluke cross that you could teach anything to.

They’d guard and had courage as well as intelligence to work out cattle on a big run. Clinton still rates a dog by its intelligence, heart and eagerness to please.

Being in Northern Australia, Clinton didn’t get much training or access to dog genetics until he purchased Scott Lithgow’s book, Training and Working Dogs for Quiet Confident Control of Stock. It was the early 90’s when Clinton had the opportunity to attend Neil McDonald’s school in Mullungera. Clinton was the only one to turn up with a cattle dog (Twiggy), whilst everyone else had Kelpies. He said, “Neil ran a brilliant school.

Twiggy and I got exposed and that was entertaining”. Clinton’s fondest memories were of Neil’s energy, rope tricks and seeing his dog, Beau backing a mob of heifers. He laughed about how he “went home completely cross threaded on how to train a dog”. After licking his wounds, he ordered a pup who was later named Sally, who had Scott Lithgow’s Star as her Grandsire on both sides. Sally, in turn, ended up being Clinton’s best ever working dog.

In the mid-90s, Clinton sold a litter from Sally in Western Australia and did a working dog school there six months later.

At the time, the Pilbara had the same problem of little access to genetics and training. The school went great, but Clinton believes it was the quality of the Sally pups that got him over the line. Sally started working cattle at five months old and worked through till she was twelve and a half years old. “I can’t remember her ever letting me down. She had the ability to remedy any mistake and made me look good” he explained.

Clinton told a story of how Sally was operated on by a doctor in a country town hospital to remove a stake from her throat in order to save her life. With all the science and knowledge that is available today on stock behaviour and livestock handling, he explained how he now realises how much of a natural Sally was.

Clinton has run stock camps, contract teams and managed properties across Northern Australia working cattle. Now based in Dalby, Queensland he is enjoying having a crack at sheepdog trialling for almost twelve months now. Like his father, Clinton believes that working sheep for the last twelve months will make him a better stockman. To him, “the cast, lift and draw are the most important parts to get right in sheepdog trialling. It is exactly the same as mustering cattle; gathering, calming and getting them to respond to direction”.

After asking for some advice to young people starting out in the industry, Clinton responded with many things that come to mind. He explained how “you are the only one that will put limits on what you can learn and achieve”.

Clinton and his daughter training on some weaners.

Clinton, Sally and her pups.

Missy showing off one of her tricks.

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A & Q g n Traini

Feel with Susie Goodyear Susie was raised on a sheep station in south west Queensland and later attended Longreach Ag College. After collage she jillarooed throughout Queensland and NSW.

What is feel?

“Feel” is something different to everyone I think, and is different to grip. Grip to me is in the same basket as cover and hold with application of some influence on the bubble.

Feel is an innate sense and to me it is akin to how we ourselves read sheep/cattle to anticipate what they might be about to do, and how we either apply or relieve pressure in one direction in order to achieve the desired reaction from the animal.

A dog with grip (or a person) will simply cover any undesired movement without changing their approach.

Feel is a sign of an intelligent, patient and a self-controlled dog. The dog doesn’t lack force but he knows how to use it, though mostly he will covertly make the sheep aware he is to be respected tho not feared. They’re more likely to gain the stock’s acceptance, keep them calm and more willing to go where he wants them to.

How do you improve it?

Can you improve it? Another hot potato!

I believe a dog with natural feel will continue to develop. A dog on the other end of the spectrum seems oblivious to the concept, you might improve his grip but not his feel.

Susie has represented Australia in 3 Sheep Trialling, as well as a competitive Yard and Utility trialer.

Though, these days she doesn’t trial often anymore. Susie trains and uses her dogs for sheep work in Victoria.

Keeping a dog calm in training and avoiding situations where they may panic about losing their sheep helps.

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A Dog’s Life

Koonama Cracka F

Article by Daniel Camilleri | Photos by Megan Rutherford Photography rom the young age of four weeks, Koonama Cracka has been by Nick Foster’s side, and for the eight and half years that followed, it has never changed.

Matthew Sherwood also had a hand to play, helping to guide Nick in understanding the natural qualities Cracka possessed and demonstrated.

An admirer of older dogs such as Boanong Buster, Capree Boss II, Capree Poppy and Milburn Basil, Nick purchased Capree Rooster from Chris Sherwood at Marista Kelpie Stud as a two-year-old started dog. Not long after, Matthew Sherwood (Marista Kelpie Stud) gave him Marista Molly as an eight-week-old pup. Rooster became Nicks main dog, and although Molly was injured at a young age, Nick had seen enough in her to later join the two, hoping for a type of dog that would continue to suit his work style and personality. On 14th July 2013, those plans came to fruition. But Nick knew little of the learning curve this would be for himself and the long journey ahead of him.

Whilst working composite ewes, lambs, Merino wethers and Angus cattle (cows and calves), Cracka’s creates flow in the yards by using his huge bark, grip, and expertise with an effective bite. With his natural presence and ability to read and rate what he is working, Cracka adjusts himself to suit different types of stock. These traits, along with the eagerness to constantly look out for stock while mustering, makes life on the farm more enjoyable for Nick.

The first time Cracka saw sheep, he displayed style and character that Nick wasn’t familiar with. Balancing stock from a young age, Nick describes Cracka as a dog that...

“Broke himself in. You just showed him what you wanted and away he went”. This could be because, as best mates, they think so alike in work scenarios, and Cracka will do anything to please Nick.

Not only is Cracka a proven work dog, but he is also consistently competitive in yard trials. Winning his first novice at the Gunning Show in 2016, Cracka later won the open at the Warren Show the same year.

“He’s my best mate” In his first trial as a maiden dog at the Mudgee Field Days, Cracka spent the entire 7 minutes trying to get the sheep into the first pickup. He never lost them, he was just unable to work them around the gate into the pen. Nick remembers walking away feeling defeated and disappointed. Robert Cox later explained to Nick something that he hadn’t considered. Cracka’s natural grip deterred the sheep from moving off him and around the gate. With further miles and experience under his collar, Cracka worked out how to use his grip together with natural presence and strength to return three years later and win the open championship. Since then, he has won many open yard dog trials, including; four open championships, placed in

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The Australian Top 25 four times, NSW Top 10 twice, won NSW Dog of the Year in 2020 and had been in contention other years, including missing out by two points in 2021.

Nick says that while representing NSW in 2021 was rewarding, Cracka’s most memorable win was at the Dalgety Championship in 2020. This was a special win, as they were rubbing shoulders and competing against some of the sports best yard trialers that Nick had admired since commencing the sport. The sheep were tough and the course difficult, yet Cracka worked well and managed to come away with a win.

Cracka has sired the majority of Nick’s work team.

Stamping his hard work ethic and all-round ability into his progeny, he generally produced very handy work dogs in the paddock, while being powerful in the yards. In recent years, Nick has made Cracka available to outside bitches, and these traits have also been visible in his lines outside of his own camp.

Spending countless time together, sometimes working seven days a week in rain, hail or shine, Nick says that, “he is my best mate and is a dog that will do anything for me. He doesn’t need to be told, he just knows what he is doing no matter what or where we are working. He just turns up again and again”.

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The Training Pen with Ken Sykes STARTING THE OLDER DOG AT TRIAL WORK KEN SYKES

Ken Sykes has been working with sheepdogs most of his life. A successful competitor at sheepdog trials, Ken has now retired from running training days for livestock producers and giving working dog demonstrations. He is a feature writer and speaker. His expertise draws on a broad range of research as well as practical expertise.

High tech, low tech, take your pick. You can’t teach an old dog a brand new trick. At least that’s according to the theme for the classic TV show New Tricks. Fortunately, Michael Dungey and his dog Kearby didn’t feel that this applied to them. Michael, a man with no livestock experience, and his seven-year-old dog Kearby, who had never worked with stock, became quite competitive in the three sheep trial world. When I asked Michael what he contributed his early success to he immediately, and modestly attributed it to Kearby’s natural working instinct. While I think this understates Michael’s ability to listen, watch, and learn.

There is no doubt that you need a dog with a natural ability to succeed in the trial ring. Michael demonstrated the other important consideration: a willingness to listen, watch and learn. I find it a real advantage when starting any dog, young or old, to have an experienced dog handler watching. An objective observer will often pick up small things missed by the handler.

I was recently fortunate to obtain Obrien’s Sally, a bitch of around 4 years of age that had spent the past three years working large mobs of weaner cattle on a central Queensland property. Sally had worked with a team of dogs without commands apart from a “go back” and “stop.”

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I have, over the years, worked with quite a few handlers, a large proportion being small area farmers and their older dogs.

There is a vast difference in training a handler to control their dog for basic stock work compared to training a trial dog.

I started Sally by casting her around a small mob of sheep.

I was very pleased with her cast and stop, but she had no concept of directional commands. Sally tended to work a little close, and I decided to give the round yard a miss and work in the paddock to have more space. Like most dog tragics, I have a relatively extensive library of dog training books.

Browsing through them, I found eight different methods, sometimes contradictory, and some confusing on training directional commands. Obviously, each of these methods had proven successful for the book author.

I am a firm believer that there is little right or wrong but rather what works best for you and your dog is best for you and your dog.

The method I have found works best for me is to move in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and have the dog mirror my movements.

I asked Michael to watch as I walked around the paddock in random directions, with Sally holding the sheep to me. Sally tended to work closely, and we weren’t sure how she would adapt to the discipline of precise commands after years of working as part of a pack on her own initiative.

Michael suggested I position the sheep near a trial obstacle to force Sally to break much wider to go around them. I set the sheep up and moved a little to my right, holding my drafting cane out to the right, and gave a sharp whistle. Sally was immediately wide around the obstacle and back to a stop at 12 o’clock. Next, in the opposite direction with the same good result. A couple of repeats and then added a directional command. A couple more repeats and then back to random work around the paddock. e right pup How to select th ng partnership and form a stro

On her second time out, I was able to cast Sally left or right on a command. Sally was handling the discipline of close control well, and I could stop her off balance. Next was the issue of training Sally to the level required to work obstacles. At times like this, I find it helpful to have someone watching your work. Timing is critical, and often what you think you are doing and what you are actually doing may be slightly different. I now worked on pushing her out from the stock as she circled by using a drafting cane and a command, and applying pressure when required with plenty of encouragement.

I was extremely fortunate with Sally to have a dog with good working instincts and a temperament that allowed her to adapt to the high level of control demanded by trial work.

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With time and patience, I hope to have Sally on the trial circuit next year.

The Life of a Western Australian Sheepdog Worker

Article Written by Nick & Glenice Webb and Supplied by Nan Lloyd I grew up in the south of England, amongst Labradors that my father (a keen shot) trained as excellent retrievers.

From him I learnt how important it was to see things from the dog’s point of view. I also learnt how much he respected sheepdog trials and handlers.

At 17 years of age I came to Australia to work on my uncle’s farm, my first introduction to livestock (and a big learning curve). Very soon I found it to be my life’s ambition. Admittedly 1955 was an exceptionally good season. I don’t think I saw another as good until 2005, by which time I had been battling along on my own farm for over 40 years, making all the mistakes that my uncle had warned me about!

After a year with my uncle his son gave me a border collie pup that I named Whip. Whip was farm bred in the Mt Barker district of West Australia and I have never been able to discover anything about his breeding. He developed into an exceptional sheep and cattle dog. I did my best to train him…..but he trained me.

The Australian government was wonderful: they paid my passage out from England and they helped finance me into the farm where I am still living. And although I have grumbled about things like the weather, I managed to pay off my debts to them and expand my holding a little.

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When I moved onto the farm Whip came with me and quickly established a local reputation for his skill with cattle.

He was equally good with sheep but very few people ever saw that. I have had many sheepdogs over the years, but only three that have been so good that I want to boast about them. Whip is the first. I never trialled him but the pleasure I had when he was praised made me consider sheepdog trials.

To see what a trial was about I went with some friends to a State Championship at Northam in (I think) 1965, the judge was Byn Dinning from South Australia. It all seemed possible, and one thing I learned was that a dog must not cross. I met some local trialers and was made very welcome. I have made so many friends in the trial world and have been helped by so many people that I cannot name them all, who would I leave out. My first trial was at Wongan Hills. My first trial dog was useful on the farm but he had no eye and no force….but he also never crossed! He won the State Novice that year, not by skill but by persistence.

So started a life of farming, trialling, breeding and training. Trials are fun but the importance of quiet mustering at home is far greater.

Winning is fun but the pleasure of standing up with a dog that can pen in a thunder storm, or yard cattle in pouring rain is greater. Once in NSW the trial organiser asked a New Zealander and I to muster the next day’s flock from a hill paddock. When we put our dogs out we discovered the paddock to be thickly covered with three cornered jacks (or double gees). Our two dogs completed the job, though desperately lame. I never felt so proud of a trial win as I felt for those dogs.

Much of my trialling has been in SA, Vic and NSW and many of my dogs have come from those states, in particular Glenromian Kinte, a strong, stylish, long haired border bred by Byn Dinning. My priority in breeding has always been to go to breeders that I admire and try to buy a puppy from a litter that they have bred for themselves.

My other champion was Barunga Juan, a red (and white) short haired border bred by Reg Michael from Bill Marshall’s line. Bill was the best trialer that I have known, and the best judge of sheep’s behaviour. Those two dogs took me to New Zealand and Tasmania in Australian teams, to winning a NSW State championship and other wins across the southern states. Juan was remarkable in his ability to quieten sheep, which he showed while very young. Some experts questioned his strength but even when very old he was still my ram dog and he could always make them back. Kinte at nine months of age could muster wild merino weaners that had never seen a dog before.

I was at a Victorian trial with Byn Dinning when a young lady came to visit. He introduced me to her “this is my daughter Glenice” and as he went to work his dog saying “look after her”. And I have. Glenice started training dogs and joined the Stirling Sheepdog club (which I had helped to found around 1970). She started trialling, and travelling the long distances to trials became enjoyable with her companionship.

Our friends came from the trial scene, her dogs became successful and she has had a long history in club and state administration.

Some years ago I was asked to review notes on WA sheepdog history (because I had lived for half of it!).

Glenice and I worked on it together, finding much early and invaluable information on the internet Trove site. A fascinating experience. I don’t know where we are going, but I know where we have come from!

We have both retired from trialling now, but still farm, and with her son David, share the mustering. And our dogs are getting old. On a parting note…. my advice to everyone is “don’t shout at your dog”…. it is a sign of bad training…. and it hurts my throat!!

Nick.

Compared with SA and the eastern states WA had few sheepdog trials so travelling east widened our experience dramatically. When I first tackled the Nullabor it was an adventure….unsealed road (often ungraded), bulldust holes and scarce fuel supplies. (But no Covid!)

As our trialling developed, we in WA were involved in meetings, the formation of our clubs, the writing of rules and a constitution for the WAWSDA. As I travelled east I became part of a small group to organise an all Australian Body, especially with regard to competing with New Zealand and more competition between states…the birth of the Supreme. Gaining consensus wasn’t easy but gave us all opportunities to build respect and friendships.

Nick in New Zealand with Kinte and Juan

Nick being awarded the Phil Slade Perpetual Trophy at Albany for the Top Scoring Dog in the Open Qualifing Round

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NSW Working Stock Dog Association Cattle dog trialling grew from humble beginnings in the small town of Bonalbo, Northern NSW. At the Silver Anniversary Agricultural show in May 1950 the first official cattle dog trial was held in Australia. There were 14 dogs competing with the winner being Bob Taylor with his dog Ginger. The show committee believed that given the importance of dogs in everyday farm work the addition of a dog trial would be good at the show where local cattle producers could showcase the skills of their working dogs. To this day a cattle dog trial has been run every year since.

In the early years the competitor would be on horseback but over the years it has gradually transitioned to the competitor being on foot.

The North Coast Working Dog Association was later formed and is still active today. A Hunter region group was also formed and the 2 groups ran trials in their areas. In 2006 both groups restructured their operations and with support from the New England area formed the NSW Working Stock Dog Association. Since its inception the association has run trials from as far south as Reid’s Flat to Murwillumbah in the north and out west to Coonamble.

There have been some years where upwards of 25 trials have been run along with a State Titles held each year. The Australian Championships is also held in conjunction with the State of Origin trial annually, with NSW and Queensland taking turns to host the event. Trialling is also in Victoria and the first cattle dog trial was held in Western Australia in 2021. We hope to expand the sport to all states of Australia making it truly a national sport.

A good stock dog has always been recognized by farmers for their contribution to the running of a successful livestock enterprise but only recently has their real economic value been realised.

Anybody wanting information or is interested in joining the association don’t hesitate to contact Lew Molloy on 0418664641 or president@nswworkingstockdogs.org.au

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Australian Sheepdog Trials: The Early Years 1868 to 1900

When did the Sheepdogs Arrive?

The development of the wool industry and agricultural societies from the early 1800’s begins the stimulus or catalyst for early sheepdog exhibitions, matches or trials in Australia. The first auction of Australian wool was held at Garraway’s Coffee House in London in 1821. By 1838 sheep had moved into every Australian colony, the annual wool clip was over two million kilos and wool had become Australia’s main export. From the 1820’s to 1860’s, NSW and Victoria being the two most settled colonies were forming respective agricultural societies.

The other colonies were to follow suit fairly quickly. The aim of these early agricultural societies was to further the quality of Australia’s primary production by means of contests and competitions. They were established to raise the standards in animal husbandry and agriculture by annual competitions and education, and to import superior breeding stock from Great Britain.

The first sheepdogs that were imported to Australia in the early 1800’s were a mixture of black and tan long and short haired collies, long haired and short haired black and white collies, Scottish highland collies, blue merle collies and black and white bobtails all from the UK. German sheepdogs were also imported from Saxony with their German shepherds and merino sheep.

There were two types of German sheepdogs imported, one type looking like a tall, saddleback or sable and tan, medium coated Kelpie and the other resembled a koolie or blue merle collie.

In 1812 Captain John Piper was one of the first to import collies to NSW Australia.

Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW: 1871 1912), Saturday 18 August 1900, page 368

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Monday 30 April 1827, page 4 Under the auspices of the Australian Agricultural Company, William Hampden Dutton in 1826 imported German sheepdogs and their shepherds from Saxony to NSW Australia.

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Saturday 25 March 1826, page 2 Some of the early pioneering sheep farmers and agriculturalists, across Australia imported working sheepdogs. So John and Elizabeth Macarthur, Elizabeth Forlong, the Cox family, William Kite, Thomas Jillett, the Archer, Henty and Gibson families all imported sheepdogs to Australia before the 1860’s, either directly or indirectly from friends or business associates, located in the UK or Europe.

South Australia’s early settlement was heavily influenced by English settlers, and sheepdogs were imported into the colony as least as early as 1837 and possibly before this date. Raphael Clint a surveyor from Sydney was organising a land surveying expedition and willing to move stock into the colony on behalf of the South Australian Commissioners located in Sydney. He mentions the need to be funded with 10 000 pounds for the hire of 18 to 23 free labourers, to move 2000 young ewes in lamb and three hundred mixed herd of bulls, cows heifers, bullocks and steers.

To assist them thirty horses, mares and geldings, with foals and fillies and twenty four true-bred sheepdogs were needed. (See The Australian Tuesday 12 September 1837, page 6) By 1838 and 1839 CW Stuart was hiring shepherds to move thousands of Tasmanian bred sheep with dogs, into South Australia via ship at Glenelg. (See South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, Saturday 29 December 1838, page? and Southern Australian, Wednesday 20 March 1839, page 4) Early explorer John Ainsworth Horrocks arrived in Adelaide on 22 March 1839 from Lancashire with 4 Merino rams and sheepdogs. (See The South Australian Advertiser, Tuesday 29 May 1888, p.6)

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The first early trials in South Australia were a mixture of field and arena trials and there was a gradual evolution in the style of the trials and a move away from field to arena, with some field trials still remaining popular.

South Australia in the early days was heavily influenced by trials already being held in Victoria, but was also impressed with the bigger more well organised field trial events that became popular in the UK. In the early days, trials were sometimes called sheepdog matches instead of trials.

These informal matches originally started with local farmers wanting to prove that their dog was better than their close neighbours’ dog and then they became more formalised for larger, spectator crowds.

In Tasmania sheepdogs were arriving form the UK in the 1830’s and some were departing to the mainland in the 1860’s. On 8 November 1836 we know that 11 Scottish shepherds left the highlands in Lochaber with collie dogs bound for Tasmania.

When they arrived in Tasmania is uncertain but we can assume it was sometime in 1837.

The Queenslander, Saturday 28 October 1882, page 597, 598 The Hobart Town Courier (Tas: 1827 - 1839), Friday 11 November 1836, page 4

For WA we know that there were imports of sheepdogs in the 1830’s but whether there were any there before this date is very difficult to ascertain. As flocks of sheep increased, so did the sheepdogs. It’s mentioned in the 1880’s for the need to have WA sheepdog trials, however their first trial wasn’t held until 1893.

Launceston Advertiser (Tas. : 1829 - 1846), Thursday 28 March 1839, page 3 In Tasmania in early October 1854 a number of Scotch sheepdogs arrived from Great Britain on board the Derwent. (The Cornwall Chronicle, Saturday 14 October 1854, page 3) In 1866 Thomas Jillett the well-known Tasmanian racehorse owner exported 13 sheepdogs to the mainland, so there was no shortage of sheepdogs down there in the 1860’s. (The Mercury, Wednesday 15 August 1866, page 2.)

The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 1847), Saturday 28 November 1835, page 60 In 1887 there is mention in the WA Agricultural Society committee meeting notes of the need to hold a sheepdog trial

The first Tasmanian trial was held on Wednesday Oct 19, 1881 at the Hobart Showground, New Town. (Launceston Examiner, Thursday 20 October 1881,page 2.)

Qld pastoralists had acquired some good sheepdogs by the 1880’s, mostly of Scotch collie origins, which could have meant dogs from old short-haired and long haired lines which were a mixture of border and highland sheepdogs

The Inquirer and Commercial News, Wednesday 9 November 1887, page

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A & Q Training

Feel with Mick Hudson

What is Feel?

I like to keep things simple when educating dogs or referring to terminologies. The best dogs I have owned have had very good feel on the livestock. Feel is when a dog reads the correct distance to be working each lot of livestock and be able to maintain calmness in the livestock.

For example, very wild livestock that may have been poorly handled or never seen a dog, the dog would read the stock and may be working 40 metres away from them to control them and keep them calm. The next mob the livestock may be educated and allow the dog to keep them calm from 5 metres away.

Dogs with good feel know when to pull up and find the right distance to work each individual lot of stock. I’ve found some eye is generally associated to feel. Very busy dogs usually have very little feel. Smart dogs, experienced dogs and educated dogs show the best feel. I like to see dogs naturally have feel and I look for this when starting a pup. When training or educating, it is much easier if the working dog has as many natural traits as can possibly be bred.

Can Feel be taught?

Feel can be taught but it is a process and never as good as a natural dog. Poorly bred dogs can be taught feel, but often a dog will revert to their genetics if not being told when to stop or where the right position is so as not to upset or alarm the livestock it is working.

How can you improve Feel?

The way I improve feel in a dog is by stopping the dog as soon as the livestock show the slightest movement when being worked. That means if the dog is moving slowly toward the sheep and a sheep turns its head or takes a step away from the dog, I stop the dog and allow the sheep to walk off the dog.

With repetition, time and patience, dogs can be taught to feel their stock, however, I would rather see the dog bred with some natural ability in this field as it makes the job of educating dogs much easier. The more natural ability you can breed into any working dog, the quicker and easier they are to educate.

Overall, a dog must work at a consistent distance on each individual mob of livestock to keep them calm and this will vary on each lot of livestock ie some are happy with the dog at 5 metres and some are happy at 20 metres distance. Example – when a dog is travelling around stock and he starts at 10 metres, he must still be at 10 metres when he gets to the front of the livestock.

Happy training, trialling and farm work with your dogs.

Regards Mick Hudson, Hypro Ambassador

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Mick Hudson musters cattle, sheep and feral goats on his properties with his dogs & also competes in 3 sheep trials with this same team to showcase his stockman skills and the ability of his well-educated dogs.

He has been very successful winning many trials, including National, Commonwealth, State and Supreme Australian Championships.

Mick has also won multiple NSW Handler of the Year and Dog of the Year accolades as well as representing Australia against New Zealand in the Trans-Tasman test series.

Please see his website for information about his clinics and contact details.

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NEW ION T OCIA ASS

THE WORKING CATTLE DOG ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC

Many thanks to our patron Tony McCallum

A NEW association to develop, preserve and promote the unique capabilities of the Australian Cattle Dog and the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, through a database, training and trialling.

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The quality of the metal gives it a very pleasant weight in the mouth.

It is an easy to use whistle and with practice, is capable of generating a very wide range of tones - very soft, light sounds right up to crisp, sharp tones with extremely high volume when it is needed. Consistent sounds, without distortion.

The one-hole Logan 304 performs especially well over open flat ground and across long distance without losing its soft tones for close work.

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- Concept and Artwork by Nathalie Grimmer -

Riverside Working Dogs

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r a t S Rising Aoidh Doyle

“Don’t give up, you’ve gotta start somewhere”

O

riginally from Wexford, Ireland, Aoidh Doyle has been living and working in rural Australia for the last 11 years. After finishing school, he planned a trip to Australia for a four-week summer holiday, fell in love with a young lady, the land, and started creating a new home much to his parents’ dismay. Aoidh had intended to attend university to study teaching when he returned home, but his plans changed rapidly. After deciding to stay in Australia, he initially found himself a job as a roustabout for a few years before spending part of the 2012 season in the Northern Territory working for Consolidated Pastoral Company. At the end of 2012, Aoidh returned home to his base in New South Wales for the shearing season to earn some money.

Spending 6 years shearing, Aoidh loved the travel that the industry provided for him. Based mostly in the Wagga Wagga and Albury area, he spent a lot of time around the state border where a friend managed to get him a stand at Fox Pastoral near Bonnie Doon, Victoria.

Whilst there, Aoidh found himself quite smitten with not only the land around him but also a barista at the local coffee shop, Darcy, who later became his partner and the mother of his two children AJ and Heidi.

During the colder months, when there was not much shearing work available, Aoidh would work for Fox Pastoral fixing fences and doing other jobs around the property. When his partner, Darcy fell pregnant, the owner offered him a farmhand role on the property which allowed for his growing family to settle down. After working on the property for four years, Aoidh became the manager running 1,400 Angus Cattle and 25,000 sheep over 12,000 acres.

When first starting out on the property, Aoidh was without a dog. Darcy talked her father into giving Aoidh a start with his first dog, Cash. Having a special bond from the start, Cash has made his life at work ten times easier and was the dog that gave Aoidh his passion for trialling.

Aoidh had played with dogs whilst in Ireland when he had worked with a shearing contractor in the school holidays.

In his time there, he remembers they used trailers rather than yards or shearing sheds and that he would pen up the trailer with his boss’ border collies (there are few kelpies in Ireland).

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Article by Laura McKillop | Photos by Naomi J White

These days, Aoidh has a full team of kelpies, taking 10 dogs ranging from 8 months to 4 years with him every day. Having worked under Tim Cavill at Fox Pastoral, he and his father Rod were very influential in the early stages of Aoidh’s training with working dogs. They still spend time training and throwing ideas back and forth between each other. Tim pushed Aoidh to get into trialling and was with him at his first couple of events.

Aoidh has been competing in trials for three years now and has had some great success. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing in the beginning and he jokes about being disqualified at his first trial. This didn’t phase him though, it just made him want to push on and to try harder. After asking Aoidh about his preferred type of trialling, he couldn’t answer, saying he loves them all. This has led to him and his good friend Campbell Smedley organising the Inaugural Cobber Supreme Stock Dog Challenge to be held at Manfield Showground over the 12 – 13th March 2022. Not taking holidays often, Aoidh, Darcy and their kids packed up for four weeks to travel to the 2021 NSW State Utility at Eugowra, the National Kelpie Field Trial in Queensland, the Australian Yard and Cattle Dog Championships at Armidale and then the NSW State Yard Dog Championships at Wagga Wagga. Over the four weeks, Aoidh had great success with Wisper Snip and Wisper Elvis – both Snip and Elvis are from the first litter that Aoidh bred. Wisper Snip finished up third in the Novice at the NKFT, won the Featured Maiden Cattle Dog and placed third in the Novice at Armidale. Wisper Elvis also placed second in the Australian Novice yard. Aoidh was one of the Victorian competitors taking part in the Cattle State of Origin whilst at Armidale and laughed about how they, “had the Queensland and New South Wales teams pretty nervous there at one stage”. Darcy also got to run her dog Snip in the Encourage at Wagga Wagga, winning second place.

Although having a pretty competitive nature, trialling for Aoidh is about having a great time with mates, meeting new people and of course, talking about dogs. He really enjoys travelling up to the New South Wales trials saying, “you never know who is going to win on the day as there are so many competitors and the standard of competition is so good”. Aoidh’s advice to someone starting out is, “to just give it a go! If your first trial doesn’t go to plan, you’ve just got to turn up next time and try that bit harder”.

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DEHYDRATION AND ELECTROLYTES for Working Dogs

Article Provided by Sharne Haskins - Animal Nutritionist for

A technical note from the Team at Ranvet We all know how good a glass of water is after hard work, and the same goes for our canine companions! However, unlike humans who can sweat, dogs thermoregulate through panting. This action involves moisture loss through the tongue and mouth, at a volume that increases with the length and difficulty of their exercise or working activities.

Especially in working dogs, the risk of developing dehydration is increased, due to the nature of their exercise. In the below article we highlight diagnostics of dehydration and how electrolyte supplementation can be an effective tool in preventing its development.

Dehydration in Dogs

Signs of Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when body fluid loss is greater than fluid intake. It consequently shifts the balance of Sodium (causing Hypernatremia), Potassium (causing Hypokalemia) and Chloride. Body fluid loss is natural and occurs daily. Dehydration however can most commonly occur as a result of 3 activities:

Preliminary signs of dehydration may be behavioural, such as a decrease in general alertness and lethargic actions. Both urination frequency and colour can be used as a hydration observation. In a healthy, hydrated dog, urine should be a clear, light to medium yellow colour, and frequency should be regular throughout the day. In a dehydrated dog, this colour darkens, shifting toward brown shades, and frequency is significantly reduced.

•

Panting

•

Diarrhea

•

Vomiting

An excessive degree of a single or combination of these activities can onset dehydration, with physical diagnostic signs visible from the stage of 5% body water loss.

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As a dog owner, you can check for dehydration using two quick and practicable methods.

1. GUM TEST A gum test uses the capillary refill time as a tool for measuring hydration. It is performed by gently placing pressure with your thumb or forefinger, onto the dog’s gum.

The area with pressure will turn pale. Upon release, the colour should return to a bright pink within 2 seconds, indicating a well-hydrated animal. When making observations in the mouth, you can also observe the texture of the gums and tongue. A dry or sticky feel can indicate a lack of moisture, and consequently a potential of developing dehydration. It is important however to note that performing this observation immediately after strenuous work may provide a misleading result, as a natural moisture decline occurs as a result of exertion.

2. SKIN TEST For young to middle-aged dogs, the skin has a strong, natural elasticity. This can be used to observe hydration via a pinch test. Using your thumb and forefinger, gently pinch and lift a section of skin, at the back of the neck or along the back, creating a tent. Upon release, the skin should return flat immediately for a wellhydrated dog. If the skin remains pinched or takes several seconds to return flat, the dogs’ moisture levels are low, and a degree of dehydration may be present. Completing a test when you know your dog is well hydrated, can provide you with a baseline measurement.

Consequences of Dehydration

In less severe cases, a loss of appetite and muscle fatigue can occur. Depending on the degree of severity, consequences can be short term or long term in nature, exemplifying the importance of responding quickly to the early signs.

Electrolytes and Dehydration Prevention The first and foremost way to reduce the chances of developing dehydration is by providing cool, clean water, ad libitum. Allowing dogs to drink frequently will help re-moisten their nose and mouth, particularly after panting.

Providing an oral electrolyte has also been shown to reduce the risk of dehydration cases by encouraging increased fluid intake and replenishing lost nutrients. Research has shown that fluid consumption in working police and military search dogs, was significantly influenced by the hydration strategy. The provision of electrolytes showed to more than double water consumption when compared to dogs provided only with plain water. A premium grade electrolyte will also provide replenishment of key vitamins and minerals, including Sodium, Potassium, Chloride and B Group Vitamins, which are lost via excretion of body fluids. Each of these nutrients play vital roles in cell, nerve and body function, making their supplementation beneficial to the overall health of the dog, reducing muscle fatigue and encouraging peak performance.

Failure to recognise and treat dehydration, particularly in severe cases, can induce further health issues including seizures and loss of consciousness. A decrease in blood pressure, reducing the ability of blood to carry oxygen, has been reported to occur in severe dehydration cases, and can further worsen into life-threatening shock.

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What is a Shepherd’s Crook and how should I use it?

A crook, staff or stick has traditionally been a shepherd’s multi-purpose tool since man first herded sheep. It is basically a long and sturdy stick with a hook at one end. It has been said that the only tools needed are a good whistle and a crook.

Years ago very few shepherds ever had money to buy a crook, so for many the only option was to make their own. In those days a shepherd’s crook was more than a tool of trade; it was a symbol of their status and made a statement about who they were.

Today there are various types available from the readily available plastic options, lightweight aluminium, right up to beautifully crafted, carved timber and horn masterpieces.

A crook has many uses - It’s a support for walking over rough country when mustering; a means of catching ewes and lambs around the neck or legs, a defence weapon against predators and today it is becoming a common training aid when used as an arm extension.

When being used as a training aide, it is important to note it is certainly not a weapon but instead an extension of the arm, used as a barrier or wall to transfer pressure for the dog to move off or not move into. The higher the crook is held the more pressure the dog feels, therefore it is important to hold the crook still and low when not in use.

Examples of training scenarios •

•

When training a young pup to walk beside or behind you a crook can be carried to be held or waved slowly in front of the dog, acting as a barrier or wall, encouraging the dog to slow down, and come back into the required position. This can be started with the dog on a lead and then with time as the dog masters being in the required position the lead removed.

Teaching a young dog to balance in a small yard or round yard a crook can be used as a barrier/pressure together with correct body positioning to change direction or if the crook is pointed toward the rib of the dog, this pressure is enough to create an arc and move the dog out wider from the sheep. We often see a plastic rake used in this scenario.

•

When training a dog to follow/drive its sheep and stay within the required ‘V’ like area, the handler can walk backwards in front of the sheep holding a crook in each hand. If the dog tries to leave the ‘V’ the crook can be held out, acting as a barrier putting pressure on the dog to return to the required position.

•

When encouraging the dog to keep some distance off sheep a crook can be tossed into the air to grab the dog’s attention. Not thrown at the dog, but instead into the air in front of the dog. Often the dog will stop or at least slow to look up at the crook, giving relief and distance off the sheep. Reward the dog and encourage him to remain in the position he has just been shown.

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Proposed New Legislation for Dog & Cat Breeders and Associated Welfare Legislation in NSW Article by Peter Brown - Serrano Border Collies NSW DPI have been releasing Consultation Papers on Licensing and regulation of cat and dog breeders and are now calling for submissions on their latest release (second edition). By the time the AWSD magazine goes to print it will be past closing date for submissions but a summary of the first round of submissions may well give a reasonable idea of where working dog owners/breeders may sit once the Acts and Regulations are finalised.

Currently the legislation gives working dogs exemption from many of the obligations placed upon other dog breeders. This includes an exemption from registration with Local Council and micro chipping provided the dog(s) is kept for the purpose of herding stock.

Interestingly some Local Councils do not believe there is an exemption.

It has been published in the discussion paper (second edition) that; “Breeders of working dogs have raised that this form of dog breeding is significantly different in character to breeding dogs as a companion animal. These stakeholders have suggested that both the powers enabling proactive compliance and the content of the BREEDING CODE are not fit-for-purpose in this context. As a result, these stakeholders have suggested that the current approach to defining an EXEMPT BREEDER should be revisited,

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with a new approach developed to exclude breeders of livestock working dogs from the requirements of the BREEDING CODE.” Currently the question that is asked to all respondents about an exemption for working dog breeders is; Do you think that working dog breeders should also be considered an EXEMPT BREEDER, meaning they are not required to hold a licence or comply with the breeding code?

It also seems that the committee(s) that are preparing the changes to legislation are struggling to define what makes up an EXEMPT BREEDER. The existing BREEDING CODE introduced 2009, and revised 2021, states that those breeders that operate a business in the course of which dogs and cats are bred for a fee or reward are required to comply with the BREEDING CODE and are subject to associated proactive compliance checks. Owners of dogs that have a once-off accidental litter are defined as an EXEMPT BREEDER. The NSW Government made changes to PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT by introducing an amendment in 2021. The changes introduced new enforcement tools and increased penalties to enable compliance action to be taken against breeders who were failing to take care of their animals, puppy farmers primarily. I have been able to clarify an EXEMPT dog

under the existing legislation as “dogs and cats including greyhounds already registered under the GREYHOUND RACING ACT 2017; dogs that are ordinarily used on official duty by Police Officers; Correctional Officers or Commonwealth Officers; working dogs ordinarily kept on land categorised as farmland. It seems the problem of breeding companion dogs was not satisfactorily resolved and recent demand for companion animals during Covid restrictions has exacerbated the problem. The review also ties into reviews of many other Acts and accompanying Regulations regarding many types of animals.

•

There has been three definitions of a dog breeder put forward.

A couple of things that we all need to know and adhere to as set out in legislation are our responsibilities under the PROTECTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT. Briefly some of those issues that are offences are failing to;

The potential approach in the current document is a method of determining the method to be applied to allow categorisation of each breeder, what their responsibilities will be under the BREEDING CODE and fees that may apply.

These are the proposed criteria to determine if a person is an EXEMPT BREEDER or indeed a LARGE BREEDER. • • •

Number of entire females (adult animals) held by the breeding operation. This seems to be the preferred method.

Number of litters produced/number of animals sold by the breeder each year.

Level of income or other reward received from breeding dogs and cats.

So the Question that respondents have to answer relevant to determining an EXEMPT BREEDER is; •

At what threshold (e.g. fewer than a certain number of breeding animals), should a dog or cat breeder be considered an EXEMPT BREEDER, meaning they are not required to hold a licence or comply with the BREEDING CODE?

At what threshold (e.g. more than a certain number of breeding animals) should a dog breeder be considered a LARGE BREEDER, meaning they must hold a licence and comply with the BREEDING CODE?

There were 6,000 respondents to the first consultation paper, and I hope the working dog community was well represented and the current exemption will remain.

Reading some of the responses it would seem a lot of those responding may have been city dwellers, animal activist groups etc

• • •

provide proper and sufficient food, drink or shelter to provide necessary veterinary treatment failure to exercise confined animals

NSW ANIMAL WELFARE CODE OF PRACTICE: BREEDING DOGS and CATS • • •

minimum age at which a dog can be used for breeding how frequently animals can bred what vaccinations are required

Also make yourself aware that in all animal welfare legislation that the word PAIN has been replaced by HARM and it now has a broad meaning and applies to many animals not necessarily domestic animal only.

Further information on all the animal welfare proposals can be found on the NSW DPI website. You can elect to receive regular updates from this site as well.

Scan code to see more

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You are invited to attend the

79th National Sheep Dog Trial Championships

14 - 20 March 2022

This year we will be celebrating over 150 years of sheepdog trialling history in Australia.

Proudly sponsored by:

To be held at Hall Village Showground, Hall ACT 2618 Enquiries to: natsheepdogtrials@gmail.com

www.nationalsheepdogtrials.org

& Q g n i n i a Tr Casting with Jamie

Why is cast important?

Before asking why cast is important, I think it is necessary to remind ourselves why we have working dogs in the first place? There are two primary reasons why I have working dogs. The first, is as a genuine time saving device. My dogs allow me to get my livestock jobs done more efficiently, reliably, and ideally more profitably, than I would be able to without them. The second reason, which is more specific, is to gather my livestock together, and take them from point A to point B. Examples of this might include – from one paddock to another, from the paddock into a lane way or cooler, from the lane way or cooler into the yards, the list goes on. With these reasons in mind, the importance of a dog being able to cast becomes more obvious – If I can’t send my working dog out to gather livestock together, and either bring them back to me, or move them in a direction I want them to go, I have to go out there and do it myself. Which defeats the point of having a working dog in the first place!

What is a cast?

Before progressing any further, I think it is important to define what ‘cast’, or ‘outrun’ as the rest of the world call it, actually is? This answer is going to be slightly different for everybody. Most would agree with the loose definition that cast is being able to send your dog around livestock and have the dog either bring them back to you, or take them in a direction that you ask. It is the finer details of cast that become open for interpretation.

Some handlers ask their dogs to run out great distances to gather hundreds, if not thousands of livestock, often across challenging terrain or timber, and expect their dogs to do this with little to no command. Others are overjoyed if they can send their dog 50 metres, without the dog running through the middle of the stock, chasing them away or pulling one down! This is where the variances start to come up for debate. How far is a good cast? What shape should the cast be? How much command should it require?

Here are some (honest) guidelines for what I think is a decent casting dog – I like a trained dog to be able to cast at least 500 metres or so, as a minimum. The upper end is up for debate, as who knows how far away that dog really is? I would say up to a kilometre, is a very good casting dog. I personally don’t have much requirement to work a dog from further than this for a couple of reasons. Almost all my work is cattle work, and it takes a very good dog to gather and bring cattle reliably from this sort of distance.

I prefer to keep my dogs within whistling distance (for control), and to have a rough idea where the dogs and stock are. As good as it is to have an independent dog that works reliably out of sight, I can’t afford to leave stock in a paddock because the dog missed a few. Plenty of readers may have expectations much lower and much higher than this.

The shape and width of a cast is another topic that could be an article on its own. Most would agree that a good cast is a nice ‘pear shape’ (an upside-down pear), that is not too tight and not too wide. What defines too tight or too wide? This is also open to opinion, but I believe is best defined by the result. If the stock run away, or sideways, or scatter, the dog was likely too tight. If the dog disappears into the horizon, doesn’t come back for an hour, and you end up having to gather the stock yourself while you wait for your dog to come back, chances are the dog was too wide!

Jamie Sturrock is a career stockman, with experience in cattle, sheep and goats. He has bred, trained and used working stock dogs for his entire career. Jamie manages a commercial cattle breeding and backgrounding operation, and uses his dogs daily. On weekends he conducts working dog training schools. Jamie enjoys competing in cattle and sheep dog trials, with the same dogs he takes to work every day. He has won many stock dog competitions, and is a two-time winner of the Australian Working Cattle Dog of the Year.

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A -

Sturrock

Ideally, I’d like to see a dog run out on a good trajectory, looking for stock as they go, not upsetting the stock on the way out, covering all the stock, calmly putting them together, and bringing them back to you, all with little to no command. Easy right?

How much natural cast do you want in a dog?

I think I will need to live two lifetimes to breed or find a line of dogs with the right amount of natural cast.

I have had numerous dogs that cast very effectively, some requiring more training than others. Most dogs generally fit into two categories – the first are tighter, straighter running dogs that take plenty of training and encouragement to run out at distance but can become great out runners eventually. These dogs often make better cattle dogs in my opinion. The second type are dogs that naturally run wide, are easy to teach to cast, often looking very impressive from a young age. These dogs quite often can lack a bit of contact once they get to the stock.

It may seem counterintuitive to some, but when it comes to casting ability, I will take a tighter, pushy, straight running dog over a naturally wide running dog that lacks contact any day of the week. I think the only thing worse than a dog that runs too tight, is a dog that runs too wide. Put another way, if I must intervene in a dog’s cast with command, I would rather be asking it to ‘bend out’ than ‘pull in’. I think there is no greater failure in dog handling than sending a dog out to stock on a ‘glorious’ outrun, and it can’t lift the stock and get them moving when it gets there. This results in you (after begging and pleading for the dog to lift the stock) having to go out there and get the stock yourself, which again defeats the purpose of having a working dog in the first place. I’m not saying this hasn’t happened to me before, because it has! I will never forget a quote I heard in an interview with Aled Owen a couple of years ago, which originally came from JM Wilson – ‘You can teach a dog to run out, but you can’t teach a dog to be powerful.’ Truer words have never been spoken.

How do you train cast?

Casting isn’t just something you can teach, then cross off the list. There are a lot of small increments built over a long period of time when it comes to teaching a dog to cast, hence the length of this article!

The foundation of casting begins indirectly in the very early stages of starting a pup on stock.

By this I mean, it is important that the dog is ‘correct’ on the other side of the livestock from as early as possible.

The first three things I work on with a young pup on stock are instinct, addiction, and balance. I don’t worry about anything else until these things are going well.

It is very important to keep in mind, that every time you send your pup around to balance, that is a small outrun.

If this is repeatedly untidy in the early stages, you are setting up an undesirable habit for the future. If the dog is too tight and upsets the stock when they are on balance, you need to use pressure and release to encourage the dog to work squarer, wider and cleaner. If the dog is instinctively too wide and lacking contact with the stock, you will need to encourage them to work a little closer and keep some contact with the stock. Both issues will be amplified at distance if they are not corrected while working close at hand. If the dog has faults in a 15-metre round yard, almost guaranteed these faults will be worse when they’re 500 metres away.

The transition to formally starting to teach the cast is a good stop. This is for a couple of reasons. You need to be able to stop your dog and keep him there, while you set yourself and your livestock up for success. If you can’t do this, you need to go back and work on your stop before progressing. The second reason is, if you send the dog, and the trajectory or shape of your cast is wrong, you can reliably stop your dog, reset, and try again. It is pointless trying to progress with formal casting if you can’t stop your dog reliably.

I wouldn’t know a dog handler that can’t picture this situation – handler sends the dog, the dog runs straight and tight, the handler repeatedly yells at the dog to ‘get out’ or ‘keep out’ or the equivalent, the dog makes no adjustment to their trajectory, if not running straighter and tighter the more the handler yells! This is a very common challenge, resulting in dogs that get very consistent at running tight and straight. This teaches the dog that ‘get out’ or ‘keep out’ actually means ‘run as straight and as tight as you like!’ This is often a result of trying to cast a dog too far, too early. The dog gets a win at the top because the handler is too far away to correct anything, and an undesirable habit forms.

I like to build the cast in small increments, I really don’t mind how long it takes as long as we are progressing and repeating good form with no undesirable habits. I often let my dogs drag a 5m long lead up to 10-12 months old.

When I take my dogs to stock in the intermediate stages, I will always lead the dog beside me on the side I want the dog to run out. This is setting up for the future when I want to cast my dog ‘blind’ for stock they can’t see. I use that as part of the line of communication to tell my dog where the stock are, and the direction I want him to go.

As I take my dog to the stock on the lead, I will be asking

them just a couple of times to ‘watch him’. This just gets the dog used to looking for stock as we are preparing to send them. I will stop the dog at a distance I think we can achieve a decent outrun. That may be as little as 20m in the very early stages. I will go three quarters of the way to the stock, step to one side to make it clear which side I want the dog to run, I will use my arm (or arm extension) and some encouragement to start the dog on its outrun. It is very important to me that the dog leaves square, not straight at the stock. If the dog isn’t square, or at least makes an honest attempt, I will either pressure him to square out, and let him continue if he does, or I’ll stop him, pressure him, then ask him again. It is crucial that the dog makes an attempt here, and that you reward the slightest try. If he runs too tight and you reward that by letting him have the stock, you will be enabling the undesirable example we outlined earlier. If the dog’s outrun is nice, let him bring the stock for a second or two as a reward, then stop him, call him off, and set up again from the opposite direction. Repeat on both sides, and consistency is key. This is an excellent exercise, as it is working on several things at once – the stop and stay, square departures, a nice shaped outrun (regardless of how small the distance), a controlled lift, working stop, and your call off. You can get a lot of repetition done on all these skills in a 10–15-minute session.

This process is repeated exactly the same as you progress from the arena or cooler, to a small paddock, to a bigger paddock, to a real work situation. The only thing that changes is you increase the distance you send your dog, and decrease the distance you go to the livestock, with the goal of being able to reliable send the dog from your feet. One success tip I will share, is that as you progress to casting your dog several hundred metres or beyond, it gets more difficult to get out there and correct the dog if necessary. This can result in a LOT of leg work for the handler. I don’t know anyone who can outrun a good working Border Collie or Kelpie! This is why a good stop is essential. If the dog’s outrun is wrong and you want to correct it, just stop the dog, and reposition yourself to try again. If you are trying to run out 500 metres plus, use your four-wheeler, buggy, or horseback to cover the ground easier. Don’t scare the daylights out of the dog, just stop the dog, and make your way to where you need to be casually. Success depends on the dog never being let get away with running through the stop, or the ‘bend out’ or ‘pull in’ commands. A quicker mode of transport will ensure this never happens, as the dog soon learns they can’t beat you, regardless of distance.

The final goal is that you can send your dog any distance from your feet, whether they can see the stock or not.

Ideally, the dog will run out and find and bring the stock without command, but if you need to, you can bend the dog out or pull him in on the run. Good luck!

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Colouring Competition - March 2022 Name

Area & State

Contact Number & Email

Age

Anyone under the age of 16 years old are able welcome to colour in the picture and send it in before 1st May 2022 for the chance to win a prize and be featured in Kelly’s Kennel! There is no need to damage your magazine, you can print this picture from www.stockdogs.com.au/pages/kellys-kennel Submit your entry to Colouring Competition, AWSDM, PO BOX 3003, Grose Vale NSW 2753

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Kelly’s Kennel December 2021 Colouring Competition Winner

Sienna Kammholz How old are you?

6.

Who is your favourite dog?

Middlecreek Dash.

What is one thing you can’t live without?

My family.

What is your favourite colour?

Purple.

What is your favourite food?

Strawberries.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A teacher.

Kid’s Cooking Corner

Vanilla s f f u P m a e r C Prep: 15mins | Cook: 10mins | Makes: 16

INGREDIENTS - 100g Cottee’s instant Vanilla pudding mix - 300ml milk - 1/2 cup caster sugar - 1/4 tsp vanilla essence - 300ml thickend cream - 2 sheets puff pastry thawed - 3 tbs icing sugar for dusting METHOD 1. Grease 2 baking trays. Preheat oven to 180C (160 fan-forced).

2. Add first 5 ingredients to a mixing bowl. With electric mixer on low speed, mix ingredients for approximately 2 minutes until combined well.

3. Beat for a further 3 - 6 minutes until a thick cream consistency is reached and peaks have formed.

Stand for 10 minutes.

4. Cut puff pastry sheets into 16 square each, then place on backing trays approx. 1/2cm apart.

5. Bake for 10 minutes or until slightly golden. Cool for 3 minutes 6. Cut puffs horizontally through the middle of each puff, then add a pastry lid to the top 7. Cover with foil and refrigerate 8. Just before serving, dust with sifted icing sugar.

Controlling Lice in Sheep

Article by Dr Kathryn Humphries, Senior Brand Manager – Sheep Elanco

Background Sheep lice cost the Australian sheep and wool industry more than $71 million in treatment costs and lost wool production each year.1 Economic losses include reduced wool value from cotted fleeces, decreased fibre length, fleece weight, staple strength, style, and colour.

Lice infestations cause intense irritation, with sheep frequently biting themselves or rubbing against trees and fences leading to fleece derangement, cotted or broken fibres. This intense itching usually occurs early in the infestation process until the animal becomes used to the parasite.

Lousy wool often has a yellow colour and a distinctive smell caused by skin secretions. The sheep’s natural immune response to lice may cause thickening of the skin and pelt damage (e.g. cockle). Other causes of fleece derangement include itch mite (Psoregates ovis), dermatophilus, fleece rot and grass seeds.

The body louse spends its entire lifecycle on the host animal, meaning that infestations are mostly spread via direct contact. Adult females lay their eggs on wool fibres within 12 mm of the skin. Eggs require a temperature of 35–39°C and a relative humidity of 50–70 per cent for optimal development. Eggs take 8–10 days to hatch before progressing through three nymphal stages over 21 days. Mature females lay about two eggs every three days and lay an average of 30 eggs during their lifetime.

Always read and follow the label directions. Good agricultural practice is essential for optimal lice control.

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Off-shears control options Shearing significantly reduces the size of the lice population by physical removal and subsequent exposure to the elements. This makes immediately after shearing an ideal time for sheep and wool producers to apply a pour-on ‘backline’ treatment to control lice infestations.

•

Short wool control options Dipping short wool sheep is a cost-effective alternative to pour-on treatments. Saturation dipping with either a plunge or cage dip is acknowledged as the most effective method of lice control. Complete saturation of the sheep with diluted chemical ensures contact between the target pest with the active ingredient.

Importance of Chemical Rotation Parasite resistance may develop to any chemical if it is used continuously.

Long wool control options Despite the best care and attention, lice infestations in long wool can occur and have a severe economic impact. A long wool lice treatment may be necessary to reduce lice numbers and minimise fleece derangement until the next shearing.

•

•

The following guidelines will help to ensure sheep and wool producers continue to have access to a range of effective lice control options:

• •

Management considerations for managing lice • • • • •

Treat all sheep on the property at the same time.

Avoid split shearing.

Muster each paddock thoroughly to ensure all sheep are treated. Conduct a second muster if necessary.

Do not mix treated sheep with lousy sheep or those of unknown lice status.

Check boundary fences to prevent untreated or lice-infested sheep from joining treated mobs.

Quarantine all purchased (e.g. rams, replacement ewes) or returning sheep (e.g. coming back from agistment) until you are sure they are lice-free. If lice are suspected, shear and treat with an effective off-shears backliner or short wool saturation dip.

Sheep that require treatment with a long wool lousicide should be re-treated with an off-shears lousicide at the next shearing.

Follow biosecurity guidelines when entering sheep properties to ensure no inadvertent spread of lice e.g. lice can be spread via shearer’s moccasins.

• •

All lice treatments should be applied as part of an integrated pest management program (visit www.liceboss.com.au).

Avoid the consecutive use of lousicides with the same mode of action.[2] If consecutive use of the same chemical group is required, careful attention should be paid to achieving eradication after treatment to help prevent the establishment of a resistant lice population.

Rotation between products with different modes of action may prolong the effective life of all available treatments.

Do not use the same mode of action for lice control and flystrike prevention during the same season.2

Trusted solutions and advice from Elanco Elanco is an industry leader in sheep lice solutions with a product range including ExtinosadTM PourOn, ViperTM Pour-On, PiranhaTM and Extinosad Eliminator coupled with benchmark technical support and customer service.

For any information or technical advice on managing sheep lice, contact Elanco Customer Service 1800 226 324 or email ANZCustomerAdviceLine@elancoah.com References: [1]. B.AHE.0010. (2015). Final Report: Priority list of endemic diseases for the red meat industries, Meat and Livestock Australia.

[2] James, P. (2013). Preventing resistance in sheep lice, www.liceboss.com.au (AWI, Sheep CRC).

ExtinosadTM Pour-On contains 20 g/L spinosad. Viper contains 10 g/L thiacloprid. Piranha contains 480 g/L thiacloprid. Extinosad Eliminator contains 25 g/L spinosad. ExtinosadTM, PiranhaTM, ViperTM, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. ©2022 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-AU-22-0018. EAH22010.

COMING EVENTS We have included a summary of the events that we prior to the printing of this issue.

3 Sheep Events Australian Capital Territory 14 - 20 MARCH

National Sheepdog Trials 2022 Hall Showgrounds, Hall Sarah Sydrych natsheepdogtrials@gmail.com

New South Wales 22 - 26 MARCH

7 - 10 APRIL

6 - 8 MAY

9 - 13 JUNE 11- 14 AUGUST

Victoria

12 - 13 MARCH

17 - 19 MARCH 25 - 27 MARCH

12 - 15 MAY

NSW DOGPRO State Championship Dr Ross Memorial Rec. Ground, Molong Janelle Fessey - 0418 637 641 Sydney 3 Sheep Championship Hawkesbury Showground, Clarendon Alison Burrell - 0423 049 848 AUS. Sheepdog Workers Association Patron’s Trial Bungendore Showground, Bungendore Paul Darmody - 0412 347 753 Finley Sheepdog Trial Finley Showground, Finley David Webb - 0429 806 163 Eumungerie Supreme Sheepdog Trial Eumungerie Showground, Eumungerie Mick Hudson - 0427 040 188 Supreme Stock Dog Challenge Mansfield Showground Aoidh Doyle - 0436 458 913 Campbell Smedley - 0488 608 066 Moyston Sheepdog Trial Moyston Recreation Reserve, Moyston Helen Spencer - 0427 395 619 Seymour Working Sheepdog Trial Kings Park, Seymour Colin Davidson - 0411 658 933 Cressy Dogpro TM Cressy Recreation Reserve, Cressy Steve Turner - 0409 388 160

Western Australia 18 - 20 MARCH

Mayanup Arena Trial Mayanup, WA

31 MARCH 3 APRIL

Esperence Arena Trial Pingelly Rec. & Cultural Center, Pingelly

20 - 22 MAY

Stirling Arena Trial Kendenup Community Grounds, Kendenup

17 - 19 JUNE

Stirling Arena Supreme Kendenup Community Grounds, Kendenup Esperence Arena Supreme Pingelly Rec. & Cultural Center, Pingelly

14 - 17 JULY

Yard Trials New South Wales 6 MARCH

Monaro Championship Trial Dalgety, NSW Jay Weston - 0403 191 447

12 MARCH

Warrumbungle Trial Coonabarabran, NSW Jeannette Fenwick - 0427 423 177

12 MARCH

Southern NSW Championship Wagga Wagga, NSW Simon Hartwich - 0409 172 075 Walcha Yard Dog Trial Walcha, NSW Tony Overton - 0409 503 423

12 - 13 MARCH

19 MARCH

23 - 24 APRIL 11 - 13 JUNE 8 - 9 JULY

Victoria

12 - 13 MARCH

9 APRIL

2- 3 JULY

15 - 17 JULY

Brendan Regent Memorial Championship Yass, NSW Ben Coster - 0407 844 230 Gwydir Valley Championship Moree, NSW Damien Meppem - 0439 190 923 Upper Horton Valley Championship Tony Overton - 0409 503 423 Emily Wall - 0419 705 772 Cudgegong Valley Championship Mudgee, NSW Greg Reeves - 0428 588 285 Supreme Stock Dog Challenge Mansfield Showground Aoidh Doyle - 0436 458 913 Campbell Smedley - 0488 608 066 Yundool Good Friday Appeal Funds Raiser Yard Dog Trial “Somerset”, Yundool Mark Wheeler - 0488 972 Ballarat Yard Trial Ballarat Showgrounds, Ballarat Sharon Barry - 0421 619 163 Central Yard Dog Championship Prince Of Wales Showground, North Bendigo Rod Cavill

Tasmania 6 - 9 APRIL

Australian Yard Dog Championships Connorville Station, Cressy Adrian Carpenter - 0427 578 560

Western Australia 8 - 10 APRIL 1 - 3 JULY

Mayanup Yard & Utility Trial ‘Tarwonga’, Arthur River Jenny Atherton - 0407 422 179 Northern Dist Yard & Utility Binnaburra, WA

South Australia 18 - 19 MARCH

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SAYDA Yard Dog Championships Lucindale, SA

Please email your dates to laura@stockdogs.com.au to be included in our next issue.

Cattle Trials Victoria 12 - 13 MARCH

Queensland

Supreme Stock Dog Challenge Mansfield Showground Aoidh Doyle - 0436 458 913 Campbell Smedley - 0488 608 066

9 - 10 APRIL

Myola Cattle Working Dog Trial The Caves Showground

16 APRIL

Mt Perry Show Working Dog Trial Mt Perry Showground Liz Hughes - 0438 339 575 Alpha Show Working Dog Trial Alpha Showground Tim Stewart - 0448 345 356 Clermont Show Working Dog Trial Clermont Showground Paul Wroe - 4985 9297 Charters Towers Working Dog Trial Adam Sibson - 0438 594 457 Martin Holzwart - 0429 661 264 QWCTAI. Australian Championships, State of Origin & QWCDTAI. 2022 Derby Toogoolawah Showground Steele Cannell - 0428 583 260

18 - 19 MAY 24 - 25 MAY 3 - 4 JUNE 14 - 17 JULY

Utility Trials New South Wales 11- 12 MARCH

NSW Utility Championship Eugowra, NSW Kevin & Kay Howell - 02 6859 2311

4 - 7 AUGUST

Australian Utility Championship Nyngan Showground, NSW Gary White - 0428 679 503

Tasmania 30 MARCH - 2 APRIL

National Kelpie Field Trial Connorville Station, Cressy Adrian Carpenter - 0427 578 560

Western Australia 8 - 10 APRIL 1 - 3 JULY

Mayanup Yard & Utility Trial ‘Tarwonga’, Arthur River Jenny Atherton - 0407 422 179 Northern Dist Yard & Utility Binnaburra, WA

New South Wales 5 - 6 MARCH 15 - 17 APRIL 22 APRIL 20 - 22 MAY

4 - 5 JUNE 11 - 13 JUNE

Grafton Practice Day The Agricultural Research Centre, Trenayr Lew Molloy - 0418 664 641 Stroud Working Dog Trial Brett Thompson - 0408 688 482 Armidale Working Dog Trial Justin Tombs - 0421 337 602 Holbrook Working Dog Trial & Auction Holbrook Equine Centre Trial: Peter Govan - 0484 934 140 Auction: Lach Williams - 0428 020 540 Red Range Working Dog Trial Andrew McIntyre - 0429 321 815 Upper Horton Working Dog Trial Tony Overton - 0409 503 423

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Winners and place getters of the 2021 O’Sullivans/CopRice State Yard Dog Championship

Victoria On The Move - Article and Photos by Naomi J White -

It was Thursday night, the 2021 Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show was all set to commence on the following day. The trade stands and stall holders were setting up, the beautiful wool crafts and fleeces from all over Australia had been judged and displays completed, the stud sheep were settling into their pens. The yards and courses all set on the main arena for the Victorian Yard Dog Championship and the 600 sheep needed for the trial had been unloaded for the 3-day event.

The Show organisers had been warned of the possibility of an important Covid-19 announcement. Late in the day people all around the venue were on their mobiles, waiting with bated breath, and it was a bitter blow to hear that Victoria was going into a one-week Lockdown from midnight that would prevent the show going ahead. Trade Stands, stall holders, catering services and sheep had to be off the Showgrounds before midnight. There was no alternative but to cancel the prestigious Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show, including our Championships.

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On what should have been the opening day of the biggest Sheep Show in Australia with thousands pouring through the gates, the Showgrounds were eerily silent and empty.

Hoping for an early finish to the lockdown, the Victorian Yard Utility Farm Dog Association (VYUFDA) organisers left the yards set-up, hoping to get the event underway the following week but as has often happened in Victoria, the lockdown dragged on.

Eventually with lockdowns finished, the two Victorian Championships (Yard and Utility) were held, albeit somewhat later than originally planned and “Man, was it great”, Out of lockdown and participating in something you love with likeminded people.

The first of the rescheduled events was the utility championship.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

CopRice State Utility Championship The Utility Championship was held at Paul McPhail’s property at Welshpool, the home of the Beloka Kelpie Stud with the event coinciding with the 25th running of the Beloka trial. The weather leading into the event was horrid with over 100 mills of rain in the week preceding and the forecast for the weekend was ominous.

With paddocks waterlogged, the convenor contacted competitors advising of a new location for camping, but on the day the sun was out as competitors arrived and many decided to take the risk of parking in the paddock which resulted in vehicles being hopelessly bogged. Victorian President, Rod Cavill came to the rescue borrowing Mr McPhail’s tractor to tow them out.

The Novice competition got underway on Friday afternoon under the guidance of judge Tim Cavill. The early start was needed to get through the large number of entries in the draw. The open commenced early Saturday but not before another hurdle. Unfortunately, the Championship Judge was hospitalised just prior to the event and Rod Cavill stepped into the breach again. Father and son were now in charge of both the Novice and Open championships, I am not sure how often this would have occurred previously.

The sheep were tough lambs, fresh out of the hills and they made the going tough for competitors. The lambs were showing which dogs introduced themselves calmly and those that did not. In the first round of the open only a few dogs penned. A long day on the Saturday saw the top 20 established and it was good to see some new faces make the list including, Ross McIntosh and Luke Platts. Some other newer faces in the open included Lisa Kennedy, Neil Winslade and Andrew Whelan. Dale Thompson had a successful weekend on his first trio to Beloka.

RESULTS Championship

1. Adam James and Buster - 254 2. Travis Scott and Kev - 235 3. Bree Cudmore and Zoe - 231 4. Adam James and Moss - 192 5. Bree Cudmore and Cooper - 190 6. Dale Thompson and Jake - 176

Open

1. Adam James and Buster - 166 2. Adam James and Moss - 163 3. Travis Scott and Kev - 158 4. Dale Thompson and Jake - 155 5. Joe Spicer and Gibbo - 131 6. Phil James and Jenny - 74

Novice

1. Andrew Whelan and Bessie - 178 2. Brad Clark and Don - 176 3. Aoidh Doyle and Elvis - 171 4. Mark Dunmore and Millie - 169

Encourage (Yard)

1. Neil Winslade and Becky - 96 2. Brett Vitols and Flo - 95 =3. Ben Dixion and Parker - 93 =3. Neil Winslade and Chisel - 93 =3. Naomi White and Mia - 93

The weather on Sunday was fine and the sheep were less flighty which saw some excellent scores. Bree Cudmore with Zoe, the current National Kelpie Champion, running a score of 95 and drawing high praise from the judge. In the end however it was the old dogs, Buster and Kev, who came to the fore, showing brains come before brawn! At the end of three tough rounds the CopRice Utility Champion for 2021 was Adam James’ with Tundabardi Buster. Travis Scott with Broken River Kev coming in second place and Bree Cudmore and Marista Zoe finishing in third.

A great job done by Paul McPhail and Anneke Homan. A highlight of the Saturday night was the puppy event held under lights whilst people relaxed with their dinner and a drink.

2021 CopRice State Utility Championship Winner Adam James with Judge Rod Cavill

O’Sullivans/CopRice State Yard Dog Championship RESULTS Championship

1. Geoff McDougall and Ace - 280 2. Travis Scott and Broken River Beau - 275.5 3. Roland Pell and Golden Vally Hitch - 275 4. Campbell Smedley and Tundabardi Mick - 270 5. Bree Cudmore and Larnach Moana - 269 6. Kate Jubb and Woodja Cruise - 268 7. Bree Cudmore and Marista Zoe - 264 8. Dean Incher and Hulk - 263 9. Joe Spicer and GoGetta Basil - 260.5 10. Herb Cooper and Darcoo Squirt - 246.5

Open

1. Geoff McDougall and Ace - 187.5 2. Roland Pell and Golden Valley Hitch - 186 3. Travis Scott and Broken River Beau - 185 =4. Campbell Smedley and Tundabardi Mick - 177 =4. Joe Spicer and GoGetta Basil - 177 6. Adam James and Buster - 171

Improver

1. Sarah Lee and Nacooma Jazz - 169 2. Herb Cooper and Darcoo Squirt - 151 3. Kate Jubb and Somerville Marty - 146 4. Steve Robinson and Barcoola China - 84 5. James Leahy and Glenlyon Flick - 80

Novice

1. Kate Jubb and Midge - 185 2. Kate Jubb and Tiger -184 3. Renae Reynolds and Colin - 183 4. Peri Chapple and Swagger - 182

Encourage (Yard)

1. Campbell Smedley and Zoe - 279 2. Kate Jubb and Tiger - 275 3. Renae Reynolds and Colin - 183 =4. Peri Chapple and Swagger - 182 =4. Tim Cavill and Bess - 182

- All Photos Supplied by Naomi J White 76

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In perfect weather the rescheduled yard championship was held at the Heathcote Showgrounds. Great work was done by David Walsh and team preparing the venue for the event. Under the government guidelines, it was a “double vaccinated” event which added another dimension to coordinating an event. We were so happy to be able to have interstate competitor attend after years of lockdowns and border closures. Our thanks go to people such as Geoff McDougall, Dean Incher, Adam James and Herb Cooper for making the trip down for the event. It boosted the level of competition as well as adding a little interstate rivalry.

With three rounds held over the weekend our Championship judges. Ian O’Connell and Richard Puddicombe proved their hard-working thumbs and good eye for detail had not been lost over nearly two years of little competition.

In the Maiden/Novice Judge James Fowler did a great job with over 100 runs to assess. After two rounds of the maiden, a runoff was necessary to determine the winner.

Victoria’s “next generation” were prominently represented in the top 25 and final 10, proving that our up-and-coming stock men and women have the livestock and dog handling skills to continue our sport into the future.

In the end there can be only one winner and the O’Sullivan’s CopRice Yard Dog Champion for 2021 was New South Welshman Geoff McDougall with Ace, Travis Scott and Broken River Beau in second with Roland Pell and Golden Valley Hitch in third. As the highest placed Victorians, Travis with Beau and Roland with Hitch will become the Victorian representatives at the Australian Yard Championships to be held in Tasmania in 2022.

The final of the event was live streamed and a recording can be found online VYUFDA Facebook page or on our YouTube channel.

To conduct a Championship is difficult in any circumstances, but in the current covid world it added another dimension so our thanks must go to Paul McPhail and David Walsh and their respective teams for the great jobs they did with this year’s events.

Our thanks must also go to our event major sponsors, CopRice, Rural Bank, Riddlevue Angus, O’Sullivan’s Transport, Orlingi Protection Wear and Tilburn Welding.

Geoff McDougall & Ace Winner of 2021 O’Sullivans/Coprice Yard Dog Championship

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Trialers, vendors and buyers abuzz for 2022 Working Dog Challenge Article by Regional Livestock Exchanges | Photos by Western Advocate and DogTorque

A

NTICIPATION is already building for the auction of a top-calibre black and tan Kelpie male, Bid, who will go under the hammer at the second annual Working Dog Challenge (WDC) to be held at the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange (CTLX) in Carcoar this November.

Bid made his first appearance at the inaugural WDC last year as an eight-week-old pup donated by Nick and Katrina Foster, Koonama Working Kelpies, Boorowa, to raise money for mental health support charity, This Is A Conversation Starter (TIACS), and was jointly picked up for $7,500 by Regional Livestock Exchange (RLX) and AAM Investment Group (AAM) – the owner and operator of the sale yards respectively.

The promising pup, who was sired by 2020 NSW Yard Dog of the Year, Koonama Cracka, will make his return to CTLX this year having spent a further 12 months being trained by the Fosters, with all proceeds from his sale to again go to TIACS. Bid’s sale in 2021 was a highlight of the WDC where prices topped at $24,000 for Lokabe Purple (Poppy) when bought via StockLive by Wes and Nadene Crozier, Moorara Pastoral, ‘Moorara Station’, Moorak, South Australia. In total the 58 dogs secured during the livestreamed sale grossed $347,000 and averaged $7,382.

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Photo to right: Chris Egan’s ‘Capree Outlaw’ showing his strength and style in the Cattle Trial.

StockLive Manager, Libby Hufton, said she was not surprised to see the sale’s bell ringer secured online as 37% of bids during the auction were placed through StockLive and more than 500 people from around the nation tuned in to see the simulcast.

“Some of Australia’s most well-regarded trainers had their best dogs on offer, so it is fitting we had viewers and buyers from across the nation watching the action unfold,” Ms Hufton said.

“Given the COVID-19 restrictions at the time, not all buyers could attend the sale in person, so our simulcast of the preworks became the ideal opportunity for them to examine the talent, style and presence of the exceptional dogs on offer.”

AROUND THE GROUNDS Legacy event The event also offered the largest prize pool for sheep and cattle trials in the nation with $20,000 paid out to competitors who had travelled from throughout NSW with their best dogs for the three-day event.

Brock Syphers, Regional Development Manager – NSW, said preparations were already underway for 2022’s event, scheduled for the Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 November.

“It has always been our aim for the Working Dog Challenge to become a legacy event,” Mr Syphers said.

Murray Wilkinson ready to walk into the Yard Trial.

“Dogs purchased through the auction this year are eligible for a special trial competition next year, which they can compete in at following events up until the dog turns four. Given the calibre of the pedigree and training of the dogs sold this year, we are confident there will be strong competition and this event will grow year-on-year.

“Working dogs contribute a vital role to both the sheep and cattle industry, and it’s our broader ambition for this sale to bring a new level of professionalism to auctions and higher stakes to trials.”

Peter Rutherford from Blayney on course in the cattle trial.

Wattys Kate, being commanded by Craig Irvine during the Cattle Trial, showing strong presence and style.

Image Credit: Western Advocate

Late in the night during the Sire Shootout.

Competitor Greg Walton with Karana Max out on course during the Working Dog Challenge. Image Credit: Western Advocate

Nick Hovey’s ‘Munns Bill’ on course in the Cattle Trial of The Working Dog Challenge.

Pup with a cause As Bid prepares to return to CTLX in 2022, his second appearance will again hold special meaning given the worthy cause he represents.

Raising awareness for mental health support holds an important place in the hearts of both Mr and Mrs Foster who have lost close friends to suicide, and donated Bid not long after AAM announced it was an alliance partner of TIACS, in November last year.

TRIAL RESULTS Maiden Yard

1st Place - Harry Grant & Paddy Stockmanship/Judges Award - Harry Grant

“I think it’s really important we can spread the word that if anyone is feeling lost or isolated, there is support ready for them,” Mr Foster said.

Novice Yard

Mr Foster said Bid was excelling within his regular training program geared at nurturing natural instincts, building a pup’s confidence and slowly instilling fundamental commands.

Open Yard

“He’s right where he needs to be, he’s balancing off sheep and is showing so much eagerness and willingness to learn.”

With all going to plan, Mr Foster said he hoped Bid would be ready in Spring to join his working dog team for the busy lamb-marking season at ‘Gooramma’ the mixed enterprise operation running 20,000 head of sheep and 100 head of cattle, where he is the Livestock Manager.

“If he is ready by that stage, I would love to bring him out for that, as we have miles and miles of work during that time of year,” he said.

“I would really love to keep Bid within my team for myself as he’s showing all the right traits I need for daily mustering, yard work and trials. However, this is such an important cause and we are anticipating a strong response from the buying pool given his talent.”

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1st Place - Bill Luff & Tickle Stockmanship/Judges Award - Geoff McDougall

1st Place - Chris Stapleton & Capree Red Stockmanship/Judges Award - Grace Halsted

Novice Cattle

1st Place - Grace Halsted & Leeway Snoop Stockmanship/Judges Award - Dick Chapman

Open Cattle

1st Place - Jake Nowlan & Nowlans Sam Stockmanship/Judges Award - Zac Ede

Sire Shootout

1st Place - Ben Coster & Rhettlenash Jock Stockmanship/Judges Award - Megan Rutherford

Auctioneer Harry Philips, Bowyer and Livermore, Bathurst, CTLX operations manager Brock Syphers, RLX regional infrastructure CEO Cye Travers and Koonama Working Kelpies’ Nick Foster, Boorowa, and the eight-week-old pup which RLX and AAM purchased for $7500 with all proceeds going to TIACS. Photo Credit: Hannah Powe - The Land

AROUND THE GROUNDS

L-R: Tom Card (Bower & Livermore) with winner Harry Grant and Judge Darren Harcoan. Harry was the winner of Maiden Yard Trial as well as the Stockmanship/Judges Award.

Image Credit: Working Dog Challenge

L-R: Judge Greg Reeves with Open Yard winner Chris Stapleton and Tom Card (Bower & Livermore).

Image Credit: Working Dog Challenge

Nathan Morris, Forbes sold Lokabe Purple (Poppy) for $24,000 to South Australian-based buyer Wesley Crozier, Moorak.

Image Credit: Hannah Powe - The Land

Grace Halsted winner of Novice Cattle and Stockmanship/Judges award in Open Yard with partner Zac Ede who was awarded the Stockmanship/Judges award in the Open Cattle Trial.

Image Credit: Working Dog Challenge

L-R: Tom Card (Bower & Livermore) with winner of Novice Yard Bill Luff and Judge Peter Rutherford.

Image Credit: Working Dog Challenge

L-R: Josh Stephens (CTLX) with Open Cattle winner Jake Nowlan and judge Trevor Leslight.

Image Credit: Working Dog Challenge

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2021 Holbrook Cattle Dog Trial Welcoming Another Trial & Inaugural Working Dog Auction for May 2022

W

Article by Holbrook Trial Committee | Photos by Brandon Sykes Livestock Photography

orking dog enthusiasts are set to get a taste of some of Australia’s best canine talent with an inaugural auction & second year running Cattle dog trial on the calendar days of the 20th to the 22nd May 2022. The Holbrook Working Dog Trial & Auction will be held at the town’s equine centre and is anticipated to attract a catalogue of around 40 lots and a large array of dogs that will be entered in for the trial, with many impressed from last year’s trial returning to claim victory.

Last year’s highly successful inaugural cattle dog trial was organised by Peter Govan and Lawson Gulliver. We were thrilled to see trialers travel from as far away as Narrabri and Ebor in the north, Geelong in the South and all places in between and we thank everyone for making our first year a showcase.

This year will see a few changes in the cattle dog trial, with it starting on Friday 20th May. In order to accommodate more entries, we will be able to go into the evening under lights.

Saturday night will be a highlight with entertainment and food available. The other major change will be the inclusion of the Ray White Dog Auction to be held on the Sunday.

In a reflection of the diverse nature of farming, there will be sale dogs on offer that are trained to work sheep, cattle or both.

And in a spectacle, for both potential buyers and those simply interested in attending the event for entertainment value, there will be an opportunity to see all of the dogs put through their paces in a pre-works on the Sunday before the sale commences.

The trial was set up to demonstrate working dogs and their handlers within the livestock industry. It was also a great way for like minded people to gather and provide a fun and educational event for our community, which had never seen a local cattle dog trial held.

On the Sunday the 22nd May, the pre-works starts at 8am and for others who want to connect online and watch from home the event will be interfaced with Stocklive.com.au for all online bidding and viewers to watch. The Auction which will be run by auctioneers from Ray White Rural Albury to which they have become a major sponsor of the events, supporting this and many other local events throughout the year held at the Holbrook Equine Centre.

The local ‘Bushmans’ trial brought many new faces out of the woodwork and was a huge and entertaining part of last year’s event. It was set up for locals to bring their best to the competition and to showcase their fantastic skills of everyday cattle dog work. Many local competitors had never seen or competed in a dog trial before.

It is likely the events will draw people from Victoria and NSW and there is scope for entries from further afield too for both the trial and the auction. Both the trial and sale have embraced terms and conditions and rules which will be reinforced by veterinarians who can provide checks to prospective purchasers.

Setting up a trial like this takes a lot of effort and commitment and is impossible to do without gaining fantastic sponsors.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors for their generosity and a special thank you to Dunoon Angus for supplying their excellent heifers for the trial.

The wonderful three-day event is going to be filled with food, drinks, laughter and outstanding skills to watch. Make sure to book the days in your calendar, its one not to miss. We hope to see all of last year’s faces and many new ones.

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AROUND THE GROUNDS TRIAL RESULTS Table Top Angus Local Bush =1. Justin McDonald and Ace =1. Justin McDonald with Smoke 3. Paddy Mulquiny with Smoke

Ravensdale Poll Hereford Novice 1. Craig Ervine and Bells Chime 2. Danny Kerr and Mingle 3. Wayne Wood and Macca

Wirruna Poll Hereford Maiden 1. Ben Coster and Coopendale Lucy 2. Nick Hovey and Munns Bill 3. Paul Roots and Lady

Hicks Beef Open

1. Craig Ervine and Bells Chime 2. Danny Kerr and Buddy 3. Aoidh Doyle and Snip

Entries for both events are now open!

Contact details are avaliable via Facebook pages - Holbrook Working Dog Trial & Auction or Holbrook Cattle Dog Trial for; Lach Williams - Auction Peter Govan - Trial

Entry forms can be found on www.raywhiteruralalbury.com/working-dog-auction or via scanning the code.

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No Prefix Patrick

Memoir and Story by Angie Snell

In the horse world they have what they call “heart horses”.

A heart horse is that one great horse you have in your lifetime, you’ll have many good horses, but there’s always that one who stands out, because of the bond you have with them, and because of the heart they show. I believe this is true in the dog world too, and this is the story of my heart dog “No Prefix Patrick”.

When I was 13 years old, I had a fall from a horse while mustering cattle, this fall left me with a spinal cord injury and a permanent disability. I wasn’t worried though, as long as I could keep riding horses and I could. Naturally this made my life a little harder than the average person, but it didn’t stop me. I was a country girl through and through. I studied Agriculture at Dalby Agricultural College and spent time in NSW having all sorts of farming related adventures. Life was amazing, until I moved back to Queensland where my health went downhill quickly both physically and mentally. I wasn’t in a very good situation and remained stuck in my own living hell for about eight years.

In 2016 I was at breaking point, I was mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted, there didn’t seem to be much for me in life and the will to live was definitely waning. So, I headed to a horsey mate’s place down in Wingham NSW for a break over the Australia Day weekend. While I was there, I found out he was into working dogs, something I’d wanted to learn about since watching “Babe” as a child. I have seen many great working dogs in my travels, but I wanted to learn how to train one. I expressed this to my mate, who handed me one of two kelpie pups he had gotten elsewhere. He said, “this one going to be too weak for cattle”.

So off home I went with this kelpie pup who was 9 or 10 weeks old. On the 8-hour journey back to Queensland I settled on the name “Patrick” which he immediately responded too. From the moment he got out of the car at home, he was at my heel and never left.

Now the puppy stage was not fun with Patrick, and he managed to eat a sock and need emergency surgery over the Easter period, of course. Just to top it off he ate a second one two days after having his stitches out for the first one. As a result, the vet recommended he wear a muzzle, at least until he grew out of chewing things he shouldn’t. It was expensive, and stressful but it taught me the first lesson he had to teach; not everything ends badly.

A lesson I desperately need to learn at that point in time.

He was immediately very obedient and was always with me, this gave me confidence with my two cattle dogs, and we started going for walks up the paddock where I wasn’t in complete control. I had become so fearful of things going wrong and not being in control that it was affecting even the smallest things in my daily life. And this was his second lesson; you do not need to control everything, for life to be okay. This helped me move onto a whole new place in life.

We moved to a stunning property, in a valley where you could not see another house. Life was getting better for me. I wanted to learn to train a working dog though, so I ended up attending Shaundar Herding, where the trainer Dale, started Patrick for me, while explaining it as he went, because the keen little Kelpie was a bit too fast for a beginner with a disability and crutches. When it came time for me to start working with him, we ran into a problem.

AROUND THE GROUNDS He wouldn’t leave me to work the sheep, instead be stayed at my legs protecting his disabled owner from those pesky sheep. He would work fine for anyone else, just not me.

Eventually we fixed this issue and Patrick and I started to become a team. The kind of team people noticed, often commenting things like “that’s what I want with my dog”.

After years of work Patrick had his first ever 3 sheep trial.

My expectations were low, and I didn’t think we’d make it past the cast, but to my delight we made to the gap, we didn’t get through the gap, just to it. And aside from the cross on the cast (his favourite thing to do at a trial) I was happy with our fast and messy run.

We also had a bit of a farm job on a farm down the road.

So, Patrick would come help with moving cattle, or putting them on the road to graze. He was very weak on cattle but being around stock like this certainly helped his obedience and taught him to control himself even when he was excited. It was a fantastic way to supplement his training. People often tell me how their kelpie is crazy, has too much energy and won’t settle. But one of my fondest memories is of Patrick and me on the quad bike under a tree watching cattle on the road. I was lying with my feet on the handlebars, and Patrick was curled up on the back of the bike snoring, quite loudly dead to the world. I took a photo of my kelpie with questionable work ethics, and I’m so glad I have that memory captured.

We had many adventures together, beach trips, camping trips, Bunnings trips he basically came everywhere with me. Even attending my friend’s wedding quietly on the back of the Ute because he wasn’t meant to be there! In all these adventures, he taught me my third lesson; to live in the moment, and to not stress about the “what ifs” of life.

One of Patricks most beautiful qualities were his trademark Patrick hugs, something I never taught him, he just did, to random people. He would ever so gently stand on his back legs put his paws around their neck and literally give them a hug. I would never allow a dog to just up, normally but these hugs were gentle and calculated, special.

His trialling career was a total of 10 runs. The first few were fairly wild, and we never made it through the gap.

But our third last attempt we made it through! Our second last attempt we made it through and had a go at the bridge and the last run we again made it to the bridge.

Such a proud moment! Training animals for me, is about learning and improving and I can’t tell you how proud I am that we made it to the bridge on two occasions. It may seem like an odd achievement to be so proud of, but together we persevered and rather than give up and just get myself a more competitive dog, we put in the work to improve and do the absolute best we could and that’s exactly what we did. You cannot ask for much more from a dog than their best, whatever that looks like.

He may have been notorious for crossing on the cast, chasing sheep flat out, not folding nicely, and generally not being a great trial dog. However, in the end I was receiving compliments from some of the people to beat.

They all remarked on how well he listened to me, how sharp his responses were, how much on a team we were.

These meant more to me than winning ribbons ever could.

Unfortunately, in October while doing our daily routine I lost him suddenly and unexpectedly. That little dog was my heart and soul, but he left me a much stronger, happy person than he found me. No doubt there will be other kelpies, but none quite like my little mate Patrick.

Wherever he went people noticed him, this plain little black and tan kelpie, who lacked natural talent sticks in people’s memories. They were drawn to him. I can’t tell you how many older ladies walked up and stuck their hand in the dog box to give him a pet while at the supermarket.

Usually gasping at their own actions when they realised that’s probably not something you should do. He was just special, in the most beautiful way.

And so Patrick taught me my fourth and final lesson, sometimes we get so wrapped up in a dog’s natural ability or their amazing bloodlines that we forget the most important thing a dog can have, heart.

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Dogs Australia:

New Tricks for Old Breeds Dogs Australia launched in late 2021 and is the newly launched consumer face of the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) which was founded in 1958. It advocates for the preservation of purebred dogs through ethical breeding. It also promotes responsible ownership, funds research into canine diseases, supports conformation shows and community sports for dogs that fulfill a breed’s natural instincts.

•

training for judges (show ring and obedience)

•

dog rehome and rescue

•

breeder education

Working Stock Dog Magazine asked Dogs Australia’s President Hugh Gent and Ambassador Dr Rob Zammit what it’s all about.

“A dog is a big commitment. It should never be an impulse buy,” said Dogs Australia ambassador and veterinarian, Dr Rob Zammit.

Why Dogs Australia?

Dogs Australia President, Hugh Gent, OAM, says: “We’ve launched Dogs Australia to draw on the strength and experience of all the state and territory-based member bodies to advocate for dog welfare and responsible dog ownership.

“Dogs Australia unites the internationally recognised Australian ANKC’s impressive network of Dogs ACT, Dogs NSW, Dogs NT, Dogs Qld, Dogs SA, Dogs Tasmania, Dogs Victoria, and Dogs West.

“Together we have an estimated 60,000 members (including members of its affiliated organisations).”

What does Dogs Australia do?

Dogs Australia advocates for the ethical breeding and preservation of purebred dogs, while educating and fostering dog-loving communities to champion the highest standard of animal welfare across the country. It boasts a network of more than 353 breed clubs and more than 11,000 registered breeders, who are passionate about matching the right dog to the right owner.

“Our registered breeders follow a strict code of ethics, conduct health and DNA tests, provide a certificate of pedigree and give the owner on-going support,” said Mr Gent. “Our breeders are passionate about finding the right homes for their dogs.”

For more than 60 years, Dogs Australia has supported breeding and caring for dogs. From raising puppies to rescuing and rehoming older dogs, Dogs Australia members are the experts in all breeds and offer life-long support and advice to new puppy owners.

Dogs Australia’s services include: •

registered breeder network

•

advocacy and research funding in canine health

•

officially registered canine health information database

•

regulatory role

•

membership and dog database

•

supports state and territory-based organisations

•

dog sports and training

•

educational programs and events

•

stakeholder and government relations

What does Dogs Australia recommend you do to find the right dog?

“We recommend people thoroughly research their dog choice and ask Dogs Australia’s 3 Rs [as outlined below] and they can start with our online questionnaire to determine whether it’s the right time to buy a pup, which breed and breeder to choose.”

Use Dogs Australia’s three-step process to choose the most suitable dog breed for you.

Q1. Is now the right time? Do you have time to devote to puppy training? Is your house and yard secure to keep a dog safe? Do you have the necessary budget? Have you factored in the costs of feeding, grooming, registering, training and vet bills? Are you going on holiday? Are you renovating, moving to a new house, or expecting a baby? Are you about to take on a job with long hours? Do you have the time, money, and head space for this important addition to your household, now?

Q2. Which is the right breed to suit your lifestyle? Consider the breed’s size and temperament, its energy levels, grooming needs and how its natural instincts could impact your lifestyle.

Also take into consideration whether you have other pets, the age of your children, your fitness and health, the size of your yard, and the time required to exercise and train a dog.

Q3. Finding the right breeder. Is the breeder registered with a Dogs Australia member body? Does the breeder adhere to the responsible breeder’s code of ethics, conduct health tests, understand the dog’s temperament and physical condition? Are you able to meet the breeder and the puppy’s parents? Does the breeder offer lifetime support and advice?

Complete Dogs Australia’s online questionnaire highlighting 14 important considerations when choosing a breed that’s right for you.

Plus, view Dogs Australia’s video series exploring more than 180 different breeds representing seven distinct breed groups, as determined by their original purpose. This series will help you decide which best suits your situation and lifestyle. The seven distinct groups include: 1) Toys 2) Terriers 3) Gundogs 4) Hounds 5) Working Dogs 6) Utility 7) Non-Sporting

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Registered breeders conduct health tests, abide by a strict code • of ethics, and provide pedigree certificates detailing a puppy’s • lineage for at least five generations.

Tracking

Buying a dog is just the beginning of the journey. Dogs Australia, • through its associated state and territory-based members, • promote breed conformation shows and community sports for dogs that fulfill a breed’s natural instincts.

•

Retrieving trials and Retrieving ability tests for gundog

What are Dogs Australia’s sports for dogs and why does Dogs Australia recommend them?

•

Sled Sports

•

Earthdog

Sports for dogs are a great way to build a strong relationship with your dog and leads to happier, healthier dogs. Dogs Australia offers 17 dog sports across almost 500 clubs that are designed to harness the natural instincts of every breed and bring out the best in them. Most of our sports are open to all dogs of any breed and their owners.

The 17 sports for dogs include: •

Herding

•

Agility

•

Conformation

•

Dances with Dogs

•

Trick Dog

•

Draft Test

•

Endurance Test

•

Lure coursing

•

Obedience

•

Rally O

Track and search Field trials Scent work

Are these sports for dogs – like herding – accessible to people in cities and the suburbs?

Dr Rob Zammit says: “If you have a working dog like a kelpie, collie, or cattle dog, and you haven’t given it any industry – that’s not fair on your dog and it may become a nuisance in the backyard by barking or digging.

“All Dogs Australia’s state and territory-based member bodies can tell you where you can take your border collie on the weekends to train it to herd sheep. That is manna for that dog.

“For other breeds like gundogs, you can teach it to retrieve, or you can teach a terrier to do scent work. A sense of smell to a dog is so important. If they go blind – it’s no big deal for a dog. As long as they can smell they’re still very happy.

“There are also hundreds of obedience clubs scattered around the suburbs in every city. It’s not expensive to join. They’re run by volunteers who love to train your dog to give it a purpose.

Otherwise, there are laid-back pedigree dogs who potter along with you and don’t need to do all that. Every dog wants to sit down with you.”

Visit www.dogsaustralia.org.au to learn more.

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Gone, Never Forgotten...

Capree Red “He was my best mate and dogs like Red don’t come along that often, he was extraordinary” were a few words from Chris Stapleton after the sudden loss of Capree Red early in the new year.

An extremely talented young dog, there was only ever one occasion where the 2019 Australian Yard Dog Champion didn’t make a final of any yard trials he had been entered in.

After winning the maiden and novice at the Cudegong Valley Championship at 12 months old, he went on to win many open trials, his last being the Working Dog Challenge in Carcoar in November 2021.

Labelled a very smart and intelligent work dog, loosing Red has left a hole in the entire Stapleton household as he was an overwhelming favourite, being very gentle and careful around children, never licking them or being a pest, often just sitting with them making sure everyone was at ease.

Co-owner and grandson Max Foster (pictured) would often run in the paddock with his mate and already informed his grandfather of his own breeding plan that he had for Red. Although Red was an exceptional work and yard trial dog, it wasn’t the trophies, ribbons on the wall or the titles he could have won that made him special to the Stapleton family, rather the attributes away from his stock that will be sadly missed.

Karana Abba II

Karana Abba II passed away at the age of 16 in early 2022.

“Abba was an amazing dog and friend and we will miss him terribly. He was a great dog on the farm and in his trialling career was very hard to beat” said Kevin & Kay Howell.

Abba II was a very good all round dog, the type of dog everyone would love to own, full of good quality work that would keep on trying when things get tough or the day is getting a bit long.

Having won two National Kelpie Field Trials and countless other trials, Abba’s last year of trialing was at 12 years old where he won 12 Open Yard Dog Trials, hence Kevin thought it was a good note to retire him on.

Abba spent his retirement years wandering around Kevin & Kay’s back yard doing his own thing, coming for a pat every morning and he loved going and checking on his girls.

Abba II will be sadly missed by all at Karana Kelpie Stud.

Riverside Jake Known as Mr Reliable, Jake was loved by the whole family. “Jake was the reliable cattle dog and Ben’s righthand man in the paddock. It was definitely a love-hate relationship between Jake and Ben in the trial yard and at times I would question who was the handler,” Tennielle said.

As time went on, he let the younger ones go off and do the hard yards and as he would hang out in the background and step in when the needed the support.

Tennielle explained how Jake “had the best instinct of anticipating the way cattle would move maybe even before they did. Maybe even before Ben would at times.”

Riverside Jake will be sadly missed by Ben & Tennielle’s family and although it has been sad for them, they are relieved to know that he will no longer have any pain. “You have been so amazing over the years and you will always have a special place in our hearts. We love you champ”.

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Armenian Slice • • • • • • • • •

1 Cup self-raising flour 1 Cup plain flour 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 125g butter 11/2 Cups brown sugar, lightly packed 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 3/4 Cup milk 1 egg, lightly beaten 1/2 Cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1. Grease 20cm x 30cm lamington pan.

2. Preheat oven to 1800 fan forced.

3. Sift flours and nutmeg into large bowl; rub in butter, mix brown sugar (or process until crumbly). Press 11/2 cups of this mixture into prepared pan.

4. Stir combined soda and milk into remaining dry ingredients with egg and nuts, mix well; pour into prepared pan.

5. Bake in oven for 30 - 35 minutes. Stand 5 minutes before turning onto wire rack to cool.

Makes: 35 | Store in airtight container | Suitable to freeze Recipe can be made 2 days ahead.

Armenian cooking is noted for its use of spices. In this recipe, nutmeg adds fragrance and taste to a not-too-sweet cake that cook in two layers.

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Phone and mail orders also available Call 0459 031 729 or use the mail order form on the opposite page.

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www.stockdogs.com.au

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Credit Card: Card Number: Expiry: CVV: Cheque made payable to – Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine Return this form to: Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine PO BOX 3003, Grose Vale NSW 2753 We can also process credit card payments over the phone – Call Laura on 0459 031 729

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Business Directory

GTE Transport VIC - NSW - SA - QLD - TAS 26 years providing interstate transport!

Based just out of Bendigo Victoria, GTE is the longest running interstate dog transporter and one of the largest dog transporters in Australia.

Phone: 03 5439 6322 Experience

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DCs Madra accommodation located just outside of Cowra, NSW. Perfect to use as a base to nearby villages and all the area has to offer.

If you are just passing through or looking for a quiet weekend away come enjoy the peaceful country life at Idle Acres.

If you are travelling with your dogs, try staying with us.

If you are looking for a different environment to train your dog speak to us about a weekend stay.

If you are wanting to participate in a training school weekend contact us - We have experts come and do schools a few times a year.

Phone: 0423 783 808 Email: dcsmadra@iinet.net

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Australia’s best & most affordable breeder program

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Practical clothing for work and play, people are loving Grovers for lightweight cotton shirts we offer various styles and our fabrics are always changing.

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