Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine - Issue 15, April 2021

The Australian

WORKING

STOCK DOG Magazine

Beginners

Guide

to Three Sheep Trials

The Way We Were -

John Perry

RRP $10.00 (incl. GST)

9 772205 872003 APRIL 2021

ISSN 2205-8729

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Issue 15

Kelpies Abroad!

VET CHECK: Ehrlichiosis

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From the Editor It is fantastic to see most states getting dog trialling back underway with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. We are incredibly lucky in relation to the rest of the world, and I am sure it will be a long time before we take the simple ability to attend a dog trial for granted! Handlers and dogs are all out of practice, but we will all be back in the swing of things before we know it.

held concurrently at Armidale in NSW over the end of April/ start of May. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing our countries best dogs and handlers battle it out – full reports on these trials will be included in our August issue. The National Three Sheep Trial at Canberra was held in March, just missing this issue, but a full report will also be included in the August issue.

Many areas of the country have had a continuing good season which has seen livestock prices soar. This has also been reflected in the market and prices for working dogs as reflected in the incredible results at Jerilderie Auction, with the report later in the magazine. As always in our huge country some places are not so lucky, and our hearts go out to those still battling drought or the aftereffects of the bushfires.

As always, a huge thank you goes out to all our contributors and advertisers – without you, the magazine would not exisit. Wishing everyone a good winter season and plenty of time to work your dogs!

The temperatures will be beginning to drop by the time this issue hits the shelves. We have some great articles and contributions for you this issue and it is great to see the success our own breed, the Kelpie, is having overseas. As always, we are open to suggestions and contributions from readers – the magazine is for you guys, so please do let us know if you want to see more of something! The new mail in forms for subscriptions and website purchases we included in the last issue were a good addition, as we know not all our readers have ready access to the internet.

Very shortly after this issue is published our biggest trials of the year will be kicking off, with the National Kelpie Field Trial being held at Allora in QLD in late April and the Australian Cattle Trial and Australian Yard Trial Championships being

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The Australian

WORKING

STOCK DOG Magazine

Publisher and Editor: Lauren Vest Email: lauren@stockdogs.com.au Phone: 0431 299 186 Mail: 246 Southwell Road, Wallaroo, NSW 2618

Design Director/Chief Designer: Kerri Hill Email: kerrihillgraphicdesign@gmail.com Advertising Enquiries: Sarah Henney Email: support@stockdogs.com.au Contributors: John Perry, Deb Maxwell BVSc, Antony Mulder, Heidi Mulder, Joe Spicer, Jamie Sturrock, Fred and Catherine Rains, Ken Sykes, Sally Purbrick-Illek, Tiohnee Ford, Iain Muirhead, Patsy Trevor, Jan-Rene Hartmann, Lauren Vest, Luke and Amy Lloyd, Josh Marshal, Kerri Hill, Shadows Farm Photography, Magische Momente Fotografie - Elena Rusczyk, H Harrold Photos, Bel’s Rural Photography.

Front Cover Photograph: Magische Momente Fotografie, Elena Rusczyk Advertising, Articles & Stories Email: lauren@stockdogs.com.au

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CONTENTS APRIL 2021

On the Cover

8.

The Way We Were – John Perry

14.

Vet Check – Ehrlichiosis

46.

Kelpies Abroad – Iain Muirhead

50.

Kelpies Abroad - Jan-Rene Hartmann

54.

Beginners Guide to Three Sheep Trials

54.

Kelpies Abroad 8 The Way We Were – John Perry 11 A Dog’s Life – Boco Raffa 14 Vet Check – Ehrlichiosis 18 Stockmans Profile – Antony Mulder 24 Dogs and Kids

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28 Photo Essay – H Harrold Photos

Stockmans Profile - Antony Mulder

36 Training Q & A – Teaching your dog to back sheep 38 Training Q & A – Transitioning your dog to cattle 42 The Training Pen – Ken Sykes 44 Internal Therapies for Working Dogs

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Photo Essay

42 The Training Pen

48 Rising Star – Alyssa May Brown 50 Kelpies Abroad – Iain Muirhead 54 Kelpies Abroad – Jan-Rene Hartmann 58 Beginners Guide to Three Sheep Trials 62 Netherby Trial Report 66 Jerilderie Auction Report 67 Trialling Holiday in SA

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Rising Star

66 Jerilderie Auction Report

70 Sire Directory 71 Breeders Directory

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The Way We Were – John

J

ohn Perry has worn many hats in his time - horse breaker, farrier, shearer, butcher, contractor, station manager – But dogs have always been a constant thread throughout his life. Another constant thread has been the small town of Bredbo in the Monaro region of New South Wales, that John has called home now for over 81 years. The Monaro region is known for its harsh and cold winters and growing exceptional wool, with the Merino sheep represented in great numbers. John grew up working on farms and spent a lot of time working on 14,000-acre Bredbo Station and in the Snowy Mountains where he worked alongside some exceptional stockmen. He remembers their dogs being very handy, and while they did not trial, they certainly had the ability to do well if they had. John himself did not start trialling until 1984, working mostly station dogs during his younger years. A lot of his dogs came from a stockman called Jack Monkey. John can remember Jack training his dogs on the briar bushes – moving them from bush to bush using his commands! Another very handy dog man was Jim Bowman, who could send his dogs a long way into the bush and then bark them up to flush stock out of nooks and crannies. Other early dogs came from Merv and Peter South.

Starting his own shearing contracting team in 1970, John kept this going until 2004. Never one to sit idle, he also managed Old Bredbo Station for 20 years, finishing up in 2002. The

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Perry

trialling bug initially bit John when he went and watched the trials at Delegate and Dalgety around 1984. Once he decided to start, he thought he better get some suitable dogs, so he purchased Bengeo Casanova from Ted Gaby as well as Wynella Lady from another friend in Victoria. Lady quickly proved her worth, and John remembers her as one of the best dogs he has ever owned. She catapulted into the results when she started trialling, winning an encourage at Molong, then the novice at the Nationals in Canberra during the first half of 1985. Sadly though, tragedy struck, and she was accidentally run over in September of that same year. He remembers her being one of the only dogs he has come across that could stop

Wynella Lady II

sheep that were bolting up the corridor during a trial, without turning them back on themselves.

Along with some good dogs, Ted Gaby imparted one of his habits to John – Keeping a record of every single trial and all his results, throughout over 36 years of trialling. On a rainy day he will often flick back through and remember past dogs, past mates, and past glories! Throughout his trialling career John has amassed some very impressive results – Representing New South Wales 12 times, representing Australia six times and serving as the Australian team captain three times. The National Trial at Canberra has a long prestigious history and was always the trial everyone wanted to win – the Melbourne Cup of dog trialling. John has won it four times so far, twice with Sommerville Roy, and once each with Bengeo Speck and Boco Raffa. In amongst all the big trials and big wins there are runs he will not forget for other reasons. Trialling one day in the rain, working a dog called Cass, he remembers forgetting to start his watch. At the end of his run, he just missed the pen when he ran out of time. The judge came over to him and asked him if he had a watch – when informed he had forgotten to start it, he was told never to forget it again, as if he had known he was short on time and pushed for the pen, he would have won the trial. An effective way to learn the lesson!

Wynella Lady is still remembered as one of his best dogs, but there have been plenty of others with above average ability.

Bengeo Speck was a great dog, who then went on to breed him Bredbo Stevo and Bredbo Kate. Sommerville Roy was a dog he had a lot of success with, including two wins at the Nationals, sired by a Western Australian dog called Theo.

Bashfords Jigsaw, out of Princes Meg by Wynella Digger was another favourite, and sired the dam of John’s current top dog, Boco Raffa. Raffa is sired by Bredbo Dark, who was out of a

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litter sister to Sommerville Roy and sired by Wondara Patrick.

Knowing which lines of dogs suit you as a handler is a big part of long-term success as a dog handler, and John has obviously got it down pat!

When it comes to type, he prefers dogs with a good amount of leg under them, dark eyes and a long tail carried low. The tail is very important – Short tailed dogs usually have jumpy movement, whereas a long tailed dog that carries it down low will be a smoother moving dog. The way sheep are now, means you need the smooth movement to keep them settled.

He likes a good casting dog, and a dog that will listen to you and take training pressure. He has seen the sheep change over the years he has been trialling – When he started, sheep were all worked from horseback and a lot walked in and out of the trial grounds. Nowadays they are worked with motorbikes and trucked in and out of the trial ground. They are often fairly stirry, and if they haven’t seen dogs much, it can take a lot of work to quiet them down. This has led to needing a big casting dog, and a dog who is comfortable staying off them to introduce himself slowly and quiet them down effectively.

John also keeps a dog notebook where he records bits of wisdom and he has collected some great advice from excellent handlers, as follows!

Somewhere during the trial you’ll have a fight with the sheep.

Best it happens at the delivery square. – Bill Marshall You won’t win trials with style – Geoff Jolly

Balance is the name of the game – Lew Noble Failing to prepare means you are preparing to fail – Tony Shields (NZ) Practice your seven P’s. Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance! – Paul O’Kane You can’t make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear – Ted Gaby Avoid a confrontation at any cost – Clary Cammin And a final gem from John himself - You’re not beaten if you get knocked down – You’re only beaten if you don’t get back up. Quitters never win and winners never quit. Winners are grinners! – John Perry

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A Dog’s Life

Boco Raffa A

fter reading all about John Perry’s long history with working dogs and three sheep trialling, we can’t forget his current team, the foremost of which is Boco Raffa.

Raffa is an eight year old, mostly black Border Collie, bred by Rod Campbell from John’s breeding. Raffa’s dam was bred by John, sired by Bashfords Jigsaw who he owned, and he is sired

by Bredbo Dark who was out of a litter sister to John’s good dog Sommerville Roy and sired by Wondara Patrick.

Raffa went to Jake Nowlan as a pup, where he was started on sheep, and where he stayed until he was around 7 months old.

He did not quite suit what Jake was after, so he rang John up to give him back. Jake then changed his mind two days later, then a few weeks later changed his mind again, so John went and picked up him the next morning before he had another change of heart! He brought him home and put him on sheep and was impressed with what he saw. One of Raffa’s best attributes was that he was always just a good, easy dog to work. Wherever you put him, he was always good.

Throughout the years, Raffa and John have forged a fantastic partnership, which has been rewarded with some fantastic trial results. 2018 was a great year for the pair, with Raffa winning open trials at Finley, Willow Tree and Delegate, and placing at even more, culminating in a win at the National

Trial at Canberra. This added up to crown him the New South Wales Dog of the Year for 2018, a title he also won last year in 2020, proving he still has the consistency and ability to come out on top. Raffa also won the Australian Dog of the Year trial at Port Fairy in 2019.

While he has had resounding success on the trial field, he has also been a stalwart work mate for John over the years. He describes him as an extremely good dog in the bush, with a big cast. He will work cattle and bite cattle, and is also happy to back sheep, which is coming through in his progeny as well.

He was a bit slow to start breeding from Raffa but now has some promising young dogs sired by him. The oldest he has are Zoz Nel at four years old, Bredbo Ash at two and a half and Zoz Joe at two. Nel and Ash are open trial dogs and Joe is in novice. John also had a litter brother to Raffa who he trialled, winning the novice at the Supreme in South Australia, however he ended up selling him, which he now regrets! Another full sibling, though younger, was Boco Ice – Also a quality dog, sold to a bloke at Cobar, but he ended up overheating at work and unfortunately passed away.

Raffa is starting to slow down now after some injuries, but still gets out on the trial ground and puts in 100% for John.

Thankfully, he now has some promising young dogs by Raffa to continue his lines and his ability into the future.

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AUSTRALIA STOCK DOG REGISTRY The Australia Stock Dog Registry – Preserving the history of working dog bloodlines and continuing a record of working dogs for the future.

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Ehrlichiosis Deb Maxwell BVSc

W

orking dog owners in the Northern Territory and the north of Western Australia should be on high alert for signs of a deadly canine disease new to Australia.

In other areas, keep a lookout for the various signs, as the disease-causing bacteria is likely to spread.

The bacterium, Ehrlichia canis, is carried by the brown dog tick, and causes a disease called Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (“Ehrlichiosis”). It is only a matter of time before infections will be seen in other locations across Australia: mainly the warmer, wetter tropical and subtropical regions, but also in some temperate areas.

Ehrlichiosis was first reported in Australia in the Kimberly region of Western Australia in May 2020. However, by January 2021 cases were found much further afield in Western Australia and the Northern Territory: west to Carnarvon in WA, and east to Borroloola, south to the Docker River, and north to Maningrida in NT, with many dogs already dying from the disease.

The bacteria affect blood cells, and the disease often progresses to be fatal. Signs of the infection are not specific to this disease and are quite variable but are worth investigating early to increase the chance of successful treatment. While some dogs will live with the disease, they will not do well, which is not ideal for working dogs.

Investigations continue into how Ehrlichia bypassed Australia’s stringent quarantine procedures, but with it now in the native tick population, eradication is

considered impossible. Movement restrictions only aim to slow the speed of its inevitable spread into other areas where the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) is found.

What signs do infected dogs show?

Generally, there are three disease stages. In the “acute” first stage of the disease, affected dogs can have a fever, be lethargic, stop eating, lose weight, have enlarged lymph nodes, a runny (including bloody) nose and eyes, inflamed cloudy eyes, bleeding or bruising causing anaemia, lameness, pain and (less commonly) nervous signs. The dogs are also more susceptible to other infections. Signs are so variable that any at-risk dogs with unexplained illness should be tested for Ehrlichia. Some infected dogs will not show any signs in this first stage, and occasionally may eliminate the bacteria through their natural immune response.

Most untreated dogs progress into the “subclinical” or second stage where the initial signs subside for a time, although the bacteria is still within the dog. While this stage can last months or even years, in Australian cases to date, this stage is short.

Most of these dogs will then progress to the “chronic” or third stage of Ehrlichiosis, with similar signs to the acute stage, but more severe and irreversible. This often proves fatal due to the bone marrow damage.

Unlike the rapid (few day) onset of tick paralysis, Ehrlichiosis takes one to three weeks after the tick bite for the first signs to appear. The first stage generally lasts two to four weeks and early treatment is more straightforward, less expensive and has a higher rate of success, compared to treatment in the third stage, which is often unsuccessful.

How is Ehrlichiosis diagnosed?

The signs of Ehrlichiosis may occur with other diseases, therefore testing is required to identify changes in the blood and to find evidence of the bacteria. Based on the combination of location, potential exposure to brown dog ticks, and the signs of illness shown by the dog, the veterinarian will collect blood for a blood smear (to see characteristic changes to the blood cells and sometimes see the bacteria) and for an antibody and molecular blood test (at a laboratory) to definitively confirm the presence of the bacteria.Ehrlichiosis Laboratory results may take a number of days. Currently, all blood tests of suspected animals must be done at an approved laboratory.

How is Ehrlichiosis treated?

A specific antibiotic will be prescribed by the veterinarian and needs to be given continuously for at least one month.

Supportive care may also be needed, particularly if treatment is not started until the chronic stage, when the outcome is far less likely to be favourable.

How can the disease be prevented?

This is a notifiable disease in Australia; owners and veterinarians must report any cases to their state government, and this will help the government agencies to respond with appropriate movement regulations and education campaigns to slow the spread.

There is no vaccine for this disease, so dog owners must prevent brown dog ticks from attaching to their dogs, even for a few hours. For working dogs in brown dog tick infested areas, it will not be sufficient to check and remove ticks after the day’s work because the Ehrlichia bacteria can be transmitted in as little as three to six hours of the tick feeding.

Residual (long-acting) tick preventative treatments that repel or cause most ticks to drop off and die very rapidly should be used to rid the dog of ticks. All effective tick preventatives will reduce the incidence of this disease at a community level; however, many are not fast enough to prevent all transmission of the bacteria when a tick is feeding before it is killed.

With the rapid transfer of Ehrlichia canis from the feeding tick, the fastest acting products are the products of choice.

Products containing either permethrin or flumethrin in longacting formations (not sprays or rinses) have been shown to kill ticks fast enough on an ongoing basis to prevent all or most transmission of the Ehrlichia bacteria.

These faster-acting products are currently only available as the Seresto® collar (flumethrin; four months action), or Advantix® spot-on (permethrin; four weeks action [but only two weeks for paralysis ticks]). These are the best current products, but no products are completely infallible, especially under high tick pressure.

Brown dog ticks can live their entire life cycle inside houses, kennels and other buildings. Ideally, these structures should be treated to eliminate ticks when preventative treatment starts or if there is a recurring problem. There are many products suited to this task, which will not be covered here, however, when choosing a product, note that some may contain permethrin, which is toxic to cats. Likewise, Advantix® contains permethrin, and should never be applied to cats (cats are also not affected

by Ehrlichia).

How will it spread to other areas?

The disease spreads via dogs already infected or that are carrying infected brown dog ticks, when these dogs are taken to different properties for stock work, or are sold into new areas, or are travelling the country with their owners. While the dog is the pref Ehrlichiosis erred host for these ticks, they can occasionally latch onto other animals, spreading the tick and the bacteria further. Nevertheless, the dog (and other canids) are the key means of spread. It can also be spread via blood transfusions from an infected donor dog to an uninfected dog receiving the blood.

As of January 2021, the Western Australian Government had already imposed movement restrictions on dogs travelling from north to south in Western Australia, to attempt to slow the spread. Other states may follow with their own restrictions.

Can humans or other animals be infected?

Cases occur in other canid (dog-type) species including wolves and foxes; as such, it is expected to infect and spread via dingoes, wild dogs, and foxes in Australia.

While there have been cases recorded internationally in non-canid species, this is extremely rare. These cases have resulted from the humans or animals having been bitten directly by the tick. There has never been a case where a human has been infected from a dog.

How can you be prepared?

• Determine whether brown dog ticks occur in the area your dogs work or play.

• If your dog is in or will visit an area where (or near to where) the disease is known to occur, start tick prevention using one of the recommended products.

•Keep on the lookout for the disease signs in your dogs and seek veterinary advice early if these signs occur.

• Follow any movement restrictions to help prevent spread of the disease.

• Find out whether dogs you plan to obtain come from a potential Ehrlichiosis-risk area; if so, seek veterinary advice in advance.

• Let your fellow working dog owners know about this new disease risk.

The author would like to thank the following veterinarians for their feedback: • Emeritus Professor Peter Irwin, Murdoch University • Dr Liisa Ahlstrom, Elanco Animal Health • Dr Alex Burleigh, Northern Territory Veterinary Services • Dr Sheridan Lathe, Vet Tails • Dr Samantha English

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STOCKMANS

PRO FIL E

Antony Mulder

I

live and work on Holmleigh Station in North Queensland, in between Prairie and Muttaburra, with my wife Heidi.

Between us we have 30 work dogs, ranging from young pups to old retirees that live in the house yard. Working dogs are a massive part of my life and whatever I am doing for the day, I always have dogs with me. After working all week, my favourite thing to do on the weekend is go to a dog trial.

I love competing and watching other people’s dogs at cattle and sheep trials .

Dogs are essential for us here – It is only Heidi and I here on the station – Which is owned by Heidi’s parents who are also big on dog work. We all like the fact that we can do all the weaner breaking and mustering here without hiring any extra help, because we can do it all with our dogs. I also do a bit of contract mustering and weaner breaking with my wife Heidi or on my own. I have had great reports on the weaners that we have educated for people - they can go and get their cattle in with just themselves and their dogs and the cattle are easy and quiet to move. I also breed and train pups and for the last couple of years, I have put dogs through the Queensland futurity which I find to be a great challenge - to get a young dog up to trialling standard before it reaches two years old.

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I started learning about work dogs a bit later in life than most, when I went to Longreach Ag College at the start of 2005.

They ran a working dog course for the second year students with only 10 places, and I was lucky enough to get one. When I came back for my second year I had to bring a pup back to look after and train. My pup was a red and tan Kelpie from South Australia called Tex - he was my first work dog. He wasn’t the best dog, but he was keen and so was I! He would work anything, which was lucky because he was put in every possible situation. Looking back, I was lucky he didn’t burn out.

I can remember one day trying to put some sheep though a gate and I needed Tex to work off balance to get them through – But I hadn’t been taught that in the course so didn’t know how to teach him to do it. The year after that I got a chance to do a Greg Prince school at Taroom. That changed my whole outlook and training method with dogs - he was my idol after that. What he could get his dogs to do was amazing and his training methods made a lot of sense to me so after that school I followed his steps to the letter and drastically improved my dogs. I have seen a lot of other methods now from many great trainers and have taken on a lot of advice from other methods, but the fundamentals of Greg Princes school are still a major part of how I train my dogs.

I like a dog that is very intense and has a fair bit of eye, probably more than most people like but I like a dog that you can put in a position and it will track along there. In my opinion that comes with eye. I like them to have a lot of instinct and be strong in the mind, also be very direct - work in straight lines. True strength to me is when a dog walks straight up to the head and if the beast asks the question it is answered with strength, straight on, not ducking to the side or side swiping as it runs past. I like a dog that introduces itself to stock calmly and squarely and moves them off at a walk, not coming in and smashing them and upsetting the situation and getting them trotting.

I have had some great dogs in my time and some not so good! The real stand out dog in my team now would have to be Narroonda Flick. I bred her out of Cherry Gully Djinni who came from Anne Staz, by Barcoo Huey. Flick went to Anne as a pup, but sadly Anne got cancer and couldn’t train Flick anymore, so she gave her back to me at 6 months old. Flick and I got on really well from the start - she was a dream to train.

She always got the big picture and has great stock sense, with plenty of strength when she needs it but can be soft and wide when she has to be. She really is a true all-rounder, she can work cows in the bush and bite hard, then go and work ewes with lambs. She has great feel and distance, but you can also put her in the yards where she will back a race or fill a pen in the shearing shed.

They say you get one dog that stands out in your life - I have been extremely lucky to have had two, Bess and Brow. I got Bess in 2007, the year after I finished ag college, as a little pup and she came with me everywhere. She was by one of Tony Jacksons dogs out of a Highlight bitch called Shelby. As luck would have it when she was five months old, I went to the Greg Prince school and took her along. Greg showed me how to train her properly and she was at the perfect age to go on with. She took the training and showed me what you can achieve when you have the right dog and the right training system. As I started to take her to work, I noticed she would

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do things that were amazing, like block gateways or turn stock around a corner on a road with out me asking her to do it. She would also still listen to me and do whatever I asked even if it was against her natural instincts. We soon headed to Western Australia to Rawlinna Station - she was only 12 months old, but she spent weeks mothering up ewes and lambs after lamb marking, getting sheep out of water squares and endless days on the bike with me mustering. She would never leave a sheep or lamb behind and she would bite a ewe on the nose if needed, but then push a lamb along with her nose if it was falling behind.

I then headed to South Australia to manage a couple of cattle properties. I found out that she was quite strong on cattle and very smart. She could move cattle just by walking up to them and they would turn off her. I started three sheep trialling her and the second trial we ever did she won the novice, got the highest scoring dog in the first round, and penned her sheep in every run. I was hooked! We went to every trial we could and had a lot of success. She has also won a yard dog trial and finished her cattle dog trialling career aged 11 as an open dog.

She has been to countless stations with me all over Australia - worked sheep in South Australia, goats in the gidgee in Queensland and Brahman cattle in the gulf. I hardly had to talk to her by the end, she could nearly read my mind.

I got Brow flown up to Longreach in 2009 from Joe Spicer in Victoria. I was looking for another dog to help Bess out with some fresh Brahman weaners I had to break in. She was 6 months old when I got her. I know better now, but after a couple of days of getting to know her I put her on these weaners and she marched straight up to the first one that stuck its nose out and grabbed it on the nose then grabbed it on the front foot, then stood there eyeing the rest. She has never looked back since! She only weighs 14kgs and is not the best going dog, but never backs down. She never backed sheep but would go under their legs and pop up at the back of the yard or the front

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of the race and get them moving. She had amazing presence with stock, they did not like her at all and all she had to do was stand there – it was incredible to watch. Brow and Bess were my main dogs when I worked on Warrabah Station in New South Wales for four years. It was all horse work and very hilly and she never let me down or left a beast behind. She is the smallest dog I have ever owned with the biggest heart.

I started trialling her in South Australia and she once got the quickest time in a yard dog trial, but she was a bit too much for three sheep trials. When we came to Queensland and started cattle dog trialling, she really hit her straps. Everyone knew her and couldn’t believe such a small dog could have so much courage! She made plenty of finals, won a novice and had a fan club in some of the triallers - they would make sure they were watching her run and cheer when we put the cattle away.

She is an absolute character and has earned her retirement.

Bess and Brow now live a life of luxury in the house yard. Bess is 14 and deaf as a post and Brow is 12 and missing a leg from a run in with an unhappy angus cow.

I remember mustering once with a mate in some pretty hilly country and when we got to the gate the sheep were there but Bess was nowhere to be seen. My mate said to me “That bitch of yours has gone and found the creek and is sitting in the water”. I said no way! There will be a sheep back there

somewhere and she will have it. We rode back and there was Bess with an old ewe that had laid down under a tree. I was pretty proud of her that day!

Another time we were loading steers onto a truck and the driver told me to tie my dog up, so she wasn’t a nuisance. I said that I would bet him $50 that Brow would not move while we were loading. As we were loading the first pen a steer jumped off the side of the ramp, so I whistled Brow around it and she put it back in the yard, then sat in the float until we finished loading the truck. When the truckie handed over the money he said with a chuckle “Lucky you didn’t tie that dog up!” - it was the sweetest $50 I ever got!

One of my greatest moments was winning the Queensland futurity with Flick in 2019 at Rockland Springs, then ringing Anne Staz to let her know. She was too sick to get there, and she was so happy to hear Flick and I had won. I returned to Rockland Springs in 2020 and won both the novice and the open with Flick. She ran five 98’s and a 97 for the weekend including a runoff for the novice final. I also won the maiden with Narroonda Ritz. We had to work the whole weekend for every win. To take out the maiden, novice and open all at the one trial just showed me that you get out what you put in. It was a great feeling.

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KIDS &

DOGS

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Kaden’s working dog schools run a comprehensive training program that has been carefully constructed for the development of a confident and well rounded sheep dog. Denise tackles training with all her heart and enthusiasm (this is considerable), and her drive to get the best from the dogs is admirable. Her philosophy of patience, kindness and positivity allows the dogs to shine. Working through an issue is tackled with a can do attitude and positivity and importantly no punishment (for dog or handler). Feedback is delivered sensitively but directly and there is always a solution to a problem.

Denise not only assists the training of trialling dogs but overlays this with the practical needs of dogs working sheep on a working station. Kaden’s way works. Being welcomed into the Hawe home and spending 5 days training my dog here was a wonderful experience that I hope to repeat next year. Sally Elsom

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A unique program that covers every stage from buying a pup to going to work; including specialist yard dog training. The course consists of over 30 video lessons with a paper base back up. Support is number 1 for Kaden’s students, we offer 1 on 1 coaching as well as weekly Q&A conference calls. There is a private FB community that is active with contests and challenges. This course will transform you as a trainer.

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PHOTO ESSAY Photography by Heidi Mulder H Harrold Photos Photography enquires to Lauren Vest lauren@stockdogs.com.au

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y name is Heidi Mulder, and I am the owner and photographer for H Harrold Photos.

I have lived and worked on stations my whole life and I am currently living and working on a station in North Qld with my husband, our 30 working dogs and 11 horses. I have always loved to capture moments of my everyday life while working with cattle, horses and dogs. I started getting more serious about photography a few years ago taking photos when I could or when I was competing at campdrafts or shows and dog trials. I found a love for capturing that split second moment for more than just me and my family. As the last few years have gone, I enjoy both competing as well as spending most of my day sitting in the best spots and taking photos - from dog trials to working dogs in the cattle yards breaking in weaners or mustering. I enjoy every moment of it and hope that people enjoy seeing the photos I’ve captured. My crew of working dogs are always ready for me to take their photo - they make me smile every time as they always do something unique and funny.

cont..pg.34 .....

The Neil Brothers Circa, 1952

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Training Q&A

Meet our trainers for this issue of Training Q&A.

JAMIE STURROCK is a career stockman based near Dulacca in QLD. He manages a commercial beef cattle operation, breeds working Border Collies, and regularly conducts working dog training schools. Find out more at www. craiglea.com.au

JOE SPICER has been working and breeding Kelpies for 30 years. Joe has instructed countless working dog clinics and won hundreds of trials, including Cattle & Utility Championships and 5 Australian Yard Dog Championships. For videos or information on future clinics please go to the GoGetta Kelpie Stud Facebook page.

LOKABE WORKING DOGS aim to breed practical work dogs with good conformation and temperament. We are passionate about teaching others how to get the most out of their dogs at our Working Dog Schools. Fred has worked dogs on stock for over 20 years and has successfully competed in the highest levels of yard dog trials, including winning the 2016 Ultimate Stock Dog. Whilst Catherine is newer to working dogs on stock, she had her own successful dog training business in Melbourne where she trained dogs in obedience, agility, at boarding kennels, for TV/film and specialised in behaviour modification for problem dogs. Catherine also has a Master of Animal Science, where her focus was on learning in dogs.

QUESTION

How do I teach my dog to back sheep?

Backing sheep (jumping on top of sheep and running along their backs) is a handy skill when working in sheep yards with large numbers of sheep. The backing itself is not the main purpose - It allows the dog to get to the correct point to start stock movement in the quickest way possible and to then move back through the sheep on the ground to create flow. It is especially useful when loading up the race for drenching or filling the shearing shed. Some dogs are naturals at this and take to it without any encouragement, but others need some help to get started. We have asked some experts for their tips and tricks to teach your dog to back sheep – so read on!

ANSWERS JOE SPICER

Even a dog that naturally runs over sheep’s backs needs some training to teach it how to effectively create movement or unblock a jam, but like all training you can either make or break your dog depending how you go about it.

I like to give my pups early exposure to stock from 8 weeks, not only to assess if they are suitable, but also because I find that early POSITIVE experiences on stock “imprints” desired behaviour, or has a greater impression, and gets a better result and saves time later.

In these early sessions the sheep often get jammed in the corner, which most people find frustrating, but it is a great opportunity to encourage your pup to bark, (blocking if it comes in too close) then gently hold it up on the sheep’s backs. At first some pups may freeze but will soon relax and start to enjoy it!

This is a great little game because: 1. Instead of your pup learning that every time you move towards it with yours hands coming at it, that it will be dragged away to its pen (so if it has half a brain becomes evasive), It quickly learns that you are catching it to help it up, and readily moves towards your hands to be lifted.

2. It often will start trying get up there by itself.

3. The sheep will soon move out of the corner (make sure you take the weight of the pup and don’t let it fall when the sheep move) so you can keep the session going (now that the sheep are off the fence) if you like.

The 3 biggest mistakes you can make when teaching a dog of any age are: 1. Trying to MAKE it jump up. (It will do it when it is ready) 2. Dragging and pulling it with the lead.

3. Letting it fall or jump out and get hurt.

You can also pack a few woolly sheep into a race or take the opportunity when you are drenching. Making sure the sheep are firm and cannot move, gently place pup on backs (DON’T DRAG or PULL it up). Once it has relaxed, try to excite, and encourage to bark. If it does not fire, that is the end of lesson (It will be better next time). When it is happy it will start moving over the sheep by itself. Just walk with it, using a lead to make sure it cannot jump out or fall. IF YOU ARE PULLING ON LEAD, YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG! If pup is biting, finish lesson and get it used to a muzzle.

NEVER chastise or say NO! Now that the POSITIVE experience has been imprinted, backing lessons can be left until dog is physically and mentally mature.

STEP 2 - Teaching purpose and commands.

Next, we put a “pattern” on. Sit, speak, jump up, run to front, stop, speak or top knot, go to back, sit, speak, wait. This is done with sheep firmly packed in drenching race (at lease 600mm wide) and on lead.

A. Encourage dog to get up, if it will not, DON’T DRAG IT. Pick it up.

B. Encourage to front of race and move forward yourself, if it won’t, DON’T DRAG IT. (Hopefully you are getting the hint by now?!) Just keep hyping up, then finish lesson. It will be keener next time.

C. Hold at front and encourage to bark by waving and making Zzz noise. If barking at you, kneel low so sheep are between you and dog. If biting, muzzle.

D. Move to back. Jump down. Sit, speak, sit, and wait.

You can now start adding commands to actions, then changing your position so that you can send dog from the back and past you. Never go through sequence more than three times per lesson.

E. Try off lead, but if dog jumps out or does not listen, put back on lead. Do not get MAD or AGGRESSIVE, just know you still have work to do.

F. Can now try when drenching woolly sheep. Dog will naturally get down and go back through sheep, which is what you want, because it packs sheep much tighter with their heads up, which makes a hard job much easier. If dog is biting, muzzle!

If dog jumps out, just put it away, and know that you haven’t trained it properly (go back to Step D).

Z. Once dog is backing proficiently off lead in the race, you can try backing both towards and away in other situations like drafting, loading trucks and shearing shed etc.

Remember: Do not ask what YOU have not taught, and if you cannot do it right, DON’T DO IT! Or your dog will go backwards.

LOKABE WORKING DOGS

Many dogs can find backing sheep quite intimidating initially, so it is important to start them off right so that their confidence grows. For this reason, we want to make the dog’s first experience of backing a positive one. At Lokabe, we start with a few sheep in a race, making sure that they are packed tight (usually with an older, more experienced dog at the back of the race to help). With a lead attached, we place the dog up on the back of the last sheep in the race and encourage them to jump off. When they do so, we give big praise! We do this a few times, only increasing the distance the dog travels across the sheep’s backs once they are confident. The reason we start this way is that it enables the dog to go from where it is hard/stressful (on the sheep) to where it is not (on the ground), which is reinforcing. By also praising/patting the dog when they complete the action, they effectively receive double reinforcement – relief of pressure and praise/pats.

Usually, in conjunction with the above, we will also start to encourage the dog to place their front paws up onto the back of the last sheep. Remember, this is a confidence exercise so lots of praise is essential. Once they are happy to put their front paws on the sheep’s backs, you can then encourage them to

jump all the way up. Keep in mind that your dog should already have experience jumping up onto things, otherwise it is likely to be too scary and difficult for them to achieve.

Whilst introducing your dog to backing, it is important to have the dog on the lead (held quite short for safety) so that you can prevent them jumping out the sides of the race. A lot of dogs will try to do this when first introduced to backing and if they are allowed, you risk them developing the behaviour as a bad habit.

Once the dog is successfully completing the two exercises above, we gradually increase the distance that the dog must travel on top of the sheep. It can also help to add in purpose for the dog, such as a bark or top knot when they get to the front of the race. When you transition from teaching the exercise to doing it as part of real work, most dogs will go through a period of not wanting to do it anymore. In this instance, you need to find a good balance between making the dog do as they are told, but also giving lots of praise when you get what you want and giving the dog an opportunity to feel relief from pressure.

cattle. It is far more important that the livestock are suitable and that you are setting your dog up for success. Provided we are comparing ‘apples for apples’, I highly recommend starting your pup on sheep, and strongly encourage you to find a handful of sheep that will bend off a dog and aren’t too wild.

I have a ‘checklist’ of skills I like to see my young dog doing reasonably well before progressing. Firstly, on sheep in a smaller yard, then in a larger yard, then in a small paddock.

I then repeat this process on a small mob of cattle.

These skills are: 1. Instinct 2. Addiction 3. Balance 4. Work evenly both directions (no ‘one sidedness’) 5. Hold them on the fence 6. Dig them off the fence 7. Stop 8. Walk up 9. Introduction to off balance 10. That’ll do You don’t have to have any of these skills perfect before progressing into larger areas, and then onto cattle. I like to get each to a B+ level before progressing. I really don’t see the point of progressing before your dog has a grasp on these skills. If your dog is not doing well on a few educated sheep in a controlled environment, they are unlikely to do it well on cattle. Same goes for introducing your dog to larger numbers of livestock. If you are struggling on five head, you are likely going to struggle on fifty, or five hundred!

QUESTION

How do I transition my young dog from sheep to cattle?

Working cattle carries a lot more risk for a dog than working sheep. For this reason, many people choose to start educating their pups on sheep while they are younger, less confident (or overconfident!) and less likely to dodge a kick or charge.

Working a young dog on sheep also makes it easier for the handler to control the situation and set things up for the dog to learn quickly and clearly. We have asked some experienced trainers for their trips and tricks when transitioning your young dog from working sheep to working cattle.

JAMIE STURROCK

I have always started my young working dogs on sheep, even if they are destined for a career on cattle. Personally, 95% of my stock-work is with cattle, but I still prefer to start my pups on sheep, before moving onto cattle. I am sure there are people out there that start young dogs on cattle straight up with some success, but it is certainly not how I prefer to do it.

It is important to mention, that the suitability of the chosen livestock is far more important than the species. A couple of cranky ewes or a ram are far less suitable for introducing a young dog to stock, than half a dozen well educated weaner

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Once I am happy with my dog’s progress on sheep, I will introduce them to a small mob of educated, young cattle in the same way, in the same facility. I never used to do it this way. In the earlier part of my career, I was working in a feedlot and backgrounding operation. We had fresh, young cattle coming in several times a week, and plenty of them. When I felt I had a pup that was ready for its first exposure to cattle, I just waited until I had a suitable sized mob of light, young cattle to walk away, I would get them under control with my older dogs, and let that young dog go. We were basically just winging it! I got heaps of young dogs started this way, with plenty of success, but the results were hit and miss. I am all for learning on the job, and think it is important part of broadening a dog’s experience, but I do not encourage this method for the first several times transitioning a dog from sheep to cattle, now that I’ve found a better way.

Part of what convinced me to improve on this method, apart from the mixed results, was a change of job. I moved from a feedlot and backgrounding operation to a breeding operation.

I went from having access to young, fresh, dry cattle all year round, to mainly working with protective, cranky wet cows for most of the year. I only had access to young cattle once a year at weaning, and in one big hit of large numbers. Suddenly, I had to plan ahead, and put some thought into transitioning my young dogs from sheep to cattle.

My biggest frustration was that if I had a young dog that wasn’t quite ready for cattle at weaning in April, that dog could be 18 months old by the time weaning came around again. I didn’t want to wait this long, so I had to adapt. For several years, I just put up with this, and grabbed any opportunity I had to give a young dog a ‘dry cattle job’. I got away with this,

mainly because of my experience with dogs and cattle. But this method would limit the success of the majority of beginner and intermediate handlers.

pressure they feel, but if the mob’s too big the dog can runa-muck around the other side, so should be around 10 to 20 head depending on how quiet they are and what’s available.

I had toyed around with ‘trainer mobs’ of cattle over the years, but never really had much success. I found that they always seemed to get so broke, so quickly, that they didn’t really want to move, and a young dog never really achieved much on these types of stock. I have to give Neil McDonald credit for my breakthrough in this department. I attended one of his schools, where around 15 people worked the same five head of cattle over three days, with some often very untidy dogs, and the cattle remained willing and happy, provided you treated them a certain way. It took next to no tweaking to my treatment of my trainer cattle to keep them fresh and willing, indefinitely!

I am big on setting your dog (and yourself) up for success, so I believe important milestones such as this in a working dog’s career are worth a bit of extra effort. These days, I highly recommend keeping a small trainer mob of cattle handy if you can. The advantages are endless! Here are some pointers to keep them fresh, willing, and happy:

For the initial introduction I like to start in a big yard, so that I can keep the dog on my side, staying in contact with the mob, and able to use my body language to block and bring dog behind. Stopping the dog before it tries to push around the fence and get kicked. Just letting the dog get comfortable and a feel for its stock with at least one experienced dog backing it up.

1. Six head is a good number. You can work all six, or two mobs of three if you like.

2. Spend some time to educate these cattle.

3. Teach them to follow you (the leader).

4. ALWAYS give the cattle relief, and somewhere to go (follow you).

5. Keep moving.

6. NEVER allow the dog to ruin the flow of the mob by over heading.

If you stick to these principles, particularly number six, you will be amazed how long the same few head of cattle will last you.

Your young dog’s transitions from sheep to cattle will improve out of sight, and you will get your dogs out into the paddock doing practical stock work much sooner.

JOE SPICER

No magic wands, just how to make the transition as painless and productive as possible.

I, and most handlers have just dropped a young dog off with the older dogs when bringing a mob in, but young dogs often get a rush of blood the first time they’re introduced to cattle, applying too much pressure - causing the normally calm and tolerant plodders to get cranky and erratic in the blink of an eye! It doesn’t always end well and isn’t great for the blood pressure either!

For this reason, even though I like to take pups with me and get them used to being around cattle, I won’t give them a run until they are mentally and physically able to be challenged or kicked and then come back harder, and mature enough to show the moo’s some respect.

Preferably I like to have some basics on sheep, like being balanced up (going around, bringing and holding sheep to me) sit, come and come behind. But I also appreciate that some obedience will go out the window with the initial excitement.

The cattle are by far the most important aspect and should be well educated weaners (if possible) that react calmly to pressure and don’t line up any young naive suckers that come into range, like some older more calculating cattle do. Mob size is also important, because the smaller the mob the more

Second look is preferably on the same quiet trainer mob either driving in a laneway or balancing in the paddock.

Ideally staying close to, but not right on the fence, so the dog can learn to steer the mob, but there is less chance of any cattle getting enough of a run up to go through the fence. The mob can then easily be put on the fence so I can get between the dog and the mob to block it, if it’s getting too wound-up or won’t call off.

Sooner or later the young dog will inevitability get challenged and kicked but the trainers are far more forgiving and have less power than older cattle. Once they have learnt to hold their ground whilst showing respect, they’re ready to mix it with the big boys/girls!

We all do it a little differently but hopefully there is plenty of take aways here for you to make the transition more easily, safely and with a better end result.

LOKABE WORKING DOGS

Whilst not always a reality, the best practice for this transition is to gradually work the dogs up to cattle work. If you can, start on weaners that have already been broken in a bit, as then if the young dog gets kicked, it is less likely to cause serious damage (although caution should always be taken as even calves can be dangerous if you/your dog are unlucky). Starting the young dog off working with an older, experienced dog can also help to keep the situation under control and therefore safer for everyone.

A good place to start with weaners is in the yards with some non-confrontational work. For example, having the young dog ‘help’ to move them through the yards as part of the process of breaking them in, but only adding your young dog once the weaners already know where they are going and so are less likely to front up to your dog. Effectively, your young dog will be ‘working’ the weaners, although in all honesty their presence is not actually making that much difference (in this situation it is more about your young dog getting experience than getting the job done). Once your young dog has experience with this, you can take them out into the paddock but again, starting with non-confrontational work where the young dog is added once the weaners are already moving where you want/need them to go. All going well, you can then start getting your young dog to block them up, making sure that they are just one member of a more experienced team of dogs. As the dog gains more experience, you can progress them from weaners to dry cows and so on. However, when introducing them to ‘harder’ cattle (e.g., from weaners to dries), you ideally want to go back to where the young dog is initially only added to the situation once the cows are already going in the direction you want, to minimise confrontation. As the dog’s experience grows, you can again progress to blocking them up etc.

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The Training Pen

KEN SYKES

Working with the strong eyed dog

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uch has been written about “eye”. The intense stare or stalking approach shown by many working Border Collies and Working Kelpies. Claims such as the dog hypnotizing the sheep or using the power of the stare to move the sheep show a basic misunderstanding of predator and prey behavior. The stalking approach followed by freezing and staring may be seen in many breeds of gun dogs as well as in working dogs.

If the predator (in this case the dog) remains still, it is difficult for the prey animal (livestock) to establish whether the predator represents a threat. Watch a documentary where a lion is stalking a gazelle. When the gazelle raises its head, the lion will freeze but continue to stare intently at its prey. The gazelle will often drop its head and continue to graze. It is only when the lion moves and enters the fight or flight zone that the gazelle will react.

A similar reaction is often seen with a strong eyed border collie and sheep. The dog will stare intently at the sheep and the sheep will remain stationary staring at the dog. The degree of concentration can be so intense that the dog totally switches off from the trainer. If neither moves, they may stay in this position for an extended period of time, often allowing the rest of the mob to move off. When the dog does move it will often jump forward causing a scatter.

While “eye” is not essential it is often the sign of a very keen and capable worker. Dogs with a moderate degree of “eye” tend to have a calm, steady approach to stock. “Loose eyed” or dogs totally lacking in “eye” often have a rougher style of working, although this is not always the case. I did have a German shepherd dog many years ago that showed no “eye” but was an outstanding worker on both sheep and cattle.

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Ken Sykes has been working with sheepdogs most of his life. A successful competitor at sheep-dog trials, Ken runs regular training for livestock producers and gives workingdog demonstrations. He is a feature writer and speaker. His expertise draws on a broad range of research as well as practical experience.

Try to stop the habit of stopping and staring from developing.

Avoid keeping the strong eyed pup in a location where it can lie and stare at stock for long periods of time. As soon as possible get the pup away from working small mobs and out into the paddock with larger mobs. Keep the stock moving and the young dog active. Work on the “off” command and have the dog break its concentration by moving backward rather than jumping forward. Once the How to se lect the ri dog moves and the ght pup and form a strong partnersh pressure comes ip off the sheep will often start to move off. It may be necessary to clap your hands or even crack a whip as soon as the dog starts to lock down and stare, to break its concentration and get it Age old train ing practices recent scient combined wi moving again. ific discover th ie s on how do gs learn. ing postage in Australia es available from the auth kwsykes@bi or at gpond.com

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Alternative Internal

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Therapies for Working Dogs

s mentioned in the Dec 2020 issue of the AWSD magazine, the majority of working dog owners will take their dogs to a vet for serious or chronic health issues.

An increasing number of veterinarians and other practitioners also employ “non-traditional” treatments that rely on natural substances like herbs and homeopathic remedies, or physical manipulation. An accurate diagnosis must be made before you begin any type of treatment, but many dogs can benefit from a skilled and sensible combination of traditional and alternative therapies.

This short article will briefly touch on three alternative “internal” therapies available in Australia.

Aromatherapy

Many people have turned to essential oils as part of their holistic approach to well-being. As the popularity of these products grows, some working dog owners have incorporated essential oils into their dog's healthcare routine. Essential oils can be a gentler alternative to traditional medicine. Applied topically, these oils quickly absorb into the skin and can help strengthen the immune system, ease anxiety, help create a calm environment, soothe itchy or irritated skin, quiet digestive upsets, repel insects and heal infections. Some oils can also be used with a diffuser. However, not all essential oils are safe to use on pets and can be toxic, and some dogs may be allergic to specific oils. Additionally, the oils can be

harmful if ingested or given in large doses. Essential oils are not regulated and the concentration and safety listed on the label may be unknown in pets. As always, it is always best to consult your veterinarian before beginning any new treatment regimen.

Herbalism

Herbal Medicine is the treatment of various conditions using herbal extracts, given internally as a liquid, tablet, or capsule; or applied externally as a cream, gel, ointment or shampoo.

Many herbs can be used alongside conventional medicines/ therapies and often have a synergistic effect. Supplementing your dog's diet with herbal medicine might help treat digestive issues, kidney and bladder disease, parasites, skin problems, and bone or tissue injuries. It is important to remember that herbs can have adverse interactions with some medications.

For this reason, if your pet has a disease or is on medication it is vital to consult a trained veterinary herbalist to make sure that the herbs are safe to be used alongside your pet's conventional medications and any other diseases that your dog has. Herbs often have multiple actions so if one herb cannot be used with a certain medication it is almost always possible to find another to take its place. In addition to using an herbal formulation, your dog’s treatment plan may also include dietary/lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements. One important thing to know when using herbal formulations is that they often do not have immediate effects.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is an alternative therapy that tries to activate an animal’s own healing abilities. It aims to restore balance by stimulating the body to react to disease, infections and other health problems by producing its own anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and germ-killing agents. Homeopathy was first devised in the 1790s by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Its key concept can be found in its name, “homeopath”, which is derived from the Greek word for like or similar, hence “like cures like.” Traditional homeopathy uses extremely small amounts of substances to alleviate symptoms that would actually be caused by a substantial dose of the same substances. In other words, the remedy “replaces” the illness and allows the animal’s own healing processes to overcome the health condition. There are more than 2,000 homeopathic remedies derived from plant, mineral and animal sources that are available to address a wide range of chronic and acute conditions. During emergency situations your dog should be taken to a vet as soon as possible, but homeopathic remedies may be suitable for use on the way to the veterinary clinic or as part of a complementary healthcare program.

Please keep in mind that before you consider holistic or alternative treatments, it’s important that you also have a discussion with your veterinarian. Many vets do not oppose combining forms of treatment or seeking out alternatives to medication and invasive procedures. Holistic vets can give you plenty of great advice about how to administer some of these treatments at home as well!

Sally Purbrick-Illek lives on the Gold Coast with her working border collies. She advises urban dog owners about the health and training of their working breed dogs via her Facebook page Dog Works@ cityworkingdogs.

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Breeding Kelpies with natural instinct

Fairdinkum Kelpies GUARANTEED TO WORK WKC registered and DNA tested for genetic disease Contact Janelle 040 775 9338 Email: nelscartage@bigpond.com

Fairdinkum Kelpies are strong versatile dogs, bred to work with natural ability under all conditions.

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AUSTRALIAN WORKING BORDER COLLIE REGISTRY Inc. 9896908 A National Registry for pure bred working Border Collies, our aim is to maintain the stud book and promote the responsible breeding of the working Border Collie within Australia.

Offering members access to the online stud book, provenance in bloodlines and pedigrees.

Pictured - WOOLLYS GRACIE A0681 - Photo by Deb Kelly

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RISING STAR

Alys s a

May B rown

RISING STAR - ALYSSA MAY BROWN

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lyssa is a young Cattle Dog Trialler hailing from Woolbrook, NSW. Alyssa started her trialling career at the remarkable age of four, and she turns eight in May. Alyssa's older brother Nathan Brown runs Nil-Rain Working Dogs and Training, with her dad Phillip Brown running Nil-Rain Livestock at their home at Woolbrook.

In 2017 Alyssa won the under 18's event at the Armidale Cattle Dog Trial, with Nil-Rain Shazza. The event was organised by the late Victor Moar. Alyssa has another dog aside from Shazza, who she will be working at this years Armidale Cattle Dog Trial - Riverside Magpie, bred by Ben Gould from Riverside Working Dogs.

Magpie is also her best friend and loves getting books read to her.

Alyssa has placed in Encouragement Trials from Murwillumbah to Dungog. She won the Encouragement at The Grafton Charity Trial in 2019,

and she has also won the Encouragement at Maclean.

Alyssa and her family give a big thank you to the NSW Working Stock Dog Association for their continued support of the juniors events. Thank you for being such a family orientated event and encouraging our upcoming stars!

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KELPIES ABROAD

Iain Muirhead

got under his skin. He was hooked in no time, rising early on a weekend to milk the cows and up at the farm after school to feed the beef cattle.

Article by Patsy Trevor Photos Iain Muirhead Tucked away on a rented estate in rural England at Richmond, North Yorkshire lives an Instagrammer known as biglad72.

I first came across this Instagram account a few years ago and was interested to see pictures of Australian Working Kelpies mustering unusual looking ewes and lambs in the snow. The Australian Working Kelpie has been successfully exported overseas for quite some time, however in a country of predominantly collies, and a few Huntaways, the Kelpie is still quite rare. It is good to see Kelpies flourishing in places other than its country of origin and working a variety of stock.

Biglad72, also known as Iain Muirhead, is probably quite familiar to those of us who frequent the Working Kelpie sites on Facebook as a man with a good sense of humour and a team of 6 Australian Working Kelpies of various ages.

Iain grew up on the very edge of Macclesfield, a town in the county of Cheshire in the north west of England. There is no farming in his family whatsoever. Iain says his sister got the brains in the family and he got the brawn (that is probably what inspired the name of his Instagram account). He did grow up around dogs as his parents rescued various dogs from different kennels across England and the family always had a few dogs ranging from Great Danes, Lurchers, to Whippet crosses and a couple of cats. Macclesfield was a very hilly area and up the road from his home was a farm called ‘Commonside’, where Iain and his best friend Paul spent all their spare time. Although as a kid he wanted to be a soldier, he quickly realised that although farming may not have been in his blood it certainly

As Iain got a little older it was apparent that he wanted to go into farming, so he left school in 1989 to study agriculture at Reasheath College. During this time Iain discovered a passion for sheep work, and did some part time work on weekends on his friends Jack & Gill Storer’s rented 200-acre farm. The farm ran sheep and cattle however Iain didn’t have any need of working dogs as the farm was relatively small in size. It was also during this time that he met his partner in crime of 29 years Mel, who was studying small animal care. Iain left Reasheath College in 1992 and found employment as an assistant herdsman to 400 dairy cows and assisted in looking after 1000 breeding ewes. Eventually the sheep were sold, and Iain was promoted to head herdsman. Once the sheep were gone, leaving only the herd of dairy cattle, Iain realised he had lost his love of all things dairy and decided on a change.

Iain and Mel then moved north to Thirsk in Yorkshire in 1998 and commenced work on Nab Farm managing 150 suckler beef cows and 2500 breeding sheep. Unfortunately, foot & mouth disease struck the farm in 2001 and wiped out 5000 head of stock - these were dark times indeed. On a more positive note, Iain’s journey into Working Kelpies began during his time at Thirsk. Will Benson, a shepherd working on adjoining farm, owned a red and tan Kelpie bitch named Kell. Iain thought she was a hell of a dog and watching her work, especially catching ewes, inspired Iain and he decided on the spot he had to have one of his own. Although it would be another 5-6 years after meeting Kell before he was able to turn his dream into a reality.

After working on a few different farms, Iain commenced his current position at Whaston Springs, a rented Estate at Richmond, in 2008. Whaston Springs is a 2,200-acre farm that runs 1400 breeding sheep comprised mainly of what are known as North England Mules. They are a cross between a blue faced Leicester and a Swaledale ewe, local to the area, and named after an area around the Swaledale River. The farm also runs a 180 head herd of suckler cattle as well as some cropping and seed potatoes.

Iain was finally able to realise his dream of working livestock with dogs. Iain’s first dog was named Thomas, a big white headed, rough coated border collie. He was the first dog Iain had called his own. Thomas was a steep learning curve for Iain and he was the first dog that Iain broke in himself. He freely admits he was pretty clueless! Iain relates that many a time he would have to run like the clappers to stop the sheep getting on the main road as Thomas wouldn’t listen and just kept driving them along.

After Thomas and a short stint of blue merle Collies (which Iain thought were tremendous workers at the time) Bentalla Kelly, a black and tan Kelpie bitch out of Mayrock Luce, came into Iain’s life. She was his first Kelpie and he was totally hooked.

Iain loved her working style – she had a lovely big cast and would happily work out of sight. She was a great all-round working dog and would also bark on command. Bentalla Kelly died of kidney failure at the age of 13, and with the benefit of hindsight, Iain realised how good Kelly was and how much more he preferred the Kelpie personality compared to a Collie.

Unfortunately, Iain kept no pups out of Bentalla Kelly although he did breed her to a collie and got a litter of cross bred pups out of her. Most were great workers, though almost all died early due to ill health.

In 2014 a cream registered working Kelpie named Kai came into Ian’s life (Hawkesbury Charge x UK Attford Izzy) and things totally changed from then on for Iain. Kai at 7yo is the oldest Kelpie in Iain’s current team and he also admits is his favourite. Kai has taught Iain so much about the breed and given him a much better understanding of working Kelpies in general. He is very natural, is very calm and steady and known as Mr Reliable. Iain says Kai has the uncanny knack of knowing exactly where to be at the right time, although Kai and Iain don’t always agree on where that is! He is a very low stress working dog with good distance and is exceptionally clever. In the yards, Kai will happily back sheep and bark on command.

Kai has also bred on successfully for Iain – he owns Kai’s son Mickleton Max (x Shepherds Cira) bred by Catherine Atkinson of Mickleton Kelpie Stud. Mickleton Max is a red and tan male and at only 10 months old has been started, but still has a lot to learn. Iain says he is ‘wired to the lights’, meaning he is full on, so Iain is giving him time to mature.

Woolstone Jasper (Pumbar Russell x Kirkcaldy Frieda) a 4yo black and tan male Kelpie male is another member of Iain’s team. Jasper is known as Mr Muscle - he’s got grunt when needed but is a gentle giant. Iain describes Jasper as very biddable with a lot of power, with an extra two or three more gears than your average working dog, though he isn’t keen on backing. Iain tells me that in the UK a backing dog is not as sought after, as their races are comparatively short compared to the races he has seen on some Australian properties. There are also no shearing sheds so there is no requirement for sheep to be loaded up into a shed by a backing dog. In the UK when it comes time to shear, a mobile team of shearers arrives with their own trailers which are attached to the end of the race and each sheep is then pushed forwards on to the trailer and shorn.

The next member of Iain’s team is the 3yo black & tan bitch Devonairs Ruby (Laurenapark Rock x Devonairs Diamond).

Iain says Ruby has an F.U. attitude, a great cast and is very confident on her stock. Stationbred Kay (Lyndhurst Kai x Sbred Bee) a 15 month old black and tan bitch by Kai is working well in both the paddock and yards on sheep. Iain hasn’t started her on cattle yet but plans to in the future. The final and most recent addition to the team is the understudy Rettanach Razzle (Rettanach Rooster x Dragonhart Darcy) known as Ellie, who is related to Iain’s good bitch Bentalla Kelly. Iain says 6-monthold Ellie is a lovely natured pup who has not been started yet but is very good at stalking the other working dogs.

I asked Iain about how he starts his pups – generally what he does is take them with him every day in the back of the buggy and expose them to as many things as possible including older dogs working stock and the general sights and noises on the farm whilst also spending time bonding with them. Iain’s personal preference is not to start pups too young, believing that they need time to mature and calm down before too much exposure to stock. He would normally start them inside a shed in a 20m x 20m metre pen on say 20 lambs, accompanied by an older experienced dog for support. He generally just lets them do their own thing and only influences them be means of positive body language. Depending on the individual pup this might be around 6 months of age. Their first start outside on a real mob might be at a gateway or somewhere else where they can cause as little damage as possible whilst being as involved as possible.

Workwise Iain generally has 2 dogs out together while he remains in the buggy and mostly positions himself and his buggy to one side where he can have the dogs influencing the leaders of the mob. He explained that in the UK mobs are mostly worked from behind and it is only via the teachings of his mentors that Iain has come to this more useful method of working stock.

Amongst stockmen that Iain admires and calls his mentors are David Hart from Tracker Kelpie Stud in Australia, who after exporting some Working Kelpies to Holland was invited there to carry out a few training days and dog schools. David also travelled to the UK where Iain attended one of his schools.

Iain’s take away from David Hart’s school was the change

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and Nina Griffiths have brought new life to the Association and catapulted the group forward. A range of working Kelpie demonstrations and training days were organised in 2020 and for 2021, however Covid has meant all of these had to be cancelled. BATWK however are planning to hold more training days and demonstrations as soon as Covid and lockdowns are lifted.

Iain told me that the desire for Kelpies and working dogs in the UK has never been stronger than it is now. Partially due to Covid and partially due to dispelling the common misconception in the UK, the land of the Collie, that the Kelpie is a snappy and yappy type of dog. One of the main reasons for the change in perception according to Iain, is the importation of a dog from John Gedye’s Scoriochre Stud in Dundonnel, Victoria. Scoriochre Cracker, a black and tan dog by Skyblue Sam x Scoriochre Charlie Girl, has made a big impact in the UK after his importation to North Wales and has dispelled some previously held misconceptions of the Kelpie’s usefulness as a working dog.

from mainly driving stock from behind, to working a mob from the side or even in front. Another stockman in Australia that Iain looks up to as a breeder and mentor is David Motley. Iain came to know David via his friend Nick Potter, a Kelpie man from the UK who travelled widely around Australia. Iain says he loves David Motleys laid back calm nature, his wealth of knowledge and has enjoyed chatting to him about all things Kelpie as well as life in general. David has taught Iain to have faith in his dogs and learn to trust them, letting him know that yes, all dogs make mistakes but to not take them personally.

If you are having a bad day put the dogs away and move on.

Iain was very much looking forward to meeting both Gary White and Paul McPhail whom he considers to be top dog handlers, as both were booked to carry out Dog Schools in the UK, however COVID has put a stop to those.

A great recent idea that Iain and fellow Kelpie enthusiast Mike Jones have been involved with is BATWK - the British Association of True Working Kelpies, a society that was formed to actively promote the working Kelpie in the UK. The idea for the association was first broached after both Iain and Mike Jones attended a David Hart working dog clinic in the UK. Iain said a group of people got together after the clinic and decided to form an organisation to embrace different types of Kelpies, be they yard or paddock, and to promote serious breeding of registered workers rather than the backyard type breeding of unregistered dogs that had been prevalent at the time. BATWK now has 50 registered members. In more recent times both Catherine Atkinson

As far as competitions are concerned Kelpies in the UK are only allowed to compete in lower level ISDS trials. They are banned from higher level competitions and there are as yet no yard dog trials that exist. BATWK are hoping to change this in the near future. Iain is hoping that Nathan Cayfe from Eveready Stud in Australia will travel out to the UK post Covid to help get things moving along.

I would like to say a big thank you to Iain for his help with this article and chatting to me on the phone over breakfast (on his end). Although we are 15,000 odd kms away from each other, he made it possible for me to not only write the article but also provided me with photos. So, thank you, biglad72!

STOCKMANS

KELPIES COLLARS and

Bill and Marg Scott North East Victoria 0428662728 stockmans5@bigpond.com www.stockmans.com.au Stockmans Kelpies - Stockmans Collars

KELPIES ABROAD

Jan-Rene Hartmann - Das Hueteteam Photography by Magische Momente Fotografie Elena Rusczyk

J

an runs an animal park at his home in Forst, Germany, where he also works as a shearer and dog trainer. In 2018 he imported his first Kelpie and has fallen in love with the breed. We asked Jan for some insight into his life and work and how his Kelpies fit into the German countryside!

Since I was five years old, I dreamt of one day having my very own Border Collie. My uncle, who was in the US Army, had one and he was my best mate that time. This is how I learned English - sit, stay and heel were my very first words!

I spent all my summer holidays with my other uncle who had an Australian Cattle Dog – a Blue Heeler. I remember walking him one day when he escaped and rounded up some of the neighbourhood cattle –What he was capable of with his natural ability was fantastic to watch. I always wanted to become a vet, as I love animals and have a natural instinct for them. It is in my blood. But unfortunately, I have caring parents who thought it would be better for me to learn something “better”. I became a salesman by trade and sold steel for some big companies. 2008 I quit my job, swapped my tie and collar for a pair of Redband gumboots and did a lambing beat in New Zealand. I wanted to learn more about sheep and especially shearing – the shearer who shore my own few sheep was more of a butcher than a shearer. I got myself a heading dog and away we went. I fell in love with this headstrong

character and took him back home to Germany when I left eight months later. To finance his transport home, I trained another dog and sold it for a reasonably good price. Since then, I have been back and forwards to New Zealand almost every shearing season.

What drew you to Kelpies specifically?

The Kelpie eyes really drew me in to these crazy dogs. I saw some in the back of a ute on my very first farm - they were city dogs and went nuts as I came closer to them. For some reason I was interested in their strong stalking eyes. I had never seen them before but saw them working later on the shed. Their natural instinct and their strong will to work reminded me of Spots - my very first four legged workmate.

I researched everything I could find on the internet and eventually the movie about ‘Red Dog’ finally got me. Every year shearing overseas made me more efficient and faster my customers meanwhile got older, so I decided to get a good dog to help me penning up. I realised backing is a good ‘tool’ and my Border Collies were depending on my commands too much of the time. I wanted a natural working yard dog. So, I ordered my first Kelpie from Australia! Akennedys Choker drew my attention, so I got in contact with Beth Sandral from Sandstock Kelpies. She made it all simple for me to import my first pup – Sandstock Red, a bitch.

How have you selected bloodlines to suit you?

I really wanted something naturally backing - that’s why I was searching YouTube for backing Kelpies and how I found

some nice kennels. Beth was the first person I contacted she was pretty casual and it was no big deal from then on. In 2020 I wanted to visit the Casterton Kelpie Muster with the view to importing a suitable Kelpie for a customer of mine.

He breeds water buffalo and needed an additional dog for his team. As Casterton ended up being cancelled, I looked on the net – I ended up finding Kuloo Kelpies and Patsy from Kuloo was great to deal with from the very first contact. She had a nice young dog for sale who was not related in any way to my bitch, strong built and lovely natured. He was the type of dog my customer was looking for, so we went ahead and imported Kuloo Bullet. He was such a lovely natured dog that I could not resist letting him sit on the passenger’s seat - I had him in the dog box in the back of my van, but I stopped at the first bus stop and brought him into the front.

He laid his head on my lap and I simply fell in love. It turned out that he was not quite as tough as I had thought he´d be from his looks and it took us a while to get a connection – typical language barrier – I think my kiwi accent was too strong for this Aussie bloke and he didn’t take me seriously.

As I fell in love with him and excused his soft temperament my customer got impatient and we agreed I´d buy him out.

Since then, Bullet and I have formed a bond stronger than I’ve had with any other dog. Now I am waiting for Patsy to get two more bitch pups ready for their big trip to my kennel – I´ll train one bitch for my shearer friend in Switzerland and one will replace Red. Red is leaving us in June to go to a friend of mine in Switzerland.

How have you found the process of importing dogs from Australia?

Honestly, the biggest task on my side of importing a dog was and probably always will be patience. Once you find a suitable dog it takes a couple of months to get it ready with all the necessary vaccines and documents. The worst part for me is the two days from departure to the time you clear your dog at customs. Thankfully, all of my imported dogs

have seemed to travel well and I am very lucky that all of them have arrived safe and sound. This is a great opportunity to thank Beth and Patsy for their work - from the order, the money transfer through to the actual travel and arrival of the dogs – it involves a lot of patience and trust. I can highly recommend both breeders!

Probably the funniest call I ever received was in the middle of the night when a Border Security Officer called me and asked me with a friendly, but bossy tone what kind of weapon I was planning to import. I had no idea what he was talking about! The officer asked me again “What kind of weapon are you planning to import from Australia?” I finally twigged and couldn’t help saying “Just a Kuloo Bullet for my Red bitch at home”. I explained to him later that Bullet was the name of the Kelpie I was importing!

What sort of work are your Kelpies doing for you?

In my shearing business my dogs gather sheep from the paddock - I arranged to work with farmers who let me muster and I just charge extra for the use of my dogs. I have my own herd of Scottish Highland Cattle, a herd of sheep, as well as operating an animal park with all sorts of animals, so my dogs work shifting mobs around in the rotational grazing system. They help pen up animals – mostly sheep, but also goats, cattle and sometimes fellow deer and poultry such as geese and ducks. Occasionally I get called by the RSPCA, the police, or desperate farmers with escaped animals – I have a hunting permit and a licence for anesthetizing animals via rifle. Most of the time I use my dogs to hold those animals for better targeting.

At my home I breed, train and sell working dogs. Frozen semen is available in the UK via Kelpie Genetics UK. Sheepdog training and clinics are available on site and around Europe.

“I wanted a natural working yard dog. So, I ordered my first Kelpie from Australia!”

More information about me and my team of dogs can be found on Facebook (Das Hueteteam) Instragram (das_hueteteam) and my website www.hueteteam.de.

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Pushing the sheep onto the bridge

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO THREE SHEEP TRIALLING Article by Lauren Vest Photos by Shadows Farm Photography What is a three sheep trial?

A three sheep trial is designed to test a dog’s ability to work a small number of flighty sheep out in the paddock. Dog and handler must manoeuvre three sheep around a course that includes obstacles designed to imitate challenges you might face in a work environment such as gates, gullies or other natural obstacles. Working a smaller number of sheep requires the dog to show its ability to settle flighty sheep and respect their flight zone, as three sheep are much touchier and easily upset than a larger mob. Three sheep trials are usually all similar, containing roughly the same obstacles and layout, with small differences between trials and states. There is also an alternate trial course called the Trans Tasman course. This was developed using a blend of Australian and New Zealand rules to allow a fair test between the two countries when competing in the Trans Tasman Test – An annual competition between the neighbouring countries, held in Australia one year and New Zealand the next. Three sheep trials are generally held in large, enclosed areas such as a sporting oval or similar fenced areas, to prevent the escape of sheep if lost. A decent length cast is the start of every three sheep trial, so more room is necessary than needed for a yard or cattle trial.

Three sheep trials start with the handler standing at one end of the area at the casting peg – a picket or peg marks the spot – with their dog. The sheep are released from the opposite end of the trialling area, usually the full length of the field.

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Around the casting peg is an area marked out on the ground called the delivery area – The first task of the trial is to cast the dog from the casting peg out around the sheep and bring them down the field in a straight line into the delivery area.

If the dog crosses between the handler and the sheep it is an automatic disqualification, except in the encourage class.

Points may be deducted for the dog stopping early or late on its cast or not bringing the sheep in a straight line toward the casting peg. All three sheep must enter the delivery area before commencing the rest of the course. This is also a chance for the handler to inspect the sheep and alert the judge if they are not suitable, for example a sore foot or vision issues. Once the sheep have been ‘delivered’, the handler may leave the casting peg. The first obstacle is usually a gap made by portable panels either side of an opening, however the travel between obstacles is just as much a test as the obstacles themselves. The handler must walk a straight line between obstacles, which is marked out on the ground, and maintain a consistent pace without stopping. For maximum points, the sheep are ‘carried’ (kept beside) the right hand side of the handler (sometimes this may be the left side), within an eight metre corridor that runs parallel to the path of travel. The sheep should also stay less than eight metres in front or behind the handler. The markers on the path of travel are placed eight metres apart so that the judge can clearly see when the sheep have moved outside this area. If the sheep move outside this area points are deducted, and the dog must try to bring them immediately back into the corridor.

Some trials include what is called a winding peg in between the casting peg and the first obstacle – this is a post that marks a corner in the path of travel, and the sheep must pass on the correct side (the same side they are being carried on). If they do not, the handler must stop at the post and ‘unwind’ – bring the sheep back and put them around the correct way before continuing onto the first obstacle. At each obstacle there is a circle marked on the ground where the handler must stand and not move from until the sheep have passed through the obstacle. The gap is simple – the three sheep must all pass through the gap in the centre. The handler then follows the corridor to their marked position at the next obstacle, with the dog bringing the sheep along within the corridor. A race or Y chute is often the second obstacle, being panels set up to make a narrow corridor with wings at the entrance to help funnel the sheep inside. Once the sheep have all passed through, handler, dog, and sheep progress to the next obstacle, usually the bridge. A particularly challenging obstacle, this is a similar shape to the race, but inside the panels it includes a ramp leading up to a raised walkway that the sheep must walk up and across, and the jump off the end. The change in flooring and height is intimidating to the sheep and the dog must often work quite hard to convince the sheep to cross. After the bridge is negotiated, the last obstacle is the pen. The pen is a small square yard with one side (the gate) hinged and open. The handler’s position is next to the end of the open gate, and the dog must work the sheep into the pen on his own. All sheep must be inside the pen behind the line across the front of the pen before the handler can leave their position and close the gate. The dog should cover the open gap as the gate is closed, but not enter the pen. Time finishes when the gate is shut. If the sheep escape the pen while the gate is being shut it is

disqualification. If the allocated time runs out before the sheep have been closed into the pen, points are deducted for each obstacle left uncompleted. Some trials may leave out one or more obstacles depending on space and time for the trial.

What do my dog and I need to be able to do, before we enter a trial?

Your dog should be well under control and experienced working small numbers of sheep, as they behave very differently to a larger mob. You should be confident casting your dog and controlling it at distances upwards of 100 metres. A good stop and being able to steady your dog are especially important, as well as them being comfortable working outside or just at the edge of the flight zone. Pushier dogs often require a command to work wider. Your dog will be working on balance most of the time, however if the sheep get out of position or try to avoid an obstacle you will need to work them off balance, so being able to steer them to either side is beneficial. Barking is rarely warranted, and biting is only allowed for self defence or if it is necessary and effective to progress.

What are the levels?

Handlers start at encourage level, until they win a certain number of encourage classes (often two or three) or one higher class trial. Dogs begin at Maiden level, and as they win trials, move up to novice, improver and then open. Some trials run a farmers or local class to encourage newcomers.

How are three sheep trials scored?

Much like other forms of trialling, you start with 100 points and lose them as you go for anything less than ideal work.

An ideal run is one where the sheep calmly walk around the

Negotiating the race

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Success! Closing the gate on the pen

course, staying within the corridors and smoothly moving forward through the obstacles. Points are lost for sheep being outside the corridor or moving around an obstacle instead of through. Dogs may lose points for tail turning, biting, entering the pen with the sheep, or toileting on course. The handler may lose points by speeding up, slowing down, or stopping during travel, leaving the handlers ring at an obstacle before the sheep are through or influencing the sheep.

How do I enter my first trial?

To enter a trial, you either need to join your state sheep dog workers association or purchase a day membership for the trial to be covered by insurance. Most have websites where you can find forms and membership details. Dogs must be registered with your state body to compete at a three sheep trial – This is a simple and inexpensive process. These sites, along with Facebook, are the best place to find information about upcoming trials. Entry forms for trials always include contact details for the organisers if you have any questions or need advice or help with entering.

When you arrive at a trial, make sure your dog is always under control and does not go near the ring when someone else is working or near other people’s dogs when exercising.

There will usually be a scorer’s tent or shed and this is where the draw will be posted, and questions can be asked. At the start of each class there will usually be a judge’s talk – this is where the judge will walk the competitors through the course and explain how they want you to work the course and any special instructions. This is also the time to ask the judge any questions you have, so do not miss the judge’s talk! Check

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things like where to stand at obstacles, where the corridors are, where the delivery area is and anything else you can think of. This is also a great time to introduce yourself to the judge and let them know you are a newcomer. They will usually be happy to help you while you are having your run if you get lost!

All that is left do to now is watch a few runs to get a feel for the course and then go out and have your go. Make sure you have emptied your dog out well before your run, as going to the toilet on course will lose you points. Try to relax and enjoy the experience – and prepare to get hooked!! *This article is written from the perspective of someone who trials mostly in NSW – rules differ slightly between states, so make sure you clarify things you aren’t sure of with the judge or committee at the trial.

Bringing the sheep into the delivery area

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Netherby Short Course Trials

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hat started as a few training days for people to come and have a go at the various aspects of trialling has developed into a short course trial which has been heartily supported by handlers and their dogs. Amy and Luke Lloyd generously open up their property to run the Netherby short course trials. The course requires good stockmanship and working as a team with your dog, so this really suits novice handlers and starting young dogs. They also try extremely hard to ensure there is a laid back, friendly and inclusive environment for all. The aim is to turn these short course trials into a series, with points accumulating over the different trialling days, culminating in a perpetual trophy.

Judged by Joy Williams (Open) and Amy Lloyd (Novice) the second of these trials had a fantastic turn out with 50 runs in the novice and 22 in the open. Through the trials they have been able to encourage multiple new members to join the Queensland Working Sheep Dog Association.

These trials would not be possible without the generous support of our major sponsor Cobber Dog Food and the assistance of Australian Specialty Drilling Services.

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2021 JERILDERIE Working Dog Auction Article by Lauren Vest Photos Bel’s Rural Photography, Jerilderie NSW

W

orking dog auctions keep going from strength to strength and the 2021 Jerilderie Auction proved no exception, with a massive $10,081 average price and a gross of $554,500 from 55 of 58 dogs sold. The favourable season being enjoyed by much of the country and high livestock prices meant that farmers could consider spending money on dogs that they had not been able to before.

Jerilderie has become one of the countries premiere auctions, which is reflected each year in the quality of the dogs on offer and the consistently high prices and motivated purchasers who attend. This year’s auction was topped by Stanford Ninja, a black Kelpie consigned by Neville Williams and purchased for $18,750. Bred by Peter and Meagan Rutherford at Stanford Kelpies, Ninja heads to Lascelles in Victoria to an Aussie White Stud, purchased by Nip Rowney to be an all-round dog for the stud. Ninja was purchased via Auctions Plus, with Mr Rowney not realising he had won the dog with his pre-set bid until he was notified after the bidding closed!

Dogs were sold to Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. 28 of the 58 dogs offered made over $10,000. Brad Pellow sold his dog Paddy for $17,500 to a Cobar buyer for the second top price, while Campbell Smedley sold his proven work and trial dog Tundabardi Sly II for $17,000 to a Queensland buyer. Notably, a six month old pup Daisy, offered by Cheryl Perkins, made a

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surprising $9,000 – a highlight of the sale and obviously a big confidence vote in the quality and potential of the pup.

The sale and pre works are livestreamed with bidding available through Auctions Plus which has opened purchasing up to buyers all over the country – a valuable service for those who live in more isolated areas who cannot make the trip to Jerilderie to attend in person. A big congratulations goes to the hard working committee and helpers who put on a great weekend for all attendees. Lucindale Engineering, Stockmans Collars and Alan Wilson Leads were in attendance in case purchasers needed a collar, leash or secure dog run for their new additions, with a touch of shopping a welcome addition for the crowd as well.

The prices commanded at auction are a great benchmark for the true value of our working dogs and a commendation of the work that goes into producing a quality dog by the sellers.

Jerilderie Working Dog Auction is supported by these generous sponsors: Coprice, S.D. Landscape Gardening, Jerilderie Tyre Service, Jerilderie Earthmoving, Wunnamurra Poll Dorsets, Elders Jerilderie, Baldwin Shearing, Jerilderie & Berrigan Veterinary Clinics, Lucindale Engineering, One Oak Poll, Elders Finley, Riverluck Transport, Willandra Merino Stud, Warwick Doolan Dipping and Woodville Poll Dorsets, Finley Saleyards, AGnVET Management Services Pty Ltd, Mungo's Repairs & Maintenance, Nutrien Ag Solutions.

Josh Marshal – South Australian Trialling Holiday!

I

have been trialling for almost 9 years now. Due to Covid 19 in 2020, we did not have many trials running in New South Wales. I had been working under my ABN number 3 days a week, but my dogs were not getting much work at all, only a bit of training of an afternoon on the odd occasion. I decided I needed to keep them going so that I still had at least half handy dogs when we eventually started back dog trialling! I heard that the New South Wales/South Australia border was going to be re-opened, so I made a quick decision to head on a holiday to attend a couple of three sheep trials. With seven dogs on board, I headed for South Australia. Along the way I visited my friends Nick and Robyn Ryan. This gave me a good opportunity to give my dogs some training on their sheep – exactly what I needed to have any chance competing in South Australia! I had two open dogs, one improver dog and one novice dog to trial. Maitland was our first trial for the holiday, and upon arriving for the start of the trial it was a cold morning and about to rain. The sheep were provided by a fellow dog trialler to keep the trial running, as there are no sheep available in Maitland because it is cropping country, I was told. They were tough sheep but not unworkable - you really had to have a dog with good hold and cover to manage them. I was lucky enough to get two dogs into the open final and one into the improver final - Olboa Time and Wondara Jazz. I was unlucky with Jazz in the final, we had a very handy run, but one sheep fought her all the way around. We eventually got them into the pen, and I was happy with her efforts. Time ended up winning the improver and placing second in the open. The next trial we attended was the South Australian Championships, held at Paskeville. The sheep there were very tough, giving the dogs a real challenge with no results for my team, but that is the way sheep dog trialling works! The same dog was the winner of the open at both the championship and the previous trial at

Maitland - Mykita Malt, owned and worked by Phillip Dreckow.

The partnership worked very well over both trials and it was a great sight to see. It was great to watch the competitors at the trials, both Maitland and Paskeville - the competition is strong over there and a fair few encourage workers are coming through which is fantastic. I have to say, my trip south was a great experience, and it was good to be up against some excellent handlers and dogs. I plan to head back for another visit over there in the next eighteen months or so. Until then, my dogs are getting plenty of work, as much as I can give them in preparation. I am currently settled and working on a place doing stock work every day, giving them plenty of work to be successful at trials in the future!

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BOOT

SALE

European size & style for him & her

www.agdequestrian.com.au Our AGD Pull Up Boots are carefully handmade with the finest, eco-friendly, Italian leather, and feature our unique designed AGD orthotic insoles, which were specially designed for comfort & support, whilst riding and walking.

Normal price $249 - NOW ONLY $199 Flat rate shipping Australia wide $10.00 Soft cushioning to help prevent heel pain and heel spurs. Also helpful for the relief of ball of foot pain.

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SIRE DIRECTORY Karmala Brock

Karmala Landy

Breed: Working Kelpie DOB: 21/10/13 Registration No.WKC reg. 60079 Service Fee: $1000 Location: Nobby, Qld Contact: Jan Lowing P: 0407 469 613 E: jan@karmala.com.au FB: @karmala Kelpies

Breed: Working Kelpie DOB: 7/12/11 Registration No.WKC reg. 56861 Service Fee: $1000 Location: Texas, Qld Contact: Jan Lowing P: 0407 469 613 E: jan@karmala.com.au FB: @karmala Kelpies

(Karmala Akubra x Karmala Brandy)

www.karmala.com.au

Description: Brock is a great paddock dog with excellent temperament and conformation. A calm worker, proven in very tough country, patient with weak stock. Breeding true to type.

Munns Bill

Breed: Border Collie DOB: 4/9/2017 Service Fee: $800 Location: Nobby, Qld Contact: Nick Hovey P: 0488 190 726 E: hovey_91@hotmail.com FB: Hovey’s Working Dogs and Collars Description: Bill is by Groesfaen Taff out of Munns Meg. He will work cattle, sheep and goats with plenty of grunt when necessary whilst also showing eye and style. Comes with references.

Trueblue(V) Josh III

Breed: Kelpie Age: 9 Service Fee: $800 Registration.WKC A4M-27586-11 Location: Muttama NSW Contact: Catherine & Fred Rains P: 0419 230 881 / 0458 598 365 E: lokabedogs@outlook.com FB: @LokabeWorkingDogs

www.lokabedogs.com Description: Josh is capable at all aspects of stockwork, and his calm strength enables him to confidently work all stock including rams and cattle. Will bite a nose when necessary.

Karmala Wills

DOB: 12/8/2015 Service Fee: $1000 Location: Nobby, Qld Contact: Jan Lowing P: 0407 469 613 E: jan@karmala.com.au FB: @karmala Kelpies

www.karmala.com.au Description: Willis is a very good mustering dog with a great cast. If working in a team he stays out covering and comes in when needed, but is capal of moving stock on his own. Has mainly worked on cattle. Has been used over a number of bitches and is breeding on very well, true to type.

(Tracker Gibbs x Karmala Lily)

www.karmala.com.au

Description: Landy is a special dog; wonderful temperament and a great all-rounder. is at present working goats, has done yard work with sheep, backs well, and works cattle.

Breeding on well.

Lokabe Asher

Breed: Kelpie Age: 3 Service Fee: $800 Registration.WKC A4M-32206-17 Location: Muttama NSW Contact: Catherine & Fred Rains P: 0419 230 881 / 0458 598 365 E: lokabedogs@outlook.com FB: @LokabeWorkingDogs

www.lokabedogs.com

Description: Asher is an extremely competent all-rounder, with excellent cover and strength (including cattle). Asher is an easy dog to train and handle as he is very biddable.

Lokabe Dusty II

Breed: Kelpie Age: 3 Service Fee: $800 Registration.WKC A4M-32216-17 Location: Muttama NSW Contact: Catherine & Fred Rains P: 0419 230 881 / 0458 598 365 E: lokabedogs@outlook.com FB: @LokabeWorkingDogs

www.lokabedogs.com

Description: Dusty is a naturally wider, paddocky-type dog who is also a valuable yard dog and is a fast and free backer.

Tunnybuc Rambler

Breed: 3/32 Collie Age: 4 Service Fee: $800 Registration.QCD2571 Location: Kyogle NWS Contact: Richard Stokes P: 0402 153 745 E: rstokes67@bigpond.com

Description: Rambler is a large powerful dog, line bred to Rowdy/ Mac. He is strong on the head (bite) but works calmly when cattle settle. Easiest dog I have ever trained. Extremely loyal.

BREEDERS DIRECTORY

Scrub Road, Tenterfield NSW 2372

0402 153 745

www.Eventine.com.au

North East NSW

Mob. 0422 544 933

Ph. (02) 6736 2086

SKW Working Dogs

Versatile dogs with natural feel for stock Pups and started dogs available at times Scott Wilson 0497 270 477 Breeding from proven workers, selecting for natural ability, strength, intelligence and temperament

Nathalie Grimmer | P: 0499 801 395 E: tireekelpies@gmail.com | www.tireekelpies.com

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Phone and Mail orders also available Call 0431 299 186 or use mail order form on reverse

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MERCHANDISE MAIL ORDER FORM Item AWSDM Trucker Cap – Sheep, Teal or Cattle, Red AWSDM Plain Cap – Black or Pink AWSDM Travel Mug AWSDM Stubby Cooler – Sunset or Border Collie AWSDM Bumper Sticker DVD – Kingdom of the Collie DVD – Greg Prince, My Way – Firm but Fair DVD – The Kelpie Dog, Selecting and Training DVD – Kelpie, The Legend DVD – Doghouse Training Logan A1 Whistle Logan A1 Whistle x 3 Logan Delta Non-Metal Whistle Logan Delta 2 Whistle Logan Ventura Aluminium/Turquoise Logan Brass Supreme Logan Brass Turbo Logan 304 Stainless Steel Logan 304 Turbo ACME 211.5 Whistle (See website for colours) 2 - 5 ACME 211.5 Whistles (Bulk discount) 6 + ACME 211.5 Whistles (Bulk discount) Basic Cord Lanyard Adjustable Cord Lanyard (See website for colours) Adjustable Leather Lanyard Lamb Nappa Lanyard – Black or Brown Postage Total Order Amount

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Make your own Eggshell

calcium powder Eggshells contain 27 essential micro-elements that are composed of calcium carbonate. They are a natural source of calcium and other elements such as strontium and fluorine. Experimental and clinical studies performed on animals and humans using eggshell calcium showed an increase in bone density, less arthritic pain and it also promoted cartilage growth.

Eggshell calcium powder is an easy homemade powder that is perfect for both you and the pets in your family. Calcium is very important for the body to function correctly, and the same is said for our pets and horses. Our bodies require daily amounts of calcium and if we don't get what we need over time, this weakens and breaks down our own bones and causes all types of health issues. That is why it's vital to give our bodies what it needs.

Calcium is required for muscle contraction, nerve health, enzyme activity and cell formation. Nothing beats an all-natural alternative with making our own homemade supplements that aren't just easy to make, but also cost effective. We know some over-the-counter supplements these days are toxic, with traces of heavy metals that aren't of any benefit to us. Nowadays, we have to be careful and read the product labels like a certified chemist to know exactly what we are putting into our bodies or feeding our pets.

One Tablespoon contains approximately 900mg of calcium. Consume by mixing into coffee or protein shakes. Don’t consume more than 1 tsp a day as it could irritate sensitive digestive tracts. For all animal consumption please consult your vet first.

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OTHER USES FOR EGGSHELL CALCIUM It can be used as an abrasive element for cleaning around the home by adding into a cleaning soap.

Place some around the base of plants to act as a slow release fertiliser as it is a natural nourishment for your garden.

Calcium can help keep your skin in good health by promoting the cell renewal of your skin. You can combine the eggshell powder with egg white for a natural nourishing face mask. You can also add some to your facial cleanser to make a allnatural exfoliator.

DIRECTIONS Step 1. Take a dozen clean eggshells and place in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. Boiling will help remove any bacteria that might still be present on the shells.

Step 2. Remove from the pot and place aside to dry for about 20 minutes.

Step 3. Place the eggshells evenly spaced on an oven tray or baking dish and put into the oven at 150ºC for about 10 to 15 minutes to dry them out.

Step 4. Remove from the oven and allow to cool down. Once cooled, place into a coffee grinder or food processor until they turn into a fine powder.

Step 5. Place the powder into a tightly sealed mason jar ready for use.

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-psychologist-for-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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We specialise in transporting working dogs & stock dogs Fleet of air-conditioned transport vehicles and floats Dogs and pups insured by QBE during transport Experienced industry drivers Drivers sleep in transports with dogs

We service rural QLD, NSW, SA, WA and VIC

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M: 0435 333 153 | E: movemypetsaustralia@gmail.com

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