Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine - Issue 26, March 2024

The Australian

WORKING

STOCK DOG Magazine

Australia’s High Point Achievers Feature RRP $10.00 (incl. GST)

MARCH 2024

872003 772205 9

ISSN 2205-8729

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Issue 26

Stockman’s Profile Paul Darmody

A DOGS LIFE:

Larnach Moana

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Editors Thoughts Welcome to the first issue of 2024!

Personally for me, the year has taken off great having completed one magazine and already attended a few trials!

As you will read later in the issue, I had the pleasure of heading to Victoria for a few weeks where I attended both the Commonwealth Championship Sheep Dog Trials and the Australian Sheep Dog Trials for a couple of placings and lots of laughs. I am also looking forward to heading to the National 3 Sheep Trial and NSW State Utility Championships as this issue should be hitting the shelves.

I will also be taking the opportunity to promote the magazine whilst there and will have merchandise, training equipment, whistles etc. available for purchase so, please come by and say hello if you are in the area.

I love to support affiliated trials so if you don’t see your trial on our calendar, please feel free to get in contact and we will try and include it next time.

It’s been great to see some fantastic results and learn about the background of majority of Australia’s Highpoint achievers in their chosen working stock dog sport. I hope to see this once again continue next year and highly encourage all associations to get in contact with me towards the end of this year to include their Highpoint winners in our March, 2025 edition.

a r u a L

Good luck to everybody and enjoy your dogs.

Although not a lot of events have happened since our December issue, the year is starting to get into full swing now with lots of trials happening. Our ‘Around The Grounds’ section in the upcoming June issue should be full of great content and I really encourage people to submit photos and articles to be included in this section as our readers seem to really be enjoying it.

The Australian

WORKING

STOCK DOG

Magazine

Publisher and Editor: Laura McKillop Email: laura@stockdogs.com.au Phone: Laura – 0459 031 729 Advertising Enquiries: Laura McKillop Advertising, Articles & Stories Email: laura@stockdogs.com.au Mail: PO BOX 3003, Grose Vale, NSW 2753 Front Cover Photograph: Bree Cudmore’s Larnach

Contributors:

Angie Snell, Megan Rutherford Photography, Georgia Cameron - The Land, Nathalie Grimmer, Peter Brown, Jamie Sturrock, Bree Cudmore, Naomi White, Photos by Daysy, Ken Sykes, Wayne Wayte, Scott Amon, Sue Darmody, Emma Hall, GoGetta Kelpie Stud, Natasha Lobban - AuctionsPlus, Tineasha Bowen, Tammy Gadsby

Moana | Photo by Photos by Daysy

www.stockdogs.com.au

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

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

Contents

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52

32

62

36

74

10 The Joys of Dogs - Angie Snell

56 Colouring Competition

15 2023 High Point Awards

57 Kellys Kennel

26 True Value of Working Dogs

58 Coming Events

32 Basics of Canine Nutrition

61 Australian Working Stock Dog

34 Round Yard Checklist, Part 4

Auction

36 A Dog’s Life - Larnach Moana

62 - 69 Around The Grounds • Tasmanian Yard Dog Championsips • GoGetta Working Dog Auction • Where to this time?

44 The Maremma, Part II - Traits 48 In The Training Pen 52 Stockman’s Profile - Paul Darmody

• •

Commonwealth Championship Sheep Dog Trial, Port Fairy Jerildere Working Dog Auction

72 Loyal to the End, Chris Harbin 74 True Bushman, Arthur Crumblin 80 Business Directory 81 Breeders Directory

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Everybody feels down sometimes, and it ain’t weak to speak – Sometimes we need more than man’s best friend to talk things out with.

If you are struggling with anything, please check out some of the links below.

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

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

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

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

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The Joys of Dogs Angie Snell Article and Photos Provided by Angie Snell

It’s always quite daunting when you are asked to write about yourself, your life is never as interesting to you as it is to others, and you certainly don’t want to appear to have “tickets” on yourself. So, I of course had to have a good old think about what to say when Laura asked me for my story. The following is a snippet of the more interesting and challenging parts of my life, as I see it!

I was born on the Sunshine Coast and this is where I grew up.

A love of horses was quite evident from a very early age. As a toddler on my Pa’s farm, I went missing, there was great panic that I had fallen in a water hole or something terrible. I was found at the stable trying with all my might to reach up and pet Charlie my Pa’s stallion.

I hated living in town on the Sunshine Coast and lived for the school holidays so we could visit the farm. I was your typical horse obsessed girl, toys, books, magazines all I wanted was my own pony. At 10, I started riding lessons on a pony named Magic and Heather my instructor noted my natural ability with horses.

I started pony club on borrowed horses and would ride at any opportunity. Horses were my life.

At 13 while mustering cattle during one of those opportunities to ride, my horses front legs got sucked into a bog hole at a canter. She somersaulted, threw me over her head and landed on top of me. At first, I thought I’d broken my leg as my left leg was numb. However, it quickly became apparent to me that I had broken my back as the feeling left my right leg as well. By the time the ambulance arrived, I was numb from the belly button down.

T12 and L1 were the vertebrae I have smashed and the level of the spinal cord damage.

They told me I’d never walk again, but I was more concerned about whether I’d be able to get back on a horse. When they told me I more than likely would, the whole ordeal seemed less frightening.

After months in hospital going through rehabilitation I “walked” out, very slowly and wobbly using two crutches. After 9 months and the doctors go ahead, I got back on a horse with the help of Coralie and Gympie RDA. I finally got my own horse, “Guyra Ghost” an Anglo Arab gelding. The first two weeks I had

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him he stood and refused to move. But once I won that battle, we developed the most amazing relationship. I had huge fears of cantering and downhill slopes and he knew it. But instead of using it to his advantage he looked after me. He went downhill one step at a time as I had a panic attack on his back. He would do anything for me. One day while riding through long grass he stopped suddenly. I asked him to move forward and after a discussion he took to steps “clop clop”. Dirt doesn’t sound like that. I dismounted and found my eyes level with the stirrup. He had walked out onto a log over a ditch. I learnt to listen to my horse that day! Everywhere he went he got people’s attention and I cannot tell my story without him. The day he died I knelt on the ground holding his head as he nickered at me as if saying it was all ok. It was beautiful as death goes. He was well into his thirties and it was his time to go. Oh, what a horse he was.

I felt quite lost after his death like a part of my soul was missing.

Until while visiting a mate I came home with a kelpie pup I named Patrick. Having always had an interest in working dogs it was time to learn all about it. It was also a good replacement

for horses, as while I still ride my own horse, my body no longer allows me to work with horses like I once did. We started herding school with Dale Formosa and this little dag of a kelpie soon showed that we had just as an amazing relationship as I had with Guyra. It took a lot of effort to get him to work for me as he took it upon himself to protect me and my legs. We entered our first three sheep trial and I was really happy with how we went. We continued to have a few trial runs and right when we started to find our rythym I lost Patrick in awful circumstances. Never one to let things drag me down we continued to pursue trialling with my Border Collie MNT Victa who just finished his first year of trialing and we bought another Kelpie, Bice’s Milton who carries the Camara lines that I wanted. He also had a go this year but needs a big longer to finish maturing. We are all beginners in the working dog field but I am very proud of where we are and the things, we have achieved that aren’t exciting for anyone else, just for us. Whether horses or dogs, though it is never about the competition for me, and all about the relationship.

Animals have always been my “happy place” I know where I stand with them. After leaving hospital I learnt to walk without aids and spent eight years or so getting around with my wobbly drunken walk. My body then started to let me down and I now spend most of my time using crutches to get around, with a bit of wheelchair time to give my shoulders a break. In those eight good years, I won an RDA state dressage championship with Guyra, completed a certificate III in Agricultural Production, and travelled all over the countryside doing all kinds of farm work, having lots of fun and making some great memories.

My broken body never really slowed me down. Not even now that crutches have become a permanent part of my life. My greatest challenge has always been people and what they think is acceptable behavior towards me. Many thinking that physical weakness equates to mental weakness and trying to use that to their advantage in whatever way. This is why animals have been such an important part of my life. Animals accept you as you are.

Who knows what the future holds, but I have great friends and my dogs and horses. Life should be an adventure and that’s exactly what I have always found, adventure! So, it was no surprise when I packed up and headed to Winton. We now do a working dog show for the many people who visit the area every year, sharing some history of our working dogs and the chance to see some live sheep and dogs.

We are continuing to chase trials and planning on trying some yard and cattle when we are ready. I have a team of 3 young dogs and a whole lot to learn, but we will keep chasing those adventures, learning and improving and hopefully in a few years you’ll see us at nationals!

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2023 High Point Awards Thank you to all the associations and volunteers who took the time to contact and organise their High Point Award winners write ups.

Mick Hudson & MGH Rabbit - NSW Sheep Dog Workers Inc. Dog of the Year & Handler of the Year MGH Rabbit has backed up again winning the NSWSDWI Dog of the Year for the second consecutive year (2022/2023). MGH Rabbit won 10 events for the year and has been performing exceptionally well for Mick for the last 2 years. She is now 8 years old and by Mocara Ed out of Romlee Leila. Mick attributes her success to her remarkable ability at working livestock and her obedience to responding to his commands. MGH Rabbit never shows ignorance and Mick wants it noted that she is not mechanical but takes any commands he gives her immediately.

Mick Hudson has won NSWSDWI Handler of the Year for 2023, which is his 7th year in a row. Points for Handler of the Year are awarded to the Handler for all open affiliated trials, with all of his open dogs accumulating points which are added together. The last couple of years MGH Rabbit has helped him win Handler of the Year as she has accumulated more than half his open points.

Tracey Slater - NSW Sheep Dog Workers Inc. Rookie of the Year My passion for dog trialing started as a teenager watching my father dedicatedly working his dogs day and night. He taught me things I could never learn from a book. My first dog Walker was a border collie pup. I started training him and was looking forward to trialling him. Nevertheless, I felt the pressure of my fathers great achievements in the sport and nervously entered the now 1 1/2 yo Walker in our first trial. The next one was the Nationals at Hall and was close by. But we were both inexperienced and to my absolute horror after the bell rang he walked around me and stopped right in front causing a cross. So that was it ‘game over’.

So much for my first attempt!

My second trial was at Bungendore and Walker went well. At least I had a score!

I then worked my second 4yo border collie bitch Jill. She worked beautifully and much to my surprise Dad came over and said “you beat me” and was clearly thrilled with this result.

That was two years ago and I have now competed in 8 events. It’s not easy managing the travelling side and I’ve had to sleep in my car at night. But the trails are like one big family and I was so grateful when John and Margaret Perry let me stay in their home at the Bredbo trials.

It’s such a humbling honour to be named Rookie of the year. It was also special that I had won it, apart from Jill, with dogs I had trained myself. My father is still my greatest supporter but is in a nursing home now. I hope he will be able to attend the National’s in March. His name is Laurie Slater and I’m so proud to be his daughter.

Photo: Laura McKillop

Dick Champman NSW Working Stock Dog Ass. Handler of the Year My name is Dick Chapman and, I live at Stokers Siding on the NSW QLD border. I have been trialling for almost 30 years and have won the NSW handler of the year 8 times with various dogs accumulating points in the NSW point score system in maiden, novice and open categories.

Some highlights of my dog trialling career include representing NSW 21 times in the state of origin versus QLD, I enjoy the challenge of breeding, training and trialling a dog that I like to bring through the classes of maiden, novice and open.I have been lucky enough to have had over 35 open dogs.

Nathan Brown & Buckol Megan- NSW Working Stock Dog Ass. Maiden/ Novice Dog of the Year, Open Dog of the Year & Overall Dog of the Year I have been competing in cattle trials since I was 11 years old.

I have been competing with Buckol Megan for around two and a half years now.

I was lucky enough to win the 2022 North Coast Dog of the Year and 2022 North Coast Maiden Novice Dog of the Year with Buckol Megan. I purchased Megan from Buckol Working Dogs as a pup.

A lot of people have helped me along the way, Dick Chapman, Jennifer Burrell and Phil Brown just name a few.

I think it is Megan’s ability to read her stock and her willingness to please.

Geoff Gibson & Gibsons Kelly - QLD Working Sheep Dog Ass. Improver Dog of the Year

Geoff has been trialing for 40 years.

To compete in trials then to represent your state then your country is The Achievement of trialing and breeding.

Kelly has only been trialing since covid ended.

Was Novice Dog of the Year 2022 Improver Dog of the Year 2023 In the Top Twenty at Canberra 2023 Kelly was 3rd in the Supreme at Campbelltown 2022 Lovely calm dog on sheep but is also a great work dog.

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Alex Noy - QLD Working Sheep Dog Ass. Encourage Handler of the Year I started sheep dog trialing in 2018. Most of my team are still young and have only been competing for a few years. I have won encourage handler twice now and have slowly been building our working dog school Done Roaming Horsemanship and working dogs over the years.

All of my dogs to date have been purchased from other reputable breeders. We’ve only just started to breed our own and are looking forward to seeing how these pups go.

I’ve got three amazing mentors that have played a huge role in helping me achieve what I have with Mick Hudson, Colin Topp and Brad Anderson spending hours chatting about methods working dogs together and talking about how we could have improved our runs or ourselves.

To me an exceptional dog is trainable and willing. I believe if they are willing to work with you take the training in their stride, they become incredible dogs with the right guidance and bonding.

Gina Milburn - QLD Working Sheep Dog Ass. Novice Handler of the Year I have been competing with dogs for about 7 years now. Murphy, reason for winning novice handler, has been with me since he was 7 months old, he’s recently turned four and is just starting to mature up nicely.

2023 was a great year for us winning our first Novice then a few months later winning the Improver and placing in the QLD Supreme Open Top 15. We also participated at the EKKA in August of last year. That was a bit scary but a lot of fun.

My partner and I have stepped in a new training direction and working on getting our ‘Collie Creek Working Dogs’ up and running and have been taking in new training methods and influences. I’ve had some invaluable tips and guidance from some amazing trainers and handlers, and we’re forever looking to improve and get our hands on training and finding what works for us and what doesn’t. I have a few young dogs that I’m working with that I think should do really well in the trialling world. I would love to get some ‘real world’ work under my belt to help me and my dogs grow and learn more about livestock.

Bailey Knight - QLD Working Sheep Dog Ass. Open Handler of the Year.

Knights Ron - Dog of the Year & Camara Gwen - Novice Dog of the Year I started trialing about 8 years ago when I was 16. After following my father Barry Knight around to trials, I thought I would give it a go myself. Got hooked and been travelling round the country competing ever since. I started out with an old dog called Cooks Pete and a young pup Melnunni Duncan these dogs not only got me started but Pete is the sire of Knights Ron and Duncan is sire of Camara Gwen. Duncan I still compete with today. These have been the dogs I have had most success with in 2023.

In 2023 I won QWSDAI Open Handler of the Year, Open dog of the year (Knights Ron), Novice dog of the Year (Camara Gwen) state representative with Melnunni Duncan.

Numerous open trials including the Qld Championship.

I’m still learning, and a lot of people have helped me especially my Dad. He’s the reason I got into working dogs and I have learnt a lot from him. Geoff Gibson has been another big influence, attending a few of his schools watching and talking to him. Also, Mick Hudson calling into his place on trips south learning and watching him work dogs.

Jamie Sturrock & Craiglea Abby - QLD Working Cattle Dog Ass. Derby Winners I have been working dogs since around 2002 and started trialling in 2010. Craiglea Abby was two and a half years old when she won the QWCDTAI Derby in 2023. She had only competed in a handful of trials leading up to the event, but was already a solid work dog. I was very proud to also win the cow dog challenge event with Abby at the Australian Championships at Scone later that year. Three rounds on three different courses. I bred Abby, and she is fourth generation of my dogs.

Her mother, grandmother and great grandfather have all won state or Australian cattle dog titles, and been excellent work dogs for me. I have picked up different things from countless dog handlers from all over the world, but I have to credit my mate Isaac Hotz for getting me into dogs and dog trialling. I personally look for a dog that has plenty of desire, and a bit of style and stock sense. The best dogs I have ever had, always seem to be a bit ‘pushy’ when they’re young. If you can be patient to get them ‘trained’ and show them plenty of work in the meantime, they seem to make the best dogs in my experience.

Sam Donovan & Natel Pepper - QLD Working Cattle Dog Ass. Novice Dog of the Year I first started trialing in 2018, over my short amount of time trialing I have been lucky enough to have some good results with my dogs.

‘Natel Pepper’ was bred by Paul Wroe, He is out of Jacksons Silver (Who has won multiple QLD & Australian Open Dog of the Year titles) By Carrascott Spot (Who has also won Open Dog of the Year standings). Pepper has a strong desire work working stock, he is a very consistent dog. I first started competing with Pepper in 2020, as an 18-month-old dog – where he consistently began to place in trials. Some Highlights from Pepper’s career so far are – Winning the Maiden at Blue Mountain, Winning the Novice at St George, running off against his mother ‘Jacksons Silver’ at Springsure For the open to where he ran second, coming 4th in the QLD Open dog of the year standings, making the QLD state Of Origin Team & Winning Qld Novice Dog of the year.

There are many people who I owe thanks to within the working dog industry who have helped me with the success of my dogs, but I would like to extend thanks to Paul Wroe. I enjoy every aspect of working dogs, using them for work and trialing.

Sam Connelly & Kasajoca King Australian & QLD Working Cattle Dog Ass. Dog of the Year I have been cattle dog trialling since 2019, King was the dog that I had my first run with, and we were fortunate to win our first event we entered the “Bush Handler” event at Blue Mountain Dog trial in Central Queensland. Working dogs have always been a part of my life using them for mustering before I began trialling.

The main highlight of my trialling career has been winning the Australian and Queensland Open Dog of the year with King and making the Queensland State of Origin team for the first time in 2023.

I purchased king out of the Queensland Country life as an 8 week old pup in 2014, he was the first dog I have trained and competed with in trialling.

There have been several people who have helped me out while beginning trialling but the person I have learnt most about working dogs in general would be Bo Hatfield. I also believe working dogs in the paddock is a very important trait and this is what I believe makes King such a great dog he has great stock sense which makes him a consistent dog and he has the ability to read a mob of cattle no matter the size.

Callum Storey & Surefoot Brandy - QLD Yard & Utility Trial Ass. Open Yard Dog of the Year Along with my partner Chloe, I manage 40,000 acres in South West QLD, compromising of cattle, sheep and goats. My working dogs have become an integral part of our handling of stock. I started trialling in QLD in 2016 and have trialled between QLD, NSW and SA ever since then. Brandy was bred from Cactus Pearl, my original bitch and by Sunraysia George in late 2019.

Her first trial was Bell Cattle trial in February 2022 where she made the Open final in sloppy conditions with tough heifers. She won her first yard dog trial at Inglewood in March that same year, making her a novice dog. Brandy’s greatest strength is her adaptability, she completes every task that I put in front of her. She has become invaluable to my work team and competitive at my hobby. To date, my greatest achievements have been, having homebred and home trained dogs win trials and Brandy winning QLD Novice Yard Dog of the Year 2022 and QLD Open Yard Dog of the Year 2023 as well as being the representative for QLD at the Australian Yard Dog Championships in WA 2024. One piece of advice for someone starting out is - Just ask. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice. When at a trial, talk to anyone that is competing. Don’t stress on the mistakes, we’ve all been there, we all started as beginners.

Peter Nankervis - QLD Yard & Utility Trial Ass. Novice Yard Dog Handler of the Year

I have always been involved in cattle and upon my move to Inglewood, I discovered that I possessed the dogs but not the work and so I started trialling for fun and as an outlet for my dogs. And it turned out to be a hell of a lot of fun.

My first trial was QYUTA’s Inaugural trial in February, so I have just now been trialling for 12 months. That trial is my highlight to date, as my dog Campaspe Champ and I received Best Combined Score, won the Encourage Yard and also earned the Stockmanship Award.

Champ was purchased from Tully Williams and I have just bought another who is closely related. Champ’s breeding and the background behind it is what makes him special to me. Nearly everything he does is naturally in him.

I am grateful to the entire QYUTA community for helping me and contributing to what have achieved in this last 12 months.

To new triallers, I’d like to say that everybody makes excuses, it’s worthwhile just doing it. The dog (and you) will never improve just sitting at home.

It’s been a great year and now I have more time on my hands to get even better.

Chris Coman & Karana Rafael - QLD Yard & Utility Trial Ass. Novice Yard Dog of the Year Raf was a Covid lockdown purchase. My wife said “No pup” unless I named him

after her favourite tennis player. He was breed by Kevin & Kay Howell at Karana Kelpie stud, born January 2020. Raf’s pedigree is a star-studded line up of national champions and he quickly surpassed my dog training knowledge. I’ve been fortunate to have received quality guidance from the Howell’s, Gary White, Shane McGregor, Derek Binstead and Callum Storey. Watching experienced handlers, such as: Peter Hogan, Errol Gill, Brad Clark & Tammie Conroy, provides plenty of motivation for homework. Peter Nankervis has been a wonderful fellow partner in learning and getting into mischief too! The constant message from these people is to watch your stock and always look to develop the partnership you have with your dog.

Raf’s strength is his ability to work with me and to move stock in a controlled manner. These traits are present in his first litter of pups. In only 10 months of trialling, he has won his way to become an open yard dog, with many places in both yard and utilities.

In December 2023, Raf was bitten by a snake while working sheep. He fought just as hard has his name’s sake and pulled through, after a weeklong stay at the vet hospital. Raf’s health is improving but only time will tell if a full recovery is possible. Nevertheless, I still have my mate, Vamos Raf! Thank you to my family, for their support of both my bad habits (horses and dogs).

Bring on the trials in 2024!

Brad Clark & Patons Donegal - QLD Yard & Utility Trial Ass. Open Yard Dog Handler of the Year, Open Utility Dog of the Year, Open Utility Handler of the Year I am originally from Western Sydney and moved to Victoria approx. 12 years ago, which was my first time living on acreage, relocated to Queensland from Victoria 2 years ago. I competed in my first trial 8yrs ago in SW Victoria. It was a Utility trial which lasted 17 seconds, we were disqualified for a cross. This provided motivation to ensure for future trials the dog and I were better prepared. I have been competing Paton’s Donegal (Donny) for 3 ½ years, he was bred

by Barry Paton from Koroit, Victoria. Originally, I was asked by a friend to do some yard and utility trials with Don as he’d only done 3 sheep trialling previously. The intention was for me to give Donny some yard/utility trial experience, then my friend would sell him at the Geurie Stock Dog auction. I fell in love with Don immediately and about 3 weeks later offered to buy him instead of him going to auction. Donny is versatile, easy to have around and always looks to please!!

I was fortunate to have a successful 2023, representing Queensland at the Australian Yard Dog and Australian Utility Championships. Also in 2023, Donny won an Open 3 sheep, Open Utility and Open Yard trial in the space of a few months. There’s been 3 main people who’ve generously and freely shared their knowledge and experience. James Ryan, Conor McConnell, and John Tuddenham. For anyone starting in the sport there’s 3 things I’d advise. 1 – Take the time to build a bond with your dog. 2 – Stick to a systematic training plan (there’s no shortcuts).

3 – Constantly look for opportunities to test if you’re training is working (don’t be afraid to go back to basics if it isn’t). I think ultimately these achievements are the culmination of my entire experience trialling dogs. Watching, learning, asking questions and listening to experienced and successful trailers and stock people.

James Lingard - QLD Yard & Utility Trial Ass. Maiden Yard Dog Handler of the Year

My name is James Lingard, I live in Harlin QLD with my 2 year old daughter and Fiancé Amy-Lee on a small property we purchased 2 years ago. I’m a carpenter by trade and train working dogs as my hobby. I started competing in dog trials at the beginning of 2023 after spending 2 years in Victoria and growing a passion for quality, well bred, versatile working dogs. There are many things I enjoy seeing in a “well bred” working dog, the main one is a versatile dog that can do practical day to day work and then perform well in a trial on the weekend. I would say my major achievement over the past 12 months would be to have competed competitively, placing at multiple events in my first year trialing. I’m proud of the dogs consistency throughout the year and always stepping up. Paul McPhail from Beloka Kelpies has definitely helped me get to where I am today. After spending 2 years along side him in Victoria to start me out with the foundations to training working dogs and selling me a few Beloka bred pups that I have trained over the past couple of years. I would also like to thank the QYUTA committee, the judges, the competitors and everyone involved for the support over the past 12 months and for making this possible. My piece of advice for someone wanting to get in to the sport is to go to a few trials, talk to the top handlers and to get involved.

I think it’s important to get the foundations right and to begin with a well bred pup, attend plenty of training events and dog schools to gain the confidence and knowledge.

Everyone is supportive and encouraging of upcoming handlers/triallers as it is great to see the sport and industry grow.

Chloe Owen - QLD Yard & Utility Trial Ass. Encourage Handler of the Year

I’m a SAHM of two (very loud) little boys. I’ve always loved dogs and working stock, so a sport that encompasses the two is a match made in heaven for me. My first trial was at Jondaryan in 2016 and frankly, it was a disaster. I did not know what I was doing, and I had a 6 month old pup who thought she knew exactly what to do (she did not). Munson’s first trial was in 2020 when he was 3 years old at Tooraweenah NSW. My most memorable achievement to date was the 2021 Australian Yard Championships at Armidale – Munson and I competed the entire course for the first time (encourage class). We bred Munson from Cactus Pearl and Avenpart Gul (a very handy dog owned by Jaydean Kelpies). My greatest influence would be Callum, my partner, he is very much the voice in my ear advising me. I also tend to ignore his advice and try it again later when he’s not watching. Outside of Callum, I am very much of the school that you can learn something from anyone, I listen a lot, apply common sense and see how it turns out. Munson is not the most exceptional dog out there, but he tries his hardest and reads his stock well, trialling is not his forte – he likes to take his time and not rush his stock, making him a handy fellow to have at work, but less so when the clock is ticking. One piece of advice for newcomers’, is don’t let one bad moment ruin your weekend, get a positive experience for yourself and your dog and retire. There’s always next weekend.

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Lee Mickan & Kelvale Gus - SA Yard Dog Ass. Dog of the Year I have been competing in trials for 23 years. I have been trialling with Kelvale Gus since he was 10 months old and he has just turned 5.

He has recently won the 2022 SA Yard dog Championship and came runner up at the SA Yard Dog Championship in 2023. In the same Year, 2023, he won the SA State Utility Championship in July at Melrose by 1 point. Making him the first South Australian dog to win the Utility Championship. He was bred as a service fee pup from the Kelvale Kelpie Stud.. He has natural ability and willingness to work with me as a team.

Lee will be representing SA at the AYDA Championships in WA with his 2 dogs ; Kelvale Gus and Waramara Joker.

Adam Miller & Walkabout Jack - QLD Yard & Utility Trial Ass. Novice Utility Dog of the Year & Novice Utility Handler of the Year I am the owner of Walkabout Working Dogs and breed kelpies and collies.

In addition to competing in sheepdog trials for the last 12 years, I also run dog training clinics and demonstrations. I bred Walkabout Jack, 4 years ago, he is a black and tan kelpie. One of my most memborable achievements is Jack’s mother, Elwanvale Sunny, making Top 20 in the Dalby Australian 3 sheep trial, she was the highest scoring kelpie for that trial. Winning open trials in the three major sheep dog trial formats has been a highlight for me. In 2023, Freestone’s Willy and I made the Top 6 QLD Champions. I have also won the Brisbane Royal Show twice with Blackbrook Eden. Many people have helped me along the way, notably Geoff Gibson, Garry Barker, Gary Milgate, Jack Dwan and Eric Tighe, who started me with my first dog, Noonbarra Max. We are very lucky to have so many great dog handlers and trainers around Australia, learn from as many as you can. There are a lot of different methods people use, over time you will work out what methods suit you best. Also, try both collies and kelpies with different prefixes and see what suits you.

Stan Hughes - QLD Yard & Utility Trial Ass. Maiden Utility Handler of the Year I am an ex dairy farmer having milked cows for the first 35 years of my working life. I also have shown and worked Clydesdale Horses for nearly 40 years with a lot of success and last year I competed at 6 campdrafts for a win and 8 places, cattle dog trialling 43 years Training dogs for 50 years and now running stock dog training schools and private lessons from our home property and around the country.

Husanley Jeff who help me win the maiden handler award, breeding goes right back to my first border collie DES purchased in 1982. Jeff is a special dog maybe the best I’ve ever had and there have been a few very good dogs over the years. Neither Jeff or myself had ever seen a utility trial before entering the trial at Jondaryan so to have the success that we had was a little surprising. He is a very calm, confident dog but is also a very strong dog working cows and calves to baby lambs and silent all the time seldom bites if it’s not needed. Jeff has won 5 cattle dog trials including the QLD futurity with many placings and now has done well in Utility trial all before 2 years & 2 months of age.

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Stephan Cross & Echo Park Lady - SA Working Sheep Dog Ass. Dog of the Year & State Championship Winners I have been competing at sheepdog trials for 27 years. Along with my wife Simone and our three children, I run a 3,300 acre mixed farming operation near Strathalbyn, South Australia. In my spare time I sheepdog trial for fun.

Echo Park Lady is a 7 year old border collie bitch out of Echo Park Sandy by Wondara Snap. She won the SA Dog the Year in 2023 for the second year in a row. She achieved this by winning the SA State Championship and the Maitland trial and by placing at all other trials she competed in bar one.

Finishing top of the Ted Gaby Interstate Challenge at the Supreme Australian Working Sheepdog Championship helped South Australia win the Ted Gaby shield. This also gained us selection into the Australian team to compete in New Zealand. Unfortunately we lost, however, I was honoured to be named as the Australian team captain.

A highlight of the year was entering four Open dogs in the SA State Championships and taking out the top four placings.

My aim is to breed dogs with plenty of strength, grip and desire to work that are suitable for paddocks, yards and trialing.

Lee Jamieson & Shannandoah Steele - TAS Workign Sheep Dog Ass. Consistency Dog Of the Year & Glenmurray Toby - Champion of Champions Series Winner Shannandoah Steele is an 8-year-old Border Collie bred by Mr Bruce Dolliver from New Norfolk in Tasmania. Steele’s Sire is Bredbo Frost and his Dam is Shannandoah Blue. Steele won the 2023 Tasmanian Consistency Dog of the Year Award for the second year in a row, and at the time of writing this report he has won 19 Open trials and represented Tasmania three times.

Steele’s son, Glenmurray Toby is a 2-year-old dog, his Dam is Wongaburra Flossie, Toby was bred by Al Hort from the NW region of Tasmania. Toby won the 2023 CopRice Champion of Champions Series after placing second in 3 Open trials and is the 2023 Tasmanian Novice and Improver Champion. I’m pretty happy with Toby’s progression and he has cemented a place in my team.

Pictures attached are of Glenmurray Toby and I competing at the 2023 Agfest Field days trial where Steele and Toby finished in first and second places respectively in the Open class.

Simon Bowden & Fouroaks Butch - TAS Yard Dog Trial Ass. Handler of the Year & Dog of the Year I did my first trial in Feb. 2006. Since, I’ve been very fortunate to win 3 State Championships, and finish in the Top 10 of the Australian Championships 4 times, with 3rd my highest placing.

When I first started, Michael Williams and Lance Clifford were both very helpful, and both gave me many videos of Australian Championship finals to watch, which helped by watching how the best handlers went about working their dogs and the course.

Fouroaks Butch was born on 30th December 2019. He is a very kind dog to his stock, and is a calm worker. He did his first trial at about 14 months of age.

Butch has made the Open final of the Tasmanian State Championships all 3 times he’s competed, placing 2nd in 2022, and 3rd 2023.

He made the Top Ten final of the Australian Yard Dog Championships at Connorville in 2021 at 2 years, and 3 months of age.

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Bree Cudmore & Larnach Moana - VIC Yard Utility Farm Dog Ass. High Point Dog of the Year & High Point Bitch of the Year

I entered my first working dog competition back in 2018 with my dog Marista Zoe and have been having a red-hot crack at it coming up to six years now. Moana made her debut to the trials back in June 2019 and we’ve been at it together for the past five years. Covid halted her progress through the ranks as a younger dog but once we came back, she won her way into the open quickly.

I consider two of my major achievements to be Marista Zoe winning NKFT (National Kelpie Field Trial) in 2021 and her son Vera Blue winning NSW state yard champs 2023, although Moana winning this has got to be up there.

I brought Moana off my good mate and mentor Travis Scott when she was roughly 6 months old. His advice along the way helped me learn how to get the best out of her.

Moana has exceptional speed and cover, I’ve not had a dog so talented at covering flighty sheep. She’s natural at knowing her position on a mob and likes to keep in contact with the leaders, this seems to help her keep her sheep moving but also controlling break aways. She’s willing to walk in on a mob when needed but is able to keep out and arc around her sheep when in bigger yard/ paddocks. She’s also biddable, allowing me to control the situation and make calls that will help get stock flow. She’s my go to dog for every job at work and I never leave without her.

Ken Atherton & Ramulam Charlie - WA Working Sheep Dog Ass. Handler of the Year & Dog of the Year Ken started at a Yard & Utility trial in 1085 and then progressed to Arena trials and still competes at both. Doug Connop was his coach and mentor, from that time until he [Doug] retired in 2006. Ken got his foundation Kelpies from Tony Parsons Karrawarra Stud in 1988. Ramulam Charlie traces back on the female line in an unbroken line of blood to his foundation bitch. Ken has been to many dog schools held by people like Neil MacDonald, Greg Prince, Bernard Arends, Pip Hudson & Sean Barrett. Ramulam Charlie was born 27/11/2018 and is just over 5 years old. He is by Tumetvalley Roy out of Ramulam Punch who traces back in a unbroken line to my foundation bitch Karrawarra Cyd. In 2003 Charlie has won WA Arena Dog of the Year, WA Utility dog of the year. He won the Open at Pingelly also the Open Yard at Katanning. He was a WA state Rep at the Supreme at Strathalbyne and was the only Rep dog out of 12 dogs to make the top 10 finalists.

Connor McConnell - VIC Working Sheep Dog Ass. Dog of the Year Have you met our Irish vet yet?? Conor McConnell and McConnell’s Lad have had an impressive 2023 with Lad taking out Victoria’s Top Dog of the Year. Lad and Conor will now go on to the VIC. Commonwealth Championship Trial in Port Fairy.

Lad is 4 years old and had a difficult start. Delivered via c section by Conor himself while still studying Vet. Science he has earnt his place in Conor’s team. Lad can be difficult to work and pushy and definitely suits a certain type of sheep. Conor is very thankful to Barry Paton for his coaching and early training process of Lad. Lad is out of Auburn Floss by Paton’s Sunshine.

Conor came over from Ireland in 2012, and his beautiful wife and two kids now call Koroit home. Conor has quite the HUGE side hobby of running his own Southdown sheep stud, AND he breeds and works Australian Border Collies.

In September from the 7th-15th Victoria is hosting the Australian Supreme Sheepdog Trials at the Geelong Showgrounds where we will also welcome the New Zealand Team as we compete for the Wayleggo Cup.

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Jake Cayfe - NSW Yard Dog Ass. Junior Handler of the Year Jake is 17 years old and is a fulltime stockman on a sheep property in the Central West of New South Wales. He says trialling has helped him improve his standard of stockmanship and dogs on a day to day basis.

Jake has been competing in yard trials for 2 years. His first trial was at the local Koorawatha Show Trial where he competed and won the Encourage class with Eveready Bob. His most successful trial last year was at the Delungra Championship where he won the junior event and came 2nd and 3rd in the encourage.

Having won the 2023 Junior Handler of the Year Jake is looking forward to competing in more trials in the future.

Looking at joining one of these associations?

New South Wales

NSW Yard Dog Association E: yarddogsnsw@gmail.com Secretary: Jess Trent-Smith – 0432 524 676 NSW Sheep Dog Workers Inc. E: nswsheepdogworkers@gmail.com Secretary: Ms Kyleigh Victory - 0402 143 878 NSW Working Stock Dog Association E: president@nswworkingstockdogs.org.au Secretary: Janelle Mclennan - 0407 943 913

Victoria

VIC Yard Utility Farm Dog Association E: secretary@vyufda.com.au Secretary: Naomi White - 0410 460 231 VIC Yard Utility Farm Dog Association E: louise.rielly@outlook.com Secretary: Louise Rielly - 0409 170 964 AWSDM

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South Australia SA Yard Dog Association E: dbkellock@activ8.net.au Secretary: Bev Kellock - 0427 973 247 SA Working Sheep Dog Association Secretary: Joanne Flavel – 08 8575 0045

Tasmania TAS Working Sheep Dog Association Inc. E: admin@tasdogs.com Secretary: Kerry Smith - 03 6272 9443 TAS Yard Dog Association Inc. E: admin@tasdogs.com Secretary: Kerry Smith - 03 6272 9443

Queensland QLD Working Cattle Dog Association E: kratzmanncassie@outlook.com Secretary: Cassie Kratzmann - 0439 461 629 QLD Working Sheep Dog Association Inc. E: julieandgaryspry@bigpond.com Secretary: Julie Spry - 0402 436 477 QLD Yard & Utility Trial Association Inc. E: secretary@qyuta.com Secretary: Penny Downey - 0404 196 754

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True Value of Working Dogs Story by Georgia Cameron © The Land/ACM | Photos

by Nathalie Grimmer & Megan Rutherford Photography Working dogs are pulling their weight within the sheep industry, as many producers are choosing to rely upon an extra set of fourlegs to fill their labour needs.

Mr Overton manages a wool and beef cattle operation in the Walcha district. The operation consists of 20,000 Merinos and 600 head of breeding cows.

Superfine wool producer and owner of Gwydir Kelpie stud, Tony Overton, said this year he expected dog sale prices to fall back, along with the rest of the industry’s market prices, however this wasn’t the case.

He said working dogs are a tool of the stock-person’s trade, and that the benefits of using working dogs to handle livestock far outweigh any reason not to.

“Dog sales averages remained strong, and the only reason I can think of for this, is that labour is still short,” he said.

Mr Overton said the lack of understanding around how to use dogs to better handle livestock is a shortcoming for the sheep industry, due to the attitude that sheep can make for hard work.

“I am a big advocate for using working dogs. I recognise the value they can bring to an enterprise, and in my opinion, I think if more people understood how to better handle sheep, there would be less who leave the industry,” he said.

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“There are people in the livestock industry who don’t know how to work a dog, yet we go out and learn how to grow grass, and how to do everything else in agriculture. So I don’t understand why a lot of farmers don’t want to go and learn how to work a dog as well.”

Mr Overton said more industry people should recognise the need to learn the skill of working a dog, as it’s another tool of the trade that can lead to better employment opportunities.

“It’s one of our biggest challenges with staff. I can’t ask a stationhand to go buy, say, an $8000 dog,” he said.

However, it appears we don’t often add up the value of what our dog does for us. “This year we pulled our rams out and three of us mustered, and put 8000 head through the draft, but there wasn’t a sweat on anyone’s brow. When you’re doing big numbers, dogs ease the physical labour load significantly on you and your staff.”

He said it’s not just about working a dog, it is about livestock handling. “They go hand-in-hand; the better your dogs get, the better your stock will get. And the better your stock gets then the better your dogs get.”

“It’s about whole-farm efficiencies - it’s not one plus one equals two - there are a whole range of better outcomes from having your stock handled correctly using dogs. You’ll get higher performances, and while there is evidence on this in the feedlot industry in cattle, there has never been a lot of work done within the sheep job. But it’s very noticeable, if you can get good staff that can handle their stock properly.”

Mr Overton said livestock need to learn how to respond well to, and handle, pressure and this is where dogs are most useful in educating the stock.

“It’s not always about being soft and low pressure, sometimes you need to put it on them, but sheep need to understand what pressure is and how to respond to the pressure,” he said.

“Livestock that can handle pressure make for more resilient animals, because pressure can come in a lot of forms, whether it’s worms, flies, lambing, or being dragged over the shearing shed board.

“It’s a shame that it isn’t evidence-based, but it would be a hard thing to measure.

“You can have a very good stockperson who doesn’t necessarily have brilliant dogs - because dogs are a tool, and they have to fit into your enterprise. What type of dog suits my job may not suit another person and the type of country or livestock they contend with - it really is horses for courses.”

He said working a dog is just part of a livestock person’s education.

“Working dogs is all part of education for our staff. It’s always good to have refreshers and I myself do this regularly, running and attending dog schools. You can always get the job done better.”

Mr Overton recalls a crew that were feeling very overworked, in an operation which runs 10,000 dry cattle.

“They attended a dog and stockhandling school that I ran, and one of the fellas in attendance commented, ‘we’ve got more stock now, less staff, and we are actually getting home earlier’.

“Having good dogs and good stockmen is all about enjoying life more, and actually making more money out of the enterprise.

“And often station hands will say, ‘well I don’t make any more money’, and I say, ‘well no you don’t today however, you do become more employable’.”

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Good stockhands need skills and tools The idea of working dogs as employees is a topical debate, as to how workers should be compensated for maintaining a team of dogs, or even if dogs should be on their own day rate.

“You can have the prettiest set of tools, and they could be a horrible mechanic, or he can have a rough looking set of tools, but he still gets the motor running, and that is the same with dogs.

While the Pastoral Award contains provisions for employees who are required to supply their own working dog, such as special allowances from their employer (if mutually agreed upon), these allowances are not standard practice and are highly subjective across the various workplaces.

“The value is starting to be put on those people who are good at handling livestock, and have a good team of dogs to go with it; and there are some really good job opportunities out there that will pay those people accordingly.”

Special allowances may include supplied dog food or in some cases, the coverage of veterinary costs incurred while at work.

Mr Overton said from a producer’s perspective, it is all about the throughput.

Mr Overton recalls working for a crutching contractor years ago, where his dogs were paid on a per head of sheep through the yards basis.

“Often you’ll have a bloke turn up, and his dogs don’t look the best, but it’s about the job he gets done for you - are the catching pens full? Or is the B-double loaded?

He said it’s very rare for a dog to be doing all the stock work on its own, and that the value still remains with the skill of the stockperson and how they use their dogs to get the job done.

“For me that is how you determine whether the dog is doing its job or not.

“I like to think of a stockperson as a mechanic, each has their own set of tools.

“The mechanic invests in a good set of tools that are going to do his job better - so you are still paying the mechanic - you’re not paying his tools.

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“Staff turn up with a dog, and that dog might have some big shortcomings, but for me, whatever those shortcomings are, it is then up to the stockperson to make up for those.

“It’s still a team event, and I haven’t seen a perfect dog yet.”

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Basics of Canine Nutrition

Article by Peter Brown, Serrano Border Collies

Dogs and humans are mono gastric, that is they both have a single stomach, but there are differences in the way that both process their food. Canines have developed over millions of years to be very efficient at surviving on and processing meat, bones and animal organs. They are carnivores. In the wild they would not normally eat grains and grasses unless their absolute survival depended on it. Once you begin to explore the digestive system of a dog you soon realise how efficient and different they are compared to humans.

THE MOUTH, JAWS & TEETH Adult dogs have 42 teeth. Canine teeth are designed to rip and tear the flesh of prey into portions that they can swallow.

Dogs have a jaw that is hinged to allow it to move in a vertical fashion only, and unlike humans they cannot grind their food and normally swallow chunks of meat and portions of bones. They have fangs to grab hold and tear flesh. Front teeth to scrape meat from bones, and molars to crush course material like gristle and bone. Dogs secrete saliva just as we do but their saliva is not used to begin the breakdown of their food. It does not contain enzymes necessary for this purpose, it actually kills a lot of bad bacteria and germs that may be in the food as well as lubricating the oesophagus.

This prevents a lot of gut upsets that may occur from these bacteria. Think about some of the gross things that they eat when out in the paddock and did not get sick.

THE OESOPHAGUS The Oesophagus is the hose like tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. It basically runs in a straight line through the neck and chest, near to the heart, through the diaphragm muscle before connecting to the stomach. The walls of the oesophagus is made up of muscle that move food through to the stomach by way of a wave type motion.

When there is no food or water to move to the stomach, the walls of the oesophagus collapse inward and lie flat against each other. If a dog swallows a portion of food that is too large to fit down the oesophagus, it will regurgitate that food so that it can be chewed into a smaller piece and swallowed again. This a natural mechanism that ensures the portion is not too large for processing in the stomach. The oesophagus of humans helps keep food out of our wind pipe and is designed to keep food in our stomach where dogs have a really efficient regurgitation process.

THE STOMACH The stomach is a storage vessel that turns food into a fluid like substance called chyme. The stomach continually turns the contents, exposing the contents to the acid present in the stomach. This is Hydrochloric acid with a very high PH of 1-2. Our stomach also contains Hydrochloric acid but a much milder version with a PH around 5. Because the

dogs stomach is so acidic, the stomach is lined with thick mucus to prevent it from digesting itself. Now that the food is somewhat liquid, and contains acid and some enzymes, it is ready to enter the small intestine.

THE SMALL INTESTINE The small intestine is a long hollow tube and is about 2.5 times longer than the dogs overall length. It is made up of three parts; the duodenum, has ducts that allow secretions from the pancreas (endocrine gland that regulates blood sugars) and gallbladder (regulates the release of bile that is needed for the break down of fats) to enter and mix with and continue the breakdown of the food. The jejunum is the longest part of the small intestine and is lined with many small finger like protrusions called villi. Villi protrude inward and provide a larger surface area for the absorption of nutrients and vitamins through the intestinal wall, directly into the blood stream where it is transported to various cells throughout the body. The ileum is the final section of the small intestine and continues the process of nutrient absorption prior to the chyme entering the large intestine.

THE LARGE INTESTINE The large intestine connects the small intestine to the anus.

It is in the large intestine that water and mineral electrolytes are extracted from the waste to further hydrate the body. Fibre is also fermented in this area by bacteria. It is at this stage that dogs generate gas

THE ANUS The anus exists to allow the passage of waste from the dog’s body. Faecal matter contains 60-70% water, undigested food, dead bacteria and inorganic matter. Interestingly, it takes a normally healthy well-fed dog about 8-9 hours to digest and pass the remaining unwanted material out as faeces.

Overall, this is a simplified description of a dog’s digestive system and does not consider the chemical reactions and absorption techniques employed in the dogs digestive system.

Dogs are carnivores and are best suited to foods that they find easy to digest such as meat, bones and animal organs. It is interesting that nearly all greyhounds are fed a meat diet and only limited amounts of kibbles. Like greyhounds working dogs are athletes, maybe not the Usain Bolts of the dog world but more a marathon runner. Diet can make or break an athlete.

THE ‘ROUND’ YARD CHECKLIST part iii Even on Both Sides No ‘One Sidedness’

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

In the last two issues, we have been working through what I call the ‘Round’ Yard Checklist. For those of you who may have forgotten, or haven’t read the first two articles, here is the ‘checklist’ again.

1.

Instinct

2.

Addiction

3.

Balance

4.

Even on both sides

5.

Hold them on the fence

6.

‘Dig’ them off the fence

7.

Stop (lie down)

8.

Walk up

9.

Call off (that’ll do)

By now, we have introduced our young dog to suitable livestock, in a controlled area, and brought out their working instinct. We have also spent a session or two getting them ‘addicted’ and feeding that addiction! We then went away from livestock for a couple of weeks, and taught them to come when called, how to lead on both sides, to tie up, and to ‘stop’, which in my program means to lie down. All the while, we have been introducing our young dog to the real world and developing a bond! We

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then went back to livestock in our training yard and have been working on ‘balance.’

As discussed in the last article, some young dogs go to balance very naturally and easily, while others need much more convincing. We have been using our body positioning and our arm extension where necessary, to encourage our dog to get on the other side of the stock, and ‘balance’ them to us. If I go one way, the dog goes the other. If I walk away, the dog brings the stock to me. The end goal is to be able to achieve all this with little to no command.

Something I didn’t emphasise enough in the last article is the importance of balance from a practical work perspective.

Balance is the foundation of pretty much everything a working stock dog does. I like to think of it as the ‘default’ setting. I want my dog thinking – if in doubt, revert to balance. To put it another way, in the absence of instruction, gather the stock together, keep them together, bring them to the handler and hold them there.

Balance is also the foundation of the cast or outrun. A dog needs to be able to get from your feet to the other side of the livestock, reliably, both clockwise and anti-clockwise. Once the dog is out there, they need to be able to gather those livestock together, all the while keeping ‘reference’ of where you are. Once the dog is attempting to bring those stock back to you, the stock may be trying to escape. This may be to the left or the right, or straight back the way they came. It is up to the dog to be able to read where that ‘spot’ may be, and to show up where necessary to get the job done.

4. Even on both sides - no ‘one sidedness’ A VERY important part of a dog being able to achieve this ‘natural’ work is to be able to cover both sides of the livestock evenly. In the absence of the handler giving command, the dog needs to be able to work out where they need to be gather and hold those livestock together, and bring them to the handler. You guessed it, this all starts in the small training yard on a handful of sheep.

Something that shows up with almost every dog I have ever worked with, is some ‘one sidedness.’ Almost all dogs are one sided to some degree. By this I mean, they may travel around the livestock freely and easily in one direction but will struggle on the opposite direction. This reluctance can show up in many different ways. Some dogs simply don’t want to go one direction, no matter how clever you are with your body positioning or arm extension. Some will freeze with ‘eye.’ Some dogs will go both ways but may run tight or even ‘attack’ the sheep on their less favoured direction.

I have heard people refer to this as dogs being left or righthanded. Which isn’t a bad way of thinking about it. I know myself, that I can throw a ball reasonably well with my right hand, but if you asked me to throw one with my left hand, you would get a good laugh! But.. If someone had encouraged me, or even forced me to practice throwing just as well with my right AND my left hands as a young boy, I would be much more capable and even on both sides.

I always knew about one sidedness in dogs and that it was something to be aware of, but it took me a few years to realise just how common it was, and how important it is to address early in a dog’s life. I learnt through experience that if left unaddressed, it will show up at the worst time.

To give a practical example, you may be navigating something challenging at work like a tricky gateway, or a creek crossing with touchy stock. You just need your dog to move a few metres one way or the other to cover ‘their’ side, or maybe apply or release pressure in just the right spot! This could be the difference of getting the stock flowing and getting the job done or not. You suddenly find out (or remember) that your dog is one sided and doesn’t want to go that way. You take a few moments to ‘make’ the dog go that way, or worse, you leave ‘your’ spot to cover up the dog’s shortfall. Next thing you know, you have livestock everywhere and have turned a small job into a big one!

This is just one of countless examples I could give on where one sidedness could let you down on the job.

The importance of addressing any one sidedness in a young dog early in their training program became clear to me after several years conducting working dog schools. I could not believe how many dogs are naturally one sided, and how ingrained it is in some of them! I have seen pups that are seeing stock for the very first time in their lives, that are so one sided you would have to see it to believe it!

I have used some more obvious examples, but it is usually the more subtle one sidedness that can be missed by the beginner or intermediate handler that does the most damage. It can seriously limit your progress if left unaddressed.

Back to the training yard and teaching your pup to balance. Keep an eye out for any one sidedness showing up, and make sure that your dog will travel evenly and confidently both directions around your livestock. If your dog is one sided, a really solid general rule is to work three times on the ‘weak’ side for every one time on the ‘strong’ side. This is not a set rule, so don’t take it too seriously. Just remember it as a guide, while applying your own discretion.

This is all assuming that your dog will travel both ways around the livestock in some degree to begin with. Some dogs need a lot of convincing to go both ways. This can be a touchy time for a beginner handler with a young dog, as it is VERY important to not ‘make a big deal’ of this. It is difficult to explain, but you don’t want to ‘let your dog know’ that they are ‘one sided.’

Remember, that your dog is young and impressionable. We are trying to build confidence and ‘addiction’, so we want to try and avoid anything negative that may ‘set them back’ or develop into an undesirable habit. I want to address the one sidedness gradually, and in a ‘no fuss’ way, so that you and the dog forget they were ever one sided to begin with!

In this situation, it is human nature for the majority of people to want to stick their arm extension out and force their dog to go the way that you want them to. This makes plenty of sense, but I can assure you that in the beginning, it is about the worst thing that you can do. This can end up in a confrontation that can really damage a young dog’s confidence, even with the best of intentions. They don’t know that they are one sided or why.

They just see you coming at them with an arm extension!

Instead of trying to force the dog around the direction that they are reluctant, I prefer to think of it as just ‘closing’ one direction and ‘opening’ the other. Use your arm extension to simply block the dog’s preferred side and wait. Think of it from the perspective of your keen little pup. All they want in the world is to work the stock. They have no option to go one way, so if they want to work, that only leaves the other way. If your positioning, timing and patience is decent, they will soon try the other way, and realise very quickly that it is not so bad after all. The best thing about this technique? The dog thinks it was their idea, not yours. You didn’t ‘make’ them go that way, they ‘chose’ to go that way. As always, ‘make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult.’

There is no real timeframe to teaching balance and no one sidedness in your training yard. Some youngsters will nail it very quickly and you can move on, others may take many sessions to get the hang of it. I have emphasised what I might do with the young dogs that are a little more difficult. It is not always so dramatic. The point is, that it will show up at some point with most dogs, and when it does you know how to recognise it, why it is important, and how to address it.

Once we have our young dogs balancing naturally, and travelling both directions around the stock confidently and evenly, we will move onto PART 4 in the next issue – Hold them on the fence and ‘dig’ them off the fence.

Want to learn more from jamie or head onto part 3 early? learn best from videos?

Check out workingdogtraining.online

A Dog’s Life

Article by AWSDM & Bree Cudmore | Photos Provided by Bree Cudmore, Naomi White and Photos by Daysy

Larnach Moana Just over 5 years ago, Travis Scott joined a station bred bitch he owned called Storm to Hilton Flyn, who is affectionately known as Pin. “Storms blood lines go back to a Lloyd Parks (Mansfield area) bred bitch by a black and tan dog that old Jim Young had.”

Pin was by Gunna Tim II and out of Karana Jazz. Bree these days, has a lot of Pin’s offspring in her camp and really rates him as a dog, “he isn’t going to win a beauty contest but he’s consistency in his work is what I loved about him. Every day he was the same good hearted, all-rounder dog”.

Unfortunately, at the time of Travis weaning these pups, Bree Cudmore wasn’t in a position to take on another dog but had quietly always wanted to buy a bitch pup. A few months later once the opportunity came along and she could have another dog, Travis at the time had a very full team of young dogs and Moana 6-month-old pup who came with the interesting name thanks to an 8-year-old Grace Scott and a popular Disney movie was soon purchased by Bree.

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“I don’t recall seeing her on sheep before I brought her so wouldn’t say I saw a working potential in her and had to have her.

Travis had three of the litter at the time and I chose her because I just seemed to gravitate to her. I really wanted a pup from that litter because I loved working Pin and always wanted a pup bred by him” when asked about why she picked her. As many know, Travis was the person who gave Bree a start in both the working dog world and the agriculture industry. Hence, making sense that she has bought, traded and bred a few dogs with him over the years and plans to continue to do so. After working together for years, they have found that they have similar blood lines, appreciate the same traits, good work as well as the same dislikes as we all have. For Bree, she is very appreciative to have someone like Travis who is honest and she can trust to trade dogs with. “Doing it all on your own is very difficult, this way we both better our teams and hopefully improve our dogs”.

Together Moana and Bree have spent the past three years working on a property in the Westen District of Victoria named Turkeith Homestead. Moana mainly works sheep as the property as it is a wool biased enterprise and she is well suited to her job.

Being a lighter framed dog, which is great for the property Bree works on, Moana finds handling the rocky paddocks quite easy.

With her lighter frame she is agile enough to get around the rocks and travel large distances without knocking up. She’s a really fast dog and excels at getting around her mob efficiently.

She’s had little to no cattle experience however, will work them but Bree wouldn’t say she is a natural cattle dog. In fact she laughed that, “I think we have the same feelings towards cattle, we’ll work them when we have to but if given the choice, we’ll take sheep any day”!

There are many things to love about Moana but one that always comes straight to her mind is Moana’s passion for her job. “For a little dog she has a big heart, never has she gone to leave her work because it’s too hot or too tough or because the boss is in a bad mood. If anything, the harder it gets the harder she tries. If you could put her work ethic into a person, they’d be the most valuable worker on farm.”

Another one of her strengths is her amazing speed and commitment to covering sheep that try to break away, a very talented dog at covering flighty sheep and will almost turn herself inside out to cover a breakaway. Personality is an important trait for Bree and she finds Moana’s personality very much likeable. She’s not a smoochy, needy type but will come up for a pat every now and then but is also content doing her own thing. All of this adds up to a dog who is always in the right headspace and has the right mind for the job. Something Moana lacks is an understanding of achieving a flow in the yards. For example, when you’re on the draft or a handler and you call her up to start a flow if left to her own devices she’ll come up and fly back as fast as possible but achieve nothing. She seems very focused on getting back into a cover and holding position at the back of the mob causing her to rush the job. Bree finds that to combat this she is calling her up and making her stop on her way

back through the mob. This slows her down and by doing this it allows her an understanding of what we are trying to achieve though, given a chance she’ll resort back to her way if allowed.

Moana was a joy to train and she taught Bree a lot. “She was very different to my previous two dogs (Marista Zoe and Highfields Cooper) who gave you time to think and position yourself. Moana was fast and I really had to be on the ball to make sure she developed good behaviours early on”. As a young dog she always wanted to be walking in on sheep and moving things along, she was always a dog on a mission with no time for fluffing around. So, as you can imagine the stop command took a lot of work to get. Even to this day it can be a bit of a battle of wills at times. As Moana has matured though she has developed really nice feel on her stock so Bree can generally leave her to it.

“She was a great challenge for me to train at that point in my development as a handler and was very good at testing my patience. She’s always been a really smart dog and when she was young, she’d get frustrated at me at times if she didn’t understand what I was trying to achieve in a training situation.

“If you could put her work ethic into a person, they’d be the most valuable worker on farm.”

She’d start barking at me as if to tell me off for being in her way, which would frustrate the hell out of me because I didn’t appreciate being told off by my dog for being what I’m sure she thought was an idiot”.

Bree learnt in these moments not to feed into ether of their frustrations and to set her up for success. Encouraging her to learn that there is a purpose to what they were doing and when done right, she was aloud to do what she wanted, which is work the sheep. From these interactions they have built a trusting and understanding bond, “one where I try not to yell at her and she tries not to bark at me” laughed Bree. She feels that Moana hasn’t needed much influence in her work style. If anything, she sometimes feels as though she tried manipulating her work too much and still pays the price for it at times.

“I believe what has made Moana so successful in competitions and at home is her love for the job”. A lot of dogs would have gone sour on it by now and Bree has asked a lot of her the past two years between competing non stop and relying on her at work as her go to dog.

“I feel we work well as a team and have trust in one other, we both try to the best of our abilities to achieve whatever goal is in front of us. Weather that be a win in competition or just getting the mob to the yards”.

Having only bred one litter out of Moana, by her old dog Cooper during covid. Bree has a bitch called Vera Mouse at home that her partner Ollie kept.

She’s a nice all-rounder type with really nice natural paddock work. Mouse still has enough in the yards with the ability to bark and back sheep, and is a really nice mix of both parents.

Moana won her first maiden trial at Tonimbuk Farm Trial in 2020. Unfortunately, covid slowed her early progress due to trails being shut down, once it opened up again Moana quickly became an open dog after winning both the novice and improver class at Benella for the 2020 delayed Victorian Sate Yard Championships in March 2021. Some of Bree’s most memorable wins with her are winning the Open at the Australian Yard Dog Championship in Cressy, Tasmania 2022. She came second in Victorian Dog of the Year in 2022 and then won Victorian Dog of the Year in 2023. Moana is also back-to-back winner of Hamilton’s Sheepvention Farm Dog Championship for 2022 and 2023.

One of Bree’s favourite memory’s competing with her was last year’s Sheepvention final run. She knew they were in a pretty tight battle for first place and knew she had no room to make mistakes. “We were the last run so it all came down to us. I remember going out with my game face on, well aware of what we needed to do to win and Moana being Moana always goes out with her game face on”. It’s moments like those that I realise how special she really is. It’s not only her good work and ability but the confidence she gives Bree as well.

“She makes me believe I’m capable of things I didn’t think I’d have the ability to achieve. She changes my whole mindset from being nervous of losing to feeling like I’m kicking goals in a matter of seconds”.

Once they put the sheep away Bree recalls, letting out the breath she never realises she was holding at the put away. “I listened for the announcer to say my score. When I heard we’d won I gave Moana a massive squeeze. I’m sure she knows that she’s the winner when she gets the big squeeze from me but she always looks content with her self after a run like that. No ego or attitude in her, just a dog who loves her job.”

“She makes me believe I’m capable of things I didn’t think I’d have the ability to achieve.”

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WORKING DOG TRAINING PROGRAM Out of the dry dusty conditions of the Australian outback we introduce third generation stockman and working dog trainer Mick Hudson. Mick with his working dogs musters sheep, cattle and goats on his station in Western, NSW and competes the same team of dogs at competitions throughout Australia. There is no better man, more qualified to learn from than Mick Hudson.

In three sheep trials, Mick is currently one of the men to beat in Australia. Having won everything there is to win, leading to this, his training program which demonstrates Mick’s knowledge and years of experience dating back through generations of the Hudson family.

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This course is a culmination of years of hard work and knowledge packaged together and made available to you so that you can learn at your own pace, from the master himself.

They say if you want to be the best, you need to learn from the best. That’s why Mick’s training program is accessible to people world wide and from every walk of life.

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Module one

Selecting a Pup Bond Reward Repetition Discipline Controlling Emotions

Module Two

Module Three

Module Four

Training Aids & Finishing Command Puppy Obedience Training & Tips Reading Livestock Starting a Pup Creating Desire

Stop, Wait, Recall Timing Balance Distance

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SUCCESS COMES WITH KNOWLEDGE & TRAINING

The Maremma -

PART II

Maremma Traits

Article & Photos by Wayne Wayte & Scott Amon In the last issue of this magazine, we documented the history of the Maremma. One of the most impressive points was that this breed has been used for the guardianship of livestock for many thousands of years, even prior to the death of Christ!

The Maremma dog is classified as a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) and has been selectively bred for inherited livestock guardian traits. These dogs think for themselves and they are constantly aware of what they feel is their main responsibility.

Their focus is the protection of their livestock family from predators. They are also very gentle and placid with their human and livestock family, if socialised and trained correctly as a young dog.

The Maremma displays a distinct trait of establishing very strong bonds with other animals, particularly herbivores. It appears some form of symbiotic relationship has occurred with herbivores many thousands of years back in the history of this breed. This relationship is born from a deep seeded inherited instinct. The livestock, over time, seem to realise that the Maremma is there to protect them from predators and openly accept the dog(s) amongst their herd or flock.

There is little doubt that the Maremma also gains benefits from this relationship. The Maremma keeps the paddock clear of any ‘matter’ that may attract predators, for example, making sure that any residual possible carnivorous food sources are consumed.

This aids in preventing predators from being attracted and roaming the area.

The bond they form with their herd or flock is impressively strong and complex. To watch an adult Maremma helping with the cleaning up of newborn lambs for instance, is unique and intriguing to witness. This is done with full acceptance from the mother ewe. It is almost a contradiction to natural laws that a large carnivore would lovingly aid in the introduction to this world of a newborn herbivore.

Protective Behaviour A Maremma will also warn and gather their flock if potential danger becomes apparent. They tend to warn first with a series of deep protective barks and only become protective/aggressive as a last resort. These behaviours are largely governed by their instinct, thus they are extremely independent and will very rarely, if ever, give their owner blind obedience. They are first and foremost a LGD and as a result are far from an ideal pet.

If raised and bonded correctly (a topic for the next article) the Maremma will have a bond to both its owner and its livestock the latter by far, taking the strongest precedent. While Maremmas will commonly bound out of their herd or flock to joyously greet their owner, they are very quick to discard their owner for the priority of their flock.

Another trait of this guardian behaviour, and a large part of the protection these dogs offer their livestock companions, is the marking of their territory in the grazing area. This ‘marking’, in itself, is a very significant deterrent to any would-be predators. It seems to occur in several ways. As livestock and Maremmas are moved to a new grazing paddock the Maremmas will lead the way, so that they can make sure the new paddock is clear from predators and they will mark the perimeter areas. Also, as the livestock move and graze throughout a large paddock area, the Maremma will travel along with the livestock, monitoring and extending the ‘marking’ area.

As a result of these natural guarding instincts, the Maremma has been used worldwide to offer protection to domestic herds/ flocks of animals. Australian graziers commonly experience significant losses of livestock to predation from foxes, wild and domestic dogs, as well as predatory and scavenging birds. The Maremma certainly appears to be the answer to this problem, but strangely enough, they have been slow to be generally excepted on Australian farms.

A newborn lamb is cleaned up by both a Maremma and a ewe. To witness a predator and prey animal interact in this way is unique and intriguing. Picture courtesy of Catherine Kimmorley. Pictured is her 4 year old male Lucca.

Australian graziers who have taken the time to source quality working-line Maremmas are reporting spectacular results in the productivity of their farming enterprise. The guardian behaviour of the Maremma creates a calm and less stressful existence for the livestock. Which in turn delivers increased health, improved weight gain and more offspring safely to maturity. However, it is quite obvious that the breed is very much underutilised in Australia. This may well be due to the lack of knowledge relating to the important bonding process between dog and livestock while the Maremma is very young.

In the next instalment in this series of articles on the Maremma, we will delve into the MOST important process of bonding Maremmas to the livestock that they are required to protect.

Wayne Wayte is greeted by some of his Maremma pack. They are always keen to welcome him, but soon dissipate back to their scattered flocks of sheep.

Maremmas doing what they do best - protecting their livestock. In this case, in rugged bushland on Ballandean Station.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Examples of training scenarios •

•

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

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

•

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

•

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

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The Training Pen with Ken Sykes Self Control & Respect KEN SYKES

Ken Sykes has been working with sheepdogs most of his life. A successful competitor at sheepdog trials, Ken has now retired from running training days for livestock producers and giving working dog demonstrations. He is a feature writer and speaker.

His expertise draws on a broad range of research as well as practical expertise.

These days, newspaper headlines and TV news appear dominated by stories of out-of-control youth crime. A minority of youth do not seem to understand the concept of self-control and respect and cause problems out of proportion to their numbers. Committing crimes, posting on social media, and even a conviction are exciting and rewarding. Now, you are asking yourself, ‘What on earth has this to do with dog training?’

Delinquency is not confined to the human race. A minority of young dogs, even from the best of bloodlines, do not understand the concepts of self-control and respect. These young dogs strain at the end of their leash toward the stock. If the handler loses control of the lead, the dog races around the stock, ignoring the handler. Often cutting out a single beast and chasing it off into the distance. Such

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dogs cannot work stock calmly and with low stress until these concepts are firmly established.

Early training should begin well away from stock. Initially, learning to walk calmly on the lead. Many methods may be used to achieve this goal. There is no one right way, but as usual, what works best for you and your dog is best for your dog. Some trainers recommend waving a rake or drafting cane in front, often with the dog between the handler and a fence. Another method is to stop and put the dog in a sit each time it strains on the lead. A technique that has worked well for me is to stop and change direction each time the dog strains on the lead. The goal is for the dog

to learn that to achieve the reward of going for a walk, it must learn self-control and respect for the handler.

While the dog is on a long lead, put it in a sit or down, and while holding the end of the lead, walk away or around the dog. Each time the dog moves, put it back into its original position, paise it, give the stay command, and repeat the exercise. Repeat until the dog grasps the concept that to receive the reward of a pat and praise, it must exhibit self-control and show respect to the handler.

Only after the dog has shown it is capable of selfcontrol is it re-introduced to stock. The excitement of working stock may cause the dog to forget everything it has learned. It is essential that the first introduction to stock is made in an area where control can quickly be regained. A large, secure yard is ideal. If the dog is just a little over-excited and working too close, a plastic bag on a long light pole can be waved between the dog and the stock. For a more severe loss of control, the dog must be stopped and taken off the stock, not necessarily out of sight, and the self-control exercises repeated. e right pup How to select th partnership g on str a and form

Only after the dog has shown it can exhibit self-control and is showing respect for the handler do we move back to the paddock. Working stock is a rewarding activity for the dog. The aim of these exercises is for the dog to understand that controlled work is rewarded. In contrast, out-of-control work receives no reward.

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Think like a Canine

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Have you listened to DogTorque Yet? DogTorque offers Fortnightly Live Q & A’s with some of the best competitors, trainers and breeders worldwide! It is also then transformed into a podcast that you can listen to on your favourite podcasting app such as Apple Podcast or Spotify!

At DogTorque our vision is to ensure that the knowledge and experience shared within the working dog community is not lost, can be made easily accessed and is retained for future generations.

Whilst we are passionate about working dogs of all breeds, to suit all jobs and we support discussion involving anything farming or animal related that may be able to help or just be of interest to our community.

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STOCKMAN PROFILE Paul Darmody

Article by AWSDM & Sue Darmody | Photos Provided by Paul Darmody

Past president of the Australian Sheep Dog Workers Association for 10 years and current Patron, Paul Darmody needs no introduction to the dog trialing world. Perhaps better known now as the Butcher from Bungendore. Born and bred in the small country town just outside Canberra, he was one of 5 children, attending Bungendore Primary School followed by St Joseph’s College in Sydney, where he boarded until year 10.

Paul left school at the age of 16 on a Friday, found a job on the Saturday and started on the Monday. A story that set his way into becoming a Butcher.

Completing his apprenticeship in Queanbeyan, Paul took over ownership of the store in which he finished his trade. Butchering was at an all-time high in the area as the town of Queanbeyan grew from the single butcher shop he did his trade in, to having 27 shopfronts in the local area. In 1996, he and his wife took an opportunity to purchase the Butcher Shop in Bungendore which has proved to be the great foundation of Paul’s career and farming enterprise.

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Paul has taken a paddock to plate philosophy to his business by producing the meat for his shop from his farm. Purchasing local cattle, supplement feeding them while breeding his own self replacing sheep for his lamb supply. With approximately 300 cattle on at any one time and 4,000 sheep, it allows him to be competitive in the meat market while adding value to both businesses. Now with a team of 10 including 5 butchers, Paul has just done his 27th Christmas in the butcher shop, each year turning over approximately 700 of their famous hams that he and his staff create. The shop has also been nominated as one of the five best meat sections in the IGA throughout all of Australia.

Growing up, Paul’s father always had a strong interest in dogs, but after passing away when Paul was only 12, it left him with minimal knowledge and guidance. Luckily, his brothers were also interested in the farm and dogs and would often visit the 3 sheep dog trials in Canberra. Paul purchased his first dog, Lerose Benji from Steve Weyman, who competed Benji in both yard and three sheep dog trialing. Benji was the father of Pip Hudson’s well known bitch, Pippy.

Paul’s first introduction to three sheep dog trialing occurred out of coincidence. Working on his farm at the time in Bredbo, John Perry suggested Paul participate in the local trial in town.

Curiosity got the better of him, leading him to competing and penning the sheep, then to quickly discover his experience at Bredbo was very much beginner’s luck!

When looking for a dog, Paul is a Border Collie man through and through. He has used Border Collies at both yard trials and three sheep trials and believes you need to find the dog that suits your temperament and lifestyle. He looks for a dog that he genuinely likes and that likes him back. It is crucial to have a strong bond and loyalty, as his dogs are not only an escape from the pressures and demands of his butcher shop, but an integral part of daily operations of his properties.

Over the years, Paul has found John Perry to be a major influence in his dog trialing career, also evolving into a great lifelong mateship. Often travelling together, John would look after him at the trials when he was a younger bloke on his own.

Along with John, Laurie Slater and Greg Prince have also been a huge influence in his life with working dogs. Paul would often spend time with them at the trials as he enjoyed and valued their comradery.

“They were always happy to offer advice, lend a hand and never worried about me defeating them, not that I managed to do that very often. They were just happy about helping someone improve and then excited to see the improvement in action.”

Paul believes his most successful and influential dog he has owned is Wynella Digger. Diggers mother, Skye, was given to him from a friend who had lost his job and wanted her to go to someone who was genuinely interested in her personality and ability. He went on to breed Skye with a New Zealand Dog, Arends Patrick and from this litter, kept the pure white dog, better known as Digger. Digger went on to compete for Australia four times in the Wayleggo Cup, alongside his teammates, they have been on the winners podium three times. Paul and Digger were a part of the first ever team winning the cup on New Zealand soil.

He will forever remember a comment made by Greg Prince at the time to say, Digger was probably the best Trans Tasman Dog he had ever seen. It is obvious that many others saw the same value in Digger, as he is an extremely dominant bloodline in the three sheep dog trialing world, also the sire to many successful dogs.

A valued piece of advice Paul has received, is ‘whenever you make a final, don’t stand there wishing the other competitor’s bad luck. Go talk to your mates, have a beer, then, when your time comes, give it your all and take what you get.’ Other words of guidance he has received is, ‘when you come across a dog that you don’t like or that doesn’t suit you, you should always find another home for that dog, there is always someone who will take the opportunity to excel with it.’ When it comes to advice for young people, he believes that they should find something they enjoy doing. “Find the sport that suits you and have fun doing it, whether that be dog trialing, fishing, playing cricket.

Whatever it may be, pursue the thing that makes you happy.”

Doing something you love is great for your own mental health.

Most memorable achievements would have to be representing his country on four separate occasions. That, and beating John Perry at the Commonwealth Championships. A fond memory came to mind with the story of he and John taking one dog each to the trial and both dogs making the finals. John was the hot favourite to win the event, as Digger was only in his early stages of trialing. The triumph of winning this prestigious trial has remained a great highlight. Two great mates, two great dogs.

Paul’s most recent win at the Supreme in Strathalbyn, South Australia, is also a proud and memorable win for him. For several years, the Supreme became an annual family holiday,

which included his wife, Sue and his three children, Chloe, Hanna and Ben. Paul is on his fifth lap of Australia competing in the Supreme Championships, only having to miss two in Western Australia. This year, Paul ventured to the Supreme on his own, a first for him, as his daughter was due to have a baby.

He became the proud grandfather of a little boy, Ted. Ted is a much loved cousin for Jack and Maggie.

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things we don’t know about Paul Darmody?

-

He showed chooks as a young boy for a hobby, where he first met Geoff Gibson, a fellow dog trialer.

-

Has been Chairman of the Bungendore Showground Trust for 50 years.

-

Has owned competitive horses in a range of disciplines including racing and polocrosse.

Mick Hudson

WORKING DOG TRAINING PROGRAM SUCCESS COMES WITH KNOWLEDGE & TRAINING

Out of the dry dusty conditions of the Australian outback we introduce third generation stockman and working dog trainer Mick Hudson. Mick with his working dogs musters sheep, cattle and goats on his station in Western, NSW and competes the same team of dogs at competitions throughout Australia.

There is no better man, more qualified to learn from than Mick Hudson.

In three sheep trials, Mick is currently one of the men to beat in Australia. Having won everything there is to win, leading to this, his training program which demonstrates Mick’s knowledge and years of experience dating back through generations of the Hudson family.

This course is a culmination of years of hard work and knowledge packaged together and made available to you so that you can learn at your own pace, from the master himself.

They say if you want to be the best, you need to learn from the best.

That’s why Mick’s training program is accessible to people world wide and from every walk of life.

Scan to Start learning

Module one

Module Two

Selecting a Pup Bond Reward Repetition Discipline Controlling Emotions

Training Aids & Finishing Command Puppy Obedience Training & Tips Reading Livestock Starting a Pup Creating Desire

Module Three

Module Four

Stop, Wait, Recall Timing Balance Distance

Sides Walk up/Force Cast

WWW.MICKHUDSON.COM.AU 54 AWSDM SUCCESS COMES WITH KNOWLEDGE & TRAINING

Name Contact Number & Email

Colouring Competition - March 2024 Area & State

Age

Anyone under the age of 13 years old are welcome to colour in the picture and send it in before 20th April 2024 for the chance to win a prize and be featured in Kelly’s Kennel! There is no need to damage your magazine, you can print this picture from www.stockdogs.com.au/pages/kellys-kennel Submit your entry to Colouring Competition, AWSDM, PO BOX 3003, Grose Vale NSW 2753 or email - laura@stockdogs.com.au

Kelly’s Kennel WINNER

Quentin Gose 11, Queensland

Chocolate Crackle Rocky Road

INGREDIENTS: • 4 cups Kellogg’s Rice Bubbles • 200g mini marshmallows • 190g raspberry lollies • 200g Nestle Smarties • 250g milk chocolate 1. Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

2. Melt chocolate and pour over dry ingredients, mix until all combined.

3. Spoon into patty pans and refrigerate until set.

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

3 Sheep Trials

Yard Trials

New South Wales

New South Wales

11 - 17 MARCH

National Sheep Dog Trial Championship Hall, ACT

22 - 24 MARCH

19 - 23 MARCH

NSW State Championships Dr. Ross Memorial Recreation Ground, Molong, NSW Sydney Sheep Dog Trial Hawkesbury Showground Alison Burrell - 0423 049 848

23 MARCH

Finley Sheep Dog Trial Finley, NSW

27 - 28 APRIL

23 - 26 MAY 6-9 JUNE

Victoria 22- 24 MARCH

Seymour Working Sheepdog Trials Kings Park, Seymour Colin Davidson - 0411 658 933

16 - 20 MAY

Cressy Sheep Dog Trial Cressy Recreation Reserve Steve Turner - 0409 388 160

1-2 JUNE

Captain Payne Field Trial Cressy Recreation Reserve Conor McConnell - 0406 781 989

7 - 15 SEPTEMBER

SUPREME AUS. CHAMPIONSHIP Geelong Showgrounds Conor McConnell - 0406 781 989

18 - 20 OCTOBER

SWSC Trans-Tasman Sheepdog Trial Port Fairy Showgrounds Richard Davies - 0407 702 783

25 - 26 MAY 1-2 JUNE

Western Australia 10 - 14 APRIL

AUS. YARD DOG CHAMPIONSHIPS Mobrup, 5km South of Kojonup

17 - 21 APRIL

NATIONAL KELPIE FIELD TRIAL (NKFT) Kellerberrin, WA

7 JUNE

Stirling Yard & Utility Kendenup Caravan Park, Kendenup

Victoria

Queensland 18 - 20 APRIL

Toowoomba Show Sheep Dog Trial Toowoomba Showgrounds Gary & Julie Spry - 0402 436 477

9 - 12 MAY

Roma Sheep Dog Trial Roma, QLD Rohan Ballon - 0413 465 791

13 - 15 MAY

Morven Sheep Dog Trial Morven, QLD C: Joy Williams - 0418 759 056 Inglewood Sheep Dog Trial Inglewood, QLD C: Denise Hawe - 0447 782 549

12 - 14 JULY

27 - 28 APRIL

Eugowra Utility Trial Eugowra Showground Kevin Howell - 0427 592 311 Southern NSW Championship Euberta Simon Hartwich - 0409 172 075 Gwydir Valley Yard Trial Moree Showground Damien Meppem - 0439 190 923 Gwydir Valley Yard Trial Moree Showground Damien Meppem - 0439 190 923 Hawkesbury/Sydney Yard Trial Hawkesbury Showground Daniel Camilleri - 0488 999 736 USD - Ultimate Stock Dog Cowra Showground Nathan Cayfe - 0404 045 500

26 - 28 JULY

Warwick Jumpers and Jazz Warwick, QLD C: Judy Allen - 0407 073 687

29 AUGUST 1 SEPTEMEBER

Allora Sheep Dog Trial Allora, QLD Judy Allen - 0407 073 687

23 - 25 SEPTEMEBER

Surat Sheep Dog Trial St George Showgrounds Rohan Ballon - 0413 465 791

26 - 29 SEPTEMEBER

St. George Sheep Dog Trial St. George Showground Rohan Ballon - 0413 465 791

24 MARCH

Horsham Yard Dog Trial Horsham Showgrounds Geb Biddy - 0438 356 656

28 - 29 SEPTEMBER

Yundool Yard Dog Trial “Somerset”, Yundool, VIC Mark Wheeler - 0488 972 904

Queensland 8 MARCH

Pittsworth Show Yard Dog Trial Pittsworth Showgrounds Taryn Binstead - 0409 800 159

15 - 16 MARCH

Inglewood Show Society Yard Dog Trial Inglewood Showgrounds

23 MARCH

Jandowae Show Yard Dog Trial Jandowae Showgrounds Chloe Owen - 0407 245 150

6 APRIL

Dirranbandi Show Yard Dog Trial Dirranbandi Showgrounds

4 MAY

Goondiwindi Show Yard Dog Trial Goondiwindi Showgrounds

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

Cattle Trials Queensland 23 - 24 MAY 13 - 14 APRIL

Killarney Cattle Trial Col Bloomfeild - 0412 754 807

20 APRIL 11 - 12 MAY

Mt Perry Show Cattle Trial CLiz Hughes - 0438 339 575 Rolleston Cattle Trial Wyatt Judd - 0409 365 466

18 - 19 MAY

Comet Show Cattle Trial Andrew Jansen - 0429 475 313

21 - 22 MAY

Alpha Show Cattle Trial Tim Stewart - 0448 354 356

7-9 JUNE

QLD State Championships Charters Towers Adam Sibson - 0438 594 457 AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG CHAMPIONSHIPS St George Scott Wilson - 0497 270 477

4-7 JULY

Utility Trials Queensland 18 APRIL

Myola at the Caves Jake Swift - 0439 964 003

New South Wales 16 - 17 MARCH

Dorrigo Cattle Trial More info TBA

12 APRIL

Bonalbo Show Cattle Trial More info TBA

8 - 10 JUNE

Gunnedah Cattle Trial More info TBA

12 APRIL

Bonalbo Show Cattle Trial More info TBA

8 - 10 JUNE

Gunnedah Cattle Trial More info TBA

Toowoomba Royal Show Utility Trial Toowoomba Showgrounds Taryn Binstead - 0409 800 159

New South Wales 22 - 24 MARCH

Eugowra Utility Trial Eugowra Showground Kevin Howell - 0427 592 311

28 - 30 JUNE

Hawkesbury Utility Trial Hawkesbury, NSW Ben Lehmann - 0414 424 420

Western Australia 17 - 21 APRIL

NATIONAL KELPIE FIELD TRIAL (NKFT) Kellerberrin, WA

7-9 JUNE

Stirling Yard & Utility Kendenup Caravan Park, Kendenup

28 - 30 JUNE

Binnaburra Yard & Utility ‘Binnaburra’, Kellerberrin

Auctions 2-5 MAY 2024

Ray White Livestock Working Dog Sale & Trial - CQLX Gracemere Saleyards C: working.dog@raywhite.com

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A centralised, consistent, buying and selling platform for the Australian working stock dog industry NATIONAL COVERAGE ONLINE ONLY

QUARTERLY SALES AUTUMN, WINTER, SPRING & SUMMER

NO BUYERS PREMIUM!!

Phone: 0408 784 031 Email: admin@workingstockdogauction.com.au

www.workingstockdogauction.com.au ARTWORK BY SHOW HORSE DESIGN

AUSTRALIAN WORKING STOCK DOG AUCTION

What is the Australian Working Stock Dog Auction?

Who is behind the Australian Working Stock Dog Auction?

The Australian Working Stock Dog Auction is an independent, online auction platform, designed and dedicated specifically for the Australian working stock dog industry. We host online auctions for all ages and breeds of working dogs and pups, from all over Australia, every three months.

The Australian Working Stock Dog Auction is founded and operated by Jamie Sturrock and Isaac Hotz.

We are stockmen and graziers from Queensland and have spent our entire careers working cattle, sheep, and goats. We became great mates through a shared passion for working dogs and livestock. We have both lived and breathed working dogs for more than twenty years now. Breeding, training, working, buying, selling, trialling and teaching others. We have worked together in the past, and there wouldn’t be many weeks go by over the years, that we haven’t caught up to talk all things working dogs and livestock.

We have decades of experience buying and selling working stock dogs, both privately and at auction.

What makes the Australian Working Stock Dog Auction different?

National exposure!

Online only..

There is no doubt that there is demand in Australia for well-bred, well-trained working stock dogs. Quite often, the challenge in sourcing a quality working dog or pup, is not as much about price, as it is about knowing what is out there, and finding the right article! It has always been a bit of a lottery, trying to source the ideal working dog, from the right person, at the right time.

A significant percentage of dogs at physical working stock dog auctions are selling online already. Many dogs are purchased sight unseen, by bidders from all over Australia.

There are some outstanding working dogs, as well as rare and special genetics, hidden out there in the Australian bush. Some buyers would ‘give an arm and a leg’ to have the chance to acquire these lots, if they knew they existed in the first place!

These types of transactions are beneficial to the seller AND the buyer, so our goal is to bring the two together.

We are looking to bring some transparency to the industry by providing a platform to showcase the best working dogs and genetics from all over the country, and give willing buyers the opportunity to get their hands on them.

Consistency!

Most working dog auctions in Australia are run annually. If a vendor wants to sell at their local auction, they need to be committed to that date, regardless of the age or level of their dog.

We are providing vendors the opportunity to sell their dog when the dog is ready, instead of being based around an annual event at a set date. Quarterly sales means that if a young dog isn’t quite ready for one sale, the seller knows that there is another sale right around the corner. There is no pressure to sell a dog that isn’t prepared or presented to their best potential.

We have rarely seen a working dog or pup add much value for the seller or the buyer, in a three-minute demonstration, at a country showground, on a few head of livestock.

Lockdowns in previous years have proved to us that the industry is ready! Physical location is no longer a limitation.

Timed, simultaneous auctions..

This platform is about finding the right dog at a budget that suits.

Our timed auctions are run over six days. This gives buyers the chance to bid on multiple lots with plenty of time, and no pressure!

Simultaneous bidding means that if a buyer ‘blows their budget’ on a lot later in the sale, they can go back and bid on an earlier lot that may still suit their price range. Again, this is beneficial to sellers AND buyers. The earlier lot gets a few extra bids they wouldn’t have otherwise, and the buyer doesn’t miss out on a suitable dog because they held out for a lot later in the sale.

There is no advantage or disadvantage based on a lot’s position in the sale.

How will you ensure that the dogs are advertised accurately and honestly?

We are adamant about building a national network of genuine, honest, reputable, REPEAT buyers and sellers!

From a buyer’s perspective, if they can’t find what they need at one sale, there is no need to panic and buy an unsuitable dog or spend too much money. They can ‘shop’ with confidence, knowing that there will be another quality selection of working dogs and pups available in just a few months’ time.

Sellers are strongly encouraged to provide as much detail as possible in their videos, photos and descriptions to accurately represent their dogs. It is also a requirement that sellers make their dogs available for inspections and demonstrations by appointment.

This consistency of dates on a trusted, familiar platform allows everyone to plan ahead and be flexible. This is beneficial for sellers, buyers, AND the dogs!

Buyers are strongly encouraged to contact the seller directly, and inspect the dogs in person where possible.

The success of this platform relies on genuine, honest, transparent sellers, and savvy buyers that do their due diligence.

We would rather you didn’t buy a dog, than buy a dog that you aren’t happy with!

2023 Tasmanian Yard Dog Championship

Article and Photos Supplied by Emma Hall

On Saturday 2nd December, 2023 the Tasmanian Yard Dog Association hosted our state championships at Formosa Estate in the Northern Midlands of Tasmania.

We were able to secure Josh Latty as our Championship judge and he (along with Cloe) made the trip over the water to the little island. We had one day of competition with just under 60 dogs competing in the Novice, Improver and Open classes. By the time we included the finals of each class, we ended up trialling from 7am to 7pm. Thanks Josh for withstanding the full day of judging!

Hats off to Simon McGee and Formosa Estate for enabling us to have fresh sheep for every run of the day. What a difference that makes, and for a state champs, even better!

Our Tasmanian Livestock Marketing Novice class was won by Tim Hall and Valley Sasha. Sasha and Tim scored a first round 91 and a finals score of 81 with a winning total of 172 to take out the title.

The Longford & Northern Midlands Veterinary Services/Tony Flakemore Improver class was won by Scott Bone & Gemma.

Gemma and Scott scored a first round 75 and a finals score of 42 with their winning total of 117 taking out this class.

The Coprice Tasmanian Championship for 2023 was won by Tim Hall & Jindi Spade. Tim and Spade had a first round score

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of 78 just scraping into the finals to run a 74 and a winning total of 152. This is Tim & Spades second consecutive win in a row.

We were also able to award the 2023 Webb & Woodiwiss Dog of the year and the 2023 Tasmanian Quality Meats Handler of the year.

This year these two awards went to Simon Bowden and his dog Fouroaks Butch. Simon and Butch showed their consistency and tenacity throughout the calendar season to claim these two awards. A massive success for them both.

We also presented two memorial trophies on the day. The Keith Johnson memorial award for the best up and coming young dog (judged by the judge on the day) and the Yvonne Johnson memorial award for the highest scoring bitch in the elimination rounds.

This year the Keith Johnson award went to Adrian Carpenter and Bamma George with the Yvonne Johnson memorial award also going to Adrian Carpenter with Tumut Valley Sue. Congratulations to Adrian, George & Sue. As always we thank our major sponsor Coprice and the individual class sponsors for their contributions to our club, without this support we would not be able to host a successful championship.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Improver Winners - Scott Bone & Gemma

Novice Winners - Tim Hall & Valley Sasha

Open Championship Winners - Tim Hall & Jindi Spade

Competitors on course at the force

Adrian Carpenter on course

Dog of the Year & Handler of the Year Award Winner, Simon Bowden

AROUND THE GROUNDS

GoGetta Working Dog Auction

Article & Photos Provided

by GoGetta Kelpie Stud

You only have to look at a sale catalogue from any working dog auction to see that a good proportion of the people and the stud names that were there just a few years back have vanished, and that breeders and trainers come and go like clouds. But GoGetta has stood the test of time, breeding 100’s of top quality workers over 30 long years - including 5 Australian Champions.

This year the GoGetta Stud offered 19 allround dogs ranging from 8 months to 6 years old, and GoGetta principal Joe Spicer believes the GoGetta team have a huge advantage over other sales, in that they can hold their sale at any time of the year!

“Anyone who has prepared a dog for auction would not only know the massive amount of time and effort, plus the enormous emotional drain, that it takes to train just one dog to a high standard. But also, the golden rule of training; You can only go at the dog’s pace - NOT yours!

But we can go when they’re ready. And don’t have the pressure (that’s often conveyed onto the poor dog) of having to have the dogs ready by a particular auction date.

We actually put the date back a month and a half, because we didn’t feel they were quite ready to make the transition to a new owner.”

But the GoGetta Working Dog Sale not only has all the advantages on being online, it still has the personal touch of buying privately, with personal on farm working demos where you can get a much better feel of which dog may suit your requirements and personality, even work the dogs yourself on sheep & cattle! Plus free training days. “We also love the Helmsman system, where you’ve got all the time in the world (up to a week) to go back to your original (and best) choice,

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rather than getting left with your second, third, fourth etc choice because your first choice has already gone! We also have a great advantage in that we’re working on different properties and stock and for different handlers. Which makes the transition to their new owner so much easier.”

The sale again was a massive success, with repeat clients, and going all across Australia, plus again achieving both the highest average at any auction in Australia, and 100% clearance for the second year in a row. With a top of $28,000 for GoGetta BARDY (Allstates Betts x GoGetta Parody).

The GoGetta team is proud that the quality of workers just gets better and better, and are extremely excited to announce we’re going for the three-peat!

d e

h t e

v a

S

e t a

i2024 HYPRO SUPREME AUSTRALIAN SHEEPDOG CHAMPIONSHIPS featuring the

GEELONG SHOWGROUNDS SEPTEMBER 7-15 2024

New Zealand

vs Australia

Trans Tasman Test Presented by THE VICTORIAN WORKING SHEEPDOG ASSOCATION and HYPRO /VWSDA https://vwsda.org/supreme-2024/ @victorianworkingsheepdogassociation

Article & Photos by Laura McKillop

Where to this time..?

Another long trip of some 1,200 kilometres saw yet again, my ute and caravan, along with 5 dogs onboard, a few whistles and magazines but only difference this time a solo traveller.

With a very early start I set off on day 1 of a 3 week adventure, after a big day of driving I arrived at Euroa, just out of Benalla, Victoria where I caught up with some friends and of course trained some dogs. The next day was a much shorter, easy drive through to Port Fairy, taking just over 6 hours. However, I was glad to arrive and again catch up with more friends.

We were straight into the farmers trial early Saturday morning where I was lucky enough to run two dogs. Both got to the pen – however penning was proving a little more difficult... At the completion of the Farmers Trial, the Novice was underway with 102 runs plus finals to complete before Monday. The sheep were interesting which made for some tough and very challenging runs but still a few scores on the board early. Sunday afternoon saw the completion of the Novice runs with Paul Elliot and Elliots Monne taking out the win after the Top 15 and Novice final, Monday morning.

The Commonwealth Championship was then underway with again some tough sheep, interesting runs and some early scores on the board. Monday night was the start of the Trans Tasman competition, with a large number of spectators coming from surrounding areas along with travelers from the nearby caravan park, the pressure appeared to be on for all the competitors to have a crack at this prestigious competition.

For me, this was the first time I had ever stepped foot on a Trans Tasman course and what a go did we give it! The Trans Tasman for those who don’t know is a combination of an Australian 3 sheep course and the New Zealand Course. The course starts with a normal cast lift and draw and normal Aussie carry to the first obstacle, the gap. After completing the gap, you must drive with/beside your dog to the second obstacle, the Maltese cross.

At the Maltese cross you do have a free working area to help your dog with the sheep. It is then the same across to the bridge with another free working area there. After the completion of the bridge, competitors then go back to the Australian rules for the carry across to the pen. It certainly was awesome to have a go and I was extremely chuffed to get to the pen for a score!

Friday after lunch saw the start of the “Australian Dog of the Year” runs commence. Paul Darmody took to the mic to interview the competitors before they took to the course. The organising team put on a wonderful dinner on Friday night providing a great opportunity to bring everyone together to mingle and enjoy the night. The next few days were equally as exciting watching plenty of dogs, meeting lots of new people and the finals on Sunday which saw Mick Hudson take out the

Australian Dog of the Year and Commonwealth Championship with MGH Rabbit. Congratulations again Mick.

After being at Port Fairy for the week, the next stop was only a few kilometres up the road at Koroit for the Australian Sheepdog Championships. With a lay day on the Monday, it was great to have a slow day to pack up camp before heading into Warrnambool to have a look around and as always do a little bit of shopping. I found a quiet spot on the beach to give the dogs a good run and have a dip myself whilst there was some warmer weather.

Koroit started nice and early Tuesday morning with the first few runs of the Open Championship followed by the Novice after lunch. Again, there were some interesting composite ewes that made for some difficult rounds and tested everyone’s dogs and made it difficult to get scores on the board. I was lucky enough to have a couple of good rounds at Koroit to place first and second in the Encourage as well as snagging a fourth in the Novice.

After a fun and tiring 20 days away and well over 2,800 kilometres travelled I arrived home safely with lots of wonderful memories made. I am more than keen for a few more trips in 2024 and consider myself extremely lucky to be able to combine my work life and love and appreciation for working dogs the way I do.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

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Commonwealth Championship Sheep Dog Trials, Port Fairy

The 2024 Commonwealth Championship Sheepdog Trials was held in the beautiful, historic town of Port Fairy, Victoria from the 3rd to the 11th of February.

Some first-class working sheepdog trialing was witnessed throughout the week, with some of the best dogs and handlers from around Australia competing at the week-long event.

The Farmers Trial was first up for the week and saw some testing sheep making it difficult for some competitors. However, Amy Eighteen and her dog Freeway Maisy put a great score up for first place, and was closely followed by Sean O’Leary with Elliots Mumu. Third place saw Neil Whyte and GoGetta Dutchess take the spot.

The ever consistent team including Mick Hudson and his dog MGH Rabbit were crowned the 2024 Commonwealth Champions. A much deserved 11 point win after putting up three consistent runs, Mick and Rabbit edged out fellow New South Wales competitor Paul Darmody and Zeefree Marlon and Victorian competitor, David Lacey working Brands Hatch Tusker.

Paul Elliot from New South Wales claimed the Novice with his home breed dog Elliots Monne. Second and third place was taken by Doug Taylor from New South Wales with his dog Millie followed by MGH Tara.

In the Improver Class, Mick Hudson again saw the podium for first place with MGH Cleo, a daughter of the Open Winner, MGH Rabbit and second place with MGH Gypsy. In third place was Bailey Knight from Queensland with his dog Knights Champ.

The infamous Trans Tasman night time competition saw 38 dogs run with Jess Kimpton and Newcomen Stitch from New South Wales rise to the top after two great runs with just a one point lead.

Closely followed, Western Australian competitor, Ken Atherton and his Kelpie dog, Ramulam Charlie. Third place was taken out

by Lee Jamieson and Shannandoah Steele from Tasmania.

The Commonwealth Championship Sheep Dog Trial also holds the Bill Paton Australian Dog of the Year Competition which see each states High Point Winners come together for a two round competition and run off for the title. It was a tight competition, with Lee Jamison and Shannandoah Steele from Tasmania sitting in top position after the first round. However, after the second round, Mick Hudson and MGH Rabbit from New South Wales claimed the Australian Dog of the Year Title for 2024.

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Article by AWSDM | Photos CCSDT Committee

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Working dogs to $16,000 at Jerilderie Working Dog Auction Article by Natasha Lobban, AuctionsPlus | Photos Jerilderie Working Dog Auction Buyers were more budget than bark at the 20th Annual Jerilderie Working Dog Auction, which concluded on Saturday.

He said prices did not reflect quality this year, which although disappointing was understandable.

At the close of the auction 47 of the 67 lots offered were sold, for an average of $6,668 and a 76% clearance rate – with more dogs selling since then.

“Dogs with $9000+ reserve were overlooked in the leadup with purchasers choosing to take interest in lower reserve prices,” he said.

The average last year was $7,725, while in 2022 it was $10,509.09 and in 2021 $10,556.36.

“The younger dogs $5-6000 sold like hotcakes.

The top price of $16,000 for Lot 23, Andillyn Tuxedo, a Kelpie exhibited by Josh Everingham from Finley NSW, went to an online bidder. The on-site sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus.

“Producers just don’t have the cash to be buying them.”

The dogs sold across Australia, to all states and territories except NT – which happens every year.

Tuxedo demonstrated natural ability on sheep and cattle, and his high level of training set him apart from the pack. Tuxedo will continue his working career in Bourke NSW.

“Over 50% of the knockdown lots were sold through AuctionsPlus, and I’ve sold a couple more now,” Mr Doolan said.

Auction coordinator Warwick Doolan said subdued prices reflected a restrained market, with buyers cautious not to overspend with little in their back pockets to spare.

“28 of 49 dogs sold on the AP platform and so it’s becoming more and more important.”

The market was clearly affected by reduced cattle and sheep prices, but it was also the lack of competition from goat harvesters that failed to get the market to last year’s top price of $22,500.

“We’ve had a couple of years of subdued sheep, cattle and wool prices and the goat market has been non-existent, it’s just started to trade again for most goat harvesters,” Mr Doolan said.

“We are normally dominated by the goat musterers because when goat harvesting is in full swing they are pretty generous in buying the dogs they want to own.”

Jerilderie Working Dog Auction is a 100% volunteer-run organisation, with all proceeds raised going to the Apex Club of Jerilderie.

Next year’s auction is scheduled for 22nd February 2025, with entry forms available from 1st November 2024, closing 31st January 2025.

www.groverscountryclothing.com

Loyal to the End Learn from experienced stockmen who have spent a life time working on cattle stations and who understand the versatility and talent of the hard-working stock dogs of Australia - better than the rest.

C

hris Harbin, born 26th January, 1955 in Leeds; a city in West Yorkshire, England; migrated to Australia with his parents and two brothers in 1957 via the Strathnaver Ocean Liner.

After World War II; Strathnaver was instrumental in implementing “The Ten Pound Pom” scheme; carrying thousands of British immigrants to Australia. The scheme was initiated by the government of Australia in 1945 to substantially increase the population of Australia and to supply workers for the country’s booming industries.

Chris’ father was amongst the most fortunate arrivals to secure a career as a mechanic at Lawrence Motors in Rockhampton, Queensland, also known to locals as the “Beef Capital of Australia”. Permanent residency was scarce at the beginning of their arrival. Chris and his family lived in a hostel in Rockhampton before finding a home to live in more comfortably.

Their home was one of six houses owned by the landlord who lived in an old tin shed down the bottom of a hill.

The landlord had cattle down at the commonage; known as common land with the right to pasture stock animals. The commonage consisted of rich river flats, grass-grown swamps, and deep goodholding dams; all features that made its utility exceptional for stock. The only impractical part about the commonage was the stock had to be moved to higher grounds during floods.

Having no previous exposure or experience with cattle until residing in Australia; Chris has the landlord to thank for sparking his first interest in stock work. At 13 years old, he was old enough to help the landlord walk his cattle from the commonage to higher ground during the Fitzroy River flooding.

This involvement was the foundation for Chris to choose a lifelong career working with cattle.

Chris finished schooling in year 10 and didn’t waste any time becoming a jackaroo on multiple stations throughout Queensland. He endured some harsh living conditions as a jackaroo such as living in a storage room – “packed in like a sardine”, Chris describes.

While the station owners enjoyed a luxurious hot shower with running water and a hot water system; after a long, hard and hot day’s work or during a cold winters evening; Chris still had to work for his own luxurious hot shower by rigging up the shower in some trees outside and light a copper boiler.

After several stations working as a jackaroo; Chris needed a change and moved on to Flemington, Melbourne, Victoria. With his passion for horses

and gifted horsemanship; Chris secured a position working for the VRC (Victoria Racing Club); working young broken-in horses that needed to become accustomed to their surroundings.

“At least I can always say I’ve ridden a horse on the Flemington”, Chris exclaimed proudly. “I’d never seen so many drunks as I did in the 8 months of being there”, Chris jested cheekily.

Working with a tradesman team during the day on the track; he’d notice some of the members would disappear to go drink some stubbies they’d hidden in the toilet cisterns and hedges – “they couldn’t help themselves!” he said. “Their fulltime job was to shovel sand from a flat top and fill in the divots on the track – with such a repetitious task as that; is it any wonder they needed some beers before five o’clock”.

Moving on from Flemington back to Queensland; it wasn’t until much later on in his life that he had a purpose for working dogs.

He became a fulltime Weaner Tailer at Dalgonally Station, 80km north of Julia Creek, Queensland.

Weaner tailing was and still is an important program that contributes to the temperament of cattle, ensuring their safety and wellbeing and simply keeping the cattle calm; educating them to be co-operative throughout their lifetime on a station.

It involves spending a lot of time with the weaners on horseback, motorbikes, on foot and with dogs. There are many hours spent in the yards educating them about movement, stopping, starting, moving through pens, and walking through gates. Once the weaners have settled and the tailer is satisfied; they are then released into a paddock to learn to walk in a mob sensibly, following a leader. After some practice walks; the weaners are then walked out to their new paddock where they will remain for such time and hopefully remember all their training and be co-operative the next time they need to be mustered.

“I’d handled 7000 weaners during one period of time. Once they were ready to be walked, I’d walk 800 – 1000 head at a time with dogs on my own. The cattle would poke along nice, steady and quiet. It was a big difference compared to when they landed in our yards straight off their Mums. I had about 6 dogs working with me and I needed every one of them. At different times, those dogs had worked so hard they’d worn the pads off their feet. But the dogs love it! They’re greatest passion and purpose in life is to work stock. You try taking that away from them and they become very confused dogs”, Chris said with concern.

If you imagine a mob of 800 – 1000 head of cattle spread out in a paddock; that’s a lot of area for a dog to cover! There’s no way you’d get a horse around the other side as quick as those dogs when needed at times. They’re my mates and a farmer’s best employee”.

Chris was very informative about teaching dogs too many commands or training them too early. “I’ve found if you teach them too early in life or if you’re too regimental too early, they become very dependent on your direction during work; rather than having full capacity of their natural instinct. If you’re moving 4000 head at a time and you’ve got a dog unsure of what to do next without your guidance, the situation gets messy quick”.

A good dog depends on their breeding. A young well-bred pup will show natural ability fairly well straight away. If you’ve got some quiet sheep to show a pup; you’ll know straight away by watching the pup’s movements and interest in the sheep whether or not he’ll be a good dog.”

“My two best (2) dogs were full of natural instinct. One in particular would work the wing of the mob and the point. She would go up the wing, work and stop on the point and keep behind the leader. Every so often; she’d step back and look back to see if I was still coming. She just knew what to do; she was a very intuitive dog”, Chris said proudly. “She had a lot of snap in her too; if a weaner wasn’t moving; by hell she stood her ground and made it move”.

“A common mistake that I often see people make with their dogs is not keeping an eye on them and allowing them to get out of position. You can stop them before they get in the wrong position if you’re watching. A devastating matter that I’ve endured a few times throughout my time working with dogs was dog bait. Baiting is a big problem and I’ve lost some good dogs to it over time.”

When asked which breed is best; kelpie or collie; there was no hesitation from Chris to answer “Anything that will – (work). There is good in every dog”.

At 69 years of age, he is recovering from a shoulder injury at his home before returning to the station he currently works near Moura, Queensland. He spends most of his time off spending quality time with his favourite dogs; Frank, Connie, Pluto, Bell, Lizzie, Maud; and Sushi – the most spoilt of all; a beautiful black and white border collie bitch with sapphire blue eyes. Sushi’s intent fixation on Chris is fascinating; she is always one step behind Chris; rain, hail or shine.

“Having a loyal dog comes down to how much quality time you spend with it. All of my dogs compete for my attention; pushing their heads in front of each other for pats. You can work your dogs but don’t forget to spend some quality time and throw some fun in there with them too. It’s like shouting your mate a beer after a hard day’s work.

If you spend some quality time with your dogs; they’ll always come back working for you; again, and again. They’re loyal to the end.”

Article by Tineasha Bowen, Cross Stitch Working Collies | Photos Provided by Tammy Gadsby

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True Bushman

Article and Photos Provided by Jan Lowing, Karmala Kelpies

Arthur Crumblin Australia lost one of its last true bushmen when Arthur Crumblin died last September. There would be very few left who have honed their skills in so many areas and to such a high standard.

“Meticulous” is word that came up more than once as I spoke to those who knew him well. It seemed to me as I learned so much more about him, that he deliberately honed his skills in one craft and then moved on to his next challenge. This gave him a wide skill set at a very young age. But let’s start at the beginning.

He always made his own gear apart from saddles, and for a couple of years also travelled around stations mending harness, counterlining saddles and making new items as needed. I think he also handled some young horses judging by his expertise evident in a couple of old photos of him competing in Rodeos at Dirranbandi and Weengallon. Horses and dogs were his great lifelong love.

An Irish butcher, James Crumblin, decided to sail to Australia with his wife and five sons in 1886. The youngest of the boys, William was only two. He later lived in Cobar and worked as a bridge and road builder as that area opened up, later following the work to GoondIwindi where Arthur’s father Thomas was born. Thomas enlisted for WW II and returned to Dirran after the war, disappointed at his treatment by an ungrateful Government. He was a hard worker and took on any jobs available to support his growing family.

Arthur was the second eldest of eight, born in 1948. The local kids had a great time with the river so close, swimming and fooling around. David Lindsay, a lifelong friend of Arthur’s, went to school with him and remembers a canoe was made out of old lead-rich iron, easier to bend than modern gal, the ends filled in with wood and sealed. It was used to cross the river to hunt pigs. Arthur had a white pit bull terrier who saved his life more than once! (David would contract the stock work for Arthur many years later when he managed Koomalah Station.)

When Arthur turned thirteen, he decided school had nothing more to offer. His parents said he must get a job but he missed his first choice, working on a station, and became apprenticed to a painter where he stayed for two years. He became very good at his trade, as was obvious in later years when the house always looked immaculate.

For the next five years he went droving with Bandy Nolan who sounds a bit of a legend himself. This is when I think Arthur’s lifelong love affair with the bush began. I can imagine Arthur loving the horses and dogs and soaking up all he could learn from his boss, probably asking an awful lot of questions, but also watching carefully. Much of his astute knowledge of all types of stock was gained in these years, and I’m sure his insistence on good temperament was formed then.

How important that was when handling mobs of stock on the road!

Bandy was helping out the elderly owner of Koomalah Station in his off time and Arthur worked there too, repairing fences and doing stock work.

A relative was a very good saddler and Arthur worked for him for a couple of years becoming an excellent leather worker.

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Arthur made his way up to the Northern Territory where his uncle Percy was renowned as an excellent stockman. At some stage he worked with a carpenter and picked up another skill set, details are a bit vague but he also worked at a saw mill and would have made good use of that knowledge. Over the years he built sets of yards, sheds, stables and raised kennels. Every building on his property at Leyburn was built by Arthur except for the house, and he and Marion did the fencing themselves.

Arthur worked for the Hammonds on Ballandool and also on other district properties, then was offered a permanent job on Koomalah. The English owner was happy to rely on local knowledge and Arthur was later made manager. It was a great position; he was able to run the property without much interference and stayed there for about twenty years. David

Lindsay remembers quite a few useful kelpies who were natural backing dogs, some coming from northern NSW. Bill Lindsay was another school friend who competed successfully in dog trials through the 80s. All three eventually moved closer to the coast and bought their own properties.

I remember Arthur telling me how one of the stock agents tried to persuade him to change from the stud where he bought his rams. Unlike many well-educated graziers I’ve met over the years, Arthur was a wake up that the move would only have made more commission for the agent’s firm and mean less wool and worse sheep for him! I was really impressed; I’ve seen so many wool growers spoil a good flock by taking bad advice.

Arthur won many prizes at the shows for Koomalah fleeces, including a Champion Flock Fleece at the EKKA. In more recent years when I was showing Karmala sheep he always came over from the Dog Trials and had a look, although my wool was a lot finer. Gordon Young was another keen trial man who enjoyed good wool.

So, let’s get to that group of keen dog owners who came from around Dirranbandi in the 80s. Of course, Arthur was one of them. I’d been hearing references for years from a number of Kelpie owners, “when we were at Dirran”, “it was out at Dirran”, “he could find sheep in that awful scrub out at Dirran”, even “Swannee wouldn’t mate a bitch if you could see him, he used to go into the bush at Dirran”!

I had a chat to Ashley Whitehead about those years, he later moved to the Glen Innes area but remained a very good friend of Arthur’s.

Ashley was still at school so missed the early times when Barry Doonan of the St George Sheepdog Working Association travelled to Dirranbandi to give those keen fellows some help with training for Arena trials. Ashley soon realised that Arthur was a very good trainer, and given the success he had at such a young age I’m sure he learned a lot from him. Ashley stressed that Arthur was always very willing to help anyone keen to learn, and was disappointed that many seemed worried about competition and were unhelpful. The Dirranbandi Three Sheep Club (as it was described in a newspaper of the time) got going as an offspring of the St George group a little later, I think. In newspaper reports of trials back then St George proudly claimed the Dirranbandi boys as members, and in a newspaper cutting Marion Crumblin has saved there’s a photo of Arthur and Ashley together with their dogs.

Others in the district involved in trials were Arthur Hazlett who had the Riana Kelpie stud and Clayton Hegarty, Driftwood Kelpies.

Ashley registered his Whitehead’s stud in 1986, and Arthur started the Koomalah Kelpie stud close to the same time after buying Wyreema Jockette from Gordie McMaster. It’s no wonder I heard so many “Dirran” stories as I have a number of the dogs they bred in the pedigrees of my Karmala dogs. Another stud that has origins in the area is Lynnton Martin’s

Tynndyl Kelpies. All these studs were after the same type of Kelpie, a smart dog that could work without direction and tackle all types of jobs… including doing three sheep trials for fun!

These stockmen used their dogs to earn a living during the week and trialled on the weekends. They were good tough dogs that could muster very large areas with big mobs of sheep, and also do the yard work. To compete in three sheep trials against mostly Collies was a big challenge, but to their credit this group did very well, often winning and placing. The local paper reported their successes and often didn’t mention who won if they came from elsewhere! Both Arthur and Ashley had Collies as well that they trialled, Arthur’s Fly and Spring are often mentioned.

Ashley and Arthur competed around the circuit of trials that included Charleville, Cunnamulla, Longreach, Roma, St George, Augathella… one report tells of the Longreach trial finishing at 11pm and the Augathella one starting at 7am next day. Two of the Augathella members competed and judged at Longreach, so didn’t get much sleep that night, they had to get the obstacles set up for the early start. Marion persuaded Arthur to enter Fly in the big EKKA trial in 1991 and he made it to the Final, running sixth. It was pretty tricky trying to pen with a helicopter zooming in! The only photo I could find of Arthur without a hat was at the presentation of his EKKA trophy when he politely removed it.

In the 90s the Yard trials started gaining popularity and the Kelpies came into their own. Not many Collies competed, with exceptions like John Greenwood’s Alphadale Johnny, bred by Les Armstrong, who won the National Yard Dog Championship.

He was an exceptional, also winning arena trials, a brilliant dog.

Toowoomba and Jondaryan ran some Yard trials in conjunction with Farm Fest and of course many yard trials were run out west as well as the traditional Arena trials. There were a couple of sales of working dogs held by Elders at Charleville, and at the second one Arthur sold Whitehead’s Spike for $3000, a world record price; he never mentioned this, typical of his modesty!

Ashley trialled a full brother Gerry successfully.

“Give them time, pups develop at their own pace” that strong desire for work which enabled them to endure hard conditions. That bit of “bloodymindedness” in a Kelpie that keeps it working in heat and dust, with feet full of burrs and never looking like knocking off.

Over the years I was fortunate to have Arthur start pups for me, and after he’d given the usual polished demonstration when I went to pick one up, he loved to yarn about his past dogs. There were plenty of stories, but the one that came up most, also mentioned by David and Ashley, wasn’t about a trial winner. Speck was a very light-coloured bitch who became a a legend around the district because of the way she could handle crazy, breakaway lambs at marking time.

A mob of 1500 to 2000 ewes and lambs is a nightmare to yard, often a wing of lambs will break away and head off at full speed. Speck would go after them and start to ‘play’ with them quietly, making them curious because she was the same colour, and a few would start to follow her. Eventually she’d lead them all back to the yards, strung out behind her, a sight Arthur always regretted not having on film as proof.

In 1988 Karl Hinshelwood bought the Glendon Kelpie stud and was often at the trials, taking a keen interest and offering support. He and wife Catherine later moved to Clifton and he and Arthur remained good friends and bred dogs together.

Ashley remembers Arthur always said temperament was the most important factor in a pup, he believed given good breeding and time he could make it a very useful worker and he proved this hundreds of times. The other absolute was “give them time”.

Pups develop at their own pace, just like children, and to expect too much too soon can spoil a pup.

Those timelines set in the Muster Dog series would be seen as a concern.

Something Arthur taught me was how to recognise when a pup had reached as far in its training as it was capable of enjoying, and to give it some time to grow up a bit more before continuing training.

Arthur strongly believed in working his young dogs in the paddock until two years old, fully developing their mustering skills before the excitement of yard work.

He loved dogs with eye and style, light footed dogs that could handle rocky country. He also impressed on me the importance of ‘work ethic’, saying if a pup had a strong, inborn desire to work it could accept correction/direction without getting upset.

We also discussed breeding dogs that were easy to command for trial work, but risking the loss of

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Another bitch Ashley remembers well was called Sadie, who came to Arthur as a feral pup that hated people and who took a long time to come to hand. No doubt she would have been shot by anyone else but she was lucky that Arthur was ready for the challenge. A red and tan bitch who was thought to have some Rockybar blood, she eventually became one of the best mustering dogs around. She was mated to a few good dogs but her pups were quite feral, maybe there was a bit of dingo blood way back.

So we come to the years Arthur had been working towards all his life when he owned his own place and could indulge in breeding a few nice stock horses to camp draft and compete in dog trials while doing some contract stock work. He looked forward to his retirement and had bred a couple of lovely fillies when his health began to let him down. It seemed such an unfair quirk of fate that this should happen after he’d lived a life without smoking or drinking, just working so hard.

Arthur was a remarkable, modest, true bushman, expert stockman and fiercely loyal mate. I hope this story has conveyed this in some small way, he deserves to be well remembered as a great example of a dying class of Australian.

Arthur’s old mate David Lindsay said they always called him Trumby and Slim Dusty’s song could have been written about Arthur…except for one line.

Trumby was a ringer, A good one too at that, He could ride and rake a twister, Throw a rope and fancy plait, He could counterline a saddle, Find stock well out of sight, Trumby was a ringer… but he could read and write!

Through all the disappointments he remained positive and kept busy doing what he was still able to. Marion was his rock through all these very serious health setbacks; they had been together for thirty-three years and had a very strong and supportive partnership. A kidney transplant gave Arthur a few more valuable years, and Marion asked me to remind readers how important organ donation is to help others in dire circumstances.

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