Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine - Issue 17, December 2021 by Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine

The Australian

WORKING

STOCK DOG Magazine

NEW KIDS SECTION Kelly's

Kennel

TRAINING

Q&A What

STOCKMAN'S PROFILE

is Feel?

Emelia Walton

RRP $10.00 (incl. GST)

9 772205 872003 December 2021

ISSN 2205-8729

Issue 17

A DOG’SLIFE: Woodford Jack www.stockdogs.com.au AWSDM

PLAY HARD. WORK HARDER. Nothing feels more satisfying than putting in a hard day’s work – all working dogs know that better than anyone. They get up and work day in, day out, pushing themselves and never giving up until the job is done. Hard work like this requires the right fuel. New and improved Cobber Working Dog, with more protein and fat and the same unique balance of Diamond V XPC® prebiotic, vitamins and minerals gives them everything they need to stay in top condition – no matter what is thrown at them. Cobber Working Dog. EAT. SLEEP. RUN. REPEAT. Call 1300 666 657 to find your local stockist.

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FROM THE EDITORS They say “it takes a village to raise a child” and isn’t that the truth! Like nearly every individual across the globe, Covid-19 has changed our lives in some way or another, however starting a business from a campfire chat and purchasing another was not on the agenda at the beginning of 2021. True story! We have been speaking about the need for a community away from Facebook to capture the knowledge of experienced stock handlers across the country for some time now, hence the creation of DogTorque, and why not throw in the purchase of AWSDM from our good mate Lauren just to make sure the glass was full. Picking up skills we never imagined or dreamed we’d require in this lifetime, has left the past three months in a bit of a blur, however the level of support and best wishes we’ve received from not only our family, friends, and peers within the working dog community, but also from the daily interaction we have had with individuals from other aligning interests, has been phenomenal, and for this we thank you all. Covid lockdowns have kept us in hobbles, and as restrictions ease, we look forward to getting out and about, catching up with mates and making new ones. The cancellation of trials, social gatherings, and family events have made many of us unsociable, some may have reverted “back to the dark”. We encourage everyone to check-in on your mates and make sure they are doing ok. If you feel you may be struggling yourself, this is ok, don’t underestimate the importance of speaking to peers and the people we look up to. You may find that others are also fighting some demons they are uncomfortable to speak about, and a real chat is the encouragement we all need to get through difficult periods in life. We have included some links at the back of the magazine for places you can lean on for support, and never be afraid to seek professional help.

It’s great to see some great crops and feed throughout the eastern side of the country, we’re told our friends in the west are experiencing the same bumper season. Although harvest would have started prior to this issue being printed and distributed, we hope that the rain has held out a little, so some decent feed can be stored. No doubt that as we see the value of stock increase quite significantly, the value of a good dog has also finally been identified with the demand for young-started dogs taking off. No doubt this is a combination of the season, market conditions and a resource shortage, with most small businesses struggling with the requirement for skilled labour. Being newbies to the media and publication world, we would like to encourage our audience to contribute to this community. Both AWSDM and DogTorque are here for your entertainment, to quench the thirst for information and knowledge amongst us and we can’t provide the required content if we don’t know what is desired. What we are saying is, here is your opportunity to speak up and if there is something you would like to hear or read about, please get involved, whether it be an idea for us to follow or by contributing with articles, photos, etc. step forward and join us... We are very excited and proud to be producing our first issue and hope you enjoy it.

Laura & Daniel www.facebook.com/WorkingStockDogMagazine

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

The Australian

WORKING

STOCK DOG

Magazine

Publisher and Editor: Laura McKillop and Daniel Camilleri Email: laura@stockdogs.com.au or dan@stockdogs.com.au Phone: Laura – 0459 031 729 or Dan – 0448 009 226 Mail: PO BOX 3003, Grose Vale, NSW 2753 Front Cover Photograph: Barkervale Clark owned by Rod Forsyth | Photography by Nan Lloyd.

Design Director/Chief Designer: Kerri Hill Email: kerrihillgraphicdesign@gmail.com Advertising Enquiries: Daniel Camilleri Email: dan@stockdogs.com.au Contributors: Nan Lloyd, Angie White, Kerri Hill, Peter Brown, Ken Skyes, Megan Rutherford (Megan Rutherford Photography), Camilla Duffy Photography, Laura McKillop, Daniel Camilleri, Ridley Cobber, Jamie Brown – The Land, Sally Purbrick-Illek, Auctions Plus, Kirby McPhee, Maree McKillop, Tony Mulvihill, Dr Jasmin Hyatt, Peter Brown, Jon Cantrall, Adrian Carpenter, David Motley, Joe Spicer, Monica Polkinghorne, Patsy Trevor, Ridley Cobber, Lauren Vest, EA Graphics – Bowral Advertising, Articles & Stories Email: laura@stockdogs.com.au

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 2021

On the Cover

45.

Stocksman's Profile - Emelia Watlon

28.

A Dogs Life - Woodford Jack

40.

Training Q&A What is feel?

68.

NEW Kelly's Kennel kids section

84 WA State Yard Dog Championship 08 Cobber Farm Dog Challenge 11 Retired Working Dog Australia 15 Vet Check - Canine Frozen

Good Sport

Heat Stress in Working Dogs

18 Women in Trailing - Nicola Morris 25 Geurie Golden Collar Record Bid 52 Auction Plus 61 Capree Stud Ram Sale 62 Downunder Working Dogs 72 Upcoming Events

The Training Training Pen

Rising Star Jacob Ryan

Megan Rutherford Rural Calender

75 Queensland Dog Pro Supreme Trail 76 2021 Sheepdog Trailing in QLD 72 The 2021 National Sheep Dog Championships 80 Tasmanian Trial - Hutton Park 82 2021 Nyngan Utility Trial 93 Breeders directory

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Things I learnt with the

AWSDM For those who don’t know me, I took over the magazine from Wayne in 2019, and ran it for the last two years. When Dan and Laura came on board as the new owners, they asked me to write an article about my time with the magazine. I hate talking about myself, and it would be a pretty boring article, so here are some things I learnt during my time with the magazine that I hope everyone finds useful or interesting! Country people and dog people are the best people! Travelling around and interviewing people for articles was my favourite part of running the magazine. Without fail, those who I interviewed welcomed me into their homes and shared their stories gladly. There was always a cup of tea offered and usually a chance to work dogs as well. Everybody has their own journey, and they are all fascinating – being able to document these stories was an honour and I thank everybody I had a chance to talk to. Historical photos and stories were a real highlight – such as John Perry showing me a photo of ‘Alpine Dingo’ who I’ve seen named in so many pedigrees, or Pip Hudson telling me about the time he dressed the Governor General at the National Sheep Dog Trial. Those who succeed have an open mind By this, I mean they are always looking to learn and improve and are not rigid in their thinking. Something nearly everyone I talked to had in common was that they learnt from many different people and handled many different dogs. They also had many failures along the way! They all seemed to acknowledge that you can learn something from anybody. They were all humble and all conceded they still had much to learn, and always would. It is a great asset to always be open to learning something new, no matter where the knowledge comes from. One person’s sows’ ear is another’s silk purse Something that struck me with a lot of stories was that the success of a particular dog often depended on who was handling it. There were a number of dogs I heard of who were discounted as not much good, too much, or too little – who then went on to have great success with a different handler. One notable dog I remember out of many was Glenlogie Lucky, who didn’t suit Steve Weyman but went on to huge success as a worker and a breeder with Chris Stapleton. It really drove home that dogs need an opportunity to find where they fit! There is such a variety of different jobs, purposes, personalities, and expectations within the working dog world that nearly every dog with the instinct can find a place they are valued. The only person who must like your dog, is you! This is a big one… There can be a lot of division within the working dog world (like any community) around what makes a good dog, what makes a bad dog, what breeds/types/traits suit what kind of work. At the end of the day, the only one who has to like the dogs you have is yourself. No one else knows what you need your dog to do, how you like to work them, and the bond you share. A good dog is the one that does what it needs to do for the owner who loves it and feeds it. Although my time with the magazine was short, it was something I will remember for the rest of my life. The wonderful people and dogs I met and spoke with really drove home what a fantastic community the Australian working dog world really is, and I don’t think we’ve even come close to fulfilling the potential in our dogs and in our community. It is an exciting time to be in Agriculture, and in the working dog world, and I’m excited to see where we end up! 6

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VICTORIAN KELPIE DOES AUSTRALIA PROUD IN INAUGURAL TRANS-TASMAN Cobber Farm Dog Challenge

Article Supplied by Ridley Cobber It was Aussie dogs all the way in the first trans-Tasman Cobber Challenge.

“Jack’s happiest when he’s working – I even had to hold him back on a few days to make sure he still had plenty in the tank.

The Kiwis may have kept their stranglehold on the rugby silverware this year, but a Victorian Kelpie took out first place in the unique competition to find the hardest working dog across Australia and New Zealand.

“He is thriving. It’s like my dear friend and stockman mentor used to say, ‘Take an old dog for a hard road’.”

The 2021 Cobber Challenge winner was Skyblue Jack, and owner Ben Jeffery, Leading Hand at 3200-hectare farm in Victoria's Western District, could not be prouder. “I’m in awe of my dog,” Ben says. Six-year-old Skyblue Jack mustered sheep for drenching; checked up on lambing ewes and showed his owner ones that needed help; and shifted sheep and cattle onto paddocks with more feed.

Like any great athlete, this year’s Cobber Champion had to prepare for the Cobber Challenge. Having been injured in a fight with another dog just months before the competition, once healed, Ben gradually rebuilt Skyblue Jack’s stamina by taking him on nightly runs. “I love my dogs; I couldn’t do my job without them. And I knew with Jack, that I cracked a great bloodline so it’s been awesome to put him to the test and capture just how hard he works,” Ben says.

With Ben’s boss unable to get back to Mepungah Pastoral because of border closures, Ben, Skyblue Jack and his kennel mates had to step up to get all this stock work done.

Skyblue Jack was among 12 working dogs from across Australia and New Zealand that competed in the 2021 Cobber Challenge. The three-week competition saw dogs from each state wear GPS collars to track their distance, average speed and working duration on farm.

Those circumstances gave Skyblue Jack a leg up in the competition and saw him clock a Cobber Challenge record of 1012.6 kilometres over the three-week period.

Now in its sixth year, the Cobber Challenge organisers were thrilled to invite Kiwi farmers and their dogs to compete for the first time.

They worked every day to record 87 hours worked and an average speed of 11.59 km/h. That’s an average of just over 4 hours and 48 km a day.

Cam Clayton and his Heading Dog, Pine, are the top ranked New Zealand team. Cam is amazed by the distances Pine travelled during winter months, a quiet period on the sheep and cattle

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station near Ashburton in New Zealand's South Island. “I believe Pine would be right up there in the top, giving them a good run in the summer,” Cam said. Fellow Kiwi competitor Peter Aitken from Otago agrees that it was eye-opening to see how far his dog Spark travelled. “We love the Cobber Challenge because it acknowledges the invaluable contribution that working dogs make on Australian and New Zealand farms every day,” said Kellie Savage, competition organiser and Cobber Marketing Manager. “Our farmers always tell us that a good dog is worth at least a few workers. They don’t just provide a safer, more efficient work environment, but there is an incredible mateship between farmers and their dogs.” Cobber Working Dog Food provides the fuel for the dogs competing in the Cobber Challenge as well as thousands of others working hard every day around the country. Leaderboard for the 2021 Cobber Challenge For the final data visit the Cobber Challenge leader board

Top left - Bradley Dunlop and Roxy Bottom Left - James Knight and Snowy Middle left - James Leahy and Jill

1. Ben Jeffery and Skyblue Jack, from Wannon, Victoria, Australia. 2. Emma Stocks and Koby, from Coolac, NSW, Australia 3. James Leahy and Glenlyon Jill, from Highlands, Victoria, Australia. 4. Bradley Dunlop and Roxy, from Wanganella, NSW, Australia. 5. Cam Clayton and Pine, from Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand. 6. James Knight and Krui Snowy, from Devon Park, Queensland, Australia. 7. Peter Aitken and Spark, from Millers Flat, Otago, New Zealand. 8. Daniel Pumpa and Turbo, from Koorawatha, NSW. 9. Antony Mulder and Narroonda Ritz, from Prairie, Queensland, Australia. 10. Bree How and Kit, from Oatlands, Tasmania, Australia. 11. Rob Sibley and Boof, from Kojonup, WA, Australia. 12. Josh Tosh and Trix, from Dipton, Southland. Find out more: For more information on this year’s competition visit www.cobberchallenge.com.au

Top right - Emma and Koby Bottom Right - Daniel Pumpa and Turbo Middle left bottom - Bree How and Kit

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RETIRED WORKING DOGS Australia Retired Working Dogs Australia came about because we had just re-homed an injured working dog who we were not prepared to risk having the injury occur again. So, talking over a couple of drinks one evening, my wife Jackie and I wondered if there was such a page on Facebook. We weren’t sure, so we gave Ann Moy a quick call to see if she knew of any page like that, and so Retired Working Dogs Australia was born from there. The page has been created to help Working Stock Dogs that have been retired through age or injury enjoy life with a family in a more relaxed environment. Maybe on the couch, walking along the beach, or even getting our next generation of sheepdog triallers started! The main aim was to create a place of connection for people to re-home or look to give an older dog a slower home environment. We do not operate as a charity or rescue agency and do not have a financial interest or gain from the page. Some rules for the page require eligible dogs; • to be 7-8 years or older. • to no longer be able to work due to injury (at any age). • have some information about the dog such as;

• • • • •

Age, sex, breed, entire/desexed info. Microchip and vaccination history. Any injury or health problem history. Location and contact details. Photo.

We are specifically trying to cater for Working Stock Dogs only. Border Collies, Kelpies, Koolies, Cattle Dogs (Blue or Red Heelers), Smithfields or crosses of these that have had a career in trialling or working on a property. This is not only to help the dogs but also to help the owners of these wonderful animals who give us 100% every day to find a way to enjoy their twilight years in comfort. The page does have a good amount of interest and I know a couple of triallers who have found retirement homes for their older dogs already which is terrific. The three stories below are our own stories, where we have retired some of our own dogs over the last few years. Check us out on Facebook at Retired Working Dogs Australia.

Silver

Central West NSW What made you decide to give a retired working dog a home? I never really considered a retired working dog in honesty. I was in the market to adopt a dog and a colleague of mine asked if I may be interested in a had a dog she had recently retired. Once I had gone to meet Silver, I was immediately attached and couldn’t say no. And that was over 2 years ago! How was the settling in period? Settling in period was smooth sailing, silver was so well trained he was a dream to settle in. It was more just settling him in suburban life and the sounds and smells that come with that. Were there any challenges in the first few days? The transition to becoming a pet I reckon was super easy for both parties. Did you have another dog at home already? No other dog. What activities have you taken the retiree to do? Silver loves to chase after his ball, swim in the river and loves to go on runs with me (though he makes it look far easier than it should be). Do you have any advice for people considering taking on a retired working dog? If you have the opportunity, definitely take it! These dogs have so much love to give.

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Switch

Central West NSW

What made you decide to give a retired working dog a home? The decision to take Switch in was an easy one. When we first met him, we felt as though there was an immediate bond created in the way we responded to each other. A few one-on-one experiences later, followed by an introduction to our Border Collie dog, Frank and it was settled, Switch had a home with us. How was the settling in period? The settling in period was fast and enjoyable, Switch spent a few hours exploring the yard and working out exactly how energetic and playful Frank was. He also had to figure out that he was allowed to enter the inside of our home and hang out with us which didn’t come naturally to him and took some encouragement. However, once he found the new dog bed in the living room, he soon found his comfort zone. Were there any challenges in the first few days? Once we returned to work after the weekend was over when we took Switch on full time, we noticed some slight anxiety traits in Switch in the afternoons. With some attention and repetition throughout the week, these traits soon disappeared and were replaced with excitement when we got home. Some plants were chewed up initially due to what we think was nervousness, though once he settled in the plants became safe again. Did you have another dog at home already? Yes, we had one other dog, Frank since he was a pup. Frank was 3 years old when Switch came along and has taken to him well. Finding a friend for Frank was one of the factors in bringing Switch home. How do they get on? Switch and Frank get along great. They are opposites in energy levels with Frank being on the go all the time and Switch taking to his retirement by sleeping and generally relaxing. Both rub off on each other, Frank keeps Switch active, and Switch has taught Frank to slow down. What activities have you taken the retiree to do? Switch does a range of activities with us including hikes, camping, kayaking and trips away where possible. We take the boys to the park near our home most afternoons where usually Frank will chase the frisbee or play with the other dogs at the park. We have found that Switch prefers to train with us learning new ‘tricks’ which I think comes from the years of taking commands being a working dog. He still seems to really enjoy it. Do you have any advice for people considering taking on a retired working dog? Do it! We have and are still having a great time with Switch. He has truly become a part of our family. Don’t forget even though they are retired, they are still a working dog at heart and in their mind, so keep their brain active, keep on training and show them experiences they may not have had before. As simple as it may seem, they will love you for it.

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Nell

Sydney NSW What made you decide to give a retired working dog a home? I've always wanted to rescue an older dog and offer them a comfortable retirement home, but we weren't actively looking for another dog, until we met Nell. We went to visit some friends who had retired her from working and were keeping an eye out for a home for her to live out her days. We also thought that another dog might be good companionship for our younger dog and Nell was such a sweet dog, so we were more than happy to offer her a home. How was the settling in period? It took a couple of months to get into a routine that she enjoyed, as we were learning her likes and dislikes. She initially slept outside in a crate, similar to what she had been used to in her last home, whilst we got to know each other and also as a way to see how she behaved with our free-range chickens. Within weeks we allowed her to transition out of the crate and onto a bed on our verandah, as she is such a docile, gentle girl. We tried to bring her inside during the winter months, as it was very cold at night, but after trying it for a few weeks it was clear she was more comfortable outside on her bed, so we bought her some warm dog jackets instead! Were there any challenges in the first few days? One challenge was our younger dog and Nell getting used to one another as they didn't want to be best friends. Our younger dog was too exuberant for Nell, so had to learn to respect her and give her space, which took about a month. Did you have another dog at home already? Yes, we have a 2-year-old female golden retriever. How do they get on? They tolerate each other very well now and can be in very close proximity to one another, e.g., sharing a car boot etc. They took about a month to become this comfortable with one another. We are careful if they are both around food, as both love their food a bit too much! What activities have you taken the retiree to do? We take her on all our outdoor activities if we think she might enjoy them, but we are aware she doesn't like sudden movements, so that makes taking her to busy parks with people kicking balls a bit scary. She has been to the beach, on a boat, to pubs and cafes and on lots of bushwalks. She loves swimming but likes to see the bottom, so we have found that boat ramps and shallow beaches work well so we take her to these places in the warmer months. Do you have any advice for people considering taking on a retired working dog? We tried to stick to a routine that was similar to her previous home in the first few weeks while she was settling in, so there wasn't too much change at once. Over time it became clear what she enjoyed and didn't like. We ensured that she was always supervised around our current pets (dog, chickens, and cats) so that there was no opportunity for things to go wrong between them. Fortunately, they all get along very well. We have no regrets! Nell is such a sweet girl who just loves to be around us.

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We have moved to Warwick, QLD! Est 1956.

THE KADEN WAY & DOG SCHOOLS SMALL CLASSES - NO MORE THAN 6 IN ALL SCHOOLS

NEW FRESH PROVEN POSITIVE PROGRAM

FULL DAY SCHOOLS AND HALF DAY DAILY LESSONS AVAILABLE TESTIMONIAL

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

KADEN WORKING DOG STUD PUPS AND STARTER DOGS WILL BE AVAILABLE

KADEN'S ONLINE WORKING DOG SCHOOl LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP $300 Discount for a limited time!

A unique program that covers every stage from buying a pup to going to work; including specialist yard dog training. The course consists of over 30 video lessons with a paper base back up. Support is number 1 for Kaden’s students, we offer 1 on 1 coaching as well as weekly Q&A conference calls. There is a private FB community that is active with contests and challenges. This course will transform you as a trainer. Both the Property and Online are something new, I don’t believe there is anything like this in Australia at the moment.

www.kadenworkingdogschools.com | 14

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VET CHECK Canine Frozen Semen -

Why? When? What?

The WHEN(s):

Article by Dr Jasmin Hyatt BVSc (Hons) DipACT MANZCVS (reproduction) Registered Specialist in Veterinary Reproduction Veterinary Reproduction Consultancy Pty Ltd (02) 6301 9550, Orange, NSW Freezing dog semen is common practice with several benefits. This article discusses those benefits, the best times to collect (and distribute) frozen semen, and the process followed to make the best use of the genetic material. The WHY(s): There are significant advantages of frozen semen, particularly in a working dog scenario. These include: • • • •

Insurance from a young age against unexpected death or infertility. Preservation and storage of the gene pool indefinitely. Transport of genetic material both nationally and internationally to and from farms. Availability of the stud dog for multiple breedings on the same day globally.

Service dog breeding organisations freeze semen from all stud dogs by the age of two years regardless of expected potential. This ensures a high-quality sample is frozen and their future genetic potential is insured, well before we have decided on the working ability of the individual stud. This is an approach that farmers with valuable lines would do well to consider.

Canine semen (sperm rich fraction)

1. WHEN to freeze the MALE semen The ideal age for collecting semen from stud dogs for freezing is between 18 months and three years of age. At this age, the stud is most likely to provide the best quality and quantity of semen, ensuring the collection consultation is as productive and cost-efficient as possible. From six years of age onwards, the incidence of prostate disease increases, which adversely affects semen quality. We also know that semen frozen from dogs older than six years of age has inherently lower fertility when compared with semen frozen from younger dogs. 2. WHEN to inseminate the FEMALE: It is ideal to use frozen semen in proven (i.e. already had a successful pregnancy) bitches under five years of age. Of course, we perform many inseminations where this is not the case, however, bitches in this category provide the highest chance of conception when using valuable frozen semen doses. These guidelines are important because we are working with a live product which has a limited lifespan. Frozen semen undergoes a rigorous process to enable indefinite storage in liquid nitrogen. At Veterinary Reproduction Consultancy (VRC) our freezing technique involves a seven-hour process from collection to storage. On thawing, we expect good quality frozen semen will survive 12-24 hours in the bitch. This is in comparison to fresh semen which we anticipate lasts three days (and can even last up to 10!). Additionally, the international minimum for an intrauterine frozen semen dose is 100 million motile live sperm. In comparison, a fresh or chilled ejaculate from a medium breed dog will contain, on average, eight times this amount.

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So, it is understandable that when performing inseminations with frozen semen, we have to be selective and fastidious; it doesn’t survive long, the sperm have been stressed, and the numbers are significantly reduced. The WHAT(s)? Collection: The process of semen freezing starts with separating the canine ejaculate into its three fractions – the clear pre-sperm, white sperm-rich fraction (the most important part), and the final prostatic fraction. Freezing: There are many different methods of processing practiced worldwide to get this initial fraction ready for ‘freezing’. First, we determine the total number of sperm in the ejaculate, enabling us to add the correct amount of ‘extender’ to create the desired concentration of sperm cells per straw. The extender we use contains antibiotics, energy in the form of sugars, and a protective agent against cold. This sample is then slow-cooled to 4ºC over several hours before adding a second extender with an increased concentration of the protective agent. If the sperm are exposed to either reduced temperatures or the protective agent too quickly, it is very detrimental. This slow method ensures they have time to adapt and get through the rigorous process as happily as possible.

Thawing: Once frozen, one ‘test straw’ is immediately thawed to assess how well the semen survived the freeze-thawing process. The motility and forward progressive motion of the frozen and thawed semen is determined using a powerful microscope. This is done immediately after thawing, and at 10 minutes after incubation at 37ºC. If a good quality post-thaw sample is achieved, the intrauterine insemination dose is two straws (a total of 200 million sperm). Storage: Once the semen is frozen, it is stored at –196ºC in a large tank containing liquid nitrogen. Once frozen the semen can be stored indefinitely in liquid nitrogen. Freezing semen provides many advantages for dog owners. It is a routine practice for most veterinary clinics, although the process does require expertise. By the time it is implanted in a bitch, frozen semen has undergone several interesting operations. Although these processes are invaluable to breeding, they do reduce the longevity of the thawed sperm.

Frozen Semen Storage Tank

There is NO difference between sperm frozen in straws or those frozen in vials – what determines fertility is the skill of the facility personnel that freeze it and the extender freezing technique that is performed. At VRC we load our semen into 0.5ml straws prior to rapid freezing to –196ºC in liquid nitrogen vapour.

CANINE BREEDING SOLUTIONS TAS SERVICES include: • Storage of semen under liquid nitrogen. • Ability to do site visits within Tasmania. • In house Progesterone testing. • Preparing chilled semen for transport. • Semen collection and evaluation. • Artificial Inseminations.

Phone 0407 486 261 graemewright@bigpond.com 374 Briggs Rd, Brighton TAS 7030 GRAEME WRIGHT – HISTORY • • • • • • • • 16

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40yrs+ breeding and exhibiting bull terriers. Imported bull terrier semen from USA in 2002 to improve lineage and health. 2007 Completed the world known Camelot Farms freezing system course. Accredited Greyhounds Australasia. Accredited ANKC (Australian National Kennel Control). Accredited Dogs Tasmania. Accreditation in Microchipping (Animal Industries Resource Centre). Invited to Judge at the Dutch Bull Terrier Intercountry Competition.

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WOMEN IN

TRIALING

Nicola Morris Nicola Morris, Trabajo Kelpies Bairnsdale, East Gippsland, VIC Article by Patsy Trevor Nicola grew up in Darwin right on the beachfront in Nightcliff. She always had a family dog, usually a stray that was a “bitsa” (bits of every breed). One of her favourite dogs as a child was one that she and her brother, Stephen named Dodo (after a TV cartoon show called “Dodo the Kid from Outer Space”), who turned up on their doorstep not long after Cyclone Tracey. Nicola realised much later in life that she was a black and tan kelpie cross.

lived to a decent age of about 14 or 15 and whilst Nicola says she doesn’t remember her exact age, she does remember how sad she was, how sad the whole family was when Dodo died. It was probably her first real experience of grief and loss that we experience throughout our lives. Despite that though, Nicola has always been very grateful to grow up with animals. She says “I think it teaches a child to be less focused on themselves and to be responsible for another living creature. It also teaches them compassion, acceptance, and about the circle of life. My happiest (and saddest) childhood memories all have dogs involved in them”.

All of their pets were considered part of the family and were allowed inside. However, there were rules like “no feeding the dog at the table” and “no dogs on the bed”. Rules that Nicola was always getting into trouble for breaking. She explained that she has never been much of a conformist and was always sneaking Dodo into her bedroom at night. Dodo would jump into her bed, snuggle underneath the doona then put her head on the pillow with the doona tucked under her chin; she always made Nicola feel safe.

Nicola loved all animals as a child, but dogs and horses were her favourites. She likes to think all her nagging finally paid off because in the late ’70s, her father, Richard, and a few of his friends invested in cattle stations just out of Katherine (NT) – Manbulloo, Gorrie and Dry River Stations. On these stations, there was an abundance of both dogs and horses, along with thousands of head of majestic Brahman cattle (and the occasional croc) down in the Katherine River below Manbulloo Homestead.

Nicola said that Dodo was also the only dog she’d ever known to gulp down Brussel sprouts and parsnips without a second thought! Dodo was a kind, gentle-natured girl who was so patient with children. She remembers dressing her up in human clothes and pushing her around the neighbourhood in a pram and Dodo just took it all in her stride and never objected. She

The Morris family visited Manbulloo on weekends and school holidays and Nicola says she was in heaven there, surrounded by all the station dogs chained up to their hollowed-out tree trunks, sometimes with the sounds of squeaking puppies coming from within. She has a vivid memory of sitting in the shade under the big Tamarind tree at the homestead watching

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a saggy-titted, dusty-red kelpie feeding her pups, panting in the heat, flies buzzing all around her, yet looking so content, relaxed and happy with her lot in life.

That trip was a game-changer for Nicola. She had fallen in love with the lopsided kelpie grin, the muffled puppy squeaks, the soft brown eyes of the Brahman, the clanking of gates in the cattle yards, the slapping of hats on legs and whistles of the jackaroos as they moved the massive beasts up the race to the cattle dip. To quote Nicola, “It was also the trip that I fell in love with a strapping young jackaroo named Andy (I was 12) and decided I wanted to become a jillaroo”. Her parents had other ideas for her future though, and she learned her first life lesson about unrequited love and unfulfilled dreams. Nicola’s father, Richard and his partners sold the cattle stations in the early 80s, then her family sold their home in Nightcliff and bought 50 acres about 30kms out of Darwin at McMinns Lagoon (near Humpty Doo). Her teenage years were spent “on the farm” where the kids had horses, (heli-mustered off Manbulloo before it was sold), motorbikes, chooks, pigs (including a big, black sow named Bessie which her older brother stole from a litter of wild piglets off Manbulloo), a few head of cattle (also ex-Manbulloo) and the family dogs, a couple of blue heelers and her mother’s gutsy little Miniature Schnauzer named “Beatrice”. Beatrice or Bea as she was more commonly known, had a penchant for chasing young wallabies into fences, launching all of her salt and pepper, 5kg furry bundle on top of their entangled bodies and barking them into submission until her mother finally came running to rescue the poor, terrified joey from the ring-lock. The family often had a piglet running around the farm too, the runt of a litter her mother, Gael had saved from sure death (being eaten by Bessie) and handrearing them as a pet. To quote Nicola, “I am sure that is where I get my rescuing traits from, to take care of the weak, injured, abandoned or neglected. We were also told when we were kids that once it gets a name, it doesn’t get eaten.... but I think Mum and dad lied to us a lot about that because there was no way that Mr Syrimi had that many stud boars at the piggery around the corner from us”.

them all down to the Murray River for a swim. It was not unusual for Nicola to be spotted driving around with Coal and 4 or 5 other dogs hanging out the back of the ute, or laying down on the riverbank reading about ledgers and balance sheets whilst all the dogs of various breeds played on the grass or sand around her. Nicola said it’s strange that she can still remember most of those dogs’ names nearly 30 years on but doesn’t remember many of their owners’ names. Maybe this goes to show where her priorities lay. Nicola said she and Les rented an old farmhouse about 15kms out of Loxton. At that time, Coal wasn’t used as a working dog, he was purely a pet and as she had grown up in Darwin, she knew absolutely nothing about sheep or working kelpie instincts. There was a massive set of sheep yards not too far from the house Nic and her boyfriend rented and every couple of months, Frank used to bring the sheep in for shearing or to be sent off to the saleyards. Nic says she loved watching Frank and his dogs (Coal’s parents and siblings) bringing the hundreds of sheep in from the wide expanse of paddocks behind the house and/or the truck driver with his battle-scarred lop-eared red dog expertly shifting the livestock from pen to pen and then up the ramp to be transported elsewhere. She says she used to take Coal over to the yards on a lead as he was still a young pup and he’d look longingly at the sheep, yearning to get in amongst it but never being allowed. Then one day, unbeknownst to Nicola, temptation got too great for Coal and whilst Nic was otherwise occupied studying, he managed to break the catch on his chain, taking off like a shot to the yards where the truck driver was working away with his faithful old mate, loading the truck. She says that she doesn’t know how long it was before she realized that Coal wasn’t tied up out the front anymore but the swirls of dust and the baa’ing of the sheep told her where he was, so she flew over to the yards only to find

After school, Nicola went to TAFE and went down the business admin path as her jillaroo/cattle station, baroness career aspirations were off the cards. She couldn’t decide on whether she wanted to be a barrister or a journalist when she “grew up”, so TAFE seemed like an acceptable in-between temporary career. Working as a secretary was not something that Nicola found stimulating, however there was no shortage of available jobs and it paid the bills, nothing more. Nicola says she flitted around a lot, never settling in a job for very long and never really feeling like she had found her niché. All she knew was that she eventually wanted to live on a farm and have lots of dogs and farm animals but how she was going to achieve that she had no idea; so settled on any admin job that paid enough to keep a roof over her head and herself fed and watered. Nicola says she met her first real serious boyfriend, Les, whilst working for the Department of Fisheries (he was a fisherman). They got together and a few years in, decided to move back to his hometown of Loxton, SA. Loxton is where Nicola bought her first kelpie, Coal, for $150 off a sheep farmer named Frank Kaesler (also their landlord) and that dog became the centre of her universe and her constant companion. Nicola says she soon became known as the crazy dog lady around Loxton, as she used to pick up her boyfriend’s mates’ dogs in the old babys**t brown HQ ute whilst they were at work (Nicola was still at TAFE and working part-time picking grapes) and take

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her young approximately 7 month old pup working happily away with the truck driver, confidently going around the back of them and plucking them up out of one yard, shifting them through to the next, whilst the old dog steadily and effectively worked the ramp, soaring up over their backs, loading the truck. Coal worked with no commands from the truck driver apart from the occasional whistle or “good boy” and he automatically seemed to know what was expected of him. Nicola had rushed over expecting her little black kelpie to be tied up to the fence post in disgrace, the driver with a massive scowl of his face, but instead after he’d finished work, the truck driver offered her $2000 for him, as his old wonky eared mate was getting on in years and would soon be ready for retirement. This was an offer which she politely declined, firmly stating that whilst it was a very generous one, there was not enough money in the world that would buy her best friend. She says, “I was stoked someone thought he was worth $2k! That was a lot of dough back then. I remember thinking that Coal must have been special, remarkable even, but whilst he was highly intelligent, I know now he was simply doing what he was bred to do. Looking back and knowing what I know now, Frank bred some pretty decent dogs in his day.” Nicola says that over the past few years since she’s been breeding kelpies, she has tried to find out more about Frank Kaesler and Coal’s lines, but sadly has come up empty-handed. Whilst Coal was Nicola’s first kelpie back in Loxton all those years ago, apart from that one afternoon with the truck driver and one other time on Wulgumerang Station here in Victoria 10 years later, he sadly never got to pursue a career in sheep and instead spent his life as her beloved pet and inseparable

companion. Nicola changed towns and boyfriends came and went, but Coal remained as her constant, her rock and her loyal main man up until his death in 2002. Sadly, as Coal got older, he developed dementia and extreme separation anxiety and despite getting another kelpie Ember to keep him company whilst Nicola went off to work, he only wanted his mum and used to howl the neighbourhood down every time he was left behind for the day. Nicola says she had to make the most difficult and heartbreaking decision of her life to put him to sleep at 11.5 years old, well before his time really. To this day, she says she still doesn’t know if she made the right call there and sometimes wishes she’d had the courage to change her life to accommodate him rather than the other way around. There were a couple of significant dogs following Coal, namely Ember and then Minstrel her border collie, but it was Dean’s Taco that changed Nicola’s direction forever. In around 2013-2014, on the advice of a friend, Nicola started doing some fostering for a working dog rescue group. At the time she had Minstrel (Min Min) her border collie (2003-2018) and Midge her red kelpie x border collie (who’s still kicking around at 15.5 years old). Nic was self-employed at the time as a painter and decorator and was fortunate enough to have some flexibility in her working hours. She owned a house with a reasonably big backyard in the town of Bairnsdale and morning and night she would take the dogs out to the park or down the river for some off-lead time to run and play. Taking all that into account, she was considered a suitable foster carer and easily able to accommodate an extra dog. The first dog she fostered was a staffy/bluey x who she temporarily named Panda because she was white with black circles around

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her eyes. Nic said that she fell in love with Panda but as she wanted to continue fostering and council would only allow a certain number of dogs in town, she convinced her brother and sister-in-law in Melbourne to adopt her and she has been living a perfect life, as Bunji, with them ever since. Nic’s next foster was a red heeler named Chilli, who she was sure she would have no problem letting go as she had never liked red heelers, but after only 2 weeks, Chilli and Midge had fallen deeply in love and he wasn’t going anywhere. Nicola says Chilli was her first foster fail, followed by Nifty a black, mistreated kelpie with issues and then there was a private surrender from a local farmer, a 9-week-old red and tan kelpie she named Taco. At this point Nicola had exceeded the maximum dog numbers allowed in town even with a permit, so she gave up fostering and started seriously looking for acreage out of town. Nicola had fallen in love with a bush property north of Bairnsdale a couple of years prior to all the above taking place, but couldn’t do anything about it due to her circumstances at the time. She had never forgotten about the place even though she was certain it had sold as 2 years had passed by. She had all but given up on the place and rubbed it off her bucket list, but as fate would have it, whilst out showing a visiting friend the area, she discovered the property was still for sale. All it had on its 76 acres was 1 dam, a 6x12 shed, a water tank, lots of bracken, manuka and trees, plus a million-dollar view of the mountains to the northeast and the ocean and lake system to the southeast. Nicola was determined to make it her own. Despite everyone telling her she was stark-raving mad and that she wouldn’t last, she bought it and several years later still calls it home. Now that Nicola had the required acreage, her dream of starting up her ‘Trabajo’ kelpie stud finally came to fruition. Trabajo which

translates to “work’ or “job” in Spanish is also coincidentally the name of her 76-acre property. Nicola says she decided on a Spanish/Mexican name because coming from Darwin, everyone who lives south of the border is referred to as a Mexican, so she’s a Mexican to her friends up north. Another friend complained that her property was, “nothing but years of hard work” and as she was going to breed working kelpies, she felt Trabajo was totally appropriate. Nicola kicked off Trabajo Kelpies in 2016-2017 with the boys Dean’s Taco (Wyreema Connie IV x Kane Stewarts Rusty), Hilton Park Honcho (Hilton Park Lucy x Simmos Angus) and bitch Pumbar Zen (Furys Jano x Pumbar Cooper). Her first litter from Zen x Honcho joining was born in 2017 and she retained a bitch pup, the first with the Trabajo prefix, Twistie. Nic has retained a pup from every litter since and now has Chub (male), Chico (male), Topaz (bitch) and two young pups, Pink (bitch pup from recent Twistie x Simmos Biro II litter) and Pushemup Coach (male pup from Pushemup Echo x Dean’s Taco). All are firmly entrenched resident dogs, part of her breeding program, part-time workers and triallers, the Trabajo family. All the Trabajo kelpies work livestock on the property to varying degrees depending on age and experience and they get out to as many training days and local yard and utility trials as they can. Nicola also visits mates as often as possible to work their livestock to give her dogs exposure to bigger mobs, different livestock (eg. cattle, merinos, goats) and working in a variety of environments (eg shearing sheds, flat country, hilly country, behind the bike, with other dogs etc). Whilst Trabajo is a small stud producing at present one litter a year, the dogs that have been produced have all been

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successful out in the working world. They are considered decent all-rounders, capable of working sheep, goats and/or cattle on small to large mobs (1-6,000 head), on properties from 1 - 8,000 acres, proven competent in both paddock and yard. Nicola also does a bit of yard and utility trialling (mainly local trials) and although they haven’t hit the big leagues yet, she says her dogs have made her look like she knows what she’s doing and have even won her a few ribbons.

and experience and is generous with his time when it comes to the members of our group and other people he likes. I value and respect that because you always know where you stand with him. The advice he has given me in the past has always paid off and I believe has improved me as a handler. I guess that does make him a mentor after all”.

A highlight for Trabajo, at the height of the drought in November 2019, was that one of her dogs Trabajo Ozone “Ozzy” owned and trained by Aaron Breiner of Armidale, NSW, was top selling dog of Glenn Innes Auction, fetching $8,000. It may not be a lot in comparison to the tens of thousands of dollars that some dogs are fetching at auction nowadays, but it was a highlight for Nicola, and she allowed herself to bask in the glow of pride for a week or so afterwards.

“Luke Twigg from Hilton Park Kelpies is also someone I regard highly in the working dog world because he bred my main dog Hilton Park Honcho, the first sire in the Trabajo line. Luke is also a down-to-earth genuine bloke and is always happy to share his knowledge and experience with me if I need some advice on something. Both he and his wife, Lisa are extremely pleasant to deal with and I can’t speak highly enough about them or the Hilton Park dogs. Trabajo wouldn’t be around today if it wasn’t for a Hilton Park dog and for that I am forever grateful to the Twiggs”.

Nicola maintains that at the end of the day, she is not in it to make money or to fill her spare room with ribbons. She just loves the working kelpie and everything about them. Nicola aims to breed healthy, happy, capable working dogs that make their owners as happy as she is to have them in their lives. Now that CA (Cerebellar Abiotrophy) testing is available, all pups are tested and sold with CA status certification, along with the standard WKC registration, microchipping and/or tattooing, C3 vaccination, worming at 2 weekly intervals, full vet check, working guarantee and lifetime return policy.

“Finally, if it wasn’t for Ruth and Stan Judd, letting me use their sheep, yards and paddocks to practice in the early years, I wouldn’t have stuck at it. They are wonderfully generous people who have always had my back, encouraged me, listened to my woes but never allowed me to feel sorry for myself for too long. They’ve always pushed me to brush myself off, put on my big girl pants and press forward. They also gave me their orphaned or rejected lambs to raise as poddies to build my own flock and with their advice and a lot of Google and YouTube videos, I learnt how to become a small-time sheep farmer as well”.

Upon asking Nicola about her mentors she mentions, “I don’t think I have mentors as such but over the past 5 or 6 years since being involved in the working dog world, there are a few people I feel comfortable turning to for advice or to run things by without judgement. In my limited experience, like the horse world or most sports, the dog world can be quite competitive and not everyone is pleased to see you succeed, so my circle of friends and people I consider close acquaintances within the working dog world is quite small. I am involved with the East Gippsland Farm Dog Group so if I want straight-up, honest advice or some constructive criticism, I go to our President, Travis Scott. There’s no beating around the bush with Trav, he says it how it is without sugar-coating it and clearly explains in layman’s terms what you might be doing wrong and how he would go about fixing it. He also gives freely with his knowledge 22

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“I don’t have a 9-5 job these days. If people ask what I do for a living, I say I’m a farmer and I breed working kelpies. I live off grid and a semi sustainable lifestyle, grow my own vegetables and fruit, raise my own meat and eggs and do a little bit of my trade as a painter and decorator in between to help pay the bills”. Nicola has done a few schools over the years through Ewe, Me and the Dog, with both Joe Spicer and Travis Scott and learnt a lot from both trainers. She doesn’t believe training clinics are ever a waste of money or time and recommends them to new clients that buy her pups. Bonding with the pup through foundation training is so important in those early months and in her opinion, “if you get the basics (stop, sit, come) right from the very start, and you and the dog like doing stuff together, then the rest will just follow naturally when it comes time to start them on livestock if they have the right genetics”. When it comes to particular lines, Nicola said there were dogs that she really liked from Hilton Park such as Broken River, Tundabardi, Simmos and Gorgetta. She also noted some other lines that she took an interest in such as Futura, Kuloo, Stockmans and Harrisfarms”. She said she’d also seen some impressive “real” work from dogs owned by Bree Cudmore, Ben Bowman and Steven Weatherley.

that can work things out for itself without too much instruction. I want to have dogs that want to be around me and enjoy their company in return (be my mate), can switch off when not working and relax (or play!). I want dogs I can trust, are reliable and can pull themselves out of a sticky situation or can think on their feet. I prefer my dogs to have an air of quiet confidence about them, even a touch of arrogance and to know who they are as dogs and to understand what their purpose is in life without me having to train it into them”. “I might not have been around for long, but if I’ve learnt anything over the past couple of years, it’s that I have to let go of my control-freak tendencies, keep my mouth shut and unless I’m opening a gate, I should keep my hands in my pockets, stand in the right spot and trust in my dog. As a wise man once told me, when it comes to sheep, your dog does know more than you do”. I would like to sincerely thank Nicola for giving up her time to help me with this article and applaud her for her honesty, especially when it comes to the controversial subject of CA testing of working kelpies. – Patsy Trevor

I asked Nicola how she goes about picking a pup from a litter – to which her reply was, “I put them out with several sheep and just watch what they do. Do they automatically go to the head and balance up to me? Do they fixate on one sheep or are they more loose-eyed? If one escapes the flock, do they make every effort to collect and bring back to me?”. Nicola says that she aims to, “breed well-rounded, eventempered, non-reactive dogs, with natural instincts, a strong but not overwhelming desire to work, an innate ability to rate stock and a keenness to please me without being a robot. I like a dog

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Geurie Golden Collar record $30,100 bid for Border Collie

Printed with consent of author - Jamie Brown, The Land A new record auction price for a border collie has surpassed the previous highest bid by almost double, selling for $30,100 at the annual Geurie Golden Collar where 44 of 48 dogs sold to an average $6302 and went to five states. The Helmsman event ran for one week before closing officially at 2pm on Saturday but it seems bidders left their fury for the last minute with most of the bids taking place during 30 minutes of over-time. Cabra Glebe Big, bred by the Leven family at Doubtful Creek, doubled in value during that half hour, with $100 rises ringing through on AuctionsPlus every 30 seconds to eventually going to a North Queensland cattle outfit. Second priced FL Search, bred from imported UK genetics by Rob Hodgman at Pinkett, rose from $6400 to $21,500 after the official cut-off time, going to the Walgett district. Breeder Joe Leven, Cabra Glebe at Doubtful Creek via Casino presented the two year old - named for his big size at birth - as a tough, willing working dog, words echoed by sale organiser Ryan Johnston who noted his "super-cool, calm manner" when working. "He has a tough nature but he is calm and gets the job done with the bare minimum of effort," Mr Johnston said. "He's a real credit to Joe and his handling."

Big was the first son of a yellow sire named Brutonvale Junior out of a champion litter bred by Steve Flatley, Casino. Big's mother was another yellow Border Collie bred by Glen Handford, Casino, with both sides going going back to strong Brutonvale blood. Mr Leven, who has worked with dogs since he was a child and credits Doubtful Creek district tick inspector Maurie O'Meara for teaching him how to direct without so many words. He now breeds working dogs with his wife Benita and children Samara and Amos and said years of selection had produced the dog Big with desire and the right temperament. "All I had to do was teach him to stop," he said. "The good ones will teach you and he's taught me as much. I'm a big believer in sitting back and letting the dog do the work naturally. Don't try to put too much human into the dog. Don't try to over-handle him, just try to shape him up because in a real work situation a dog needs to think and fend for itself." Mr Leven said the record bid reflected the "raging cattle market" but the value of a good working dog went well beyond the sale price, when placed side by side with a working man. "It's a good investment over five or six years," he said. "When you consider the national skills shortage and for a producer to find those skills and retain them - well, a dog that has done his apprenticeship and is ready to hit the ground running, adds value to a cattle operation."

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A DOGS LIFE Article by Daniel Camilleri

Woodford Jack

Now a semi-retired mate, the ever-reliable Woodford Jack, a tri-coloured collie, bred and trained by Mitchum Davis, was born on the 1st of February 2010. These days only used for smaller jobs in those tricky situations where reliability is a must, he is a proven popular sire within the cattle trial circuit, leaving his stamp on his offspring. A product of Crowsdale Rip and Woodford Lucy, Jack started on ducks at 10 weeks of age, showing it was obvious he had the desired traits Mitchum was breeding for early on. Those being strength and style, together with the aim of creating a consistent gene pool. Mitchum quickly realised Jack was too strong for ducks and moved onto sheep in a round yard, followed by weaner calves. As time went by and he matured, Jack proved to be a natural type and extremely easy to train, so Mitchum put him in the ute at 10 months of age, and off he went mustering as Mitchum’s main work dog. Jack could always be relied upon, consistently showing his strength on cattle, blocking up and standing his ground, with the ability to easily pull up a single runaway beast whenever required. With some age and experience, Mitchum identified that he had something special with his now two-year-old dog, and took an interest to cattle trialling. The pair went on to make an early impression, with Jack becoming an open cattle trial dog after winning the maiden and novice at Tenterfield, also placing third in the open that weekend, followed by going on to win the novice at the NSW championship at McClean in 2014. Being so easy to handle at work and in the trial ring, Mitchum had no hesitation to lend Jack to those who were close to him. His son, Ethan competed with Jack and won the open at the Grafton in 2017. Jack also went on to win an open trial at Bonalbo with 28

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Ben Gould as his handler, and continued to be successful in countless other open events in the years to follow, with alternating handlers. Mitchum strongly believes that throughout their partnership, Jack trained him as a handler just as much. He also wondered if a more advanced or experienced handler held the reins, Jack may have a longer list of achievements to his name, and that he himself may have even held his exceptional dog back just a little. Having a reputation for breeding-on strength, brains and temperament, many people have used Jack as a sire in the hope to breed themselves a solid station or trial dog. Many of his progeny continue to carry his class and ability, proving themselves on farm and winning trials across Eastern Australia. Mitchum’s son, Ethan won the Australian Novice Championship at Grafton in 2018 with a bitch called Jess, who is sired by Jack, which he bred and trained himself. Ben Gould successfully utilises Jack’s progeny in his camp, with Cabra Glebe Sky winning NSW maiden dog of the year in 2018-2019. Another handy open bitch by Jack, owned by Phil Brown and called Magpie trialled by his eight year old sister Ellisa, has won 8 of 11 trials over the last 18 months. His line has proven to be so successful that in a trial at Ulmarra in 2018, thirteen of the dogs in the maiden, novice and open finals were all from Jack’s lineage. This alone is a testament to the extraordinary dog that he has been. It is true what they say, that every man has ‘that one dog’ in a life time. Woodford Jack is this dog to Mitchum.

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HEAT STRESS IN Dr Jasmin Hyatt BVSc (Hons) DipACT MANZCVS (reproduction) Registered Specialist in Veterinary Reproduction (02) 6301 9550, Orange, NSW

WORKING DOGS

Unlike ourselves who can eliminate excess heat through sweating, our canine counterparts only have a few small sweat glands in their feet and rely on panting for elimination of excess heat. Because of this they are very susceptible to heat stress. What is Heat Stress? Heat stress is inability of the body to regulate its body temperature. In a dog it occurs when the core body temperature is more than 41˚C (normal body temperature for a dog is 37.8˚C-39.2˚C). Heat stress is very serious. In a study looking at 54 cases of heat stress in dogs, the overall mortality (death) rate was 50%. Death was not due to the heat stress itself, but secondary brain damage and kidney failure. Contributing Factors: 1. Lack of conditioning and acclimatisation: Now that the summer months are upon us, it is important to make sure dogs are gradually (and NOT suddenly) exposed to working in warmer weather, not suddenly. 2. High temperatures: Greatest risk for heat stress when temperatures are over 30˚C. 3. High humidity: Humidity is a very influential factor – even in moderate temperatures, a high level of humidity can cause terrible heat stress. 30

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4. Overwork: It is important not to push your dog over the limits. Dogs, unlike [some] humans, do not know their limits, and will not stop working when they should, especially if they are being encouraged to continue. 5. Obesity: Though not a common problem in working dogs, obesity greatly increases the risk for heat stress (as does being a flat faced breed, but again this is not often an issue for the readers of this magazine!) Clinical Signs: • Panting • Extreme hyperventilation (breathing up) • Hypersalivation (excessive salivation, drooling from mouth) • Altered mentation (glassy eyed) • Muscle weakness, collapse • Vomiting or diarrhoea What should YOU do if your dog is overheating? Time is of the essence – it is important to cool your dog down GRADUALLY, to a temperature of approximately 39 ˚C. Cooling to below this temperature when the dog is unable to maintain core body temperature will result in severe hypothermia (cold shock).

Getting your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic ASAP is extremely important. They will be able to cool them down quickly and place an intravenous catheter for fluid therapy to help reduce the risk of kidney damage. How to decrease body temperature? • Apply ice or cold, wet towels to abdomen, neck, groin: This can be started on journey to veterinary clinic • Cool water: In the field it is ideal to immerse the dog gradually into stream water, beginning with the head and extremities • Vehicle A/C or fan during journey to veterinary clinic Prevention: • Let dogs become accustomed to temperature changes naturally and gradually • Do not overwork, especially during the hottest times of the day • Always have extra drinking water available – good idea to freeze overnight prior to a hunting trip so stays cool for 24 hours • Specialised ‘canine cooling vests’ are available – or create your own!

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ts r o p S Good Article by Sally Purbrick-Illek | Photo Tina Dial Most owners of working breed dogs will agree that their dogs are very intelligent and capable of performing a variety of tasks. In fact, the Border Collie has been shown to have the highest “working intelligence” of most other breeds (see The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Cohen, 2006). In addition to herding stock, working breed dogs are also suitable to train and compete in a variety of canine sports. I don’t own my own stock and live in an urban environment, so to keep my dogs mentally and physically fit, we participate in a number of dogs sports. • • • • •

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Being active with a dog is also beneficial for handlers of all ages: Challenges the mind and body - people are more active when they have dogs Benefits for humans and dogs include improved cardiovascular fitness, lower blood pressure, stronger muscles and bones and decreased stress Provides participants with opportunities to bond not only with their canine companions, but with a larger community as well The non-judgmental companionship and unconditional love offered by dogs is known to have considerable mental health benefits for owners, including increased self-esteem Regardless of age or fitness level, there’s a sport just right for each person and their canine companion

We are lucky in Australia as there are many competitive dog sports that on offer and are suitable for working breed dogs. In addition to herding, here are a few of the most popular: Agility requires the dog to go through an obstacle course offleash. The dog’s handler directs the dog through the course by running alongside and giving instructions using their voice or body signals only. The obstacles usually include an A

frame, dog walk, seesaw, different types of tunnels, hurdles, tire hoop, long jump and weave poles. Canine Parkour is a relatively new sport where dogs jump, Photo Tina Dial climb, balance over, crawl under and go around different obstacles in their everyday world. Unlike dog agility courses that are more structured, dog parkour is an informal activity that emphasises fun. Dog owners can submit videos of their dog doing parkour and submit them to International Dog Parkour Association (IDPKA) to earn titles. Competition Dog Obedience takes training to a trial level. It is a precision sport where the handler and dog do a series of standard exercises as directed by the judge. Handlers are not allowed to speak to their dogs other than to give a verbal command for the exercise.

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Photo Natalie Vanadzins

Dances with Dogs has two streams, freestyle and heelwork to music, both of which require the dog and handler to work as a team. This sport combines obedience, tricks and dancing with music. Routines typically involve the dog performing twists and turns, weaving through the handler’s legs, walking backwards, jumping and moving in sync with the handler. Disc Dog is similar to the human game of Frisbee, but instead the dog catches the disc. In disc dog competitions, dogs and their human flying disc throwers compete in events such as distance catching and choreographed freestyle catching. Dock Diving is a dog sport in which dogs compete in jumping for distance or height from a dock into a body of water. Photo Sally Purbrick

Endurance can be either a person riding a bike while controlling their dog on the end of a loose two metre lead, or running with their dog. The distance required for the endurance test is 20 kilometres, which is split into three sections, with short breaks between each section. Flyball consists of a relay race between two teams of four dogs. Each dog must jump over four hurdles, retrieve a tennis ball by triggering a flyball box pedal and jump back over the hurdles to complete their lap. As soon as the first dog’s nose returns across the start/finish line the next dog is off. The first team to have all four of their racing dogs complete their run cleanly wins the heat. Lure Coursing is a safe and controlled alternative to open field coursing originally used to hunt jackrabbits. The dogs chase plastic bags on a course laid out to simulate escaping game. The plastic bags are pulled around on a nylon string course, propelled by a hand-controlled motor. The course must have a minimum number of turns in order to simulate prey such as the jack-rabbit or hare changing direction in a chase. Scent Work is an activity where a dog uses its nose to locate a hidden target scent or odour. It is designed to be accessible to virtually any dog, including dogs who are unable to enjoy other dog activities due to age, physical limitations, lack of obedience, fear or reactivity issues. There are different levels of competition, different types of searches and different environments involved in the sport. Rally Obedience was developed for the pet dog owner who is not interested in the precision required for the traditional competition dog obedience. Handlers are allowed to speak to encourage their dogs during the course in the rally, that includes 10 to 20 stations, depending on the level.

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Treibball is a positive-reinforcement, competitive dog sport which originated in Germany. The handler directs the dog to ‘herd’ eight large balls using their nose or shoulder into a pen/ goal as quickly as possible. This sport uses a combination of classic obedience and herding cues. Trick Dog trials encourage handlers to teach their dogs skills and to display various behaviours in a positive and fun environment. The rules are designed in such a way that handlers and dogs of all abilities are able to compete on an equal footing. Trick Dog training and competition allows the dog and handler to perform a selection of tricks at various levels. If you are interested on learning more about how to become involved in these sports, contact your local dog training club, the Australian National Kennel Club (https://ankc.org.au/ AboutUs/?id=1253), your ANKC State Member Body or email me on cityworkingdogs@gmail.com Sally Purbrick-Illek lives on the Gold Coast with her working border collies. She advises urban dog owners about the health and training of their working breed dogs via her Facebook page DogWorks@cityworkingdogs, www.facebook.com/cityworkingdogs Sledding involves the timed competition of teams of dogs that pull a sled with the dog driver (musher) standing on the back of the sled. The team completing the marked course in the least time is judged the winner. Bikejor is conducted on a track with the dog running on harness in front of a person riding a bicycle, and Canicross is the dog running in front of a person on foot. The majority of sledding events in Australia are conducted in bushland on dirt tracks with one- and two-dog teams pulling scooters. Larger teams pull a three-wheeled cart. Tracking demonstrates a dog’s natural ability to recognise and follow a scent. The objective is for the dog to find deliberately “lost” personal items that have been dropped along the track and find the tracklayer who is hiding at the end of the track. The dog is usually worked on a long lead. Judges design the track, instruct track layers how to walk the track, prepare charts that accurately depict the track’s design and approve the items used. Track and Search assesses the dog’s natural ability and willingness to follow a trail left by human footsteps. The test is meant to mimic a real-life situation where a dog is asked to find a missing person in varying terrain. Higher level tracks are laid in streets where cars, pedestrians and other distractions must be negotiated, and the highest level is held in the streets at night.

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TRAINER Q&A

After growing up on a property in central west NSW and almost 30 years in the livestock industry, from cattle stations in the NT to now working in western NSW, I’ve been fortunate enough to handle livestock and dogs over a very wide variety of types and places. I also bred kelpies for work and my passion.

LEY T O M D I DAV What is feel? I’ll start with what I’d say is real feel, which is bred in the dog and can’t be trained. It’s basically a dog reading a stock's reaction to pressure before the reaction actually happens. So, for me, a dog with real feel needs to have the ability to move in all directions, both in and out as well as sideways. It needs this to be able to maintain pressure in relation to the movement of the stock. I refer to it like this, it’s like having a fine piece of cotton attached to the animal and the dog needs to be able to keep it tight but not break it. Therefore, it needs to be able to move in all directions to do this. In most cases, feel will complicate a dog, but in my opinion, when it’s done right it’s hard to beat. Usually, dogs with feel are around 18 months before they learn to use it, as it’s like having two different conflicting ideas, one is instinct telling it something and the other is the feel saying be very cautious. 40

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Is feel useful or is it a hindrance? This will depend on the type of stock and your situation as well as your personal preference. Dogs with real feel shouldn’t be rushed in time when they are being cautious. It’s important for them to have trust in the handler that they have time to move stock the way they feel they need to. If they feel rushed, they will panic at the wrong time giving a wrong result. I’m sure it can be helped by the handler learning not to rush the dog at crucial times early on in training. I like to help pups by making them hold for moments at a point of control, allowing the stock to then tell the dog where its next movement should be. If the pup can learn to be careful, which, if bred for some feel, should help show the pup it has some feel so it can start to use it. In my opinion, lots of people confuse feel for a dog that has learned to be careful. This is a debate that could go on forever and could have many different interpretations, but this is a brief version of my interpretation of feel. Helping a dog use and understand its feel. The number one thing to remember is that it’s okay to wait for a moment when stock leave pressure. The wait rewards stock and a dog. It will help the stock learn to trust the dog from behind them and the wait moment lets the dog have time to assess or predict the next moment needed. A small exercise to help a dog use and understand its feel is to walk a fence. This should give a dog some weight to hold the stock to. It doesn’t mean the dog can push in and overdo it. I want the dog to learn to read or feel the point at which it has applied too much pressure that either creates stock to break unnecessarily or moves the mob in different directions. Then, I want the stock to all move with heads in one direction and the dog to maintain the same distance or pressure. Being able to move in any direction is vital to be able to feel stock, to maintain constant pressure without turning heads in the wrong direction.

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

What is Feel? Well, you could ask 100 dog tragics and probably get 100 different answers! Most would agree though, that it’s holding stock without applying too much pressure. My interpretation is; The ability to move & steer stock without upsetting them. But probably the best way of describing it is through Neil McDonald’s “Patting the Bubble” analogy - Compare your stock to a bubble. If you pat the air around the bubble too hard, it bursts! But not firmly enough or in the wrong place, or at the wrong time, and you lose control so it just floats away! It’s irrelevant if the dog is wide & stylish, or close & plain. The stock are always the best indicators, and if your mob is flowing as calmly as possible with the mob structure intact, then your dog has feel. What qualities does a dog need in order to have feel? To have true feel or be able to, “pat the bubble” effectively, a dog needs to have “cover”, (anticipate & block breaks) “hold” (hold together), “stock-sense” (read & rate their stock, adjusting accordingly), and most importantly, to me, be able to move & steer stock whilst keeping them as calm and relaxed as possible. Can feel be developed? It definitely improves with maturity and experience. It also stands to reason that if the amount of feel that a dog has inherited can be reduced or lost by working doughy, unresponsive stock, then it can also be developed/improved by being encouraged to learn consequence and caution on RESPONSIVE stock. So, if you’ve got a good, keen young pup that’s showing most of the above traits to a degree, but is applying too much pressure and causing trouble for itself, then yes, with a little effort & understanding you can definitely help them to be better (maybe not perfect, but that’s ok because we’re not either!). So HOW do we accelerate the process of developing feel, and help our dogs to reach their potential as quickly, easily and efficiently as possible? Many old-schoolers who swear black & blue that, “a dog either has it, or hasn’t” often unwittingly help their dogs to develop it by either blocking them as a little pup when they come in too hard and fast, or by teaching “Stop”, “Steady” & “Out” commands. All of which slows them down, which in turn allows them to think about the job more. So, there are a few very simple exercises I do as a part of basic “balancing up” and encouraging a “natural stop” that teach CONSEQUENCE & CAUTION and build CONFIDENCE & CONTROL. This, in turn, helps dogs to think about where they need to be in order to maintain control, and how to get there without bumping or upsetting their stock.

E JOE SPIC

1. TAKING SPACE. Sheep on fence to start. Every time the dog thinks about coming in too hard or fast, walk calmly between it and stock and block until it stops. As the dog progresses, get off the fence & increase distance, throw a lead between dog and mob if needed. Do it right and you’ll see the dog starting to stand off, then approach with more thought & respect in minutes! Which, over time, becomes the pattern. 2. PIN-BALLING. Teach consequence by getting the dog to balance to you in a confined area, but letting it do the exact opposite to the last exercise, and burst the bubble (muzzle if biting) then put them back together again and again, and... So that it, in effect, self-punishes until it learns that it is in its own interest to stay off the stock and hold the point. 3. TOOL KIT. Coming in or biting are most dogs’ “go-to” to create movement, but now that the dog understands that coming in too hard causes the bubble to burst (which means that it has to work harder), we encourage and teach other ways of creating movement. Like movement, noise, backing, position, presence, and the most efficient way of all, release! 4. STOP/START. Sheep move, stop the dog. Sheep stop, move the dog. The dog then learns to move just enough to create movement, then stop and give relief. Basic but brilliant! By now you’ve probably realised that these simple exercises not only help accelerate the maturity & feel that comes from years of experience but also help improve & develop many other aspects including connection, respect and control. Looking forward to seeing you all when it’s safe.

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SHADY ACRES

WORKING STOCK DOGS

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* DOGS AT STUD - FEE ON ENQUIRY * PUPS AVAILABLE BY ORDER * STARTED AND TRAINED DOGS Breeding and training versatile dogs for the paddock, cattle, sheep and trial arena. NSW MAIDEN -NOVICE DOG OF THE YEAR 2011 YOUNG ROBIN 2013 YORKLEA SAM 2014 SHADY ACRES JIMMY 2018 TARRAWAY SAM NSW OPEN DOG OF THE YEAR 2012 SHADY ACRES PATTIE 2015 SHADY ACRES PATTIE 2016 SHADY ACRES JIMMY 2017 SHADY ACRES JIMMY 2018 SHADY ACRES TANIA 2019 SHADY ACRES TANIA AUSTRALIAN DOG OF THE YEAR 2013 SHADY ACRES PATTIE 2016 SHADY ACRES JIMMY 2017 SHADY ACRES JIMMY 2018 SHADY ACRES TANIA

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STOCKMAN'S PROFILE Article by Laura McKillop Photos by Camilla Duffy Photography

Emelia Walton

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Emelia Walton was born and bred in the Hawkesbury region of New South Wales, growing up along-side her brother and sisters with her two parents. Whilst in the Hawkesbury, Emelia completed a Diploma in Agriculture, worked on horse studs and at the local Horseland store. Growing up, she always had property around her and this is what helped to initiate her interest in working dogs and the livestock industry. Emelia has always had a love of dogs and they have been in her life from a young age. Around nine years ago, Emelia purchased her first Kelpie Tilly, from Londonderry NSW. She spent time travelling to trials with her and successfully competing to an Improver Yard Dog Trial level. During her trialling travels, she found her second dog, Pinky from Bethungra, a small town north-east of Wagga Wagga in NSW. Despite being young and growing up in Western-Sydney, Emelia has always wanted to work on the land. Her parents were supportive and encouraged her to “just go do it”. With her family’s blessing, she started applying for jobs. Soon after, with the help of a friendly introduction from a fellow competitor and friend Nathan Cayfe, she landed an interview then began work at Boorowa on a 1200-acre sheep property as a farm hand. She remained in Boorowa around a year, until the owners decided to retire. In this time, she met her now fiancé Hamish, who was then working in a local gun shop. Emelia then moved on to ‘Suffolkvale’ where she worked with dogs, horses and sheep along-side Nathan Cayfe. However, she soon found that she didn’t enjoy the horses as much as she used to and applied for the Livestock Overseer role at Bobbara, a mixed farming operation in the Riverina, NSW. She has now 46

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been on this property for close to 5 years and her fiancé, Hamish now works there too. Her third and main dog, Eveready Roy II had a massive impact on the traits that she discovered she did and didn't want in a working dog. Originally, she liked a push button type of dog that she could throw commands at, however, Roy has shown her how to let the dog just do its job and solve problems without constant direction. This is very much how Emelia likes to operate these days. Emelia recognises that she prefers her dogs to ‘have a brain’, with the ability to work things out for themselves. It is also important for her dogs to have a strong drive and a lot of heart. As Emelia is reluctant to be constantly buying and selling dogs, she finds herself looking for a pup that is happy, joyful, with a friendly nature and in her words, “something that looks half good” too. Finding it is a rather difficult process, Emelia doesn’t like buying a pup that she hasn’t seen, based purely off its bloodlines. She prefers to find something that suits her personality, something she thinks she can bond with. Currently, she is not running many dogs but recognises that she does put a lot of pressure on them to work long days as she needs them to perform consistently in her work life. These days it has come down to a lot of on the job training due to the workload and nature of her role at Bobbara. She doesn’t have too many commands on young dogs, not willing to override their natural ability and thinking. Emelia has noticed that she is able to identify a dogs’ natural work and ability very quickly, which is what she likes to see and is what

Eveready Roy II and Emelia have become an extremely strong, successful team together both at work and in trials. Together they have won countless Open Yard Dog trials and most recently the 2020 NSW State Yard Dog Championship at Wagga Wagga. Emelia believes that Roy really deserved the win and that, “it was nice for him to be recognised to win an event like that. He has done a lot of work for me and is really reliable”. Emelia believes that she is, “just the eyes of the operation, (but) Roy does all the work”. Many people may already know the name Emelia Walton after her great result with Eveready Spud at the 2021 Wagga Wagga Auction. Spud was the highest sold dog on offer, selling for a whopping $34,000 and being the second highest Kelpie sold at auction in Australia. Emelia is aspiring to breed and train dogs that she can take to work with her every day who are reliable, with that big heart and drive she likes. Currently, she doesn’t want to be a big-time breeder but rather just breed quality dogs for herself that suit her and the type of work that she does. Her message for young people coming through or into the working dog and agricultural industry sounds very much like her parent’s advice to her many years ago, “just give it a go, you’ve got nothing to lose”.

she is breeding for. She is passionate about watching her young dogs grow and develop. She also takes her pups wherever she goes until they are ready to start work as she finds that they have a bit more respect for her and just want to be around people as a result of doing this. There is no particular trainer that Emelia has moulded her training around, but rather, she watches and takes little bits and pieces from everyone, then goes home and tries it for herself. She admits that she isn’t one to “go and talk to people and pick their brains”, however, one of the biggest things she has taken away from watching others is the importance of patience.

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The Training Pen

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Livestock Guardian Dogs Part TWO The most important consideration before buying a livestock guarding pup is to have all your preparations in place. Ideally, the pup will be between eight and twelve weeks old, preferably raised with livestock, and very importantly, have some human socialisation. Pups who are over sixteen weeks of age when introduced to stock have a much higher failure rate. A secure, escape-proof pen needs to be set up away from the house but close enough to allow supervision. A panel should be set up across one corner with a shelter where the pup can be fed separately from the stock. The type of stock the pup is to guard should be provided. Poddy lambs or kids are ideal. Both types even, particularly if the pup is expected to protect both in the future. Alternatively, quiet ewes or does may be used. Take the pup directly to the yard, never to the house or house yard. Keep an eye on the pup to see that it is settled and not being harassed by the stock. Move it to the safe area of the yard, if necessary, then leave it alone. Spend a little time with the pup each day. Ten minutes of human contact still gives the pup twenty-three hours and fifty minutes per day to bond with the stock. This is also the ideal time for a small amount of on-lead training. The time that the pup is required to spend in the bonding pen will vary from pup to pup – at least a couple of weeks and maybe a month or more. Watch for signs that the pup is bonding with the stock, such as sleeping together. Once the pup is bonded, move the pup and the stock to a small paddock not too far from the homestead, then add more stock. If the pup is becoming too boisterous, add a couple of young rams or older ewes. Keep an eye on the pup, and if it starts playing too rough, crack a stock whip or make a loud noise to distract it. If you go to the paddock to correct the pup, it will connect that correction to what it is doing at that instant. If rough play has ceased, the correction will be counterproductive. 50

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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

Occasionally the pup will pick out an individual animal for rough play. Remove that animal from the pup and check that it is not turning its attention to another individual. A mature guarding dog with no problems who is working well can be an ideal teacher for a young pup. I have seen an adult dog step in and reprimand a pup severely for chasing stock. If the pup is intended for use as a guardian for alpacas or cattle, the pup must have access to a place of refuge if the stock become aggressive. While alpacas are often used to protect sheep and goats from foxes, they may be subject to predation from dingoes. I have sold a Pyrenean to an alpaca breeder for this purpose. The period between six to twelve months is critical in setting the pup up for life. Avoid overfeeding or feeding energyrich foods, which could contribute to rapid growth, resulting in hip and joint problems later in life. Overfeeding may also contribute to excess energy and rough play. Some pups can become boisterous or rough with stock as they approach puberty, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon. Close attention needs to be given to bitches that have not been desexed. They may become aggressive to stock when they come into season. Supervise the introduction of herding dogs. Don’t encourage play or strong bonding. Take care when introducing strange animals such as horses or cattle to a paddock where the guardian has been bonded with sheep or goats. Monitor the introduction of rams into the ewe flock. The guardian may see the action of rams or bucks as attacking their flock and have been known to attack the males.

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www.auctionsplus.com.au

How much online growth has each sale had over the years?

INTERFACED WORKING DOG SALES THE NEW NORMAL AuctionsPlus have been involved with working dog auctions for several years, but the growth the industry has seen in recent years has been rapid, with sales embracing online connectivity at physical sales to expand the potential avenue to buyers. Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 have pushed the industry further, forced to adopt online selling methods due to the unfortunate movement restrictions and border closures. The past two years has seen a huge evolution from traditional selling practices, and although missing the social aspect of a sale, descriptions, photos, and videos have allowed vendors to sell their dogs to a national audience.

2021 in Review

Capree Minnie SOLD for $15,500

CAPREE POLL MERINO & INVITATIONAL WORKING DOG SALE

Capree’s inaugural sale on AuctionsPlus saw vendor Chris Stapleton create a mixed commodity sale to capitalize on the strong demand for sheep and working dogs. The working dogs had pre-sale bidding available through AuctionsPlus, running for a week between the 5 12th of October. The working dogs averaged $10,250, topping at $15,500 for lot 63 “Capree Minnie”. Online competition was strong with bids being placed from Tasmania, SA, Queensland, Victoria, and NSW. The catalogue saw 10,346 views across the two auctions, highlighting the strong interest in the complimentary commodities auction.

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With Covid-19 restrictions easing, exclusive online sales are expected to be scaled back, as physical sales again become the normal procedure. However, access to the online community at these sales will remain as standard, as the success of allowing online bidding has been demonstrated through the interstate purchasing and numbers of bids per auction. Analysing working dog auction data on AuctionsPlus from 2019 to 2021, the benefits that online connectivity brings to the sale day is clear, with total auctions increasing from 4 in 2019 and 2020 to 7 sales so far in 2021. New auctions to join AuctionsPlus in 2021 were the Lucindale Working Dog Auction, the Forbes Working Dog Auction and the Capree Invitational Working Dog Sale. 2021 has seen strong online bidding and purchasing at all dog auctions, with the demand for working dogs robust and reflecting the current booming confidence levels, with users connecting to auctions from all over Australia. Looking ahead, the 10th Annual RMA Network Working Stock Dog Auction will be interfaced with AuctionsPlus in November and will see 43 dogs for sale.

Josie

SOLD for $29,000

LUCINDALE WORKING DOG AUCTION

For the first time in 2021, Lucindale held their working dog auction in conjunction with AuctionsPlus on September 26th. The online catalogue received 9,076 views for the 31 dogs offered. The auction averaged $9,707 with lot 6, “Josie” returning the top price of $29,000. A total of 173 bids were placed on AuctionsPlus across 30 different lots by 51 different bidders, resulting in 14 lots being sold to AuctionsPlus buyers. The 14 different lots were purchased by buyers from right across Australia with successful buyers hailing from Victoria, SA, NSW, Tasmania, and Queensland

Eveready Spud SOLD for - $31,000

WAGGA YARD DOG CLUB, WORKING DOG AUCTION

For the third consecutive year, the Wagga Yard Dog Auction was interfaced with AuctionsPlus on August 14th 2021. The auction had prebidding available for the week leading up to the physical auction and had live audio and video streaming available for online users on sale day. The catalogue received 10,822 views for the 53 lots offered. Online competition was strong, with 17 lots being sold to online users for an average of $9,676, while also seeing the top priced dog secured for the day - Lot 51 “Eveready Spud” selling to an online user from NSW for $31,000. 559 users entered the auction, with 68 registered bidders placing a total of 433 bids across 45 different lots. Plenty of interstate purchasing took place, with dogs being sold to NSW, Victoria, SA, WA and Queensland.

Karana Susie 11 SOLD for- $11,500

FORBES WORKING DOG AUCTION

Another dog sale to utilize the online interfacing system for the first time in 2021 was the Forbes Working Dog Auction, taking place on July 17th, 2021. There was a pre-bidding sale on AuctionsPlus that ran for a week leading up the physical sale, with the physical auction utilizing both audio and video livestreaming. The auction averaged $6,457 and topped at $11,500 for lot 31 “Karana Susie II” selling to a buyer present at the sale. 542 users entered the auction, with 46 bidders placing 144 bids across 29 lots. 10 lots were purchased online, seeing dogs go to NSW, Victoria, SA, and Queensland. The catalogue had 7,080 views online for the 29 dogs offered, of which 23 sold.

Eulooka Hoover SOLD for $35,200

CASTERTON WORKING DOG AUCTION

After a year off in 2020, the Casterton Working Dog Auction was back again with AuctionsPlus in June 2021 after first utilizing the platform in 2019. This year the sale was run exclusively on AuctionsPlus as an online only sale. The online catalogue received 35,987 views for the 51 lots on offer. A total of 5,604 users entered the auction, with 122 active bidders placing 2,803 bids. The sale averaged $7,656, with lot 33 “Eulooka Hoover” recording the highest price of $35,200 by a Victorian buyer. Interstate purchasing was again strong with dogs being secured by buyers from NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA and Tasmania.

Standford Ninja SOLD for $18,750

THE JERILDERIE WORKING DOG AUCTION

At the start of the year the Jerilderie working dog Auction was interfaced with AuctionsPlus. The Jerilderie sale has been interfaced with AuctionsPlus every year since 2018, and in 2021 had both audio and video streaming. The sale had 58 dogs on offer of which 54 sold, averaging $10,083 for a top price for lot 26, “Stanford Ninja” selling for $18,750 to an online bidder from Victoria. Online activity was strong, with 742 people entering the auction, of which 77 were active online bidders who placed 426 bids - securing 22 lots online. The catalogue received 7,574 views. Again, we saw buyers from far and wide with successful purchasers hailing from SA, Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA.

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The Australian

WORKING

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Contact dan@stockdogs.com.au or 0448 009 226

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RISING STAR

Jacob Ryan

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Article & photos by Laura McKillop

t only 21 years old, Jacob Ryan has quickly built a reputation for himself on the trial ground. Growing up on the outskirts of Bathurst, New South Wales he was very familiar with property and working dogs. After completing school and spending a year contract mustering goats, Jacob travelled to Western Australia to do a season with the Consolidated Pastoral Company on one of their large cattle properties as a ringer. Upon his return home, he began doing some contract work and found himself on a sheep property just outside of Bathurst. Throughout Jacob’s younger years on the farm with his father, he often found himself doing most of the leg work. He would be the one needed to run around behind the livestock, despite the fact that they had a working dog. Having ridden, trained and competed on Australian Stock Horses for many years, Jacob developed vital knowledge that benefited him when starting out with dogs. He was already used to applying pressure and release tactics when working with horses, so this transferred across very easily when working with dogs. Meeting Matt Fletcher from Fletcher’s Stock Dogs was a turning point which influenced Jacob's choice in bloodlines. Matt showed him the benefits of having strong, natural heading dogs in your team. Jacob learnt to appreciate the value and consistency in well-bred, registered dogs. At the time, he had all station bred dogs and soon found himself selling them and purchasing his ‘good dog’, Motleys Ben III from Dave Motley. Jacob now follows the Motley and White’s Kelpies’ lines when either breeding or looking for a dog.

Jacob says that Gary White from White’s Kelpie Stud has been and still is the most influential mentor to him. He has attended many of Gary’s training schools over the years and has spent time at Gary’s place working and training dogs. The Motley’s and White’s lines suit the line of work Jacob is currently doing as well as his own personality. To him they are very natural heading dogs and have a lot of stock sense in terms of pressure and release, both on and off their stock. Jacob’s ambitions for the future include having his own line of dogs that he can not only take to work, but be put into any situation and get the job done as well as being competitive on the trial ground. Competing at both the National Kelpie Field Trial and the National Three Sheep trial are definitely on his ‘must do’ list of events. Jacob’s advice to other young handlers and to anyone starting out is to invest the money in a well-bred dog and to get to as many dog schools as you can, as this is where you learn and develop your skills. His favourite trial so far has been the Nyngan Utility Trial because of the atmosphere, the social aspects and the people who were there competing as he learnt a lot from watching and talking to them. He believes his biggest achievement to date would be the 2021 Bathurst Royal Yard Dog. Jacob had the highest score going into the Novice final, scoring equal first and then coming second after a run-off. He also ran second and fourth in the maiden with one of the highest scores going into the final and then running second in the local. At Finley, Jacob’s third ever Three Sheep Trial, he won the Encourage and placed fifth in the Improver.

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A SHEPHERDS CROOK 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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DogTorque offers Weekly Live Q & A’s with some of the best competitors, trainers and breeders worldwide! FREE working dog classifieds, forum pages, social walls for discussions along with a Breeder & Stud Dog Directory, plus so much more! DogTorque has been created to engage the working dog community on one platform. With the sharing of information on other social media platforms proving to be continually more difficult to manage and at high risk of being lost to us all when pages are removed, we are at risk of losing a wealth of experience, knowledge, and history at any time. 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.

Visit www.dogtorque.com and become a member today!

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Capree Stud Inaugural Annual On-Property Ram Sale and Working Dog Auction

Article and Photos by Kirby McPhee The large crowd which rolled in for the dog demos to kick off at 10am, was not deterred by the wintry weather, which met them as they stepped from their utes. 10mm of rain overnight along with blustery wind, resulted in a Winter’s Day, instead of Spring and kept everyone in whatever shelter they could find, to view the 12 working dogs as they were demonstrated in the paddock and yards by Kerry Connor, Neville King, Sam Cook and Chris Stapleton. The working dogs ages ranged from 8 months to 7 years old. After the working dog demos, the Ram Shed was the place to be, with 60 penned merino rams, alongside the ram sire display of 12 Charinga and Banavie Merino Stud. Stud principals, Roger and Tim Pulkinghorne, showed the sire genetics being used in their flock and what nice frame of sheep they were as well. Chris Stapleton has achieved a lot over the years with his Kelpie Stud competing in various competitions including Yard Dog Trials, Cattle Trials, Utility and Field Trials, and now stepping out with his inaugural Capree on property Ram and Working Dog Sale, at Newbridge. Chris has been working on his Capree Sheep Stud over the last decade, with ewes purchased at the Kirton Stud flock dispersal, and rams predominantly being sourced from Charinga. Chris is classing his breeding stock aiming for a long staple, heavy fleece, plain medium framed bodies, that can handle the tablelands climate, which we experienced firsthand with the weather on the day. We believe that presenting 60 poll and horned merino rams and 12 working dogs for sale on property on the day, while interfacing with Auctions Plus, to be a first for this type of event, as selling two species by the same vendor on the same day, has not been done before. Credit to the selling agents Elders Mudgee, Jason Pearce for pulling this together and Struan Pearce for handling the online bidding on site, with Auctions Plus.

Sale Results included rams sold to a top of $4,500 and avg $2,035, with 65% clearance. The top-priced ram, Lot 8 heading to Gilmandye Pastoral, Orange and top-priced horned ram sold to Kelvin Pearce of Rockley Mount for $4000. The Working Dog Sales went to a top of $15,500 and avg $10,113. The top priced dog, Lot 63 Capree Minnie, heading to John Blanch, from Georges Plains with vendor, Sam Cook from Carcoar, training the 19-month-old bitch. The Dog Auction had strong online bidding from Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales. 11 of the 12 dogs were sold to four states in Australia. The next priced dog was lot 64 Capree Blue, selling for $14,000 to Michael Ryan, from Wimbledon; trained by Chris Stapleton. Overall, this inaugural sale of working dogs and rams, held by Chris Stapleton on his property at Newbridge, was highly successful. Even though the weather decided to return to Winter it did not deter buyers from participating, in person and online. We look forward to similar sales being held in the future where not only locals can attend but also those further afield nationally, and potentially internationally. Congratulations to Chris Stapleton and family, Elders Mudgee, Jason Pearce and Auction Plus. This type of forward thinking can only lead to more productive and inclusive sales in the future.

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Downunder Working Dogs – TONY MULVIHILL Photos by EA Graphics, Bowral Tony Mulvihill was born and raised in Bathurst, NSW. He joined the NSW Police force, where he spent 15 years in service. After leaving the force, Tony started and operated his own security business for 10 years, building it up into Australia's largest, privately owned security company. He later sold this and returned to the land. Tony has also been a successful race car driver, competing at Bathurst and finishing in the top ten, as well as racing overseas with Alan Moffat. These days, Tony lives in Marulan NSW where he established Downunder Working Dogs approximately 10 years ago. Over the past decade he has worked closely with rescue groups and has seen in excess of 2,000 dogs which have come through his training program. Robert Cox and Jenny Rosten were the first to help Tony get a start on the working dog scene. Tony supposed that he must have been a big challenge for them, but is grateful for their patience with him. But as he began to find his feet, the late Neville King befriended him. Working dogs opened the door to a new world for Tony, and he is very grateful for Robert, Jenny and Neville’s guidance, as in those days it was not common for people to want to help a newcomer. 62

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Tom Dorrance, Greg Prince, Mick Hudson, Ross Dodge and many others, have had a significant influence on Tony approach to training working dogs. However, he feels the most significant have been the hundreds of dogs he has been fortunate enough to work with during his workshops. Tony believes that, “dogs don't lie and if you are open enough to read the signs, they soon tell you if what you are doing is right or wrong for them”. Some quotes that Tony has taken on board from his mentors over the past 30 years are: · “Prevention is better than intervention”. · “Do less to get more”. · “Make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy”. When starting out, Tony describes himself as a micro-manager. He would drive a dog mad with too many commands, making decisions for them, blowing the hell out of his whistle, assuming they spoke English and thinking it was the dogs fault when things went pear shaped. He now explains that you need to ask yourself, “do you want your dog to be; a slave, pet or your partner?”. These days, he looks at things from the dogs perspective. He states that, “all dogs, like people, are different. Trying to put a square peg into a round hole doesn't work”.

Tony puts far more effort into building a deep relationship between the dog and himself. This is not only built on honesty, consistency, fairness, trust, respect and leadership, but also in finding the particular special need the dog may have. It might be the way you pat or reward it, but often you’ll find there is a unique quality that each dog has. If you are able to find and encourage it, the relationship and bond will go to a new level. Tony believes this helps to create a handle, where he and the dog are then able to work in tune with one another, and the dog is much happier to accept commands in the partnership. He explains that it, “helps to eliminate any conflict between the dog (and himself) and many times handlers don’t even realise that there is conflict. The signs a dog gives out are often very subtle and easily missed, and if you wait for the dogs tail to be between its legs with its ears flattened, you have missed the boat”. When asked what he believes is the most important thing when training, Tony responded with, "don't lose your temper. Not only is this the most important thing, but also the most difficult thing to achieve because we are human and it is the thing that most damages our relationship with the dog. They forgive, but they never forget”. Tony advised that formulating a training plan and a journal is important and an invaluable tool to refer back to if things are going wrong, which they will from time to time. Testing progression in various sized yards and paddocks before moving is important, ensuring that things are working well at 30 metres so that they don’t fall apart at 60 meters. If this occurs, it often means a handler has been impatient, going too far too soon. Tony’s technique comes down to; help your dog, find a solution and make no excuses. He believes there is a big difference between a dog doing something that he has to through fear of punishment, as opposed to doing something he wants to do to please the handler and contribute to the partnership. Tony says “It’s a bad day for me if I don’t learn something”. Tony is a believer in the old adage, "if you drink from the well, you must eventually put some water back in". So he dedicates quite a bit of his time to dog rescue groups and also teaches at ‘Care and Training of Working Dogs’ at TAFE, within the Animal Science Division. In these schools and courses, Tony advises that in his opinion, all commands are important, however the two that are absolutely necessary are a rock solid recall and a drop/lie down. Both of these commands give you total control of your dog, especially in an emergency like seeing a snake, dangerous dog, motor vehicle and so on. He affirms that, “it gives you control and avoids trouble, even whilst carrying out stockwork”. Whether it be in front of a class full of people or one on one in the paddock, Tony strives to leave the message with handlers that, “in life we all have different ways of handling things and what works for one, may not suit another. It all comes down to acquiring the methodology that best suits you and your dog”. Tony further explained that every dog is different and therefore many different techniques may be required. Often our expectations on how quickly a dog learns are out of touch with reality. Handlers often never stabilise commands properly and find that even though they may work at home, it may not work out in the paddock or at a sheepdog trial. He also feels that handlers are at risk of training the natural ability out of their dogs, by over commanding. Whether that’s through a lack of trust without realising or feeling like they have to be in control all the time. “I have seen a lot of excellent stockmen in my life, but never have I seen one who can read stock better than a natural dog. So why train it out? Remember that in this game we are working stock, not just doing obedience training.

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Allowing the dog to learn from experience how to work his stock is most important. You should allow him to do this without any interference, except if you are protecting the sheep. He will make mistakes, just like you did when you were learning how to drive. We all learn from our mistakes. Let him make some and learn from them”.

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Tony also suggested that some gaffer tape over your mouth can assist if you don't have enough self-control. He also emphasises that acquiring knowledge these days is very easy as access to books, videos, YouTube clips, workshops and trainers are all readily available. When asked what he looks for in a working dog, Tony mentioned that it had to be a dog that he liked. He believes that alone will go a long way in creating a close bond with the dog. The other attributes being; natural ability, desire, a trainable temperament and one that wants to be your mate. He also believes that parents and grandparents have a big influence on these traits. Having won a few open three sheep trials, including a Supercoat Australian Sheepdog Championship, these days, Tony enjoys catching up with old mates at sheepdog trials and assisting people that he helps from his schools. He has been working on putting a trialling team together, spending time trying to get the right types for his liking, and hopes to get back to three sheep and utility trialling in 2022. Tony says that, “dogs don’t know that they are being judged by someone to keep sheep between certain lines, and all that matters is that my dogs are being judged by me. As long as he does the best he can do on the day, I am happy”. Sadly, Tony has recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and strongly recommends that males over 40 get a blood test every year. “It's as simple as getting a PSA blood test. Catch it early and save your life!”

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AUSTRALIAN WORKING BORDER COLLIE REGISTRY Inc. 9896908

A National Registry for pure bred working Border Collies, our aim is to maintain the stud book and promote the responsible breeding of the working Border Collie within Australia. Offering members access to the online stud book, provenance in bloodlines and pedigrees. Pictured - WOOLLYS GRACIE A0681 Photo by Deb Kelly

www.awbcr.com

Contact: awbcrinfo@gmail.com or Registrar Tricia Thomas E: eastrossgole@bigpond.com

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TuffRock PK9 JF+ Pro K9 joint formula PLUS Kakadu Plum

PK9JF+ is a “Step up” from our best-selling K9JF with the addition of Kakadu Plum, 25 % more collagen minerals and more.

Superfood Kakadu Plum provides immune boosting properties and is 500% stronger than rosehip .

Supports all natural intrinsic collagen synthesis Powerful blend of collagen minerals synergized with phytonutrients to support the metabolism of fat & enzyme reproduction in active or aged dogs. Vitamins A,B,C,E & essential omegas to support digestive health, joints and natural freedom of movement in super active dogs, ligament or joint challenged dogs of all ages.

20 lucky readers WILL win a 500gm PK9 JF+

Koonama working kelpies

HOW TO WIN! We are giving readers the chance to trial TuffRock PK9 JF+ Kakadu Plum. We will be giving away 500g packs of PK9 JF+ to the first 20 applicants! All you need to do is scan the QR code or follow the link below and fill in the form.

"These guys are loving the TuffRock PK9 JF+, after a long week of lamb marking and crutching they are lining up for another full week. Since they have been on the PK9 JF+ their stamina through out the day has improved remarkably, they move more freely and seem ready for the next day with a new lease of energy!

Successful applicants will be contacted via email.

www.tuffrock.net/k9giveaway

Thank you to the TuffRock Team for providing this awesome product and keeping our dog on their best game." - Koonama working kelpies www.stockdogs.com.au AWSDM

COLOURING COMPETITION – DECEMBER 2021 Name........................................................................................................................................................... Age............... Anyone under the age of 16yrs old can colour in the picture and send it in before 1st February 2022 for the chance to win a prize and the chance to 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. 68

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Kelly's Kennel Faith Camilleri

How old are you? 7. Who is your favourite dog? E.K. Bonnie. What is one thing you can’t live without? Family and water. What is your favourite colour? Aqua. What is your favourite food? Oreo’s. What do you want to be when you grow up? Dolphin Trainer.

Flynn Camilleri How old are you? 4. Who is your favourite dog? E.K. Clyde. What is one thing you can’t live without? Insects. What is your favourite colour? Dark Blue. What is your favourite food? Meat. What do you want to be when you grow up? Police Officer.

KID’S CHRISTMAS COOKING s ipe Ball R y r r e h C

INGREDIENTS 6 Cherry Ripe bars 1 packet of Arnotts Marie biscuits 2 tablespoons of cocoa 1 can sweetened condensed milk Shredded (or desiccated) coconut, for rolling A drop of pink food colouring METHOD 1. Place the Cherry Ripe bars, biscuits and cocoa in a food processor and blend. 2. Add the can of condensed milk, mix to combine. 3. Roll into bite sized balls. 4. In a small bowl add coconut and food colouring, stir to coat coconut. 5. Roll balls in the coconut. 6. Store in the fridge. You can use any other type of plain biscuits for this recipe e.g. Arrowroot, Digestive Biscuits etc. Cherry Ripe can be substituted with other chocolate bars e.g. Peppermint Crisp. These balls are best stored in an airtight container and in the fridge.

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RIVERSIDE WORKING DOGS

Dogs bred to work WOODFORD JACK HYLITE RUSH Riverside Kojac has proven himself even from a young age. Now my main working dog, he has all areas covered. A strong leggy type, lots of strength and all head. Hard breeding lines make up this reliable dog. Service fee $800+GST

ZANE (USA) CABRA GLEBE SKY Riverside Butch Cassidy is comming along nicely. He's a big strong type with no fear. Can get a little loose but very biddable. International line from sire and champion dam line of NSW Maiden/Novice dog of the year. Service $800+ GST CROWSDALE RIP WOODFORD LUCY Woodford Jack will be standing at Riverside this season. Great opportunity to join to a dog that ticks all the boxes. Proven work dog with strength and definitely proven breeder, breeding multiple trial champions and most importantly workers. Service fee $800+GST

Feel free to contact for more information about purchasing and servicewww.stockdogs.com.au fees. AWSDM 70 pups Riverside Working Dogs

BEN GOULD. CASINO,NSW 0416354061

WORKING DOG SALE & DOG TRIAL 23rd & 24th APRIL 2022 CQLX GRACEMERE SALEYARDS

If you're wanting to Sell, Buy or Trial a Dog Please contact: Gary Wendt 0427 184 875 Office 07 49 334 503 Email - working.dog@raywhite.com www.stockdogs.com.au AWSDM

NEW SOUTH WALES 11 – 13th March 2022 NSW Utility Championships Eugowra Showgrounds Kevin Howell - (02) 6859 2311 7 – 10 April 2022 Sydney 3 Sheep Championships Hawkesbury Showground, Clarendon Alison Burrell – 0423 049 848 04 or sydneysheepdogclub@gmail.com VICTOTRIA 21 – 23rd January 2022 Deans Marsh Dog Trials Deans Marsh Jill Stewart - 0429 998 367

UPCOMING EVENTS Contact us if you would like your event listed in our next issue.

2nd - 5th February 2022 Koroit Sheepdog Trial Vic Park Koroit, Koroit Barry Paton - 0409 863 561 12 & 13th March 2022 Supreme Stock Dog Challenge Mansfield Showgrounds Aoidh Doyle or via the Facebook Page QUEENSLAND 14th - 17th July 2022 Queensland Working Cattle Dog Trail Assn INC - Australian Championships in conjunction with the QLD v NSW State of Origin, and the QWCDTAI 2022 Derby. Toogoolawah Showgrounds Steele Cannell - 0428 583 260 TASMANIA 30th March – 2nd April 2022 National Kelpie Field Trial Connorville Station Cressy Adrian Carpenter - 0427578650 6th - 9th April 2022 Australian Yard Dog Championships Connorville Station, Cressy Adrian Carpenter - 0427578650

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FLAT-RATE DELIVERY OR FREE PICKUP AT 220+ STOCKISTS ACROSS AUSTRALIA

Enter the code STOCKDOG100 at the checkout www.aussiedogkennels.com.au TO SAVE $100! Aussie Dog Kennels contact@aussiedogkennels.com.au Phone: (07) 3186 1023

2022

National Kelpie Field Trial & Australian Yard Dog Championships The Tasmanian yard dog association is hosting the 2022 National Kelpie field trial and the Australian yard dog championships to be held at "Connorville" Station, Cressy Tasmania. The NKFT will commence from Wednesday 30th March to Saturday the 2nd April followed by the AYDA championships from Wednesday 6th April - Saturday 9th April. There is on site camping available and caravan parks located in Longford, Hadspen, Campbelltown, Ross who are pet friendly. For more information please contact Adrian Carpenter on 0427578650 www.stockdogs.com.au AWSDM

Serrano Mini & Rossco

(Kennallywood Rusty x Serrano Pink) CEA normal

Serrano

Border Collies

ALL PUPS SOLD WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY GENETIC TEST RESULTS CONGRATULATIONS to Clinton Hall on his success in QLD Working Sheep Dog Trials with Serrano Rooster and Jill. Nathan Carr on his equal 6th place in QLD Working Cattle Dog Futurity Trial with Serrano Ike.

Peter Brown P: 0422 044 089 E: peterandsuebrown@aapt.net.au Located in Casino, N.S.W We have dogs that are being trialled and working on sheep and cattle properties.

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Queensland Dog Pro Supreme Sheep Dog Trial 2021 and Queensland Rep Run Off

Article and Photos by Peter Brown

Over four days in July, Queensland’s sheep dog trialers gathered at Warwick on the southern Darling Downs to battle it out for the title of Supreme Champion of Queensland and to gain selection to represent the state at the Australian Team selection trial in Tasmania. Unfortunately, due to the dreaded Covid-19, Border Restrictions prevented a number of southern trialers from attending. Thankfully, those that had entered Queensland prior to the border closure were permitted to stay on and compete. Initially, the weather for the event was unusually warm and pleasant, but it soon changed to strong winds and driving rain. It certainly made trialing interesting to say the least. The competition was strong - even if the sheep didn’t enjoy the rain and cold winds - but the tough conditions brought the best out of both man and dog. Taking out the honor of representing Queensland at the Australian selection trial was Geoff Gibson and his dog Gibson's Col with a total score of 244.5. Gary Barker placed second with 234.75, followed in third place by Geoff with another of his team, Smileys JT. Unfortunately, the Trans-Tasman trial and the Australian selection trials were both cancelled because of the restrictions imposed by the current crisis of Covid-19. This would have affected the New Zealand teams from returning home and prevented some state representatives from travelling to Tasmania.

It has been a successful year for Geoff Gibson and his team as he was also named Open Handler of the Year. Smileys JT was awarded Dog of the Year and another of his dogs, Jones Wink picked up Novice Dog of the year. It has however, been a challenging year for trial committees and the Queensland Working Sheep Dog Association with Covid-19 causing some cancellations. But after some initial setbacks, trialing continued with eighteen arena trials, a yard dog trial and four short course trials being contested. There has been great success in reintroducing some trials that haven’t been held for years. Allan Leech has been instrumental in resurrecting some of these original trials that had fallen by the way. He and his team are keen to have even more of these trials reestablished on the calendar, and if the reaction from the smaller communities that hosted a trial this year is any indication, they are on to a winner.

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2021 Sheepdog T

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Trialing In QLD

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Tasmanian Trial Hutton Park

Article by Adrian Carpenter On the 23rd of October, on a very wet and windy day, the Tasmanian Yard Dog Association held one of the last trials of the year before hosting the 2021 Tasmanian Yard Dog Championships. “Hutton Park” at Melton Mowbray in the states south, managed by Simon Bowden (who won the 2020 TYDA Championship), put on a great day, ensuring fresh sheep were available for the trialers who made their way in challenging conditions. Fire pots were a must and good wet weather gear was worn with gumboots as footing got very muddy quickly. We trialled in the older style. Wooden yards with a large gather into a small gateway, before going into a very long drench race. Hutton Park is always a challenging trial but fun as it really tests both dog and handler. Simon who judged the whole day - sat up a ladder in the elements with 20 Novice entries. It was Elders stock agent, Martin Hall that took out the novice with his black and tan dog, Lou (who mainly works the sale yards) with a score of 89. Scott Bone, a new trialler who also works alongside Simon, placed 2nd with his dog Race with a score of 76. Denis Kline and his dog, Jack placed 3rd with a score of 73. After enjoying a BBQ in the shearing shed where we were protected from the weather, it was time to head into the open trial. Judge Simon upped the sheep numbers from 10 to 15 for the open and made some tighter adjustments for the handlers. It was time for the first competitor to head out and have a play in the mud. With 10 dogs entered to compete in the open, we started in the wet, mud and wind with some really nice work from the open handlers, displaying control over the runny and somewhat stubborn merino ewes. It was Adrian Carpenter and Denis Kline who made it to the finals. Adrian’s Monster placed 1st with a combined score of 183 and Denis placed 2nd with Dusty on a total score of 178. Mother of Monster, Wyanbah Biggin placed 3rd on 176. Also, well done to Simon McGee who won the highest improver with his dog, Bundy. AWSDM www.stockdogs.com.au 80

The Tasmanian Yard Dog Association would like to thank Simon Bowden once again for organising the trial. A special thank you to the McShane family also for allowing the trial to take place at Hutton Park property once again. Planning is underway to host the 2021 Tasmanian Yard Dog Championships, to be held at Julian VonBibra’s property ‘Kendon’ Ross. We will be holding a two-day championship on the first weekend of December, the winner of the open championship along with ‘Dog of the Year’ will go on to represent Tasmania at the 2022 Australian Yard Dog Championships which is also to be held in Tasmania at the O’Connors family-owned property ‘Connorville Station’ next April.

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2021 Nyngan Utility Trial Left photo - Emily Kissick Nursery winner | Right photo - Chris Egan Novice winner

Article and Photos by Angie White The annual Nyngan Utility trial was held 6/7/8th of August 2021 in the beautiful surrounds of Nyngan Showgrounds. The Trial was held under strict covid regulations which did not stop those attending having a great weekend, with loads of banter and bull to keep everyone entertained. Despite many other trials being cancelled, the small committee of NSDWA met with, and were given full permission from, Nyngan Shire Council to go ahead with the event. With 140 runs to complete, we twook full advantage of the Showground lights and ran some preliminary runs as well as Novice Final under lights. The watching crowd gathered around fire buckets drinking lemonade, as they observed some great runs from both handlers and dogs. The Open section was hotly contested, and the Nursery section showcased a great array of up and coming handlers in a good field of entries. Many Thanks to Judge Olly Hanson who judged for three days and did a fantastic job, as well as Dave Motley who judged the Nursery section. Thanks boys. AWSDM www.stockdogs.com.au 82

We would like to thank all the competitors who stepped in and gave us a hand with let out and scoring and any jobs we needed to get done. The whole weekend was very well received, and all competitors were jovial, which made for a happy weekend. 2022 will see the Committee take on the inaugural Australian Utility Championships. We already have individuals and businesses on board to sponsor and support this event and hope to make it an important part of the yearly trialling calendar. We wish to thank our generous sponsors AGL, Coprice, Tony Walsh Sheep and Cattle Scanning, Carter Lindsay Weber Stock and Station Agents, Nyngan Toyota, Mullengudgery Merino Stud and HM Lowe “Gerar” Station. We look forward to a great event in 2022.

See results below: Nursery Place

Handler

Dog

Score

1st

Emily Kissick

Vaimara Dixie

2nd

Jacob Ryan

Whites Doss

3rd

Callum Jackson

Motleys Gidgee

Novice Place

Handler

Dog

Round 1

Round 2

Total

1st

Chris Egan

Tide

166

2nd

Les Eveleigh

Kooper

136

3rd

Dave Motley

Motleys Crew

134

4th

Gary White

Whites Billy

111

5th

Dave Motley

Motleys Joy

Place

Handler

Dog

Round 1

Round 2

Total

1st

Nigel Brazier

Braziers Pat

161

2nd

Gary White

Whites Benny

157

3rd

Jake Nowlan

Sam

155

4th

Gary White

Whites Billy

150

5th

Chris Egan

Ray

147

6th

Kevin Howell

Karana Roy

138

7th

Kevin Howell

Karana Ace

129

Open

Left photo - Open placegetters | Middle photo - Open winner Nigel Brazier with Braziers Pat | Far right - Callum Jackson

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WA State Yard Dog Championship & State Utility Championship Article and Photos by Nan Lloyd This year's WA State Yard Dog and State Utility Championships were held at Binnaburra, as the state trials are rotated between clubs each year. Binnaburra is a large property farmed by Gordon and Sara Curtis, located 25 kilometres north of Kelleberrin in WA’s Wheatbelt. Gordon also operates a South Suffolk stud and has been breeding and trialling kelpies for many years. Gordon and Sara have been running yard and utility trials at Binnaburra for 27 years. They have also run 2 arena trials for when other clubs need a last-minute venue but Yard and Utility is the norm. The trial was run by the Northern Districts Sheepdog Club who recently ran 3 trials in a month, including the State Arena trial, so it has been a big commitment and effort from them. Running a utility trial requires a lot of support and effort from everyone. There are not a lot of triallers in WA who do both yard and utility trialling, but they are a competitive group. Utility trialling is considered the most challenging type of trialling. Obtaining a dog capable of performing well in the yard and also outside is not easy. Most of our yard and utility triallers also do work on the farm with their dogs. Because we don't have a large number of competitors, we allow our judges to work a dog and they, in turn, are judged by two judges.

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The trial was run a little later than usual, so the sheep had almost 12 months of wool on them. They were challenging in the yard and required a fair amount of pressure to fill pens. The majority found the truck was the most difficult. Some sheep did not want to go up the ramp and some did not want to come down it, so most people lost a fair few points at this obstacle. Outside, the sheep were quite good through the obstacles, but as the wind lifted, some became quite unpredictable, bolting off at great speed. The weather was variable with a crunching frost on Saturday morning and some rain on the first two days. But the conditions were quite good for the last two days. Gordon has a large diesel ‘Woofer’ and with a BBQ each evening it was the place to be. Nights can be chilly in the Wheatbelt, so it was great to have a social catch-up in comfort to discuss dogs and handlers, past and present, and tell a few tall tales.

RESULTS YARD TRIAL RESULTS Encourage Yard 1st Tara Herbert - Marionvale Tess 2nd Karen Smith - Delamak Heidi Novice Yard, judged by Allan Dunn. Final judged by Nan Lloyd (scores out of 65). 1st Gordon Curtis - Kumbark Tina = 124 2nd Simon Leaning - Marionvale Lad = 123 3rd Rod Forsyth - Kumbark Todd = 116 =4th Ken Atherton - Ramulam Charlie = 114 =4th Simon Leaning - Marionvale Chip = 114 6th Phil Barker - Barkervale Ringo = 109 7th Simon Leaning - Marionvale Di = 90 =8th Nan Lloyd - Kumbark Lexie = 58 =8th Tony Boyle - Boylee Guss = 58 =8th Tony Boyle - Boylee Major = 58 Improver Yard, judged by Ken Atherton. 1st Allan Dunn - Gogetta Thor = 184 2nd Allan Dunn - Dunns Smallchange = 169 3rd Simon Leaning - Marionvale Chip = 159 4th Rod Forsyth - Kumbark Todd = 155 5th Grant Cooke - Grassvalley Bluey = 144 6th Jim Harradnie - Dryandra Cooch = 133 =7th Neil White - Barkervale Cobber = 65 =7th Karyn Buller - Boco Louie = 65 9th Tony Boyle - Boylee Midget = 38 10th Phil Barker - Barkervale Ringo = 32

Open Utility, judged by Nigel Armstrong. Nigel was Judged by Nan Lloyd and Simon Leaning. 1st Ken Atherton - Ramulam Punch = 164 2nd Rod Forsyth - Kumbark Todd = 163 3rd Nigel Armstrong - Yarralonga Scope = 155.5 =4th Nan Lloyd - Kumbark Ace = 153 =4th Rod Forsyth - Grassvalley Hazel = 153 6th Nigel Armstrong - Tumutvalley Roy = 151.5 7th Gordon Curtis - Kumbark Indi = 146 8th Simon Leaning - Marionvale Lad = 145 9th Grant Cooke - Grassvalley Bluey = 144 10th Gordon Curtis - Kumbark Tina = 133 11th Neil White - Barkervale Cobber = 113 12th Nan Lloyd - Barkervale Oswin = 65 There was a patron's prize for each event, which was chosen by the judge for good work. Novice Yard winner - Gordon Curtis and Kumbark Tina. Novice utility winner - Nan Lloyd and Kumbark Lexie. Improver yard Winner - Allan Dunn and Gogetta Thor. Open Yard winner - Tony Boyle and Boylee Sugar. Open utility winner - Neil White and Barkervale Cobber. As this was the final utility trial for the year, the Utility Dog of the Year was decided. Winner - Nigel Armstrong & Yarralonga Scope Runner Up - Nan Lloyd & Kumbark Ace

Open Yard, judged by Simon Leaning. There was a tie for first and a runoff. 1st Nigel Armstrong - Tumutvalley Roy = 274 2nd Allan Dunn - Gogetter Thor =266 3rd Ken Atherton - Ramulam Punch = 169 4th Nigel Armstrong - Yarralonga Scope = 166 5th Tony Boyle - Boylee Midget = 160 6th Jim Harradine - Dryandra Bridie = 158 7th Nan Lloyd - Kumbark Ace = 150 8th Tony Boyle - Boylee Sugar = 144 Utility Trial Results Novice Utility, judged by Rod Forsyth (scores out of 115). There was a tie for first and a run off. Rod was Judged by Ken Atherton and Simon Leaning. 1st Gordon Curtis - Kumbark Scotty = 271 2nd Ken Atherton - Ramulam Fella = 247 3rd Tony Boyle - Boylee Guss = 140 4th Rod Forsyth - Grassvalley Hazel = 131.5 5th Jim Harradine - Dryandra Bridie = 80 6th Simon Leaning - Marionvale Andy = 70 7th Tony Boyle - Boylee Pickles = 69 8th Phil Barker - Barkervale Ringo = 62 =9th Allan Dunn - Gogetter Thor = 60 =9th Tony Boyle - Boylee Squirt = 60

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Muster Dogs - Foreword If someone had said to me seven years ago that I would soon own twelve kelpies, six maremmas, be managing our family cattle station and writing a book, I would have thought they’d lost their mind. Now, most days I wonder if I’ve lost mine. Though it’s had its up and downs, I wouldn’t trade my life for anything. My dogs have taught me to be a better person, to be more accepting of situations I can’t control and that there really is more to life than the station I grew up on. They gave me the confidence to travel to different parts of Australia on two truly ‘once in a life time’ road trips. They inspired my travels overseas to America and Alaska where I was able to see working dogs in completely different situations, invaluable and incredible in their own right. They connected me to a whole new world of like-minded folk who share the same passion and appreciation for these amazing animals as I do. They have helped me find my independence, running my own business alongside my families. But most of all, in my dogs, I have found my passion. No matter where we are in life, as long as I have my dogs by my side, I am home. And that is the greatest gift of all. Through this book, I tell my story of life in the rugged Pilbara region of Western Australia, learning to run a half a million acre cattle station through some of the hardest years we have experienced and how my working

dogs are proving essential players in that. How they filled a void in my life before I even realised there was something missing. The mistakes I’ve made along the way, the lessons I’ve learned and how the experiences I have lived helped shape my direction onto the path I am on today. A path that will have many twists, turns and no doubt, some bumps too, but one that leaves me excited about the possibilities for the future. One of the dogs you will meet on this journey is Gossip Girl, the beautiful pup featured with her siblings in the ABC’s Muster Dogs documentary and our first twelve months together. This isn’t a manual on how to train a dog. Far from it. But through my experiences, I’ll share different techniques that have worked for me. And some that haven’t. There are many talented people I have met who have gained more knowledge, experience and understanding of dogs over the years than I will likely ever know. And I’m grateful for that. I appreciate the opportunity this offers me to continue to learn from those folk even as I tread my own unique path. Life isn’t a destination. Its the journey we are on right now and who could ask for better company on the ride than the unquestioning enthusiasm of a loyal dog. Thank you for joining me.

Available mid December Signed copies can be purchased via www.pilbaraworkingdogs.com or via Booktopia & Audible.

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Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine - Issue 17, December 2021

Articles inside

Women In Trialling - Nicola Morris

A Dogs Life - Woodford Jack