A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog

The Advertiser

5 days ago

Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend.
The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said.
"I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP.
The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW.
Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024.
"I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said.
"If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them."
Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times.
The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock.
Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday.
Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place.
A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes.
Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work.
"You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better."
Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs.
Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector.
Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said.
When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work.
"If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said.
"These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle."
Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years.
Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion.
"Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said.
"When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend.
The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said.
"I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP.
The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW.
Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024.
"I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said.
"If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them."
Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times.
The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock.
Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday.
Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place.
A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes.
Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work.
"You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better."
Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs.
Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector.
Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said.
When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work.
"If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said.
"These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle."
Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years.
Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion.
"Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said.
"When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend.
The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said.
"I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP.
The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW.
Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024.
"I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said.
"If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them."
Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times.
The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock.
Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday.
Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place.
A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes.
Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work.
"You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better."
Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs.
Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector.
Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said.
When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work.
"If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said.
"These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle."
Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years.
Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion.
"Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said.
"When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend.
The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said.
"I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP.
The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW.
Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024.
"I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said.
"If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them."
Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times.
The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock.
Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday.
Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place.
A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes.
Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work.
"You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better."
Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs.
Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector.
Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said.
When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work.
"If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said.
"These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle."
Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years.
Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion.
"Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said.
"When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."