Latest news with #MusterDogs
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
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."
Perth Now
6 days ago
- General
- Perth Now
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
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. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cobber (@cobberdogfood) The Cobber Challenge pits farm dogs in a three-week competition that tracks their work output. 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."
West Australian
6 days ago
- General
- West Australian
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
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 Cobber Challenge pits farm dogs in a three-week competition that tracks their work output. 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."
The Guardian
14-03-2025
- General
- The Guardian
We moved to the country to give our rescued working dogs a better life
The week we moved from Brisbane to the New South Wales New England region seven years ago, my husband, Richard, asked the bloke at a local hardware shop if he stocked dog doors. The response was, 'No, why would you need one?' I groaned internally. Being regional returners with two rescued border collies, we were acutely aware of grazier concerns about rogue pets and didn't want to create more worries. Rescues have been our go-to for decades, mainly working breeds. These active, intelligent animals are selected to herd livestock across vast rural landscapes, yet they routinely end up in city back yards. On-leash walks rarely satiate their physical and mental stamina, and while off-leash dog parks are starting to meet the need, they're never really enough for high-energy hounds. On occasion, their work ethic is misinterpreted. The worst I ever witnessed was a man with a walking stick passing my tethered border collie. Her quivering crouch and wide-open eyes signalled that she thought he was about to throw his cane for her to fetch. Instead, she got clobbered by it when he assumed she was threatening. Sign up to receive Guardian Australia's fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter Richard and I are sensitive to those who don't delight in encountering dogs, but life with four-legged companions in the suburbs had gotten to the stage that it didn't matter if we had ours on-leash, off-leash or sitting obediently at our feet – someone usually had a problem. Talk to dog owners and you'll find plenty of stories about off-leash park disasters and fears of dog-baiting. In some ways, by taking on rescued working breeds, we were always headed back to the country. I just didn't know it until I became so frustrated at the latest round of anti-dog sentiment in the suburbs that I wailed at Richard, 'Where do working dogs belong?' On farms, is the answer. So we went bush. Rural Australia loves its pets, with 74% of us making space for them in our homes (higher than the national average of 69%), according to a survey by Animal Medicines Australia. We're besotted with programs like Muster Dogs and admire working dogs for their prowess at trials. The value of a working dog to a farm operation is estimated at about $40,000 in the animal's lifetime, yet not all are so treasured. Approximately 44,000 surrendered or abandoned dogs of all breeds are euthanased annually in a vicious cycle made worse by puppy farming and back yard breeding. There are also hidden dangers. While house hunting out here, I checked wild-dog baiting websites to avoid regions with aerial 1080 baiting programs. The risk of poisoning is ever-present in the bush; not just from domestic dogs picking up baits, but the chance of them snaffling the carrion of other creatures killed by the pellets. Tragedy can result when visitors unknowingly bring dogs into baiting regions where signage may be inadequate, although rural working dogs often fall victim too. Vigilance is essential, as is keeping lines of communication open with neighbours about the reach and timing of their baiting programs. Ironically, we've found these risks more manageable than the random, faceless terror of metro dog-baiting. 'Off-leash' should never mean 'completely beyond verbal control', so when setting out each morning to walk our three rescues, we're prepared for encounters with livestock, wildlife, pests, horses and other humans. Sign up to The Rural Network Subscribe to Calla Wahlquist's fortnightly update on Australian rural and regional affairs after newsletter promotion As soon as we open our home yard gate, the dogs pelt across our acre. They check for livestock beyond the fence and invariably 'lift' any flock or herd on the other side, then sniff at the rabbit warren beneath a long-closed railway embankment. We continue along our kilometre of driveway, a scrubby easement between fenced fields. On occasion, we head on to the 'long paddock', the network of old mustering routes now known as the travelling stock reserve (TSR). This is not a national park (where dogs are banned) or a canine-friendly state forest. The central and eastern divisions of this crown land reserve are a shared zone for livestock grazing, First Nations culture, fishing, apiary, biodiversity and recreation. The emphasis here is on sharing space. Our closest TSR is a former common with the remnants of brickworks, a seasonal creek, abundant birdlife and regular campers. What we mainly see are marsupials, and we've trained our pack to look but never chase. We collect rubbish that blows in from the road or gets carelessly dumped, and kick down the weeds. Richard and I are farmers' sons who do not farm, with rescued working dogs who – apart from being excellent security – do not work. We walk the long paddock through the remnants of a rural landscape that the state government now recognises as a public asset with evolving uses; a place where, in the droving days, dogs like ours would play a very different role. Balance and space have allowed our dogs a greater sense of belonging than we ever experienced in the suburbs, and things are changing. Last time I checked there were dog doors available at the shop that once didn't know why they might be needed, and thanks to the opportunity for long off-leash walks, our pack leads something much more akin to a working dogs' life. Michael Burge is a writer and author based at Deepwater, NSW Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter
The Guardian
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Commonwealth championship sheepdog trials
Mick Hudson's highly-decorated dog MGH Rabbit, earned the Australian dog of the year for the second time in a row. Mick adheres to the old farmer adage - 'never touch another man's hat or his dog' - and it shows in the loyalty they show each other. 'The Bill Paton dog of the year is the most prestigious award for me, and I am honoured to represent NSW and bring the trophy home once more,' said Mick. Mick Hudson helping nine-year-old MGH Rabbit cool off after a run. The Muster Dogs star says he has learned to be more quietly spoken with his dogs. 'I used to be a yeller, but I've learned to control my emotions. You won't hear what I'm saying to my dog. If you have to yell at a dog, it's not your dog.' Scott Smith, a Dubbo zookeeper trains his five dogs - Jack, Jem, Flo, Pink and Ace - for relaxation. He has found a new love competing in sheepdog trials. In a scene straight out of Babe, Martin Waddingham's Waterloo Ace appeared to speak directly to the sheep, coming fifth in the competition. Waterloo Ace, moving around the course at a steady pace. The luck is often in the sheep - one rogue wether (a castrated male sheep) can see the whole trial fall apart. Pat Wake, from Lewiston, with her dog, McConnells Marrar. Pat has six dogs - four collies and two kelpies - and says Marrar is her best. She lectures at Tafe in horticulture, agriculture and conservation and has been a trainer for 12 years. Tom Joyce with dog, Oakdowns Sammy, from Mullaquana station represented South Australia. Colin Reid from Glen Rowan, Wally Dalton from Toolern Vale, and Ken Jelbart from Cape Liptrap, have been sheep dog trial friends for over 10 years. The average age of the trainers is around 70, with retirees bonding over their love of dogs. The next generation of champions watching the action. Simon Leaning gives Marionvale Di a quick rinse before her run, hoping it will help the dog in the heat of the afternoon. Marionvale Di keeps the sheep together in a 'balance'. The dogs can run up to 3kms in one turn on the large oval. Michael McNamara, of Yambuk, is the president of the club and has been involved for 35 years. His dog, Liam, was the model for the Australia Post Stamp when it commemorated 150 years of sheep dog trials in Australia. Toowoomba's Bailey Knight is a rising star in the sheepdog trials. Knight's dog, Ron, was a little skittish in Port Fairy, but performed well, taking third place. Bailey's other dog, Gibsons Flicka, won the improver final. Martin Waddingham and Waterloo Ace performed well, with penning, the last obstacle, proving that both he and his dog have a lot of patience. Shepparton's Blondie gets behind the sheep, and awaits further instructions. At 10 years old she is a working grandmother, and the oldest in the competition. David Lacey keeps competing her 'because she's bloody good'. Club president Michael McNamara's dog, Liam, has never competed in trials, but is part of the Take Off team, heading out to bring back the wethers after each trial.
