Old dogs to learn new tricks

The state championship is held on the final day of Sheepvention (Tuesday, August 4).

Hamilton Kelpie breeder and dog trial committee member Ian O'Connell said between 90 and 110 entries from throughout Victoria and interstate are usually entered into the Sheepvention farm dog trials that include encourage, novice, and open classes as well as the Victorian championship.

To accommodate the large number of entries, the working dog trials – which always attract large crowds in the middle of the field days – kick off on Sunday, August 2, one day before the rest of Sheepvention. They start with the novice classes, which are usually younger dogs that haven't had much success in trials yet.

On Monday, the 'encourage class' is held, which Mr O'Connell said provided the perfect opportunity for new people to try out the sport, as well as the open event, for which people qualify by winning at least two novice events.

On Tuesday, about 25 dogs line up to compete in the state championship, which comprises of any dog that has won an open farm or yard dog trial in Victoria in the last 12 months as well as the best performers from the day before.

"The Victorian championship is a pretty prestigious event among the working dog fraternity," Mr O'Connell said.

"A lot of the people who compete, breed working dogs so it's an opportunity to showcase their genetics and benchmark their dogs' performances."

Mr O'Connell said farm dog trials involved a larger mustering area than yard dog trials.

He said that working farm dogs, including the ones that participate at Sheepvention, were an integral part of livestock operations.

"We need them more than ever because we need to work more stock more efficiently, often with less staff," he said.

He said the Sheepvention farm dog trials showed the crowds of people, dogs' abilities and the correct way for people to work with dogs and livestock.

Darryn Hannah of Heywood, will judge the novice class; Rex Hocking of Lucindale, South Australia, will judge encourage class; and for the first time, distinguished judge Rod Cavill, Alexandra, will assess the open class and championship.

"The judges will award maximum points to the dogs that manage to work the sheep through the course in a calm manner, with no hold-ups, with the stock held together and not put under any undue stress," Mr O'Connell said.

"Unlike other sports, people of all ages and genders compete together."

Philip James will make the 5.5-hour drive from Jindivick in Gippsland to Hamilton to compete in his first farm dog tril.

Mr James has been doing yard and other types of dog trials for seven or eight years, but decided to throw his hat in the ring in Sheepvention's farm dog trials as a new challenge.

"My son Adam went last year and he said it was an interesting trial," Mr James said.

"I think it's a bit more of a thinking trial than yard trials because you've got to ray closer attention to where you put your dog to get the mob of sheep in from the larger paddock area."

He will run two bitches in the open class – seven-year-old Samie and three-year-old Jenny.

Because Samie won at the Ballarat open, she has qualified for the championship.

Another new face at the Sheepvention trials will be Kim Davidson, Frankston, who only started trialling her two dogs – cream Kelpie Wal, 9, and Kelpie-Koolie cross Dash, 4.

Ms Davidson is jumping at every opportunity to go to training schools and trialling events, and joked the "addiction" was fuelled by her love of dogs and of seeing them natural work. She said elite dog brreders and handlers had been so generous in their feedback and support.

Getting Wal and Dash ready for their first farm trial has been a bit of a challenge because Ms Davidson has limited access to stock and land, particularly as she balances two jobs and nursing studies.

"It's all about me learning about stock management and getting them to move through the course without hassling them."