For the last decade, Adrian Carpenter has made the trek from Cressy, Tasmania, all the way to Casterton in Western Victoria, for the Australian Kelpie Muster.
Ever year, Mr Carpenter has sold Kelpie dogs at the auction, last year selling three, with one of them selling for the highest price he had ever sold a dog for, $8700.
“He could do most things, could work in paddocks as well as in the yards, and his bloodlines were good too,” Mr Carpenter said.
He said the working dog demonstrations, held prior to the auction, are a good opportunity to show prospective buyers your dogs’ abilities.
“There’s a course you can put them through, which shows paddock work, yard work, loading up a truck, and taking them through a drench race,” he said.
“You can demonstrate exactly how you use them at work.”
The first year Mr Carpenter attended the auction, he sold just one dog, but this number has steadily grown over the years.
He now sells two or three dogs, for an average price of between $4000-$5000.
But he said this price often depends on the age and ability of the Kelpies he is offering.
“The ones I take to Casterton, I just do basic training with, because someone else is going to buy them and train them to their way of working,” he said.
“You don’t want them to be too programmed, you just want them at a basic level.”
This year, he’ll be offering three 12-18 month-olds, who aren’t fully trained but “showing some potential”.
Mr Carpenter fell into dog breeding through his on-farm work.
“I was a shearer and a wool classer, and went to lots of different farms and noticed a few more Kelpies getting about, and also noticed their natural instinct,” he said.
He breeds one or two litters a year, and keeps the majority of dogs himself, to work on the property he manages as Cressy, Tas, and sells the remainder at the Kelpie Muster.
He said he admires Kelpies because of their desire to work and desire to please their owners.
“They’re so versatile, and they just have this natural ability with sheep and cattle,” he said.
Mr Carpenter said he enjoys the professionally-run Kelpie Muster every year, and has made a lot of friends through the day event, which he comes back to meet once a year.
“The first year I went, I didn’t have a place to stay and didn’t realise that all the accommodation would be gone, so Darren and Nicki Holmberg offered me a place to stay,” he said.
“Everyone’s so helpful and the hospitality is just great.”
The event
The best Kelpie dogs from across the country will converge on Casterton for the 22nd Australian Kelpie Muster on June 9 and 10.
The event has become the premiere working dog festival and sale in Australia, with visitors attending from multiple states.
The festival on the Saturday will include a parade and other novelty events, and then an array of competitions, including a high jump, triathlon, stockman’s challenge, and hill climb.
Just over 60 dogs will be offered at auction the following day.
The proceedings will begin with working dog demonstrations, before the auction kicks off at 3pm.
Casterton Kelpie Association committee member Sharon McGrath said a good working dog can make a farmer’s life so much easier, and reduce the amount of hands needed on-farm.
“There will be a strong lineup of dogs on offer, and a good variety at most levels to suit most people,” Ms McGrath said.