Sheepdog training a lifeline for 'bored' working dogs living in the big smoke
2 years, 11 months ago

Sheepdog training a lifeline for 'bored' working dogs living in the big smoke

ABC  

An ever-growing urban Australian love affair with muster dogs has generated a new line of work for one of the country's top sheepdog trainers — helping city dwellers understand how their country working dogs think. Dogs bred to work on farms in city backyards The nation's fascination with smart working dogs has led to an exponential increase in kelpies, koolies and border collies, bred to herd and muster livestock in the country, living in city and suburban backyards. "The instinct to herd and bring the sheep to their owners exists in well-bred dogs," Mr Leaning said. Mr Learning said many owners were surprised how quickly their suburban companions turn into working dogs once they are in the ring. "

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Muster Dogs returns for more with a four-part special and a brand-new season
2 months ago

Muster Dogs returns for more with a four-part special and a brand-new season

ABC  

The ABC is thrilled to announce successful original series Muster Dogs is set to return with a four-part special this year and a brand-new season in 2025. In addition to the special, the eagerly anticipated third season of Muster Dogs will premiere in 2025 and returns with a twist in the experiment to see who will be crowned Champion Muster …

Muster Dogs judge and former winner Frank Finger on training his deaf border collie Lucky
10 months, 1 week ago

Muster Dogs judge and former winner Frank Finger on training his deaf border collie Lucky

ABC  

On his sprawling cattle property in central Queensland, grazier Frank Finger is mustering cattle with his trusty team of working dogs. "He's a very friendly dog, a happy dog and I think he wants to please me," Frank says. Loading YouTube content Frank says teaching Lucky how to muster has been similar to training his kelpies because of their natural …

How to train a pup for sheep dog trials, according to Muster Dogs breeder Mick Hudson
11 months ago

How to train a pup for sheep dog trials, according to Muster Dogs breeder Mick Hudson

ABC  

When he's not trying to breed some of the best border collie working dogs in Australia, Mick Hudson is a passionate competitor at sheepdog trials. "The dog's got to be smart to handle 'runny' sheep or really quiet sheep or really stubborn sheep," Mick says. Mick says dog owners who know the ropes of handling stock "have a very good …

City dogs learn new tricks as hobby mustering trend on the rise at sheep dog trials
1 year, 10 months ago

City dogs learn new tricks as hobby mustering trend on the rise at sheep dog trials

ABC  

It's a competition that's steeped in Australian tradition, but sheep dog trials in rural Queensland are receiving increased interest from city dog owners. Gary Hurtz, organiser of the 53rd annual Stanthorpe Sheep Trial, said he had taken more than 300 entries across the three-day event, which is underway as part of the town's agricultural show. Peta Mason from Toowoomba said …

Border collie breeders' pre-emptive warning to prospective owners on working dog needs
2 years, 2 months ago

Border collie breeders' pre-emptive warning to prospective owners on working dog needs

ABC  

There is much to love about the highly intelligent, energetic and keen-to-please nature of working dog breeds. Dogs with an off switch ABC TV series Muster Dogs head trainer Neil McDonald said a dog's natural tendency to work varied with the litter. While Ms Conway said a working dog could live in an urban environment, she wouldn't "place a dog …

Muster Dogs sees demand for kelpie, handler training on the rise
2 years, 6 months ago

Muster Dogs sees demand for kelpie, handler training on the rise

ABC  

It's Monday morning on the June long weekend. Ms Brown says she brought all three of her kelpie and koolie dogs to the working dog school to learn "how to get the best connections with them". It's not the first working dog school Ms Brown has attended, and it "won't be the last", she laughs. "We've probably run double the …

It's been a year since filming of the megahit Muster Dogs wrapped. Where are they all now?
2 years, 6 months ago

It's been a year since filming of the megahit Muster Dogs wrapped. Where are they all now?

ABC  

It's the murmur you hear first from the crowd. The Casterton Kelpie Muster's star attractions this year were Frank Finger and Rob Tuncks, sitting on top of a truck leading the street parade with their two kelpies beside them. "The greatest thing about Muster Dogs was that it wasn't scripted, we weren't told what to say, we just showed people …

Could 'sky shepherd' drones be better at mustering sheep than working dogs?
3 years, 4 months ago

Could 'sky shepherd' drones be better at mustering sheep than working dogs?

ABC  

Working dogs are synonymous with life on the land, but technology from the sky could soon be moving in on their territory. Key points: Researchers are monitoring the stress levels of sheep being mustered by a working dog compared with a drone Drone developers want to devise manoeuvres that will help farmers muster sheep without using dogs Researchers have been …

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