Dogged pursuit of key worker
ourselves with a gap in our team and needing a useful heading dog before lambing season begins. That’s why we were at this dog sale. My first time at such an event.
Buying a good farm dog is a big decision. Often a shepherd spends more time with canine mates than with his/her family. The dog needs to understand stock, work together with a human partner and get along with the rest of the team.
Some dogs are born and trained on the farm while others are bought in ready to go. Some farmers have great skills in breeding, raising and schooling pups and others appreciate being able to buy a good dog already working.
Selection starts well before sale day by studying the catalogue and circling likely buys. Breeding can be important and information such as ‘‘out of Lass by Rain’’ tells you dam and sire. Who bred it can be useful.
‘‘On account’’ from a well known dog triallist may mean a nice dog with good parentage simply surplus to the team or it could indicate the dog’s not going well for some reason so it’s on the market.
On a beautiful, calm, sunny sale day dogs were tied in number order along the fence for potential purchasers to look at. It’s a bit more than ‘‘how much is that doggie in the window?
The one with the waggly tail’’ from the words of the old song. This is a big investment for a vital member of farming staff.
Hundreds of people walked around checking dogs, chatting with friends, enjoying a welcome winter outing off the farm. The local school provided soup and sustenance. Vendors and buyers register at the horse float.
Right on time, the auctioneer announced the sale was starting, a small mob of sheep was released on to the paddock and first dog, Lizz, was given a run to show her style.
After a few minutes of demonstration bidding began and the tri-colour heading bitch listed as ‘‘friendly, pulls big mobs easily, clean stop’’ sold for $4200.
There were plenty of keen buyers and a healthy event for those selling. Lot 18 is the one we were waiting for. A 3-year oldheading dog, looks good on paper and performs well in the paddock. ‘‘Very good farm bitch. Excellent lambing, Easy to work, very good nature.’’
Others like Patch as well, but Jock hangs in, nodding his head, until the auctioneer’s call
‘‘going, going and gone’’ goes to the Wyllies.
Dogs are high value . They are also highly valuable and over the years return great cost/benefit plus mutual friendship and loyalty.
The new owner meets the vendor and dog at the gate as they exit the show ring for the handshake and handover. There is some emotion.
Technology is handy when handing a dog to a new handler. Out comes the cell phone for voice commands and whistles to be recorded. Then played and replayed later so the instructions become familiar.
Our new team member was loaded into the dogbox on our ute and settled on comfy cushions for her journey from Canterbury to Kaihoka.
From the eastern plains to the western coast, her new Golden Bay home.
Now she lives in our dog motels and, when Jock is away, I go along the line opening doors for our willing workers welcoming the morning. Hello to Patch along with Zig, Pound, Dodge, Tori, Jode, Jack and the rest of the team.