A BLACK and tan kelpie named Dotti was the toast of the Clark Rubber Australian Working Dog Auction at the weekend in Casterton, Vic.
Equalling the $12,000 national record set in 2012, it was just the second time a female dog has topped the sale in its 21-year history.
Vendor Jigsaw Farms livestock manager Jack Leonard, Melville Forest, Vic, bought the 18-month-old as an eight-week-old pup from Barry Price, Moora Kelpies, Macarthur.
He then worked hard training Dotti in the yards and paddocks with the property’s large Merino flock.
The 30-year-old has received up to $8000 for trained Moora-blood dogs previously but said this was the pinnacle.
Mr Leonard said Dotti was a great natured “all-rounder” and one of the most responsive dogs he had ever trained.
“It always puts in 100 per cent,” he said.
“You can tell it to speak (bark) anywhere in any situation and it is a great backing dog.
“It was sad to see it go but I was training it with this goal (the auction) in mind.”
Dotti was bought by NSW truck driver Craig Lockyer, Dubbo.
In the auction 49 of 57 lots, ranging from fully trained-dogs to pups, sold for a record $4319 average.
Buyers came from nearly all states, including 10 dogs that found homes in SA selling to $7000.
The $4000 top price started dog was four-month-old Elfinvale Paddy, offered at auction by Tom Austin, Melville Forest, Vic.
Darren and Nicky Holmberg, Dunrobin, Vic, sold the $3000 top price pup, named Clout.
Mrs Holmberg, who is also the auction secretary, attributed the great sale to a top quality catalogue and buoyant livestock prices.
They were thrilled to smash last year’s average by $556.
“People more and more have an appreciation of what a good working dog can do for them,” she said.
“You can have one dog or three or four men, so for value for money a dog is a lot cheaper.
“You can’t get a better place to buy than Casterton – the birthplace of the kelpie.”
