TWELVE dogs from six states, including two from SA, have been selected to compete in the fourth annual Cobber Challenge to crown Australia's hardest working dog.
Each dog will wear a GPS collar to track how far, fast and for how long they work over a three-week period.
Last year, Vic farmer Henry Lawrence and his Kelpie Boof won, after clocking an impressive total distance of 638.1 kilometres and average speed of 10.62km/hr.
Hoping to keep the trophy in Vic are Mitchell Leek and his Kelpie, Ajay, from Nar Nar Goon, and Sharon Barry and her Kelpie, Cliché, from Hamilton.
At 11 years old, Cliché may be the oldest dog competing in this year's Cobber Challenge.
SA is represented by two Border Collies.
Contractor Peter Barr says his dog Breakit works with calm assurance, while showing strength and bravery when handling livestock.
Peta Bauer also finds working dogs part and parcel of SA farming life. Her dog Jed has an enormous work drive and in downtimes, is easy going.
Tas competitors will try to reclaim the title, after Brad McDonald and Flow won in 2017.
Representing the Apple Isle this year are Brendon Johnson and his leading dog Lady and Jack Febey with Monty.
Both Tas competitors work on mixed farming operations of about 2000 acres.
NSW put forward the largest number of nominations.
This year the state will be represented by Daniel Pumpa and his Kelpie, Turbo, from near Dubbo, and Emma Lawrence and her Collie/Kelpie/Koolie-cross, Mick, from the Liverpool Plains.
The two competitors from WA are livestock contractor Jim Harradine, who says his Border Collie, Bridie, is always the first dog off the ute whatever the situation, and Bailey Vlahov with Kelpie Buddy, who was born to work livestock and is an invaluable team member when working on his uncle's mixed farm with 3000 sheep and 3000 cattle.
The size of the properties will also mean tough competition from those hailing from Qld.
Sam Wright is keen for his dog, Bonnie, to be recognised for the enormous amount of work she does on his family's cattle breeding and backgrounding operation south-west of Mackay.
Heidi Harrold says she couldn't ask for a better partner to work on the station at Prairie every day and compete in the Cobber Challenge than her Border Collie/Kelpie-cross Socks.
Ridley group marketing manager Ian Moore, which produces Cobber Working Dog Food, said the number and quality of nominations demonstrates the keenness of Aussie farmers to see their dogs recognised for the work they do.
"We had nominations from across the country and you could clearly see how everyone values their dogs for the work they do as part of the farm team, their natural herding instincts, and for their mateship," he said.
The competition will run for three weeks from Monday, August 12, to Sunday, September 1.
- Follow the performance of the dogs at cobberchallenge.com.au
