On The Land
17 April, 2022
FNQ working dogs muster the big money
ISAAC Ramsay and his 17-month-old Border Collie, “Tomana Bindi”, shone a spotlight firmly on the Far North Queensland working dog community recently, when they outsold 22 lots on offer from across the State during a first of its kind, on-line dog auction.
Netting the sale's top price of $8,025 through Casino-based Triangle Horse Sales, Isaac said it was an outstanding result, especially considering it was his first involvement in a dog auction and the first online working dog sale to be held in Queensland.
Mr Ramsay had been selling working dogs to Australian Agricultural Company for the last four years and to graziers down through central and western Queensland.
When fellow dog breeder and friend Corrie Kelly, of Julatten, suggested asking his mate Keith Flynn in Casino if they could sell their dogs through his horse auction platform, Mr Ramsay said he was keen to give it a try.
“The sale was run over 10 or 11 days which gave people time to watch vendors' demonstration videos and ring and asks questions about dogs that took their interest,” Mr Ramsay said.
“The auction opened everything up to a wider audience, which combined with the strength of the current cattle market, had a positive effect on prices.
“Renowned dog trainer Neil McDonald said: ‘Use dogs when you can, so you don't have to when you can't!’ I have been breeding dogs for 15 years and have done a few training schools over the years, but I picked up a fair bit early on from my grandfather down in New South Wales. He always had good dogs and he showed me a few of the basics.
“Our aim at Tomana is to breed dogs that will take direction but also think for themselves, with a strong desire to go to the head, block and draw cattle. I look for a dog that is able to travel, with good confirmation, that is biddable, but has the hardness to do a day's work.”
Mr Ramsay called Bindi's new owner, Jamon Spence, a few days after the sale to see how she was settling in. The Townsville electrician said they had already put a mob of cattle in the yard together and he was “absolutely stoked with her”.
Julatten cattleman and sale instigator, Corrie Kelly, also did extremely well online, selling two dogs to a top of $6,500 for Shadowvale Scout to Adam Sibson at the Belyando Crossing, south of Charters Towers.
“Shadowvale's new boss got himself a good, smart dog that bites. Anyone could work him, he is a steady dog, but when he draws the line with a mob of cattle, he would do anything to stop them. He was such a good dog, I wouldn't have minded not selling him,” Mr Kelly said.
“I have been working with dogs since 2005 – I had a lot of handy dogs and decided to have a go at breeding my own. I have been selling a few to locals, some of them I train up, but fi ve pups out the last litter sold straight away to people who wanted to train them for themselves.
“I enjoy working with the pups. I usually have 5 or 6 dogs going all the time. A lot of people who need working dogs don't have the training knowhow. The people who bought my two dogs said they had struggled to fi nd going dogs locally.”
He said around three months’ old, the pups are started on sheep and have usually gained a lot of experience breaking in weaners with other dogs by the time they are ready for sale at around 12 months old.
“Most working dogs just naturally want to please you. Every morning, I usually spend 5-10 minutes with each pup and always finish on a positive – just a 1 per cent improvement on the day before is all I ask of them. As they get older, I ask a bit more.”
Both vendors said they planned to focus more closely on their breeding and training programs going forward. They acknowledged the current market offered solid opportunities with a second online sale planned for 22 April.
They encouraged anyone who was interested to consider coming along to a Queensland Working Dog Trial Association meeting at Julatten and bring a dog along to participate in one of their annual events at Miallo in June and at the Forsayth Turnout in August.
“Anyone can compete in the Turnout's Bush Handling competition and there's around $7.000 in prize money up for grabs,” Mr Kelly said.
“There are a lot of good dogs in the area and members can swap dogs for breeding. It would be great to grow the industry and to see some new, young members get involved.
“There's a lot of up-side considering last June, a 26-monthold Kelpie called Eulooka Hoover, set a new world record and Australian record price for a working dog, when Edenhope livestock contractor David Lee, sold her for $35,200 at the Coprice Casterton Working Dog Auction.”
