Buying a kelpie pup that nobody wanted for $200 might be one of the best decisions Tom Perkins has ever made.
The farmer, who paid well below the record high of $50,000 achieved by the breed last month, has just won a national working dog challenge with Bear.
The farm dog blitzed the competition by running 570 kilometres — almost the distance between Brisbane and Rockhampton — in two weeks.
Mr Perkins said he lucked out when he visited his go-to kelpie breeder six years ago.
“Derek normally sells his pups for about $500,” he said.
“But because he was the end of the litter and no-one wanted him, I got him for about half price, so it was $200 well spent.”
For the competition, GPS collars were used to track the distance, duration and speed of seven of Australia’s top working dogs at their properties over a fortnight.
Farmer Tom Perkins and his kelpie Bear have taken out a national working dog challenge. (Supplied: Ridley)
Bear completed the impressive feat at his home at Dirranbandi, south-west of Brisbane, equating to an average distance of 40km per day — just shy of an entire marathon.
The pup was quick on his paws too, clocking an average speed of 13kph over the fortnight.
With the family in the midst of mustering 3,500 sheep and cattle, the timing could not have been better.
The farmer said his best mate’s effort highlighted the important role working dogs played in the $90 billion Australian agriculture industry.
“It did surprise me how far they do run, and it adds further weight to their value,” Mr Perkins said.
“I know personally how important they are, but it was pretty interesting to put some numbers behind that.”
Tom Perkins and his working dogs have been busy mustering sheep and cattle. (Supplied: Ridley)
A good dog is priceless
Prices for working dogs have soared to record highs in recent times, with Brutus the kelpie selling for an Australian record of $50,000 in Western Australia last month and border collie Liz fetching $40,000 at a Rockhampton auction in May.
Mr Perkins said some farmers were prepared to pay big money for quality genetics because finding jackaroos and jillaroos was an “ongoing battle” in the bush.
Trained dogs were even more sought after.
“With staff hard to find these days, a good working dog’s worth a lot,” he said.
“Everyone that has sheep and cattle has probably got a kelpie or two or a collie tied up, but everyone’s just so time-poor these days [that] getting one that’s fully trained or training one is another thing.
“That’s another reason why we’re seeing these fully trained dogs in dog auctions making good money, and they’re worth every cent.”
‘Get up and go’
With a natural working ability, the grazier said Bear didn’t need much training at all, but he has set up a small, on-farm training facility to further hone his woofing workers anyway.
A small mob of sheep and a few panels was all you needed, he said.
“If you can have it close by and convenient, when you’ve got a spare 10 minutes early in the morning or late in the afternoon [you] can quickly go and train some pups,” he said.
“I don’t have time to do everything to absolutely the highest degree, but if I can put the basics in them from six to 12 months of age, and then they hit the work team about 12 to 15 months [old], that’s the go.”
Bear and his companions work hard and play harder. (Supplied: Ridley)
Mick Hudson, the working dog trainer behind this year’s Muster Dog series, said as a high-energy breed, kelpies needed “fulfilment in their life”.
Mr Perkins could relate, adding Bear was not content with sitting still.
“He just wants to get up and go to work,” he said.
“At a time like now, where we’re harvesting or doing maintenance [and] there’s no stock work on, it’s pretty important to keep them fit so they’re ready to rock and roll when you get busy.”
Mr Perkins said their welfare was “number one” and the key to looking after them was to start stock work early in the day when it was cool, give them the odd ride on the motorbike if it was getting hot, and provide plenty of stock watering points for them to drink from.
“The kids give him plenty of pats too and he gets fed well. That’s about all he needs,” he said.
