News
2026
July
June
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On the 13th and 14th Mackie and I went to the Dogs Victoria State Herding Trial. I was kept very busy judging both days and thankfully, despite a lot of rain being forecast, very little fell in Nyora. Mackie was entered in Intermediate B Course Ducks and Advanced A Course Sheep. I retired both runs, but was really quite pleased with some of his work in the sheep run, it just wasn't our day. On the Sunday he was entered in Intermediate A Course Ducks and we finally, FINALLY, managed to get that last pass for that title, even with some sticky work at the Z chute. In addition, Seb took on the role of stock dog in the yards for the B Course sheep runs and had a great time pushing sheep out for the pick up dog.
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On Wednesday 17th, Kimi, Seb and Zandee were all entered in the White Swiss Shepherd SprintDog™ trial. This was Zandee's first trial and after a little confusion in the first run, she brought home the second run confidently. All dogs received qualification certificates.
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Mackie had his first run in Advanced A Ducks on Sunday 21st. The first run he tried so very hard, but the ducks were adamant they couldn't see the entrance to the Y Chute and just weren't prepared to play the game. What a good boy for trying, it was very close at times. But we had success in the second run! Definitely some areas for improvement, but my word he did a lovely cross drive through the centre line panels, followed by a really nice pen too. The first pass is in his paw now.
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For something completely different Seb made his debut in the Tracking paddock in a Test 1. I haven't tracked a dog for easily 6 years, possibly longer, so this was a bit of a training check for us as much as anything. The Test 1 requires the dog to track a known tracklayer over 400m with two turns of less than 90°, making it a three leg track. After being a little overwhelmed at the start after travelling to the track in a strange car and meeting new people, Seb managed to settle down and find the track. The first leg was really very good. He found the first turn, but followed the scent into a gully and got a little bit muddled, tracking widely parallel to the true track. Thankfully towards the second turn he picked up a stronger lock on the track and found his tracklayer who had his BBQ chicken and cheese waiting for him as a reward. He got a pass with a grading of Good.
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For something completely different Seb made his debut in the Tracking paddock in a Test 1. I haven't tracked a dog for easily 6 years, possibly longer, so this was a bit of a training check for us as much as anything. The Test 1 requires the dog to track a known tracklayer over 400m with two turns of less than 90°, making it a three leg track. After being a little overwhelmed at the start after travelling to the track in a strange car and meeting new people, Seb managed to settle down and find the track. The first leg was really very good. He found the first turn, but followed the scent into a gully and got a little bit muddled, tracking widely parallel to the true track. Thankfully towards the second turn he picked up a stronger lock on the track and found his tracklayer who had his BBQ chicken and cheese waiting for him as a reward. He got a pass with a grading of Good.
May
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Seb was Dog Challenge and received his first CACIB Certificate at the Dogs Victoria Bulla Amenities FCI CACIB Show - a few more of these to follow up now.
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All four dogs were shown at the Collie Club of Victoria Championship Show. Every one of them made the placings in their classes, but no big awards. I was very happy with their results given the quality of the entries.
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The very next day I was up early and straight back to KCC Park with Kimi and Seb, where they got their final points and SprintDog™ qualification passes required for their Novice SprintDog titles, at the Geelong Obedience Dog Club trial. They put in their fastest times yet, with Seb averaging 40kmph and Kimi hot on his heels with 38kmph.
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Mackie was again entered in Advanced A Course sheep at the Victorian Herding Association trial at Nyora, but with three retirements and one NQ we didn't progress towards the title. However I was using the trial more as a training event, as Mackie tends to be somewhat cheeky under trial conditions and his herding deteriorates from the quality he offers in training. So I feel I had some great wins, catching that unwanted behaviour and improving his mindset in general. I was happy and he left the paddock always with a training win under his belt and a smiley dog.
April
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Seb and Kimi attended their first official SprintDog™ trial, both receiving qualification passes.
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Mackie took part in his first Advanced A Course sheep trial, to gauge his training progress. Well he surprised me with a really nice pass, but also giving us plenty of homework to improve future performances
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Seb and Kimi got their second SprintDog™ qualification passes at the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel trial.
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Seb and I took part in the Tracking Dog Club of Victoria's Annual Workshop and discovered he may actually have some talent for tracking - let the training begin.
March
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Seb and Kimi attended the Afghan Club of Victoria SprintDog™ Fun Day, to try their paw at this relatively new dog sport. They loved it, so plans for them to start their Novice SprintDog title.
February
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Great results for Kimi under Mr Hidemi Takahashi (Japan) at the Lyndhurst Canine Country Club Championship Show, picking up a large Best of Breed win, Intermediate In Group and shortlisted and run for Best In Group.
January
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It was a very quiet start to the year, mostly focused treatment, recovery and rehab for Mackie. In early December he somehow managed to suffer a bone avulsion in one toe and a joint displacement of another on a hind paw. He was cleared to started building up his workload in late March, after the bone chip reattached.