Top dogs on offer in rma sale at Glen Innes

The event, previously known as the Dundee Dog Auction, kicks off on Friday, November 17, with the $1000 Henry Woods Livestock Transport open sheep trial and $1000 Lockyer’s Groundspreading and Livestock Transport open cattle trial, as well as the first round of the $2500 vendor trial.  

The sale, previously known as the Dundee Dog Auction, includes 25 lots – 19 dogs and six bitches – and is on Saturday, November 18 at 1.30pm.

Sale agent Shad Bailey, Colin Say and Company, Glen Innes, said there was already strong demand for dogs.

“The majority of dogs in the catalogue are 18 months or older, so they’re mostly fully trained dogs, or at least showing working ability,” Mr Bailey said.

“Not all dogs will be in the vendor trial, but buyers will still get to see them in the demonstrations where they can work in the yard and paddock.

”Demonstrations for the sale dogs start at 9am and we’ll have the second round of the vendor trial and the open cattle final on Saturday as a precursor to the auction.”

Last year’s sale reached a record high of $10,000, with 32 of 36 dogs averaging $3970, the highest average for a dog auction in 2016.

It’s becoming a go-to sale for genuine working dogs, and demand was increasing each year, Mr Bailey said.

Peterson Wizzard, bred and trained by Peter Hogan, Glencoe, reached the top price last year after winning the sheep vendor trial and the open sheep yard final, selling to Nigel Kerin, Yeoval.

That surpassed the previous record set in 2015 when Kanika Croc, bred and trained by Sam Gates, “East Mihi”, Uralla sold for $9000 to Rick Henry, Casterton, Victoria.

“We have proven that we can sell top quality dogs,” Mr Bailey said.

“Two dogs from last year’s sale went to Western Australia, and we’ve had dogs in previous years go to South Australian, Victoria, Queensland and all over NSW.”

A big bonus of the rma auction is being able to view and bid on dogs prior to the sale on AuctionsPlus, Mr Bailey said.

Reserve prices range from $1500 to $4000 and listings feature all details including bloodlines, as well as photos and videos of the dogs in action.

“The sale will be open on AuctionsPlus for two weeks prior to the auction, so buyers can start bidding on dogs before the sale.

“There were about 10 dogs on the market by the time the auction started last year, and that builds confidence in our vendors.”

To view listings and on the sale dogs, visit www.auctionsplus.com.au/auctions

GLENCOE trainer, Peter Hogan, has been a vendor since the rma auction began and had the top dog - Peterson Wizzard - at last year's sale.

The four-year-old fully trained black and tan Kelpie, by Barru Merlin from Coogee River, also won last year’s open yard trial and vendor trial.

Wizzard was sold to leading Merino breeder, Nigel Kerin, Yeoval, for a sale record of $10,000.

Mr Hogan only has the one dog in this year’s sale due to strong demand for his Peterson Kelpies as pups.

He’s been breeding and training for 25 years and runs a four-week training service for clients in NSW and southern Queensland, as well as onsite working dog schools.

“There's such a demand for working dogs that buyers are prepared to come and see something that's working and even if the dog isn’t finished, they want to take them, but the auction is for more experienced dogs, so to get one to the right standard for rma, you really need them to be about 18 months of age,” Mr Hogan said.

WALCHA farmer Tony Overton will have three dogs on offer at this year’s rma network Working Stock Dog Auction.

Mr Overton manages “Europambela” and is also secretary of the NSW Yard Dog Association.

He’s always looked for good work dogs, and started breeding and training about 15 years ago.

The dogs are used daily on the property.

”I breed for myself for what I want and I'll often keep a number of pups from a litter I like and roadtest them," Mr Overton said.

“I moved on to breeding a few and being more specific to find an all-round dog that can do the day-to-day work but then go and have fun with trialling on the weekends.”

The three sale dogs are all Kelpies.

Black and tan dog Banjo is three-and-a-half and has been one of Mr Overton’s main yard dogs.

“He’s a genuine yard dog and cow dog and being experienced, it's an opportunity for people who don’t have time to train a dog,” Mr Overton said.

Twenty-month-old Sam is a cream Kelpie who’s been started. While he hasn’t had intensive work, he’s showing promise in the paddock on sheep and cattle.

“He loves working. He hasn't done a lot of work yet but he'll be a good all-round station dog," Mr Overton said.

“Then I’ve got CJ. She’s two-and-a-half and she's the sort of dog that suits someone to just push stock along.”

Mr Overton has been a vendor since the sale began five years ago.

“It's a good sale for commercial people who want a dog that will go out and work for them. 

“It’s a genuine sale where genuine dogs make good money, and I think AuctionsPlus is a magnificent tool for us because it opens up the market. All the videos are online so buyers can look at that and usually contact vendors before the sale.”

Mr Overton’s dogs have gone to the New England, western NSW and Victoria.

Gwydir Gemma made $6250 in last year’s sale, going to Warrnambool Ag, Grassmere, Vic.

”She was a fantastic bitch by the same dog as Banjo, who's also the grandfather of Sam.”