Dogpro is being held at Kings Park, Seymour, with the Supreme Australian Working Dog Championship from Saturday (Oct. 14).

The event will be opened at 1pm on Tuesday (Oct. 17) when the State Teams and their dogs will be presented to the public along with the official opening by the Mitchell Shire Mayor, Cr Rhonda Sanderson.

The State Teams (Thursday and Friday evenings), will combine on Sat urday, October 21 fdor the Final 20 to run off for the final 10 placings that will run off again on the afternoon of Monbday, October 22 just prior to presentations and farewell.

Saturday, October 14
7.30 am. Commencement of Novice Trial.
Sunday, October 15
7am. Novice Trial continues
Evening. Final – top 5 (under lights if required)
Monday, October 16
7.30 am. Supreme Championship commences
Tuesday, October 17
7am. Supreme Championship continues
1pm. Official Opening – Main Oval
Wednesday, October 18
7am. Supreme Championship continues
Thursday, October 19
7am. Supreme Championship continues.
6:30 pm. 1st round – Ted Gaby
Perpetual Trophy Interstate Challenge.
Friday, October 20
7am. Supreme Championship continues
6:30 pm. 2nd round – Ted Gaby Perpetual Trophy Interstate Challenge
Saturday, October 21
7am. Supreme Championship continues
12:45 pm. Supreme Top 20 run-off (top 20)
Sunday, October 22
7am. Improver Final (top 5)
9 am. 3rd round – Ted Gaby Perpetual Trophy Interstate Challenge
12:45 pm. Supreme Champion-ship Final (top 10)
3:30 pm. Presentation of Prizes and Farewell

The Dogpro Supreme Australian Sheep Dog Trial Championship is the pinnacle of Australian sheep dog trials and draws the very best competitors and the best working sheep dogs from around the country.

The Supreme rotates around the Australian states and the last time Victoria hosted the Championships was at Port Fairy in 2010.
Kings Park Seymour will be the centre of the Working Sheep Dog world for nine days: October 14-22.

The first sheepdog trial in Australia was held at Forbes in 1872. The winner was a collie named Kelpie. People were quick to realise the value of bringing together owners and breeders to discuss the training, feeding, care, breeding and development of their working dogs.

Today’s arena trials test, display and publicise the tasks working dogs carry out on stations, farms and on the road while droving.
Because space is limited, three sheep are used in each trial – particularly difficult number to work.

At the start of the trial the workers stand at the peg with their dog waiting behind.

Simulating paddock mustering, the dog is cast around the three sheep, which are released from the opposite end of the arena on the judge’s signal.

The sheep are brought to the worker before being worked around the peg, through the gap and race, over the bridge and into the finishing pen. The obstacles are designed to test the strengths and weaknesses of the dog, as sheep do not take kindly to being forced through them.

A maximum time limit of 15 minutes is allowed for each competitor to complete the course. Workers are only allowed to assist the dog by voice commands, whistles or signals.

Each competitor starts with 100 points and loses points for the sheep straying off the course, lack of force or failing to complete the course.

Pictured: Mick Hudson (left) and Greg Prince (right) – NSW team members with Ann Wherry at the NSW Selection Trial. They dead heated for first.