Beloka Kelpies is a Kelpie Stud in Welshpool, Victoria, Australia. The stud is run by Paul Macphail and his partner Anneke Homan. Paul started the stud in 1992 and has been breeding and training dogs ever since. Beloka Kelpies are well known in Australia and their dogs have been sold all over the world.
The facilities at the Beloka Farm are excellent with a charming old historic shearing shed alongside yard and race setups that looks like it was put together some time in the past which gives the place a rustic Aussie feel quite unexpected down in South Gippsland.
The first Victorian Cattle Dog Trial was held in 1995 and became the Victorian Cattle Dog Championship in 1996. Now it has grown into a two-day Working Dog Festival: with ducks, cattle and sheep dog trials, novelty events and the city slicker sheep dog trials.
On the Easter Weekend a large crowd turned up for the first event run since Covid-19 last year prevented last year’s event. They ran a full program including sheep and duck trials. Other activities included open, and novice trials and for the beginners there is the City Slicker Trial.
For the beginners there is a round yard where owners could work their dog on sheep with the guidance of a dog trainer, who was on-hand to give advice and help unlock the instinct of the dog.
The aim of the City Slicker Trial (CST) is to give people a start into sheep dog trialling. The CST is especially designed for beginners: the sheep are well educated, and the judge is allowed to help if needed.
There was an obstacle course for dogs with varying skill levels shown by the dogs. Many non-farm dogs had a go with this course. Some dogs were keen to get a hug from their owners after each obstacle was negotiated rather than wait until the whole course was finished.
The real test for the dogs and owners was the 3 sheep herding. The dogs had a series of challenges to manage to complete the course. The owner sat their dog down and from the very beginning the dog knew what he was there to do. The official blew the start whistle and the dog tore around the field from one end to the other where the 3 sheep stood watching from afar as the dog sprinted towards them. Once past the sheep the dog moved them steadily down the field running from one side to the other of the sheep to keep them in line towards the first obstacle.
The first task was to get those three sheep to cross between the owner who was stood at a post and a cone placed on the ground maybe 20 metres away. Once through that gap the dog had to herd the sheep through a gap in a fence whilst the owner walked to the next post calling out whistles and words as instructions for the dog.
The last task was really difficult. The dog had to move the sheep to an incline ramp between two angled bits of fence. Whilst all the dogs managed to get the sheep into the “funnel” area of the obstacle several dogs were timed out before the sheep would go up the ramp.
The novelty dog high jump was fun to watch. An enjoyable weekend activity with camping available for those travelling from further afield and food vans in attendance.
You must be logged in to post a comment.