WORKING dogs are valued at more and more each year and as a result high prices at auctions have been hitting headlines recently.
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Downside dog breeder and yard dog trial competitor Steven Condell said the high of $14,000 paid at Jerilderie last month was a clear indication of the good returns in the industry.
However, he stressed the fact that the prices ranged and there were still well-bred entry level dogs that could be secured too.
Mr Condell is a member of the Wagga Yard Dog Club and is helping to organise an upcoming trial and auction which will be held at Euberta in the Riverina.
The event on April 21 and 22 will draw on catalogue entries for the sale from across the border in Victoria, and throughout NSW.
“After 25 years (at Downside) we are changing the venue this year,” Mr Condell said. It was estimated the auction in this area had in fact run for as long as 30 years at different locations.
The aim was for the Euberta location to become a permanent fixture for working dog enthusiasts and Mr Condell explained that it could later be used for educational events including schools as well.
He said the willingness of people to learn more about training dogs was growing and there was demand for tuition for not just competition but also day-to-day work at home too.
Saturday will feature the yard dog trial and then on Sunday the auction will showcase some 40 or so lots.
Mr Condell said a new event this year was the cattle dog trial. This was due to run on Saturday night in the arena at Euberta.
Cattle dog events were growing in popularity and he said it was a chance to bring this to the area for both competitors and spectators.
“It will be held under lights and it will be good to see, I am sure it will be popular with the crowds,” he said.
Mr Condell said it was difficult to predict the ultimate high price at the Euberta event but it was fair to estimate returns of around $10,000 for the best lots.
“Prices will probably range from $1000 to $10,000,” he said.
He encouraged people to attend the event purely for the spectator side of things. He said watching the working dogs put through their paces would be entertaining.
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Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
