Latest news with #MusterDogs
ABC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Muster Dogs icon Frank Finger mourns death of wife Cathy and dog Annie
It was a bond that captured the hearts of Australians. Frank Finger and his champion muster dog Annie proved a gentle hand could be one of the most effective training tools when they were crowned champions of season one of the ABC's Muster Dogs series in 2022. But within the space of two days, Mr Finger has lost both his beloved wife Catherine and his "lovely dog" Annie. He said he had been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. "I think part of [Annie's] death was brought on by my wife Cathy [who] died last week, and she hasn't been the same since," Mr Finger said. "Since Cathy died, she's just lived in [her crate] with the door open and doesn't come to meet anyone. "She wouldn't understand what had happened, but she could feel that we were unsettled and unhappy … and she was fretting." A true community stalwart of Clermont in Central Queensland, Catherine Finger died on June 25. Sharing the news, Mr Finger said "a life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered". Annie died suddenly on June 27 at the age of five from a brain aneurysm. She was laid to rest at a family gathering on Sunday. "She's a classic example of what you can get from a dog if you treat them with kindness," Mr Finger said. "All I can do now is be thankful for the time I had her and if she had to go, it must have meant to be. "I've come to work out that 'Annies' are born and not bred. You can't set out to breed a dog like her, they just turn up, one in the litter now and again and I was just very fortunate." Mr Finger, a third-generation cattle farmer, was given Annie as a puppy for season one of Muster Dogs. The five grazier contestants from across Australia were given an Australian kelpie puppy from the same litter to train into a working muster dog in 12 months. She was given the name of Annie by Mr Finger, in honour of his late mother who he was close with and who was known for always having a beautiful vegetable garden. "I knew if I called her that I would have a bond just the same as I had with my mother," Mr Finger said. "You can be the best trainer in the world but unless you care for that particular animal and have that bond you won't get what we had." Mr Finger said choosing a meaningful name was a bonding secret and it needed to be something that is special to you, creating a special tone in your voice for the dog to pick up. Throughout the show, Annie gained the nickname of "princess" and Mr Finger would often refer to her as a "lovely dog" in filming. After winning the television show, the pair went on to become celebrities, travelling across the nation to compete in muster dog trials and appear as guest stars in agricultural shows and events. When they weren't out on the road, Annie was in the paddocks at the Clermont property, working on mobs of cattle up to 350 head, or demonstrating in working dog schools hosted on the property. Annie and her brother Lucifer, who also starred on the television show, were also popular guests during their regular visits to the aged care facility in Clermont, Montcler Nursing Home. The residents loved having the canine visitors, providing uplifting pet therapy and companionship. Mr and Mrs Finger had been married for 47 years and together have four children, three sons and a daughter, and 12 grandchildren. Not one for the spotlight, Mrs Finger was happy to leave the television fame to her husband but was a quiet unwavering support for him. Mr Finger said his family and the Clermont community had rallied behind him. "I'm overwhelmed by the support," he said. "What will happen now, I will probably wait and get another pup and I'll call it Annie and will go again."
The Advertiser
26-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cobber (@cobberdogfood) The Cobber Challenge pits farm dogs in a three-week competition that tracks their work output. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
West Australian
26-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The Cobber Challenge pits farm dogs in a three-week competition that tracks their work output. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
The Guardian
14-03-2025
- General
- The Guardian
We moved to the country to give our rescued working dogs a better life
The week we moved from Brisbane to the New South Wales New England region seven years ago, my husband, Richard, asked the bloke at a local hardware shop if he stocked dog doors. The response was, 'No, why would you need one?' I groaned internally. Being regional returners with two rescued border collies, we were acutely aware of grazier concerns about rogue pets and didn't want to create more worries. Rescues have been our go-to for decades, mainly working breeds. These active, intelligent animals are selected to herd livestock across vast rural landscapes, yet they routinely end up in city back yards. On-leash walks rarely satiate their physical and mental stamina, and while off-leash dog parks are starting to meet the need, they're never really enough for high-energy hounds. On occasion, their work ethic is misinterpreted. The worst I ever witnessed was a man with a walking stick passing my tethered border collie. Her quivering crouch and wide-open eyes signalled that she thought he was about to throw his cane for her to fetch. Instead, she got clobbered by it when he assumed she was threatening. Sign up to receive Guardian Australia's fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter Richard and I are sensitive to those who don't delight in encountering dogs, but life with four-legged companions in the suburbs had gotten to the stage that it didn't matter if we had ours on-leash, off-leash or sitting obediently at our feet – someone usually had a problem. Talk to dog owners and you'll find plenty of stories about off-leash park disasters and fears of dog-baiting. In some ways, by taking on rescued working breeds, we were always headed back to the country. I just didn't know it until I became so frustrated at the latest round of anti-dog sentiment in the suburbs that I wailed at Richard, 'Where do working dogs belong?' On farms, is the answer. So we went bush. Rural Australia loves its pets, with 74% of us making space for them in our homes (higher than the national average of 69%), according to a survey by Animal Medicines Australia. We're besotted with programs like Muster Dogs and admire working dogs for their prowess at trials. The value of a working dog to a farm operation is estimated at about $40,000 in the animal's lifetime, yet not all are so treasured. Approximately 44,000 surrendered or abandoned dogs of all breeds are euthanased annually in a vicious cycle made worse by puppy farming and back yard breeding. There are also hidden dangers. While house hunting out here, I checked wild-dog baiting websites to avoid regions with aerial 1080 baiting programs. The risk of poisoning is ever-present in the bush; not just from domestic dogs picking up baits, but the chance of them snaffling the carrion of other creatures killed by the pellets. Tragedy can result when visitors unknowingly bring dogs into baiting regions where signage may be inadequate, although rural working dogs often fall victim too. Vigilance is essential, as is keeping lines of communication open with neighbours about the reach and timing of their baiting programs. Ironically, we've found these risks more manageable than the random, faceless terror of metro dog-baiting. 'Off-leash' should never mean 'completely beyond verbal control', so when setting out each morning to walk our three rescues, we're prepared for encounters with livestock, wildlife, pests, horses and other humans. Sign up to The Rural Network Subscribe to Calla Wahlquist's fortnightly update on Australian rural and regional affairs after newsletter promotion As soon as we open our home yard gate, the dogs pelt across our acre. They check for livestock beyond the fence and invariably 'lift' any flock or herd on the other side, then sniff at the rabbit warren beneath a long-closed railway embankment. We continue along our kilometre of driveway, a scrubby easement between fenced fields. On occasion, we head on to the 'long paddock', the network of old mustering routes now known as the travelling stock reserve (TSR). This is not a national park (where dogs are banned) or a canine-friendly state forest. The central and eastern divisions of this crown land reserve are a shared zone for livestock grazing, First Nations culture, fishing, apiary, biodiversity and recreation. The emphasis here is on sharing space. Our closest TSR is a former common with the remnants of brickworks, a seasonal creek, abundant birdlife and regular campers. What we mainly see are marsupials, and we've trained our pack to look but never chase. We collect rubbish that blows in from the road or gets carelessly dumped, and kick down the weeds. Richard and I are farmers' sons who do not farm, with rescued working dogs who – apart from being excellent security – do not work. We walk the long paddock through the remnants of a rural landscape that the state government now recognises as a public asset with evolving uses; a place where, in the droving days, dogs like ours would play a very different role. Balance and space have allowed our dogs a greater sense of belonging than we ever experienced in the suburbs, and things are changing. Last time I checked there were dog doors available at the shop that once didn't know why they might be needed, and thanks to the opportunity for long off-leash walks, our pack leads something much more akin to a working dogs' life. Michael Burge is a writer and author based at Deepwater, NSW Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter
