‘About 10’ (and counting) — working dogs feature large in life

Published date25 May 2022
Publication titleCentral Rural Life
For as long as he can remember they’ve always been around him, Mr Kerr says

Ask him how many dogs he’s got now and he will throw up ‘‘about 10’’ as a round number. Prod him a bit and he’ll admit there are a few more than that.

‘‘There’s everything from the old retired bloke at the door to some young ones that are just starting to go now that are only a few months old.’’

With the exception of the retiree, they’re all here to work on the farm, but many of them are also being groomed for sheep dog trials.

Old-timer Mack — basking in the sun — never quite made it to national honours, but came close and has been allowed to see his out his life on the doorstep as a reward for his hard work.

That’s the case for most of the dogs at Berkeley Downs, a 580ha sheep and beef farm run by him and his Welsh-born wife, Sue.

The property spreads out from flats into tussock country at the foot of Mt Dobson near Fairlie in the Mackenzie Country. With the homestead about 450m above sea level and the highest point 760m, it’s considered a summer-safe farm.

The 2300 Romney-Texel ewes and 700 hoggets are grazed with 250 to 300 Angus cows and beef-cross trading cattle.

‘‘With the altitude here and latitude winters are quite long and we budget on feeding out 100 days through the winter.’’

The main workload for the dogs is in the hill country as a lot of it can’t be navigated by ute or farm bike, so it’s covered either on horseback or on foot.

Mr Kerr enjoys working with dogs on the farm as much as in the competitive arena at dog trial events.

‘‘Obviously, people who are into sheep and beef and working dogs like animals. For me I can’t remember when I wasn’t around them. I grew up with them and was fascinated with dogs for as long as I can remember. You train a dog up a bit and get them going and you want it to be a good farm dog, so it’s a natural progression that you go to the next step. You might go to the pub and argue about whose dog’s better and everybody likes sport and competition, so it is a natural progression to want to go out and compete,’’ Mr Kerr said.

Huntaway brothers Bully and Dodge, who’ve since died, were probably his best performers. Bully won a South Island title in 2011 and got as far as runner-up in the zigzag at the national trials the following year and fourth in the straight, missing out by half a point.

Dodge also got a South Island title and was fourth in the New Zealand finals.

The hunt for the elusive win keeps him active in dog trials.

‘‘We will get it...

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