Get down to the True Blue Yard Dog Competition at the Showgrounds
This year the Festival of the Fleeces presents the True Blue Yard Dog Competition. In this fast-paced competition you’ll see working dogs put through their paces with “yard work”.
Yard work is different to the mustering that’s done out in the paddock. Once the sheep are mustered and in the yard the dogs have to keep the sheep moving along races, push them up onto trucks or utes, or into smaller pens. Whether you’re drafting sheep, loading stock, drenching, shearing or just doing general health checks, the yard dog is a priceless asset.
It’s the dog’s role to avoid stalling in the races or on the ramps when loading. It’s about speed, agility, flexibility and not taking “no” for an answer when the sheep have other ideas. It’s often said that the yard dog can do the work of three workers.
Our competition is for working dogs from properties. Straight off the land and into the spotlight. The dogs and their handlers test themselves against their peers. The yard dog feeds off their owner so if “the owner is having a bad day, the dogs won’t play”.
Enter your working yard dog
Download our 2026 True Blue Yard Dog Competition form and submit your entry.
Worried about fuel? There are three $50 Shop Local cards on offer. These can be used at the local BP Service Station if you want to fuel up before leaving town. Please note: Entrants cannot win multiple cards.