Pre-lambing sale, mainly of heading dogs, averages just below $6000 and is set to become an annual event

A recent working dog sale, organised in Balclutha ahead of lambing, attracted so much interest that it is now set to become an annual event.

Russell Moloney, PGG Wrightson South Otago area livestock manager, said the sale attracted between 130 and 140 people, and could have sold the ten dogs offered several times over.

“Purchasers attended from Mid Canterbury through to Invercargill. While some were just there for a look, between 50 and 60 were serious buyers,” he says.

Most of the lots on offer were heading dogs, including a couple of untrained pups. Top price was $12,000 paid for Jock, a four-year-old heading dog sold by Cameron Burgess from the Catlins. Renowned Oamaru trainer Ali Brenssell offered 18-month-old Ben and 15-month-old Blue, both also heading dogs, which raised the sale’s second and third best prices. The sale averaged just below $6000.

In contrast to a drop off in regular working dog sales in recent years, Russell Moloney says the Balclutha event demonstrates that demand remains strong.

“Farmers are happy to spend money on a dog that is well trained, that has good breeding behind it and is young enough to become the mainstay in their dog team in the coming years.”

According to Russell, the sale, largely organised by PGG Wrightson Balclutha-based sheep and beef rep Craig Dempster, proved to be a learning experience all round. 

“Some people attended, though were cautious. Several left wishing they had entered a dog, and are now committed to training a suitable pup ready to bring it back next year at a good sellable standard, knowing that will put a bit of extra money in their bank account,” he says.

Next year Russell aims to double the number of dogs offered.

“This sale shows there is considerable unmet demand. The goal from here is to raise the number of dogs for sale. As it becomes established and people know the sale is on every year, they can prepare a dog ready for the auction. We already know people are picking up pups now to be able to do that.”

While one dog at the sale was purchased over the phone, bidr did not feature this year, though Russell intends to add the online selling platform to the sale in future, increasing the reach to purchasers nationwide.