Gunnedah hosts 2025 Working Dog Trials

Some of the best dogs and their handlers turned out for the 2025 Gunnedah Working Dog Trials earlier this month.

Almost 100 competitors from as far as Dalby, Queensland and Yass in southern NSW, featured at the Gunnedah event held across four days at the showground.

Dog trials’ committee member Ian Gardner said the Gunnedah event is among just a handful in the North West region where dogs can qualify for higher honours.

“We’re a championship (qualifying) event (for the NSW titles) and the top echelon here will want to qualify,” Mr Gardner said.

Leigh Marsden with Kramer at the working dog trials in Gunnedah and (below) Peter Rollings with Frog at the 2025 Gunnedah Working Dog Trials.

Among those at Gunnedah was local competitor and relative newcomer to the competitive circuit, Peter Rollings.

Mr Rollings, who manages an Angus herd west of Gunnedah, was one of more than 20 locals turning out to test their skills in Gunnedah.

“It’s something we do for work and have a bit of fun on the weekend,” he said.

“It sharpens their skills on the farm as well.”

Mr Rollings has been trialling competitively for two years but has used working dogs for the last 15 years.

His dogs play an integral role in the daily operation of the farming business located between Boggabri and Mullaley.

“We’re a mixed farm but I look after the cattle side of things, an Angus herd,” Mr Rollings said.

“We background steers and have a breeder side to it as well.

“The dogs are the backbone (of the farming operation).”

Asked about what makes a good dog, Mr Rollings considered “control, a good stop on your dog and a bit of natural ability” were equally valued characteristics.

He said the trials were not only top competition for the dogs, it was a great outlet for the Gunnedah township as well.

“I think it’s good for the community, it’s a good social event too,” he added.

Cattle work judge, Ian Cox.

Another impressed by the standard of competition at Gunnedah was dog trial judge, Ian Cox.

“It’s a very tough standard of competition here,” Mr Cox said.

“There were about 140 (nominations) in the maiden novice and 79 in the open.

“Generally for northern NSW and the Hunter, the standard is very good.”

He was also impressed by the high standard of stock on show.

“These cattle at Gunnedah are some of the best we’ve seen in a long time,” he said.

Having judged dog trials for more than 40 years, Mr Cox knew what it took to deliver results at the championship level.

“You want a strong, calm dog that doesn’t over-do things too much,” he said of dogs competing in the cattle work sections.

The dog trials have run for about seven years in Gunnedah – the last three have included cattle as well as sheep.

Mr Gardner said the variety of competition added an extra element to the working dog trials.

“We run the cattle in conjunction with the (sheep) yard trial as we get two different lots of people and lot of people try their hand at both,” he said.

“We get a cross-section of people, and you can really see the utility style dogs that can do both.”

The committee member said the Gunnedah trials were also a great opportunity for first-timers to try their hand at competition.

“We’re trying to get locals to have a crack, and encourage them their dogs are good enough, because once they do it once or twice, they’re hooked. We find a lot of people are like that,” Mr Gardner said.

Spring Ridge farmer Henry Heggaton with one of his dogs at the trial.

Henry Heggaton said it was pride in the ability of his working dogs that spurred him to take part in competitive trials.

“Having dogs to work with that you’re pretty proud of and being able to show them off in different environments,” Mr Heggaton said of his motivation for trial events.

The Spring Ridge farmer has been competing for about four years and travelled with two dogs to Gunnedah on this occasion.

“Usually we run about six, but two bitches are on heat and two have a litter of pups,” he said.

Asked about his best tips for those starting out in the competitive arena, Mr Heggaton suggested novices find a good mentor and learn from those already established.

“Everyone does things differently,” he said of the dog trial circuit.

“I’m forever looking at different handlers and how they do things – this is a great networking tool for that.”

He echoed the thoughts of others who valued the contribution of working dogs to farming operations.

“I do all my stock moves, paddock moves with my dogs by myself,” he said.

“In a livestock enterprise you struggle to do it without dogs.”

 Cattle work competition at the Gunnedah Working Dog Trials. Judge Ian Cox said a strong dog that does not try and ‘over-do’ things too much made for a good competitor in the cattle work trials.

Gunnedah Showground.