THE nation's best sheepdogs are being put through their paces in Port Fairy this week at the 32nd Commonwealth Championship Sheepdog Trials.
Event president and veteran sheepdog trainer Bill Paton, says the six-day competition is based on the 100-year-old sheepdog trial tradition of working with three sheep.
"Four is easier than three and two is easier to work that three. I really don't know the reason for that. We've tried different numbers but three is the hardest," Mr Paton said.
More than 200 dogs, mostly Border Collies, are competing in the novice, improver and open categories for more than $10,000 in prize money during the week-long event, which finishes on Sunday.
The dogs must steer the sheep through a 3m gap and a 2.4m race before taking them over a bridge the same size.
"It's not easy to do," Mr Paton said.
"You've got to have a very well trained dog.
"The dog that wins it has to have three good runs. There's no fluke about it."
The key to a well-trained dog was a love of its work, Mr Paton said.
The dairy and sheep farmer from Toolangi, near Koroit, has been training dogs since he was a boy.
"It's teaching the kindness of it, making sure they like doing what you want them to do," he said.
"It's just an art of its own really."
The effort is worth it with a good dog doing the work of 10 men, he said.
"You get a pup who doesn't even know its name, then it knows every word you say, it's a big achievement," Mr Paton said.
"Everything you do, they are watching you all the time. They are wondering what you're going to do next. They are great company."
