THEY are one of Sheepvention's biggest drawcards and this year's crop of sheep dogs is itching to get on the course.
Sheepvention has always hosted farm dog trials and a championship - and this year's event will see close to 120 dogs fight it out for the Victorian Yard Dog Championship.
Victorian Yard Dog Association president, Ian O'Connell, said the competition format would be similar to last year, but with a few additions including a platform in the yard section of the course to simulate loading sheep on to a trailer or running up a shearing shed race.
"We didn't want to change it too much as it's always been a great drawcard at Sheepvention," Ian said.
Organisers expect entries from across Victoria, NSW and South Australia.
"These dogs all work throughout the week on properties with sheep or cattle and some from NSW even do a fair bit of work with goats," Ian said.
"Some people might fine tune their dogs a little bit before competition, but that's why people like yard dog trials, because you don't have to spend hours and hours fine tuning.
"It's for those who are doing day-to-day work and making sure what the dog is doing is correct."
Competition will begin with novice classes on Sunday - before the official Sheepvention opening and open sections from 8am on Monday.
To compete in the open trials, dogs must have won two novice trials in the past year.
There will also be an "encourage yard dog trial" held during the lunch break on Monday for those new to competition.
"It's for anyone who wants to have a crack," Ian said.
"Bring the dog along and the judge will explain what he wants to see. It's a straightforward and easy course for anyone who wants to have a go."
The Victorian Yard Dog Championships will be held on Tuesday.
Only dogs that have won an open trial in Victoria in the past year and the 10 highest-scoring competitors from Sheepvention's open competition will be eligible.
"They will be the best yard dogs in southeast Australia," Ian said.
Judges will look for continual forward movement of stock through the course in a controlled manner. Points will be deducted for over or under working the stock.
The winner will represent Victoria at the national yard dog championships in Western Australia.
"The trial at Sheepvention is a great opportunity for young people working on the land, working with dogs, to come and watch how the competitors work their dogs," Ian said.
