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The 2017 Cobber Challenge

Australian working dogs are often the unsung heroes on Australian farms. That's why we're highlighting just what a vital member of the team they are through our 2017 Cobber Challenge.

On 3 July, we sent out call to dog owners across the nation join us in the search for Australia's hardest working dog. Over 40 people put their names down for the Challenge. We've announced 12 competitors whose dogs will fight it out to see who will beat the competition to be crowned this year's Cobber Champion. The competition will see the best working dogs competing in their natural environment. Each competitor will be given a GPS collar over a period of three weeks. Data will be tracked - distance travelled, duration ran and average speed - and points given accordingly. The Cobber crown will go to the hardest working dog.

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2017 Competitors Have Been Announced

Two dogs from every state in Australia has been chosen to represent working dogs in Australia, our farms' unsung heroes. Want to know who was selected to compete? Watch this video to find out!

Our Competitors

Astor Male
6 years

Border Collie | Boyup Brook

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Astor is a strong-willed dog. He's the top of the pecking order of his handler Hayden's 10 dogs. But despite this, he's is a very obedient dog, and still pretty flexible which means Hayden can use him with whatever he's faced with. Astor's competitive in the trials too making the open utility finals in Tarwonga this year. Watch out Cobber dogs, this one's tough!

The 2016 Challenge

Last year, the inaugural Cobber Challenge saw eight of Australia's best working dogs competing on the farm. We saw two competitors each from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. After three-weeks, Victorian Damien Clifford and his dog Larry came out on top travelling over 519km at an average speed of 8.72km/h. We're looking forward to see who this year's top dog will be.

Damien Clifford and Larry

Stories

Back-to-back marathons 'just another day at the office' for last year's champion Larry
Aussie farm life 'pretty hard' without working dogs
No resting on their laurels for Challenge stars