High demand drives up prices for working dogs
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Lead dog Stripe, who won the top prize at the Lawrence Gymkhana Club’s annual working dog sale, sits in the middle of a trailer among his lying peers. Photo / Provided
Demand is high for working dogs, driving prices up, a salesperson says.
Lindsay Geddes made two entries at the annual Lawrence Gymkhana Club working dog sale on February 18.
His 2-year-old lead dog, Stripe, was sold to Kean Farm in Winton for a top price of $9,000.
“You should be happy with that…it was a great price and a great sale.”
Demand for working dogs had been strong in sales across New Zealand due to a lack of supply, he said.
“There aren’t many dogs for sale.”
At the Lawrence sale, the number of registered buyers far exceeded the number of dogs on offer.
One reason for the dog shortage could be because farmers are running out of time and choosing to buy a proven dog rather than train a puppy themselves, he said.
Stripe’s price was the most he had gotten for a dog in the four years he had participated in the sale.
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He also sold his 16-month-old lead dog, Patch, for $5,500.
The dogs were taken for sale because he had younger dogs.
“I had more than I needed.”
At the sale, he sold another Scout dog – in the name of his son, Hayden – for $5,000.
Lindsay had worked for Scout for three months before the sale, so he was able to demonstrate it on the day.
The “semi-retired” farmer raised around 200 sheep on nearly 30 ha near the Otago-Taieri A&P exhibition center in Mosgiel.
“I can train my dogs and have an interest.”
He formerly kept sheep, oxen and deer on around 4000ha in Middlemarch and remains a member of the Strath Taieri Collie Club.
“Dog trials are my hobby and as long as I am fit enough to do it I intend to continue.”
PGG Wrightson stock agent Warwick Howie said during the sale to Lawrence that eight hunts sold for an average of $4,440, while 25 lead dogs averaged $4,300.
There were 75 registered buyers.
In the hunts, the top prize went to John Tweed of Waitahuna with a 2-year-old Dodge selling for $6,600.
Between donations at the door, a barbecue and entrance fees, approximately $2,000 was raised for the Tuapeka Health Center and the Waitahuna Collie Club.
