Lawgirl

OK, super early sneak peak news about Muster Dogs season 3 - will be 3 kelpies and 3 border collies! Filming NOW!

I don't think this is a spoiler, so I will discuss it. The sire of the litter is the current main trialling dog of the breeder, and is heavily white factored. The dam is traditionally marked black and white as far as I saw. I think in the trailer that I posted, or in the photo, people noticed that there was a lot of white in the litter of puppies. One of the puppies was completely white, and found to be deaf. The response of the breeder was that while he would not be suitable for herding, he was a wonderful cheeky puppy and would go to a good pet home. (PS you do find out what happened to this deaf pup at the end of the series and it is the best outcome I could have dreamed for him.) Two of the competition puppies are white/heavily white factored as well. This has launched quite a discussion online, as you can imagine, and the breeder has responded to say that white factor does not necessarily affect working ability, as he has a fully white bitch, with no hearing deficit, who was a supreme champion trialler, and that he does not breed for colour but for working ability. Based on the results in the series, it does appear that he gets results in terms of working ability, as I think they all did better than the kelpies in series 1.(I may need to rewatch series 1 though) It is noted that a white dog working sheep can be tested by the sheep more than other dogs, as the sheep will not necessarily see it as different from a sheep, being the same colour, and it will need to have more presence and perhaps more bark. I am interested in what other people might think about this?

Ragnar is utterly gorgeous! I am glad things seem to be working out for you and for him. Nothing wrong with asking for advice and ideas, and then using what works for your dog.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/14/muster-dogs-abc-season-2-border-collies Here is one review of the season

So a hopefully spoiler free review... Five episodes where five puppies went to five people to train for a year, with testing at 5, 7 and 10 months before the final competition at 12 months. This is a slight tweak on the previous format. The tests are also slightly different in composition. Last series the focus was on the benefits to the livestock of using dogs to muster them. This time there was more.of a focus on how dogs can replace people in doing the work on a farm, during a staff shortage The age of participants is younger, with two in their twenties, two in their thirties and one in their forties. But you have the experienced dog trainer and teacher, the contract stockworker from the Northern Territory, an inexperienced but keen dog trainer etc. There is more variety in the stock worked, with a better balance of sheep and cattle (and goats!). There are also some cameos from Season 1 alumni. I probably can't say too much more in detail without spoilers. I loved this season as much if not more. No shortage of incredibly cute border collie puppies, both traditionally marked and not, a few twists along the way. I much preferred the final testing in this season, and felt it was a much closer competition. The personalities of the trainers may not have been quite as big this year, but they were still interesting and likeable. I am happy to answer questions if I can, but I can't answer when it will come to Netflix or be available overseas, unless you watch it on Australian ABC iView via a VPN.

It's Muster Dog Day! Season 2 is here in Australia! I will be watching and reporting back with spoiler free content...

I am in Australia, so I can't really make recommendations about kibble for you. With my dogs, they do eat kibble, but also always get what I call a topper. Sometimes it may be a few raw chicken hearts. Sometimes it may be some tinned sardines. Sometimes it may be some cooked chicken meat, or cottage cheese, or natural yoghurt. Sometimes it is just a few of their treats sprinkled on top. Or it may be a little fruit or some vegetables. They do not need it for nutrition, as that is what the kibble is for. It is there to provide some variety and interest. This is purely anecdotal, and not vet recommended etc. It is just what we do. I am glad that you have a healthy active BC, and that you care so much to make sure that he gets the best food for him. I wish you and Ragnar the very best!

https://www.popsci.com/science/dogs-understand-human-words/

Hot off the press! https://if.com.au/muster-dogs-season-2-trailer/ Hopefully this trailer is not location locked, but the new season is being released in Australia on January 14 2024

In Australia there is an annual contest sponsored by a dog food company which pits working dogs against each other by using GPS tracking to compare speed, endurance and distance covered over the period of the competition. This year it was open to competitors from Australia and New Zealand. This is an article about the winner https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-30/tasmanian-kelpie-earl-wins-title-of-best-working-dog/103039024?utm_medium=social&utm_content=sf269959516&utm_campaign=abc_news&utm_source=m.facebook.com&sf269959516=1 And here is the website of the competition if anyone wants to look up and compare this year to previous years https://www.cobberchallenge.com.au/about

I have also previously mentioned that the narrator of Muster Dogs was writing a book about the experience, and I just found this link to her book, due for publishing in Australia on 17 January 2024. As she talks about season 2 in her book, I am going to assume that the show will be released in Australia before or at the same time as the book. I have not been able to find an official release date for the show, but this has to be a clue. https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460716656/muster-dogs-from-pups-to-pros/

I cannot believe that I missed this brief update, but here is the new Muster Dog class as teeny puppies, with toebeans and puppy piles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K3tn14dtfo

The title to the topic kinda says it all... https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-30/injured-farm-dog-new-lease-on-life-after-farmer-gets-wheelchair-/10278771

Hi JamieL, The dog in my profile picture was my boy Oscar. He had one blue eye and one brown. I lost him very suddenly and very young to sepsis at age seven years. I have another border collie Shadow, who is a tricolour with one blue eye and one part brown, part blue eye. He is Oscar's nephew. Shadow is now seven years old, and although he has hip dysplasia, he otherwise is healthy. Different colour eyes are more common in merles but not unknown in other colours also. Blue eyes used to be associated with an increased risk of deafness, but I think more recent research has tended to discredit this. Two merles should not be bred together because pups with two copies of the merle gene has problems with eyes and ears often leading to blindness and/or deafness. Cancer can have genetic tendencies in dogs, as in people, or it can be due to a random mutation, or due to an environmental exposure at some point in their life. I realise how hard it is to lose your soul dog, but you really must not blame yourself. Cancer is cruel and unpredictable and horrible. I am very sorry for your loss. Here is Oscar (also a black and white, but with a white face) And here is Shadow (tricolour, blue eye and part colour eye)

I have a dog who is scared of flies. We live in a country area in Australia, and flies are plentiful. We do our best to keep them out of the house, but George regularly gets freaked out by the sound of them. One of the funniest things ever was George racing out of a room followed by a tiny fly, slowly dipping up and down in the air... In our experience, it is the buzzing sound of the fly which he reacts to more than the sound of a slap, as he can hear them and reacts before we do. He also reacts more strongly to blowflies than house flies (bigger and louder). It does help to kill the fly and show him the body sometimes, but we have not yet found a solution, sorry to not be much help. It may be that if he is very switched on with his agility, nothing else will really matter?

For anyone who has not watched it, Muster Dogs Season 1 is now available on Netflix UK and USA. I hope that means they will pick up Season 2 as well. People may need to rewatch it to make it an attractive idea. It is pretty good for kids as well, I think. Spread the word!

New article with a photo of the pups and a little update on how they are going with filming. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-04-30/muster-dogs-border-collies-popular-working-dogs-queensland/102276360

Something must be right with the timing - the narrator of Muster Dogs also is a morning TV presenter on Australia's ABC, and she confirmed on air this morning that Muster Dogs Season 2 is in full swing, and she even shared a photo of the BC puppies who will be starring. There were several white-face or half white face, I think one blue merle and the more classic black and whites. She is taking time off to write a book about Muster Dogs, which will be released along with the new season next year. I am hoping they release it around the same time as Season 1, which was in January. Have not been able to find a copy of the BC puppies photo, but will keep you informed

beachdogz, I was actually thinking the same thing last week, and did a bit of googling. I have not found anything new, but when I thought about it, they put out a call for participants in May 2022, then selection of candidates, puppies being born, then 9+ months of training and filming, before you even get to editing, voiceover, music etc I would be surprised if we saw anything before early 2024

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2023/mar/06/koala-wanders-into-petrol-station-and-climbs-on-to-staff-in-adelaide-hills-video Hope you can all see this video.

Well done for retaining your patience and for making such great strides with Luna. We all want our BCs to feel safe and loved, and kudos for giving peace to this precious girl!

Finn has grown into a stunning looking dog! Happy New Year to you and your family, and to everyone on these Boards.

So very sorry to hear this, Gibbs has been a favourite of mine on this forum. I am crying for a dog I never met. My condolences and gratitude for your courage.

This BC knew exactly what to do when she was lost. https://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2022%2F11%2F15%2Floughborough-dog-hands-herself-into-police-station-after-going-missing-17760388%2F&h=AT06Q222lZEudXyGk1MTeXv63CKBRlFAuUuFSt3HCxM4YfW56ByefXTeaRXi6cSktobZ-VSfXx_iSbDkcAlzj75_vJ7WkGCKRMiQJgBphbgjXybtrojo3PA72g-EUdRMan9t

Another article about the first season of Muster Dogs, with a tiny hint of season 2 at the end, and maybe a season 3? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-05/pinnaroo-trainer-peter-barr-reflects-on-life-after-muster-dogs/101498778