12/10/2026
An introduction to my other passion: dogs.
Whenever I’m not buried in woolly endeavours, this is exactly where I am.
For years I was firmly anti‑dog on farms — I had some pretty strong assumptions. But after spending countless hours with my sheep mentor near Hamilton, Mike Deppeler, watching him work his dogs and sheep, everything I believed was turned on its head. His dogs loved their job, the sheep respected them without fear, and Mike’s calm, gentle way of speaking to his dogs showed me what true working‑dog partnership looked like.
In December 2022, one of Mike’s dogs had a litter and I was promptly informed: 'You need to buy this pup.' So I did.
I brought home a rotund, bolshy white border collie and named him Jack (posh name is Deppeler’s Jackson). Having never owned a working dog — let alone worked dogs and sheep together — it was a headfirst dive into deep water.
With only a small property, I stepped into both Herding and Three‑Sheep Trialling to learn further. The support from the Victorian Working Sheepdog Association, the Victorian Herding Association, friends like Moulee, and my very patient husband meant there was no turning back. To be fair, Moulee is responsible for four of my now five dogs: Duch, Mini, Blue, Fidget… which says a lot.
The learning curve is enormous — frustrating, embarrassing, humbling — but also exhilarating, awe‑inspiring and deeply rewarding. I’m now travelling around Australia to attend sheepdog trials, meeting wonderful people, remarkable dogs, and discovering a whole new world I never expected to love.
Action photos were purchased from 'workingdogsinaction'.
