The search for Australia’s hardest working dog begins, with nominations now open for the 2017 Cobber Challenge.
West Australian dogs and their owner are specifically asked to apply, as they short on representatives from WA.
The Cobber Challenge see’s dogs across the nation compete against each other in a serious of endurance and speed challenges to find Australia’s hardest working dog.
Organised by nutritional dog food specialists Ridley, the Cobber Challenge will see dogs from each state compete in their natural environment. GPS collars will be fitted to competing dogs for three weeks, tracking and scoring their running distance, duration and top speed.
The 2016 Challenge saw eight working dogs from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia compete. Over the three-week competition, Victorian Damien Clifford and his kelpie dog Larry beat out fierce competition to become the first Cobber Champions, receiving a years’ worth of Cobber.
“Being a part of the challenge was not only fun, but it helped showcase Larry’s hard work. We always knew how much he contributed to the farm, but it’s different when you see the numbers and see him clock up over 60 kilometers in one day,” said Mr Clifford.
“Participating in and winning the Cobber Challenge was rewarding for me as someone who loves his dog, and Larry couldn’t be happier with his new bags of Cobber feed.”
Australian working dogs are often the unsung heroes on Australian farms.
In the quest to seek out Australia’s hardest working dog, the Cobber Challenge also hopes to highlight how vital working dogs are to farming teams.
This year, the competition is expected to run from August 28 to September 17.
Working dog owners from all parts of Australia are encouraged to nominate their elite dog for the challenge to have a chance to be crowned Australia’s hardest working dog.
Nominations close on July 23. To find out how to nominate yourself visit www.cobberchallenge.com.au.
