The kelpies competing for the 2024 Cobber Challenge title of Australia's hardest working dog
The eight finalists vying for the title of Australia's ultimate dog have been announced ahead of the 2024 Cobber Challenge.
Over two weeks eight kelpies will wear a GPS tracker to record its distance, speed and duration for each working day with points awarded based on performance.
The dog with the most points will be crowned the winner and will receive a cash prize and the Cobber Challenge trophy.
The competition is a celebration of working dogs contribution to Australia's farming and agricultural communities.
Read on to see this year's Cobber Challenge finalists.
Daniel and Ripper, New South Wales
A two-time competitor, Daniel says Ripper is in with a good chance this year.
"Ripper is no ordinary working dog, he is tenacious, hardworking and has boundless energy which is perfect for those long days in the paddock," Daniel said.
"The Cobber Challenge is in Ripper's blood. His dad, Turbo, was a two-time competitor, so we know just how to get the job done."
Daniel and Ripper work on their sheep farm in Bournewood, NSW.
Two-year-old Ripper has been by Daniel's side since he was born, often waiting by the front door for him or sitting with him.
Ripper won the main session of a recent dog trial and just missed out on the championship title so is definitely one to watch in the Cobber Challenge this year.
Travis and Beau, Victoria
Travis is a livestock contractor from Gippsland in Victoria who manages his client's farms along with his own sheep and cow herd.
Despite no farming background, Travis got started with a farm job in Mansfield claiming to have a full trained sheep dog.
Now he and eight-year-old kelpie Beau are ready to take on the competition.
Beau is known as an energetic and enthusiastic dog who is particularly skilled in yard work.
Tom and Bear, Queensland
Tom joined the family farm business 15 years ago working with sheep, cattle and goats as well as cultivating oat, wheat and barley crops.
Hailing from Southwest Queensland, Tom bonded with his six-year-old kelpie when Bear was the runt of the litter.
What Bear lacked in size he made up for with athleticism and passion.
When Bear isn't competing you'll find him in his favourite spot on the back of Tom's ute.
This is Tom and Bear's first time competing together.
James and Cruiser, Western Australia
After unexpected nerve damage ended James' dreams of pursuing a career as a professional golfer he decided to follow in his father's footsteps and become a sheep farmer.
Six-year-old kelpie Cruiser is a strong all-rounder, capable of both herding sheep and helping with truck loading.
His most memorable moment was swimming across a raging creek at night to round up a rogue sheep.
Ben and Rip, New South Wales
Ben has been in farming for 20 years and runs a 15,000 acre farm in Yass with thousands of sheep and cows.
By his side is four-year-old Rip who was the only puppy who survived from his litter after his mother suffered a hormone imbalance.
Rip was raised by a Jack Russell and is now a tough dog with extraordinary work ethic.
He recently won the improver class at the Henty Field Days trial despite limited experience.
Ben and Jack, South Australia
Farming is part of Ben's DNA. After growing up on a sheep and cattle property, he now runs a dairy farm in Mount Schank.
His nine-year-old kelpie Jack is a previous Cobber Challenge winner, having taken out the 2021 title.
Together Ben and Jack became the first team in the competition to cover over 1,000km.
Jack can do it all from protecting another dog from a snake to farm jobs and a cuddle.
Brad and Nell, Tas
Next time you pick up some lamb from Coles, think of Brad who runs a crop and sheep farm in Campbell Town that supplies the supermarket.
Brad's competing in the Cobber Challenge with his six-year-old kelpie Nell who is a legacy competitor.
Nell's mother Flow won the Cobber Challenge in 2017 and Nell already looks to be following in her paw prints.
Nell is known for a strong work ethic and determination.
Aoidh and Sue, Victoria
Previously a dairy farmer in ireland, Aoidh is now a shearer in Alexandra who works as a shearing contractor and manages his own sheep and cow farm.
Aoidh is competing in the Cobber Challenge with two-year old kelpie Sue, who has quite the legacy.
Sue is the daughter of the Australian Yard Dog champion and national kelpie trial winner.
She's known as an energetic dog with good instincts who is also eager to please.
