"They're the biggest unpaid workforce ever, never more loyal and certainly uncomplaining. They are a dog you're just in awe of. They are just so cool," she said.
She was captivated by their "amazing" temperaments and the abilities they possessed. "They get hold of you. It makes the job not a job. It makes it a pleasure," she said.
Animal recruitment was occurring at the moment and more than 250 dogs would be involved in the project over a three to five-year period.
While there would be a strong focus on Central Otago, clients from throughout the Vetlife clinics in Canterbury and Otago would be involved.
Dr Linney was excited about the project, saying it was hoped to improve the welfare of dogs on farm and their working life so farmers could maximise their investment in time and training.
"The idea is to get longer, happier lives out of them," she said.
There was also quite a relationship between farmers or shepherds and their dogs and they were often mates. They worked as a team and farmers wanted them as well as possible.
Hopefully, some recommendations could be defined that would optimise performance and limit injuries, she said.
The project was launched at Milford Galleries, alongside a Vetlife-commissioned Hannah Kidd sculpture, which featured a shepherd and his dog with a sheep, as part of her working dog exhibition.
Ms Kidd, a 2001 graduate from the Otago Polytechnic School of Art, spent about six months working on the exhibition.
Originally from Christchurch, she now lived in Methven, a "semi-rural area", and she was fascinated by working dogs.
