Heading dog Stripe, who fetched the highest price at the Lawrence Gymkhana Club's annual working dog sale, sits in the middle of a trailer among his lying peers. Photo / Supplied
Demand is strong for working dogs, driving up prices, a vendor says.
Lindsay Geddes put in two entries in the Lawrence Gymkhana Club's annual working dog sale on February 18.
His 2-year-old heading dog Stripe was sold to Kean Farm at Winton for a top price of $9000.
"You'd have to be happy with that... it was a very good price and a very good sale."
Demand for working dogs had been strong at sales across New Zealand due to a lack of supply, he said.
"There's not a lot of dogs for sale."
At the sale in Lawrence, the number of registered buyers easily outnumbered the dogs on offer.
A reason for the dog shortage could be due to farmers being time-poor and opting to buy a proven dog rather than training a pup themselves, he said.
The price for Stripe was the most he had fetched for a dog in the four years he had been attending the sale.
He also sold his 16-month-old heading dog Patch for $5500.
The dogs were taken to the sale because he had some younger dogs coming on.
"I had more than I needed."
At the sale, he sold another dog Scout - on behalf of his son, Hayden - for $5000.
Lindsay had been working Scout for three months before the sale, so he was able to demonstrate it on the day.
The "semi-retired" farmer ran about 200 sheep on nearly 30ha near the Otago-Taieri A&P Showgrounds in Mosgiel.
"I can train my dogs and have an interest."
He once farmed sheep, beef and deer on about 4000ha in Middlemarch and remains a member of the Strath Taieri Collie Club.
"Dog trialling is my hobby and as long as I'm fit enough to do it, I intend to continue."
PGG Wrightson stock agent Warwick Howie said at the sale in Lawrence eight huntaways sold for an average of $4440, while 25 heading dogs averaged $4300.
There were 75 registered buyers.
In the huntaways, the top price went to John Tweed, of Waitahuna, with 2-year-old Dodge selling for $6600.
Between gate donations, a barbecue and entry fees, about $2000 was raised for the Tuapeka Health Centre and Waitahuna Collie Club.
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