Where did you get a Benedict from?

He came from a breeder in Gippsland. I bought him because he was well bred from a sire imported from England. He cost me $300.

How did he get his name?

I got him at the same time as the Pope was in Australia, so I decided to call him Benedict. Someone told me it was a stupid name because I wouldn't be able to swear at him because he was a Catholic dog.

What breed of dog is he?

A short-coated border collie.

What sort of personality does Benedict have?

He is very friendly and cheeky.

He is only young, how has his behaviour been?

I always keep my dogs tied up but one day I must have forgotten. I went over to the shed and I found the broom in one corner and an empty wool pack in the other and wool everywhere. Benedict had obviously been for a run around the shed. He has also eaten the seat off my tractor. It was in many different pieces by the time he had finished.

If I wanted to teach my dog to be a nuisance I would leave it loose all day and night.

You had the ultimate success in 1961, what has happened after that?

I have had the odd success with trial dogs over the years. In the early days I had to go into rearing children instead of dogs and had to spend my money feeding them instead. I am really hoping to make a trial dog out of Benedict but he is yet to prove himself.

You now live in town and keep your dogs not far away at the farm. How is that?

The first night we moved I could hear the dogs barking. I let out a really loud whistle which stopped mine barking but got every other dog in the town going.

Do you have any training tips?

It is important to understand what you are doing with your training and different techniques suit different types of dogs. I am calm and have a lot of patience with the dogs, just not with my wife.

What about for people looking at getting a new dog?

I like well-bred, short-haired dogs. When picking a pup the only thing you can tell for sure is their sex, their coat and whether or not they are timid. From then on who knows what you get.

Words and pictures:

Sophie Bruns