Where did you get Tess from?

I bought her from a breeder who bred Australian cattle dogs. He had some shorthaired border collies working his cattle and they were doing a good job, so I decided to get one.

What was Tess like when she was young?

She was quite a timid dog when I got her so I spent a fair bit of time with her when she was young. She used to sit out on an old couch I had on the verandah and rest her head on my leg.

She used to do the same thing in the old ute when we had a bench seat. Her legs used to rest on my legs as well as her head, and she would happily go to sleep.

What is she like around the cows?

She could have been much better if I had of known what I was doing. I did try to get her into a trainer but he had too many dogs at the time so she ended up with just me. She gets a bit confused sometimes but I mainly just use her to bring the cows into the yard.

She has a bit of a bark but she doesn't bite at all. She just likes to have a bit of run around and let the cows know she is the boss.

How does she go with young cattle?

She likes to stand in front of them, it can be frustrating!

Does Tess have any unusual habits?

She has a few idiosyncrasies - she must have very sensitive hearing. A few years ago she started barking at the jets that fly over our farm. We are under the flight path to Caloundra and she barks until the jets get to Numurkah.

She also hates storms and the sound of thunder. She comes to the front door and will slip inside when we open the door - and she never normally comes inside. I put her in the laundry and she cowers in there until it's over.

What sort of appetite does she have?

She eats the normal things, kitchen scraps and dry dog food, but she has an uncanny ability to munch on any dead calf she can find.

As she is getting a bit older, will you get her a mate?

She will be 12 in May and I think she does need a mate. Up until a couple of years ago she was so active she would run all day and spend all her time in the water, but now she has quietened down it would be good for her.

Words and pictures:

Sophie Bruns