Snow is a hard-working, lamb-chasing, cattle-pushing farm dog — and anyone who tells you different is jealous. Hay contactor Trevor Phillips said the Maltese x Shih Tzu pup started out as a kids’ pet before he quickly became dad's dog, going with him to work in the tractor.
He must stand out among the kelpies and collies.
When I'm working in Dookie all the fellas roll around laughing when he starts chasing the sheep. When he gets among the lambs it's quite funny because you can't tell what's a lamb and what's him.
Is he useful among the stock?
He can push up but he can't do much else. One time we used him to chase sheep up into a truck and he'd run back out through their legs. One time he took on a llama — he didn't like that much. The boss at Dookie on the mixed cropping farm I work at reckons he's employed as a professional tyre washer.
How old is he?
Snow's nine. We got him from a Wangaratta pet shop, he was the last of his litter left. At the time he could fit in the palm of your hand. The boys were around six and seven at the time, now they're 15 and 16.
Had you owned a little dog before?
Our family always kept corgis and whippets. His coat is the only thing not good about him, because it gets filled with grass seeds at hay season. We've had to take him to the vets a few times to get seeds out of his ears.
Do you shave his coat?
When he was little he got bitten by a bee on the top of his head and the vet used electric clippers to shave the fur and get a look. Ever since then he's never been able to stand clippers — or vets — so we have to cut his coat with scissors. It's busy work and you've got to be on top of it to stop any matting underneath. In winter he goes brown from the mud but by the end of the day it's all dried or washed off him.
What do you like about him?
He loves people, loves dogs, he's great company. Loves his machines. He started riding the farm bike first, then I trained him to sit with me on the road bike. When we ride around town you get looks and the kids laugh. It is great to see kids enjoying themselves and Snow always notices them and gives them his best look. One time I went to the Tatong Tavern and went up to ask for two beers. The barkeeper asked if one was for the dog and I said ‘no, he'll have a Scotch and dry'. He's got taste.
Does he like sitting in the farm machinery?
He likes everything except for the CAT, which is on tracks and vibrates a lot in the cab. Otherwise he's in everything, the sprayer, hay press, mower, everything. He does move around the cab and he'll look out the window or sit up on my lap and look out over the steering wheel. He likes to think he's driving.
Any farm work he prefers?
Catching mice. He loves chasing mice and that's good right now. Because he's got a short nose he's like a vacuum cleaner, it is funny to watch. My boss doesn't like standing around but he'll stand around to watch Snow chase mice.
Any scary moments?
When he was young he jumped from the tractor cab and fell on his head. He was paralyzed for a week and we thought we were going to lose him but the vet kept saying "he'll come good" — and he did.
What do people make of him?
People love him. My brother comes down to help me hay contracting and always gives Snow some of his honey and peanut butter toasties. People in town love to see him. Snow got asked to be in one of my mates’ funeral processions. He's just a great little buddy.
Words: Daneka Hill
Pictures: Megan Fisher