Working dog whisperer coming to Muresk

In what is believed to be a first for Australia, the working dog schools at Muresk can count as an accredited module towards a Certificate III in Agriculture.

Mr Page said students who satisfactorily completed one of the April schools could be supplied with a document, to prove they had passed, which would be recognised if they chose to use it as part of their certificate studies.

"That's a first in Australia, I believe, the first time a course in working dog management has been recognised as a discretionary module for the Certificate III in Agriculture," Mr Page said.

He has been working with a friend at the South West Institute of Technology, Bunbury, to have his course material and training methods accredited for the Certificate III.

He aims to obtain national accreditation for his schools which teach owners "dog language" and make use of a dog's natural instincts for low-stress stock control.

Mr Page and his wife Lyn run the Working Dog Centre and registered Border Collie and Kelpie studs near Melrose in South Australia's mid-north.

Farmers bring dogs from northern and central New South Wales and Victoria's Western District to attend schools, which Mr Page claims are as much about training owners as their dogs.

Others complete trips of several thousand kilometres and pay thousands of dollars for the privilege and prestige of owning a Page working dog.

But Mr Page will not sell a dog to anyone who has not completed his fundamentals school.

His first two schools in WA, run last year at Rylington Park Institute of Agriculture near Boyup Brook, sold out and generated so much interest a third school was added.

He said last week the demand last year and continuing queries on when more WA schools would be run, convinced him to return.

"A lot of people have been working very hard behind the scenes to make this possible and we thank them and acknowledge their determination and commitment," Mr Page said.

"The response (last year) was wonderful really and to tell the truth, I was a bit overwhelmed.

"I had hoped to follow up in September but I just couldn't get there."

More than 50 people attended his three working dog fundamental schools last year, so one of the April courses will be the next level intermediate school, Mr Page said.

The intermediate school will run on April 2-4 and will only be open to 12 of those who completed last year's fundamentals schools.

Two fundamentals schools, on April 7-10 and 14-17, will each accommodate up to 18 farmers and their dogs.

Mr Page said people will need to bring their own dog to attend the schools.

"I'll be bringing a couple of my dogs with me, but that will only be so we can demonstrate the correct way of doing things," he said.

Schools involve a mix of classroom theory on his trademarked "natural method" and practical lessons with the owner and dog working sheep in a yard.

"An innovation this year is I'll be bringing a technical helper with me who will video each student as they go through the course," Mr Page said.

"We will film their performances during the practical sessions and put on a show at the student dinner, which is a part of the course, and they will be able to see their progression for themselves."

Mr Page said the reason he agreed to run the schools at Muresk, near Northam, which celebrates its 90th anniversary as an agricultural college later this year, was the standard of teaching facilities and equipment and the accommodation options available.

He flew to WA to inspect Muresk's facilities before agreeing to run schools there.

"(Muresk general manager Prue Jenkins) and her team have been very helpful, nothing is too much trouble for them," he said.

"Muresk is a professional teaching institute so the facilities are first class and they have their own farm there which runs Merino and Dohne flocks.

"They also have a whole range of accommodation options on offer."

Mr Page said it was imperative students and dogs stayed at Muresk for the schools.

"We start promptly at 8.30 and we go full-on to 5 or 5.30 and later sometimes, if people want me to," he said.

p For information: visit www.workingdogcentre.com.