In an impressive display of endurance and skill, a Queensland kelpie named Bear has been crowned Australia’s hardest-working farm dog. This recognition came following his outstanding performance in the 2024 Cobber Challenge, with results revealed on October 25.
Now in its ninth edition, the Cobber Challenge utilizes GPS collars to meticulously track the distance, duration, and speed of participating farm dogs over a rigorous two-week period. Bear, a six-year-old kelpie hailing from Dirranbandi—located on the Queensland-New South Wales border—made history by becoming the first winner from the Sunshine State.
During the competition, Bear logged an astonishing total of 570 kilometers, averaging 40.75 kilometers per day, with a consistent working speed of 13.4 km/h. His remarkable performance allowed him to secure victory with a staggering lead of 40,000 points over his nearest competitor.
His owner, Tom Perkins, expressed pride in Bear’s achievements, noting the dog’s busy schedule on the farm in the lead-up to the challenge. “We had to do an extra round of worming, so Bear was running hard, rounding up flocks nearly every day. To win this and be the first-ever champion from Queensland is a huge honor,” Perkins remarked.
In the competition, second place went to Nell, another six-year-old kelpie from Tasmania, who, alongside her farmer Brad McDonald, covered 360 kilometers at an average speed of 14.8 km/h. Third place was claimed by Rip, a four-year-old kelpie from Yass, New South Wales, who managed to cover 375 kilometers with an average speed of 12.9 km/h.
Kellie Savage from Cobber praised this year’s intense competition, highlighting the remarkable caliber of the participating dogs. “This year was particularly competitive, especially with our champion Bear, who averaged running an entire marathon every day over the two-week period,” she noted.
For his achievements, Bear was awarded a cash prize of $1,000 along with bags of Cobber Working Dog feed. “Well, I can’t take him to the pub, so maybe he’ll get an extra dipper of bickies tonight,” Perkins humorously shared, hinting at how Bear might celebrate his well-deserved victory.
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