Muster Dogs

This time, it's not just the puppies being put to the test - it's the participants. Six participants with limited dog and stock handling experience raise and train a working dog from puppy to paddock-ready in just 12 months.

As the puppies settle into their new homes and training begins, the handlers find themselves struggling to navigate personal challenges and training hurdles as they strive to train the Champion Muster Dog.

Our six novice handlers and their pups step through the six-month assessment tasks under the watchful eye of our experienced mentors. They each grapple with training challenges and personal bonds, as surprises unfold.

At the eight-month mark, our novice handlers must face two stock-handling tasks without their dogs, testing their livestock skills, stock sense and ability to stay calm under pressure as the race heats up.

Mentors Mick Hudson, Joe Spicer and Joni Hall provide guidance to our trainers during their ten month assessments. With just months remaining, the competition intensifies as everyone strives to perfect their skills.

After a year-long experiment and a crash course in training a Muster Dog, our six rookies face their final tests. The competition is tight, but one exceptional dog claims the title of Champion Muster Dog.

Six adorable puppies - three Collies and three Kelpies - embark on a journey to meet their new owners and compete for the title, Champion Muster Dog. Over twelve months, we watch as they navigate challenges and milestones.

As the puppies settle into their new homes and the five-month assessment approaches, the six handlers find themselves struggling to navigate personal challenges and training hurdles.

In a high-stakes showdown between Team Collie and Team Kelpie, our six participants and their pups step through the five-month assessment tasks. They grapple with training challenges and personal bonds as surprises unfold.

At the eight-month mark, handlers and their pups must transition from playful puppies to skilled working dogs. With mixed results in the assessment, the competition between Team Collie and Team Kelpie intensifies.

The mentors evaluate Team Collie and Team Kelpie during their ten-month assessments. With just two months remaining, the competition intensifies as everyone strives to perfect their skills for the final assessment.

With the twelve-month experiment now complete, the Australian Border Collie and Kelpie siblings reunite for the first time to face their final challenge.

In Goondy Creek NSW, we meet Debbie and Snip, the mother and father of the brand-new litter of Muster Dog pups. Five of these pups will steal our hearts as we watch them grow in the twelve-month experiment.

The pups are starting to develop their own unique personalities and building a good bond with their owners, while training for the five-month assessment is well underway.

At seven months, the pups have a strong bond with their handlers. But they face big tests as they learn to herd livestock and respond to calls. The results are certainly surprising.

At ten months the dogs have hit puberty and are starting to show some teenage rebelliousness. There are mixed levels of success in the assessment, and one of our pups falls gravely ill.

With the 12 month experiment now complete, the Australian Border Collie siblings reunite to face their final challenge. It's neck and neck but one dog shines brighter than the pack and is crowned Champion Muster Dog.

Spanning the red earth of the Top End to the green pastures of regional Victoria, this new four-part documentary series follows five Kelpie puppies from the same litter on their journey to become muster dogs.

It's spills and thrills as the puppies and trainers stumble and at times leap through the milestone challenges. Frank and CJ are going well but Joni, Aticia and Rob are off to a bumpy start.

The puppies are now six months old and are very busy developing their stalking livestock techniques and learning manners and basic calls.

The puppies are now one year old and have all gathered with their owners to complete their final 12-month assessment. One pup shines brighter than the pack and is rightfully crowned Champion Muster Dog!