Jack and his new owner Joe Catherwood. Image – John Farrell.

A NEW Zealand heading dog sold for a record NZ$10,000 at the PGG Wrightson 63th annual Ashburton Sheep and Cattle Dog Sale at the Mayfield A&P showgrounds last week.

The sale conducted by the PGG Wrightson Mid Canterbury Livestock team last Friday averaged NZ$3900 (A$3705) for 43 dogs.

PGG Wrightson Livestock auctioneer Greg Cook said there was a strong gallery of buyers and many good quality heading and Huntaway dogs on offer, aged 10 months and older.

The top price of NZ$10,000 (A$9500) was paid by Joe Catherwood of Charing Cross in Canterbury for  a 2.5 year-old heading dog offered by retired South Canterbury farmer Peter Boys. It was the highest price paid for a working dog in the 63-year history of the sale.

Mr Catherwood said a dog is easier to work with than a person.

“All you have to do is toss them a couple of biscuits at night and they are still your friend in the morning.

“Jack’s a good dog, I gave him a run around on Friday morning and he went pretty well,” he said.

“I was wanting a dog, not a bitch.

“Jack did the best demo on the day, so he was a stand-out dog for me,” he said.

“I spoke to Peter Boys’ grandson who trialled Jack at the sale and he spoke highly of the dog and I took him at his word.”

Jack is joining a team of four other dogs, a mix of heading and huntaways. Mr Boys recently had to move into a retirement home and had to sell Jack. One of Peter’s friend’s trialled Jack at the sale as Mr Boys was unable to. Buyers came from all over the South Island and from as far away as Hawke’s Bay were in the gallery, PGG Wrightsons said.