ASK anyone who lives and works on the land with livestock and they will tell you that a good working dog is the heart and soul of bush life.

Working dogs can’t be downsized, upgraded, outsourced or made into an app. They are just top dogs – agile and energetic, heroic and hardworking, loyal and loveable.

In this joyous printed tribute to Australia’s working dogs, people all over rural and regional Australia share their favourite stories and photos of the incredible dogs that make such a huge difference to their lives each day.

These cheerful workaholics are celebrated in tales of heroism, extraordinary intuition, unflagging dedication and intelligence.

Featuring 100 unforgettable photographs drawn from a nationwide competition on ABC Local Radio, and favourite true-life stories from Angela Goode’s beloved bestseller Great Australian Working Dog Stories, Top Dogs is a celebration of these irrepressible four-legged companions who greet each day with enthusiasm and a wagging tail.

Author Angela Goode lives on a farm near Naracoorte, South Australia, where she grazes sheep and cattle. She has spent her writing life bringing the images and issues of rural Australia to a broader audience in books, newspaper columns and on radio. In 2014 she was named among the Top 100 Women in Agribusiness.

Hardback. ABC Books. Recommended retail price: $39.99. ISBN: 9780733333286. Available from ABC Bookstores and all good book retailers.

Sheep Central readers are invited to enter a draw to win one of two copies of “Top Dogs: A celebration of great Australian working dogs.”

Simply send an email to  [email protected]  with the words “Top Dogs prize draw” in the subject line, together with your name and address. Winners will be announced week commencing July 12.