Andrew Stanczak’s two-year-old border collie Mirra Park Flash will start competing in sheepdog trials later in the year, but right now she has a far more important job – raising her first litter. 

The seven puppies, four males and three females, have been bred to work. The sire is eight-year-old Buruma Aussie, so named because he was born on Australia Day. 

While the pups are living a life of relative comfort – as little puppies should – they shouldn’t get too used to it. 

“I would suggest out of the seven of them there will be four triallers and three farm dogs,” Mr Stanczak says. 

“I can trace back at least six generations on the sire’s side and at a stretch I could go back eight generations on the female side. They are trialling blood lines, but my main focus is on good farm dogs that have the ability to go trialing. 

“Breeding is very important in obtaining the basic instincts you desire in any pup. I’ve bred for working ability, temperament and biddability, which is the ability to take instruction and excel at training.

“At the end of the day they are working dogs but I do give the pups the best start for 12 months. I treat them as pups but after that it’s about getting them ready for work.” 

Mr Stanczak is a livestock agent with Landmark in Bannockburn, but has 250 breeding ewes on his Ross Creek property.

The pups are already finding new homes, though. 

“My son Matthew, six, has picked out one, who he has called Tom. One of the girls has been bought by a farmer who is also keen to get into trialling, who he has named Zoe,” Mr Stanczak says.

 “Another two – a boy and girl – have already been sold, leaving just a couple left. 

“It is my first litter in four years. Tom will be part of the succession plan, because he will be coming of age at pretty much the same time Ozzie goes into retirement.” 

Obviously Mirra Park Flash won’t be competing at the Baden-Powell Victorian Field 

Championships at Haddon on April 4-6 but she will make debut midyear, though, most  likely at an arena dog trial event. 

But Mr Stanczak would not have been able to enter anyway, being one of the judges at the state titles.