Red Dog to beat the Black Dog

My fellow Kelpie lover and dear friend Jackie Merchant is taking on the very brave and generous task! She’s training a Kelpie to auction for charity for beyond blue, an organisation that helps people with depression.

Jackie is an extremely talented designer (who created the gorgeous Waler and Kelpie and Collie logos for me on the right of the screen), but she’s temporarily downed her design tools to train Beloka Kelpie, Red.

Red will be sold in June at the Casterton Kelpie Auction and all proceeds will go to beyond blue.

Having put a dog through its paces in front of the big crowd at Casterton myself, I know how scary it can feel … so good on you Jack.

We’ll certainly be pledging some funds to you and Red to help beat the blues!

Read on for more information about this wonderful woman and her Red Dog …

Tasmanian Jackie Merchant plans to tackle Churchill’s infamous black dog of depression with a dog of her own.

The Ulverstone-based graphic designer, and “rookie” dog trainer, has taken on the challenge of turning a 12-week-old kelpie pup, named Red, into a fully-fledged working dog.

And it’s all in the name of charity
Jackie has spent the past seven months preparing Red for the national kelpie auction — The Pedigree Working Dog Australian Kelpie Muster — held in Victoria in June.

All proceeds from Red’s auction, and pledges towards the cause, will go to beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

“Personally, this is something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said.

“When I decided to take on the challenge of training a dog for auction I wanted the experience to not only do me some good, but more importantly farmers and rural communities.”

Call for donations
Jackie is not only donating all of the auction’s proceeds to beyondblue, but is calling for companies who rely on or work with farmers to make a donation or pledge to beyondblue.

“Farmers are the backbone of rural communities not only here in Tasmania, but across Australia,” she said.

“beyondblue has already undertaken work in the bush on raising awareness of depression, and they have really helped those who have come across hard times.

“It just seemed fitting that our working dog will be helping to take on the black dog of depression.” A self-confessed “rookie” dog trainer, Jackie has enlisted the help of professional dog trainer and kelpie auction veteran, Paul MacPhail of Victoria.

“Paul’s been involved from the very beginning, he actually donated Red for the cause,” she said.

“He has more than 20 years experience in training working dogs and has been invaluable in preparing not only the dog, but me, for the auction.” Every year, kelpie owners and trainers from across the country travel to Casterton in south-west Victoria for the muster, being held this year June 7-8.

The bid to become top dog
The event’s auction will see hundreds of working dogs put to the test, pitting their skills against one another in a bid to become top dog.

“I think he’s a really talented dog and works hard – he has certainly kept me on my toes,” she said.

As part of the fundraising campaign, Jackie, Red and a team of supporters will be attending this year’s AGFEST at the Beloka Working Dog stand from May 1-3.

Anyone interested in supporting Jackie and Red can make a pledge and donate directly to beyondblue.

For more information contact Jackie Merchant on 6425 4765 or mobile 0408 972 859.