Kids Stock School teaches young budding farmers at Bothwell

Acclaimed working dog trainer Neil McDonald, who provided the blueprint for human, dog and livestock training on television series Muster Dogs, was in Bothwell last week to show some little farmers and graziers how to lead stock, dogs and even people.

After a successful four-day stock working school at the Downie’s Dungrove property, an impromptu Stock Kids school was organised for Monday.

Neil was assisted by Muster Dogs season two star and seventh generation Bothwell farmer Russ Fowler, and they also followed up with a second school at Weasel Plains for the staff of Weasel Plains and Cluny.

The Kid Stock Schools are about changing the culture of Australia's Livestock Industry by engaging kids with an understanding of how dogs, people and livestock can interact calmly when they know how to 'read the play'. 

By working with youth he hopes to prevent bad habits from creeping in over time.

Midlands and Central Highlands children aged between three and 15 were quick to signed up for their chance at some educational and often humerous lessons.

Neil said he tries to make it as fun as possible, and he was impressed with how well behaved and enthusiastic his young charges were.

“There was no just sitting back and watching like at some other places,’ he said.

“James Downie provided sheep and cattle that were what I would call ‘learner safe’.

“While with adults the focus is on industry benefits, with kids it’s about making them aware of how to discipline a dog but still have a good rapport with the dog and with the livestock.

Safety was paramount while he showed the young handlers how to read the body language of the livestock and how to get them to react to human body language.

The working dogs belonged to Neil and are used to having different handlers while being easy to control in a contained area.

“There was such a great reaction, hands going up wanting to be picked, lots of cheering and banter – it was a good half day.”

More courses, including one on King Island, are being considered for 2026.