Australian Sheep Dogs: Training & Handling
Animal Care & Training Livestock & Farming Working Dog Training Australian Rural Life Outdoor Skills & Field Sports Vintage Non-Fiction Reference Guide
Australian Sheep Dogs: Training & Handling (Rod Cavanagh, 1990) is the vintage hardcover that working-dog owners have hunted for since its first release. Printed in Australia and never reprinted, this illustrated guide distills decades of station-yard experience into a single, dust-jacketed volume. Every chapter— from selecting a pup to advanced yard work— is paired with clear line drawings and action photographs taken on real farms, so readers can see exactly how Cavanagh positions himself, his dog and the sheep to get calm, confident results.
What makes this copy special is its condition: a tight, square binding, no previous-owner marks, and only light foxing confined to the front endpapers—common for 1990-era Australian paper, but leaving the 160-page text block crisp and fully readable. The original dust jacket is bright, colourful and unclipped, making the book shelf-ready for collectors of rural Australiana or anyone who wants a reference that still looks fresh in the shearing shed office.
Collectors value the first edition for its unrivalled detail on Kelpies, Border Collies and their crosses; trainers love the step-by-step whistle and voice commands; and enthusiasts appreciate the nostalgic photos of 1980s outback stations. Because the title has never entered large-scale reprint, demand on the secondary market remains high—especially for clean, complete copies like this one.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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