Champion Farm Dog's Puppies Go to 5 Rural Kids

Eleven-year-old Eric from rural Victoria just became the owner of a puppy with champion bloodlines and a built-in coach to help him succeed.

After winning series three of ABC's Muster Dogs, beloved Kelpie Banjo fathered 12 puppies. Handler Kim Dodson decided those pups should go to rural kids who could benefit most, along with mentorship from the show's contestants.

"All of us have had fantastic opportunities with Muster Dogs and great mentors ourselves, so if we could be mentors for a child, then it's a fantastic way of being able to pay it forward," Kim says. She chose Eric, who works on his family's pig farm, to receive puppy Diesel.

Four other Muster Dogs participants joined the effort, each selecting a young person in their region. Marlene Brewer picked 11-year-old homeschooler Phoebe from tiny Bingara, NSW, who lives on a 9,000-acre property and loves agriculture class.

Eighteen-year-old contestant Nathan Obst selected 14-year-old Will from Queensland's stud bull country. Will says he was "gobsmacked" to be chosen and plans to stay farming long-term with his new dog Rascal by his side.

The initiative addresses a real challenge facing rural Australia. Regional employers face hiring difficulties for 36.8 percent of jobs, compared to just 23.2 percent in major cities, according to a 2025 Jobs and Skills Australia report.

The Ripple Effect

The program is already changing lives beyond dog training. Cameron, 16, struggled in traditional school but found his calling working at Western Australia's Ethel Creek Station.

"Blythe is finally the first teacher I've ever had that's seen my capability, understood it and given me work that helps me out and teaches me," Cameron says about his mentor. His puppy Bindi will help him develop practical farming skills.

Jack Kennedy chose Johno, a teenager from Dunkeld, Victoria, who grew up in town but dreams of farming. Johno has never owned a working dog before, but now he has Ned and a mentor who understands his path.

For these five kids, a puppy means more than a pet—it's a doorway to mastering skills that keep rural communities thriving.