Rhino Zookeeper Wins Top Honors at Sheep Dog Trials

Scott Smith faces down charging rhinoceroses at work, but he finds his peace with 17kg border collies.

The Dubbo zookeeper cares for eight critically endangered southern black rhinos at Taronga Western Plains Zoo during the day. After his shift ends, he heads home to train his seven border collies for national competitions.

For two consecutive years, Smith and his dogs claimed the top prize at the National Sheep Dog Trials in Hall, ACT. This year, they placed second and sixth in the open category, plus fourth with his newcomer, two-year-old Ace.

Smith says training dogs is far less intimidating than working with rhinos, despite the animals sharing similar top speeds of 55km/h. The rhinos adopt a "charge now, think later" mentality, while his collies are intelligent and responsive.

His wife Jo calls the sport "farmers' golf," and Smith has competed on and off for 25 years. The trials require moving dogs through a course in 15 minutes, testing the bond between handler and animal.

"I just love it, in that it's my time away," Smith says. "I like the fact that you don't have to be the strongest or fastest. You can be a 10-year-old or 80-year-old, as long as you can walk, you can do it."

Why This Inspires

The championships bring together people from all backgrounds who share a love of working dogs. Karin Klaus, originally from Switzerland, discovered the sport after moving to a farm near Canberra with her partner.

"Some people meditate, other people trial dogs," Klaus says. She's among the competitors proving you don't need a farming background to excel.

The National Sheep Dog Trial Association runs a scholarship program for handlers under 30, providing equipment, mentoring, transport and financial support. High school students can also gain hands-on experience through special programs.

National trials president Sarah Sydrych says the sport celebrates rural heritage and the vital role working dogs play on farms. "There's nothing better than getting out there with your dog and doing the best you can," she says.

Smith hopes the ABC show Muster Dogs will inspire more people to discover the sport. "It's brought a lot of awareness to the importance of working dogs on farms these days," he says. "How valuable they are, not only for stock work, but for mental wellbeing."

From endangered rhinos to champion collies, Smith has found the perfect balance between high-stakes conservation and peaceful competition.