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Now barking up the right tree to compete with the top dogs
Monday, May 07, 2012
NOW back to full health, Gisborne wonderdog Scott begins his national championship campaign today at the Tux North Island Sheepdog Trial Championships in Northland.

Scott, a nine-year-old heading dog, spent three days hanging in the fork of a tree after falling about 14 metres down a bluff on a Matawai farm during the wild Easter weekend storm last month.

The dog was stuck head first and trapped by his shoulders in the fork of a tree while his owners Lawrence and Liz Rau scoured their farm looking for him.

Scott had gone out for a muster with Mr Rau but jumped off the trailer and could not be found.

It was three days later, after much searching by family and friends, that two weak barks were heard.

It was lucky they heard the barks and found him, Mrs Rau said at the time.

“No doubt he would have been a goner — he was very weak and sick.’’

Mrs Rau told The Daily Post Scott slept in his kennel for two days after his ordeal and managed to bounce back.

“He’s a box of birds. He has been away last weekend to a couple of dog trials and went really well — he didn’t get any placings, but he’s as fit as can be. He has bounced back really well.’’

Scott’s story of survival was picked up by media organisations and was the talk of the town for a couple of weeks.

He became quite the celebrity, Mrs Rau said.

“They say it’s so nice to have a good story with a good ending because there are so many bad things.’’

A dairy farm sent ointment for the wounds on his feet.

The package was addressed to “Scott, the wonderdog, Rau’’ and included a letter wishing a speedy recovery.

Scott and Mr Rau are entered in the long and short head events at Kaikohe this week and later in the month aim to compete in the South Island and national championships at Wanaka, Otago.

More than a dozen Gisborne competitors are taking part in the North Island championships, competing with 13 heading dogs and 14 huntaways,.

These trials will end late in the week, when the top seven dogs in each event will take part in a final run-off.

The North Island Championship titles will be decided by the highest aggregate of their two runs.
BACK IN ACTION: Nine-year-old heading dog Scott from Matawai is now back to health but his ordeal getting trapped in a tree on the side of a bluff for three days has won him a legion of fans. This week he is competing in the North Island sheepdog championships in Northland. Picture by Dave Thomas
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