Mary McCrabb is well known within the pastoral industry for her breed of Kelpie dogs and especially for her ability to get the best out of her dogs.
But with the passing of Greg Prince, Mrs McCrabb who runs the Avenpart Kelpie stud at Wanganella with her husband Ken and their family wishes to pay a special tribute to her former colleague, competitor and friend.
Mrs McCrabb said the late Mr Prince held Stock Dog Training Schools at Wanganella for the past 13 years, with participants aged between 93 and four years attending.
“Greg was unique in the way he handled people always telling them that “the dog was never wrong”, Mrs McCrabb recalled.
“The improvement in the dogs and their handlers in two days was always impressive.
“Greg’s 10 Commandments (I actually think it went up to 11a) that he suggested people use were exactly the same way that he trained his champion trial dogs.”
Mrs McCrabb noted “Show Em Don’t Tell Em” and “Dogs don’t understand English” were two of the late Mr Prince’s many sayings.
“Also he was always emphatic about the dog passing each Commandment before they were asked to go on to the next,” she pointed out.
“There have been many dogs saved from a “fate worse than death” by their owners attending a Greg Prince School and learning how pleasant it is to work stock be it cattle, sheep or goats with a well trained dog.
“Many a jackaroo, jillaroo or station hand have had success getting a job if they are known to have a well trained dog.”
Mrs McCrabb said she and Ken were always pleased to see their clients bring their pups back to a school because they knew that they would have a good start in life.
“It also helped our breeding programme seeing various pups out of different litters working enabling us to ascertain their potential,” she said.
“Greg supported and encouraged by Jan gave many schools throughout Australia and we are sure that all participants would join us in saying what a gentleman Greg was and what a loss to the Pastoral Industry.
“Our deepest sympathy goes out to Jan and the family.”