Things are getting serious for the hopeful trainers and their fledgling Muster Dog champions.
In the penultimate episode of Muster Dogs on Sunday night, the teams faced their 10-month assessment — the final hurdle before the grand final next week.
The good news is that four out of the five pups passed the assessment with varying degrees of success. Except for one — but more on that later.
As we join the teams, it’s been a gruelling summer for our handlers. Even though it’s now winter, it’s so hot it still feels like summer.
Our puppies are now 10 months old, which is a teenager in human terms.
And just like human teenagers, they are exhibiting some undesirable traits and teenage rebelliousness.
Just like human parents, some of the trainers are struggling to cope with these new behaviours.
Lily and Snow in Wilcannia, NSW, and Steve and Indi in Winton, Queensland, are progressing well, both confident about where their dogs are and how they’ve progressed in the past two months.
But it’s not all fun and games for our handlers, with a few facing some big setbacks.
In Ban Ban Springs, Queensland, the demands of motherhood have taken a toll on Cilla. Her youngest child has been struggling to sleep and she fears her exhaustion is impacting her mood and ability to effectively train Ash.
In Bothwell, Tasmania, Russ and Molly have their wires crossed. Molly is still getting bullied by the tough, grumpy livestock, so Russ is ramping up training, trying to get Molly to learn a bit of force and assert more dominance before the next assessment.
In the Northern Territory, Zoe is facing a much bigger challenge.
Buddy has been unwell and has been in and out of the vet several times, while they try and figure out what’s causing his poor eating, nausea and weight loss.
Deeply worried about her best mate, Zoe is unsure if Buddy will be home and well enough to participate in the 10-month assessment.
In the end he is home in time, with a vague diagnosis of food allergies and worm burden — plus a new fish diet — but is not well enough to participate in the assessment.
An upset Zoe is also dealing with her relationship break-up and the real possibility she will have to leave the NT and some of her dogs. So she is feeling very shaky ahead of the grand final.
As everyone packs up for a road trip to the final 12-month assessment in central Queensland — to be hosted by last season’s winners Frank Finger and Annie — the big question remains: Who will be crowned Champion Muster Dog?
With Buddy and Zoe looking wobbly, Indi and Steve have firmed as my favourites to win.
They’ll certainly be tough to beat.
The final of Muster Dogs screens on ABC TV on Sunday, February 11 and is already on iview.