Emu farmers use dog to control their flock

Jeff Long and Bev Littlejohn of Longview Emu Farm's more than 1,200-strong flock of emus are kept under control by Chip the dog.

The nine-year-old kelpie can be found in the paddock of the northern Victorian emu farm - one of the biggest in Australia - ducking in and around emu chicks, herding them up each morning and night.

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If not on the ground, he is usually on the back of Mr Long’s quad bike, guarding both farmer and vehicle from the pecks of adult birds. What he can do in ten minutes, Mr Long said would take he and partner Bev hours. “He’s a really top dog actually, a really smart dog, he’s a good mate,” said Mr Long.
“It would be nightmare to do it without him, we’d need two or three people without him.” He said the hardworking dog had a natural affinity with the birds - he’s gentle with the chicks, who can be herded until they reach four months, and firmer with the older birds who have been moved out into the paddock.