At the local pub in the small town of Bothwell, Tasmania, there’s a commotion going on.
A visiting star has dropped by and is sitting on the bar, greeting her adoring audience. Former ABC News Breakfast co-host Lisa Millar is one of those queuing up, eager for a moment with Molly. She is a cute border collie who won hearts alongside her handler, seventh-generation sheep farmer Russ Fowler, in the second season of breakout hit Muster Dogs.
“I don’t want to play favourites, because I love all my children,” Lisa, series narrator, and who has also written a book on the pooches, tells The Weekly.
“But I’m probably closest to Molly. I find Molly a really soft dog to be around and I like how Molly is with me. I think every dog has found a place in someone’s heart. It just depends on what kind of people we are as to which dog we gravitate to.”
Lisa is visiting all the TV star canines around the country for a new Where Are They Now? special. And the reception all over the land, she says, is just as enthusiastic when these talented dogs make public appearances … That is when they’re not doing their mustering day job. Not that becoming stars was what any of them were after when they became involved in the program.
When Muster Dogs first went to air, back in 2022, the country went crazy for kelpies as we watched five adorable pups training to be working dogs. One year later, border collies became every man’s (and woman’s) best friend as they continued the tradition.
Regardless of their breed, however, the docuseries showed their incredible skill as they herded up livestock. Their way of work was far gentler on the animals than using heavy machinery — as well as being less destructive on the land itself.
There’s been a noticeable shift, says Lisa, in the farming industry as a result of these hard-working pooches gaining public attention.
“There’s a real understanding that we’ve only got one planet here and we need to continue to find better ways of looking after the land,” she says of the Muster Dogs effect.“ If anything, it’s making people realise that if they were thinking of trying organic farming or cell grazing [placing entire herds into a small area each day], they’re not alone. There are other people out there doing that and together they can be a powerful force.”
In addition, says Lisa, the might of the female graziers in the series is encouraging more women to apply for the Muster Dogs program. It’s even inspiring farmers from overseas to come and train with our TV graziers.
Frank Finger (who won series one with top dog Annie) is one of those who has been kept busy as a result. In the special, we meet aspiring farmer Shay, who has travelled from Israel in the hope of taking Frank’s methods home.
“We’ve filmed them together and it’s going to be so special,” says Lisa.
“Everybody feels so fondly about Frank. And I tell you, he cooks a mighty fine spit and opens a very good bottle of wine when I visit him on his property in Clermont! Frank took on a couple of extra dogs as well, outside of the beautiful Annie. He took on Lucifer — who he’s now called Luci. And also Lucky, the deaf dog. He’s found a way to train Lucky, which is just extraordinary.”
Lucky, Lisa tells us, has found a girlfriend since the show. Luci, meanwhile, who was the resident bad boy of his season, has found a new calling as a therapy dog. He now visits the local aged care home where he lies down next to elderly residents quietly and allows them to shower him with love.
“It’s gorgeous watching that happen,” says Lisa with a smile.
In 2025, there’ll be a new generation of dogs (collies and kelpies) ready to follow in their paw prints on the ABC and ABC iView. Could a Muster Dogs‘ offspring be among them? With season one’s Chet and season two’s Snow having litters of their own, we ask Lisa whether it’s time for a new generation of TV stars.
“They will definitely be great working dogs,” Lisa says, “but there’s a real science to it. We’ll see.”
Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now? is available to stream on ABC iview
This article originally appeared in the Christmas 2024 issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly. Pick up the latest issue of the magazine at your local newsagents or subscribe so you never miss an issue.
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