Season 2 winner (spoiler alert)
Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now
Presented by Lisa Millar, Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now? will revisit the human and canine stars of series 1 & series 2 to check in on the dogs’ progress since the final milestone challenge. Along the way discover what our ten graziers and their dogs are up to, what is happening in their communities, and how Muster Dogs has changed their lives
Production Credit : Produced by Ambience Entertainment; Series Director Monica O’Brien, Director Justin Schneider, Producers Sally Browning, Michael Boughen and Monica O’Brien, Co-producer John Unwin, Executive Producer Matthew Street. ABC Commissioning Editor Jo Chichester, ABC Executive Producer Rachel Robinson, ABC Head of Factual Susie Jones. Supported by Screen Territory.
Muster Dogs returns for more with a four-part special and a brand-new season
Sunday 1 December 7.30pm
The ABC is thrilled to announce successful original series Muster Dogs is set to return with a four-part special this year and a brand-new season in 2025.
Presented by Lisa Millar, Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now premieres on Sunday 1 December 7.30pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available on ABC iview.
Following the runaway success of Muster Dogs, we check in on our human and canine stars to delve a little deeper into their lives and see what they’ve been up to since they competed to be crowned Champion Muster Dog.
From beloved Season 1 winners Frank and Annie in Clermont, QLD to the charismatic duo Joni and Chet in WA, superstars Cilla and Ash in Ban Ban Springs, QLD, and Season 2 winners Zoe and Buddy in the NT, Lisa Millar covers the breadth of the country to find out how Muster Dogs has changed their lives and impacted the communities in which they live.
In that time there’s been romance, a newborn baby, and a litter of puppies bred from two of the Muster Dog stars. We’ll see how bad-boy Luci (Lucifer) is going sharing his life with Annie and deaf dog Lucky, and how Russ’ goofy Collie Molly is supporting the family’s grazing business.
In addition to the special, the eagerly anticipated third season of Muster Dogs will premiere in 2025 and returns with a twist in the experiment to see who will be crowned Champion Muster Dog.
This time both Kelpies and Collies are put to the test as three graziers will receive a Border Collie pup and three receive a Kelpie pup to see which breed comes out on top.
Production credits MUSTER DOGS:
An Ambience Entertainment production for the ABC with production investment from Screen Queensland, Screen New South Wales and financed with support from the ABC. Series Director: Monica O’Brien. Director: Sally Browning. Producers: Sally Browning, Michael Boughen, Monica O’Brien. Co-producer John Unwin. Executive Producer: Mathew Street. ABC Executive Producer: Rachel Robinson. Commissioning Editor: Jo Chichester. ABC Head of Factual: Susie Jones. International Distributor: ABC Commercial.
Production credits MUSTER DOGS - WHERE ARE THEY NOW:
An Ambience Entertainment production for the ABC with production investment from Screen Queensland, Screen Territory and financed with support from the ABC. Series Director: Monica O’Brien. Director: Justin Schneider. Producers: Sally Browning, Michael Boughen, Monica O’Brien. Co-producer John Unwin. Executive Producer: Mathew Street. ABC Executive Producer: Rachel Robinson. Commissioning Editor: Jo Chichester. ABC Head of Factual: Susie Jones. International Distributor: ABC Commercial.
Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now? - Episode 1
Sunday 1 December 7.30pm
Following the runaway success of Muster Dogs, we check in on our human and canine stars to delve a little deeper into their lives and see what they’ve been up to since they competed to be crowned Champion Muster Dog.
Following the runaway success of Muster Dogs, we check in on our human and canine stars to delve a little deeper into their lives and see what they’ve been up to since they competed to be crowned Champion Muster Dog.
From beloved Season 1 winners Frank and Annie in Clermont, QLD to the charismatic duo Joni and Chet in WA, superstars Cilla and Ash in Ban Ban Springs and Season 2 winners Zoe and Buddy in the NT, host Lisa Millar covers the breadth of the country to find out how Muster Dogs has changed their lives and impacted the communities in which they live.
In that time there’s been romance, a newborn baby, and a litter of puppies bred from two of the Muster Dog stars. We’ll see how bad-boy Luci (Lucifer) is going sharing his life with Annie and deaf dog Lucky, how Russ’s goofy collie Molly is supporting the family’s grazing business, new adventures in Joni’s nomadic life in the Top End, and how all our participants and dogs are dealing with their new-found stardom!
Cheers @TV.Cynic - one of my fave shows. Feel good TV at its best.
Episode 2
Sunday 8 December 7.30pm
Lisa’s nationwide journey continues as she revisits Zoë and Buddy, Cilla and Ash, and Rob and Patch. Much has changed for our Muster Dogs participants and their dogs since we last checked in.
Lisa begins her journey at the Atherton show in Queensland, where Season 1 and 2 winners Frank and Annie and Zoë and Buddy (respectively) are conducting a dog training school for an eager crowd. Lisa then catches up with Zoë to discuss how she’s handling her newfound fame since winning Muster Dogs.
Looking back on Zoë and Buddy’s journey in Season 2, they faced significant hurdles, particularly with Buddy’s health, yet they persevered and were ultimately crowned Champion Muster Dog. Since their time on the show, Zoë and Buddy have made a move from the Top End, settling at Sutherland Station in outback Queensland, where they’re both going from strength to strength and still share an incredible bond.
In Ban Ban Springs, Queensland, Lisa meets up with fan favourites Cilla and Ash. Cilla continues to juggle a busy lifestyle, balancing mustering cattle, training weaners, being a mum, and touring with her live show. Ash has become an integral member of Cilla’s team, leading the pack and performing tricks for the audience during her live shows.
Next, Lisa reconnects with Rob to see how he’s going without Lucifer. Since the series, Rob has endured a significant drought but has become more involved in the community, giving talks, performing at local pubs as part of his music career and taking pups to nursing homes.
Next time, Lisa travels across the country to catch up with more of our participants. She checks in on Season 1 participants CJ and Chet and follows-up with Aticia and Gossip, as well as Season 2 participants Russ and Molly.
Episode 3
Sunday 15 December 7.30pm
Lisa continues her travels around regional Australia, catching up with our graziers and their dogs and checking in on what they have all been up to since they competed in Muster Dogs.
Lisa continues her travels around regional Australia, visiting Clermont, Queensland, where she joins Frank and his dogs Annie, Luci, and Lucky as they bring joy to residents of Montcler Nursing Home, a regular activity that lifts spirits and promotes mental well-being.
On the other side of the country, in Western Australia, Lisa catches up with Aticia and Gossip from Season 1. Aticia has moved off the cattle station that she lived at for 30-years to a new property further south after welcoming her first child, Savannah. With her focus now on motherhood and downsizing to a smaller property, Aticia made the tough decision to also downsize her pack of dogs, though loyal Gossip remains by her side, just with a lot less work to do.
In Bothwell, Tasmania, Lisa checks in again with Russ and his dog Molly from Season 2. Russ’s family business has been hit hard by plummeting sheep prices and drought, forcing layoffs. With the entire agricultural industry under extreme pressure, staying connected with friends and the local community is so important to Russ.
Despite these challenges, Molly continues to excel in her role as a working dog, herding sheep alongside Russ.
Back in Western Australia, Lisa meets up with cowgirl Joni and her dog Chet from Season 1 who still live their life on the road. Since filming, Chet has become part of Joni’s A-team, showing exceptional skill despite his goofy demeanour. Joni has been very busy since filming, running dog and stock handling schools across the country, while Chet has also been busy welcoming four gorgeous puppies into the world.
Episode 4 - Season final
Sunday 22 December 7.30pm
Lisa hits the road for one last check-in with some of our participants as her journey across Australia comes to an end. In Sandfire, Western Australia, Lisa reconnects with Joni and Chet one last time. Joni is preparing to judge the annual Sandfire Cattle Cup and reflects on the busy year spent mentoring several of the trainees competing in the event. Now at the top of her game, Joni takes pride in passing on her expertise and experience to help the next generation of students excel in the field.
Lisa visits CJ and Spice. Since we last saw them, Spice has become an essential part of CJ’s pack, her confidence growing day by day. Now, both are thriving in the Territory, with CJ busier than ever. Next, Lisa heads back to Ban Ban Springs, Queensland, to visit full-time mum and grazier Cilla to see what the future holds and how Muster Dogs has changed her life. Since her appearance in the series, Cilla’s confidence has grown, and she’s been working hard to expand her cattle business and prove to her family that she is both capable and serious about life on the land. Her growth has prompted her father to reconsider his succession plans, now training her to take over the family property.
In Western Australia, Lisa catches up with Aticia and Gossip who are adjusting to a whole new style of life. Despite the changes, Aticia continues her passion of training future Muster Dogs. She’s currently training four Kelpie pups that she bred, which will be auctioned off to raise money for Kelpies For Kids, a cause which raises funds for sick kids in regional communities. Both Aticia and Gossip are loving their new way of life and look forward to the future.
Lisa wraps up her journey with a final stop to outback Queensland, to catch up with Zoë and her champion muster dog Buddy. Since being on Muster Dogs, Zoë’s newfound confidence has inspired her to complete a half marathon for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, a cause close to her heart. Zoë’s life has also taken a romantic turn, as she’s found love with Rob, a stockman she met at a dog school. Now, Zoë is thriving with both Rob and Buddy by her side as she embraces new challenges.
According to TV Tonight, Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies premieres on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies - from Sunday 2 February 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV:
Six passionate graziers from across the country participate in an experiment to see if they can train a puppy to become a champion Muster Dog in just under 12 months. This third season of the smash hit series sets a new twist; this time both Collies and Kelpies are put to the test as three graziers receive an Australian Border Collie pup and three receive a Kelpie pup as we compare techniques and aptitude to see which breed comes out on top!
Muster Dogs: Collies and Kelpies - Episode 1
Sunday 2 February 7.30pm
Six adorable puppies - three Collies and three Kelpies - embark on a journey to meet their new owners and compete for the title, Champion Muster Dog. Over twelve months, they navigate challenges and milestones as experts evaluate breed differences, training techniques and suitability.
Following on from the success of previous seasons, Muster Dogs season 3 introduces an exciting new twist in the experiment, putting Australia’s top working dog breeds, Border Collies and Kelpies to the test to determine the ultimate Champion Muster Dog. In this six-part series, six passionate graziers embark on a challenge to train a puppy - three Collies and three Kelpies - into efficient working members of their mustering pack within 12 months.
In episode one, on Mick and Carolyn Hudson’s property in NSW we meet first-time mother Nikki and father Boss. In the early hours of the morning Nikki delivers seven gorgeous Australian Border Collie pups. Meanwhile, on the other side of the country Neil and Helen McDonald anticipate a litter of Kelpie pups from Reba and GoGetta Bets. After five hours Reba delivers more than the expected number of Kelpie pups, delivering ten beautiful Australian Kelpies. Among these pups, six (three Border Collies & three Kelpies) will steal our hearts as we watch them grow in a twelve-month experiment.
Both dog breeds come from esteemed bloodlines, bred to be Champion Muster Dogs. Training experts Neil McDonald and Mick Hudson will monitor the dogs closely. Through various challenges, they will evaluate the similarities and differences between these two iconic breeds, focusing on training techniques, aptitude and job suitability.
At twelve weeks, the pups are delivered to six graziers across Australia, who will each train their pup to be crowned Champion Muster Dog. There’s Marlene, a sixty year old grazier with over three decades of experience in Bingara, New South Wales; Jack a new father with diverse interests in Dunkeld, Victoria; Blythe, a first generation farmer in Uduc, Western Australia; Kim who is juggling her farm with a busy family life in Kaniva, Victoria; Nathan, a school student in his final year who is passionate about working dogs on his families property in Kingaroy, Queensland; and Renee, an organic, grass-fed cattle farmer from the Central Highlands.
Each trainer is given their new pup; Marlene, Nathan and Renee get Border Collies, while Jack, Blythe and Kim receive Kelpies. These cute new puppies instantly wriggle their way into the hearts of our new owners as training begins for the first five-month milestone assessment.
Production credit: Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. An Ambience Entertainment production for the ABC with production investment from Screen Queensland, Screen NSW and financed with support from the ABC. Series Director: Monica O’Brien. Director: Sally Browning. Producers: Sally Browning, Michael Boughen, Monica O’Brien. Co-producer and additional direction: John Unwin. Executive Producer: Mathew Street. ABC Executive Producer: Rachel Robinson. ABC Commissioning Editor: Jo Chichester. ABC Head of Documentaries and Specialist: Susie Jones. International Distributor: ABC Commercial.
Episode 2
Sunday 9 February 7.30pm
As the puppies settle into their new homes and the five-month assessment approaches, the six handlers find themselves struggling to navigate personal challenges and training hurdles.
We check in with each of the participants to see how their pups are settling in. Kim and Banjo are bonding well, with Kim overcoming her fear that she couldn’t open her heart to a new pup after losing her favourite old dog.
Nathan is facing challenges with Chief, who is scared of the rake used for training, forcing Nathan to adapt his usual methods.Blythe is introducing Banksi to her chickens; their first interaction wasn’t great, but Banksi’s eagerness to please makes Blythe confident in his trainability.
Renee is managing Pockets’ obsession with her older dogs, striving to create a cohesive team dynamic.
Jack is very busy with his property responsibilities and interests and is struggling to find time to train his pup Pesto, whose abundance of energy is proving a challenge.As the least experienced dog trainer, Marlene is concerned about Hudson’s overconfidence and is working to calm his instincts and teach him to respect the stock.
Puppy expert Neil McDonald outlines the five-month assessment and the six tasks the pups must master to advance to the next stage.
Balancing businesses, managing staff and caring for families, our trainers are continually juggling priorities to provide the vital training necessary to keep the pups on track. At four months old, the puppies are nearing their five-month assessment in just a few weeks. The trainers are working tirelessly to maximise training time. These upcoming weeks will be pivotal for our six participants, who must devote consistent time and effort to these potential champion muster dogs if they hope to pass the impending five-month assessment.
Episode 3
Sunday 16 February 7.30pm
In a high-stakes showdown between Team Collie and Team Kelpie, our six participants and their pup’s step through the five-month assessment tasks. They each grapple with training challenges and personal bonds, as surprises unfold.
The first showdown between Team Collie and Team Kelpie is here as all six of our participants face the five-month assessment.
After five weeks living with their trainers, the puppies have noticeably matured, showcasing distinct personalities and honing their livestock herding skills.
In Kaniva, Victoria, Kim and Banjo are going great. Banjo is growing into a very easy dog to train. Meanwhile, Renee continues to face challenges with her Collie pup Pockets, whose fixation on older dogs is disrupting their training and Renee’s ability to enforce her authority and dominance.
Marlene and Hudson in Bingara, NSW and Nathan and Chief in Kingaroy, Queensland are going from strength to strength. They are both super confident and are putting in the training, but there are a few teething problems that need to be ironed out before the assessment.
Regenerative farmer, Blythe has built a special bond with her Kelpie pup, Banksi. He’s chilled, attentive and at times mischievous, so Blythe has to be particularly careful when Banksi is around her chickens. Muster Dogs series 1 veteran and good friend, Aticia Grey visits Blythe and Banksi to do a training session and offer some advice in preparation for the upcoming assessment.
In Dunkeld, Victoria, Jack and his hyperactive Kelpie pup Pesto, are struggling to build a strong bond. The prolonged summer meant that Jack was stretched and unable to find the time to train Pesto. With only one week to go, will Jack and Pesto have time to build a solid bond, or will they continue to be at odds?
As judgement day arrives, our six pups each step through the five-month milestone assessments to determine if they are on track to be crowned Champion Muster Dog. The results are certainly surprising, with some puppy fails and some puppy passes.