Echo Park Working Dogs

22/12/2024

2024 has had many trialing highlights for Stefan and his dogs. He has had another successful year including taking out the SAWSDA State Championships with Echo Park Uno.

This year we got a litter of pups out of Echo Park Lady. Sadly only one has survived and is pictured with Stefan and Lady. Echo Park Belle is a much loved member of the Echo Park family and is showing a lot of promise.

2025 is shaping up to be another busy year for Stefan with trialing and judging commitments. Keep an eye out for our updates.

From our family to yours, we wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas. We are looking forward to celebrating with our family and loved ones. 🌲🎅

29/11/2024

This is something that is a first for Echo Park. A Kelpie no less 😆 This is Daniel's new dog Jack. Thank you Tom & Bianca Joyce. He is a little ripper!

18/11/2024

Uno and Laura bringing in 800 crossbred lambs tonight. They were pretty wild for a start but they have them walking nicely now.

17/11/2024

Belle is having her first time out and about. Watching and learning like all good apprentices. And a little bit of barking because she wanted to join in!!

17/11/2024

Lady and Uno bringing in the culls to be shorn along with the lambs tomorrow. Nice place to be except for the wind.

17/10/2024

Stefan has recently been interviewed by Tori Arbon for an episode of Dusty Dogs - Working Sheepdog Podcast. He explains how a sheepdog trial works 👍

I’m excited to share a Special Episode with you, it's out now! 🐾 Hypro Group Dusty Dogs Working Sheepdog Podcast: Series 1 – Training for 3 Sheep Trials - Special Episode: What are 3 Sheep Trials?

This is an Episode I’ve been asked for by many listeners …. Australia loves our working dogs, and from the popularity of ABC’s Muster Dogs, clearly we’d like to know how these amazing dogs are trained. This Podcast Series has reached listeners that want to know more about what goes into educating our working dogs but don’t know what the 3 Sheep Trials are … so share this Special Episode with everyone that has ever wondered what the terms ‘cast, lift and draw’ mean, we’ll find out how the Trials work and how to get involved.

Champion handler and judge, Stefan Cross, Sheep & Cropping Farmer from Strathalbyn, South Australia helps to explain the rules, history and terms used in 3 sheep competitions. Stefan has an impressive record in sheepdog trials including most recently winning the Hypro Group South Australian Working Sheepdog Association State Championship 2024.

Listen now on all your favourite platforms, link to Spotify here -

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dusty-dogs/episodes/11--Stefan-Cross-e2pp6t3

13/10/2024

Stefan has just won the Hypro Group SAWSDA State Championship with Echo Park Uno. He also had Bennetts Laura in the final.

Uno is 7 years old and was bred by Stefan. She is out of Echo Park Sandy by Bellview Rex. This is Uno's third Open win.

Thanks to all the sponsors, especially the Hypro Group for their support of sheepdog trialing.

01/10/2024

The SA State Championships are next weekend in Crystal Brook. Stefan will be competing with his team of dogs hoping to replicate his success last year where he took out 1st to 4th place with his dogs! (we are super proud of that achievement)
If you are in the area, pop in and have a look. The best dogs from around the State will be competing.

28/09/2024

Echo Park Belle watching the grand final.

18/09/2024

Stefan has just returned home from the Hypro Group Supreme Australian Working Sheepdog Championship at Geelong.
He proudly represented South Australia for the 14th time. In the Ted Gaby he finished in 6th place with Echo Park Lady. Not a bad result considering she had pups 9 weeks ago!
His other dogs worked ok, but weren't good enough on the day. His young dogs showed promise in the Novice.
Home now for a few days before he heads to Maitland and Paskeville and the SA State Championships next month. Thanks Merv Simmonds for the photos.

31/08/2024

Belle is a bit more cautious but still keen to have a go.

30/08/2024

So Doug is 7 weeks old today. We wondered if he was showing any interest in sheep.

16/08/2024

Stefan will be representing SA for his 14th time at Geelong. He is hoping to finish in the top 4 with Echo Park Lady so that they can represent Australia against New Zealand in the Trans Tasman Test series. Stefan is proud to be representing SA with Lady. He also qualified with Bazza but has chosen to work Lady. Conor McConnell will be representing Victoria with Lady’s litter mate Glen and Mick Hudson from NSW has also qualified to work Mel, but has to decide to work either Rabbit or Mel.What an extraordinary litter!
Stefan is joining Anthony Ireland with Oakdowns Byn and Ben Simmonds with Deppeler’s Charlie Parker. They are looking to retain the Ted Gaby trophy that SA won last year 👍

26/07/2024

Ladys pups are four weeks old today and are going really well. Introducing Echo Park Belle on the left and Echo Park Doug on the right, paying respect to their ancestory 🐑🐑🐑🐕

03/07/2024

We would like to acknowledge and thank Greg and the team at Angle Park Veterinary Clinic for their care of Lady. Lady was put in pup by AI to a straw of Glenview Loftie (some 30 year old semen) and recently had 2 pups by caesarian. We were obviously hoping for more pups, but are extremely happy that Lady has come through with a boy and a girl. 🤞Lady is back working at her best by Geelong

02/07/2024

The Ted Gaby Interstate Challenge will be held this year at the Hypro Group Supreme Championship at Geelong in September. Stefan has qualified to work either Echo Park Bazza or Echo Park Lady having finished first and second in the SA selection period. All going well, he is hoping to work Echo Park Lady. The extraordinary thing is Echo Park Glen owned and worked by Conor McConnell has qualified to represent Victoria and Echo Park Mel owned and worked by Mick Hudson has qualified to represent NSW. Mick has also qualified with MGH Rabbit and will most likely work Rabbit, but what an extraordinary litter of dogs. To have four dogs from the same litter qualify to represent their States is amazing!

16/04/2024

How cool is this?! After representing South Australia thirteen times in the Ted Gaby Interstate Challenge Stefan finally has his name on the Perpetual Trophy with his mate Tom Joyce 👍

16/04/2024

Stefan had another successful trial on the weekend, winning the Hypro Group Strathalbyn Field trial with Bennett's Laura. Laura won this trial last year as well! Echo Park Lady finished fourth.
Stefan was honoured to receive the Matt Combe Memorial Trophy.