26/08/2026
Happy 17th Birthday, Tobo. ❤️
Seventeen years ago Dad bought me a little $50 pup from Kikoira. A red and tan worker that would end up becoming so much more than just a dog. I was 15 years old in 2009 and Tobo became my very first work dog, my best mate and probably the reason I’ll never own another male dog again! 😂
He’s walked beside me through every season of my life. From a teenage girl, to a farm hand, to starting our contracting business, becoming a small business owner, a wife and then a first-time mum. He’s been there to meet every one of our beautiful babies as we brought them home, quietly taking his place as part of our family.
He was the king of goats. There wasn’t a big billy alive that could intimidate him. He’d take on whatever needed doing without a second thought then come back looking for a cuddle like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. Tough as nails when he had to be but with the softest heart. He’s seen every season this country has thrown at us too. The incredible years when the paddocks were green and crops were thriving, and the heartbreaking droughts when every animal needed a little more care and handling. He never complained, he just turned up and did his job.
He was a mighty dog. The kind of dog every farm girl dreams of having once in a lifetime.
These days, life looks a little different. His eyes don’t see much anymore, his hearing has almost disappeared and he spends all his time plodding around the house yard. But he can still sniff out a feed from a mile away and he never says no to a pat.
Happy 17th birthday, old mate. Thank you for growing up with me, standing beside me through every chapter, and being the best dog a girl could ever ask for. Here’s to whatever years we have left together! 🍻