They are bred and trained to work on a farm where their skill, energy and commitment add enormous value. Working dogs in Australia are becoming so popular that exceptionally well-bred border collie and kelpie pups are attracting international attention — and big bucks. A five-month-old female border collie was sold to cattle farmers from Vanuatu for $22,000 at a recent working dog sale in central Queensland. The top-priced pup, named Carrdoon Charm by its breeders, piqued the interest of her overseas buyer, Michael Lennon, who flew to Australia to inspect his new canine companion. "I was impressed at just how cool-headed she was," Mr Lennon said. "I've always loved [Australian working dogs] and had good dogs over the years." Charm was bred by breeder and trainer Gavin Carr in Mundubbera, about four hours north-west of Brisbane. "Gavin's dogs have got styles of work that I recognise as superior and not all dogs you get to work on stock have those qualities," Mr Lennon said. "When they cover, when they step to the right and the left, they're mindful to give themselves enough room, and his dogs have that virtue." She was the result of an artificial insemination program which involved his proven breeding female, Carrdoon Netty, and an American sire. Global mission for superior genetics Many dog breeders believe this is just the start of exporting quality four-legged workers overseas. Mr Carr travelled to the United States earlier this year on a 4,500-kilometre research trip across the country to find a unique bloodline and import the genetics back to Australia. "We started in Mississippi and ended up over at Logan near Salt Lake City, and then flew to LA and then home," he said. "I was looking for consistency, I was looking for a type of dog, and I was looking for the right-minded people that have the same traits that they concentrate on that I needed to bring home." The result of his global scouting mission was US sire J Crazy J Sam, a dog Mr Carr said ticked all the boxes. While Australian working dogs are sought after globally for their herding skills he said their genetics also had the potential for worldwide demand. "We bring [genetics] in, but I can't see why we shouldn't be sending them out. I think we can actually help out other countries and work together." There's a 'good dog' for everybody The South Pacific paradise of Vanuatu is made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch across 1,300 kilometres. Both Mr Carr and Mr Lennon were confident Charm would adapt to the more tropical climate on one of the country's biggest islands, Espiritu Santo. The island is a major producer of beef with smallholder farmers like Mr Lennon driving the cattle industry. "We do most of our work in the cool so it's not too harsh on [the working dogs]," he said. "I'll breed pups out of Charm but she'll be a working dog first." As graziers around the world struggle to fill workforce shortage gaps, Mr Carr said he relied heavily on working dogs in his Droughtmaster operation. The long-time cattleman said working dog sales in Australia would only continue to grow internationally, underlining the fact that there are still some things only a good dog can do. "I'm already setting dogs now for three years [time], and moving forward I'd like to bring more international buyers to us," he said. "There's a dog at every sale for everybody."