When they are young he likes to see whether they watch the every move of the sheep. 

If they are keen to start, he works with that.

He has worked with dogs his whole life and as the Geurie Sheep Dog Trials began this week he arrived from his home between Yass and Canberra to compete with 11 dogs.

He grew up crazy about horses and dogs, often breaking horses in and he used to chase a few rodeos, but it was tough and he thought the dogs were better.

He always worked with them on the farm, but he took to the trial circuit in 1983.

"I was brought up with it in my blood. I followed my father since I was this high. Once it gets in your blood you can't get it out," he said.

He believes the dogs are their best at the age of three or four, but once they get older, they get cunning and don't want to listen.

"They think they know better," Mr Slater said.

He has done well out of the trials, winning the supreme open championships and interstate championships.

These days he has a good bloodline of dogs too.

A lot of training is involved and he saves a lot of time in the ring by tying his new ones to an old dog which teaches them.

He is pictured here with nine-year-old Sparkle at Geurie.

The trials continue until Sunday.