Muster Dogs (2022– ) User Reviews

Wholesome TV and Educational Too

[t-d-t-m82 · 9/10 · 5 June 2023]

The show particularly highlights the challenges of extreme outback cattle farming in Australia's territories. The distance involved is just mind-blowing.

Climate change meant that one farmer hadn't had rain for four years and with delight and joy whilst filming the rain season finally came. Providing huge relief fo the farmer.

What I really enjoyed about the show is instead of showing a finished article dog they decided to train-up the same litter; boys and girls; and make them become professional working dogs. Can it be done? Watch and see!

I love the humanity of it all. The warmth and glow farmers got from looking after their dogs. The playful nature of a young pup not realising the tasks ahead and learning how to conquer life.

It's very refreshing in terms of documentaries on Netflix and one which I thoroughly enjoyed. Farming is a brutal occupation and it's so hard to make money from it and I envy the risk farmers go through to see that we get guaranteed food on our table. Cheers!

Fantastic Show

[rfadam · 9/10 · 12 July 2023]

I really loved this show: the different landscapes of Australia, the rugged reality of raising livestock, but most of all the bond between working dogs and their handlers. Each person and their dog have such a unique chemistry, I loved seeing their bonds develop across the four episodes. Wish there had been 8.

The show really does justice to the beauty of a muster dog shepherding a herd of stock. It's a beautiful sight to watch. The last episode was an emotional one, but the result not surprising. Wonderful to see people and their love for working dogs, livestock and the land. Recommended for anyone who loves animals.

Excellent show..., but political correctness

[Michele7169 · 8/10 · 6 June 2023]

Wonderful to see pups and owners.. but hilarious how they give indigenous names to the properties. We have so lost our way that people who worked hard and bought land can't even call it " their" land!! It's disgusting actually!! May the pendulum swing the other way VERY SOON!!

Anyway.. show is good because of characters.. dogs and training. Dogs are absolutely beautiful and sweet to watch.

The breeder is awesome and the cattle owners who train the pups are also awesome. A ll very interesting and loving. Show is very sweet how it follows the breeder giving pups to cattle owners. Watching them fall in love with the pups is priceless..

Best ever dog series

[soundwright · 10/10 · 26 January 2022]

Heartwarming captivating brilliant tv. I've just lost my best ever Kelpie and shed some tears in each episode as I saw the qualities I love so much in every pup. The quality of the people was just as impressive. Well done ABC, this is what public broadcasting should be about.

Fantastic show

[nicolepowell-16228 · 10/10 · 11 January 2023]

Informative & beautifully captured look of the importance of our working dogs in our Australian landscape.

Kelpies are such beautiful, loyal, hard working dogs but as this show has shown they all have unique personalities & need training, care, guidance & love to make them into the best dog they can be.

I've loved watching the diverse nature of all the farmers & seeing them bond & commit to these puppies. These dogs thrive under a strong leader & you get to see why this is such a beloved breed.

Haven't wiped the smoke off my face as I've enjoyed watching these babies grow & turn into beautiful, happy working dogs with owners who appreciate & love them.

Even if you're a cat person, you'll still love Muster Dogs!

[soph-hunter · 10/10 · 5 July 2023]

Being a city dweller, I loved seeing different farms across Australia, meeting the farmers and how passionate each of them are towards the land, the well being of their livestock and their respect for each other. The kelpie pups were an added bonus, seeing them develop into different characters and the importance they play to the farmers well being. I loved when one farmer said, when there is drought for so long, you need to make sure you have things in your life to get you through, music and dogs. Its the perfect educational and entertaining show for the family to watch, with a very teary happy ending I was not expecting.

Captivating and Educational

[imneverusingthiseatmyass · 10/10 · 14 December 2023]

As a certified positive-reinforcement dog trainer wanting to break into the farm-dog scene, this series was not only very enjoyable to watch (I binged all the episodes in one night) but also incredibly educational. You get to see the 'do's and dont's' of muster training, as well as seeing the clear difference between experienced and newer trainers all under the watchful eye of the world renowned dog-trainer

You follow the progress of 5 Australian Kelpie puppies through an intensive but ground-breaking experiment thats never been attempted before: condensing a three year training program and turning promising pedigree pups into world class muster dogs in just one year!

My initial worry was over the treatment of the dogs. Its far too common for people in the dog-training industry to justify abusing their animals in the name of profit and innovation, but I am SO HAPPY to say that is not the case with this series! Not only are all the dogs in this series treated as valuable partners and family members, but each farmer already knows how important it is to develop positive relationships (the 'blue tooth' as they like to call it) with their new-pups to build a lasting bond based on trust and respect. And there really isnt any aversive equipment or unecessarily harsh handling of any of the dogs -save for when safety is an immediate concern.

All in all, it was an incredible watch and I would reccomend it to dog-trainers and enthusiasts alike, or anyone who is just curious about it. I dont know if they can make it into a multi-seasom thing, but Ill be keeping an eye out!!

Bring us more!

[ksratlifflcsw · 10/10 · 18 June 2023]

Two thumbs (two humans) and one paw (one dog) up from viewers at our house! This show allows humans to learn about working dog traits and training techniques, animal-human relationships, a bit of the geography of Australia, and the benefits of working dogs in the business of animal husbandry. Additionally, the show is very entertaining for both dogs and humans. While our very new-to-us Border Collie rescue loves watching the puppies when he hears them, we are entertained by the human personalities and interactions. We are ready for a spin-off reality show from any, or all, of the humans/businesses we have met through this show. Bring us more, please!

BRILLUANT!!

[hellalujia · 10/10 · 8 February 2024]

Thank you ABC for the Muster Dogs series. In these hard times, it is particularly valuable to view such an inspiring, uplifting and generous in spirit TV series. For so many reasons e.g. The natural beauty and boundless energy of the dogs, the participants and their stories were endearing plus the sight of our beautiful Aussie outback.

The show was well presented plus I really enjoyed listening to one of my favourite narrators Lisa Millar. I don't think I was the only one with tears in my eyes during the last episode.

A very special show and I hope we will see those folk again and their dogs.

GARBAGE

[wthorpe-71055 · 1/10 · 9 June 2023]

I am seething with rage after subjecting myself to the abysmal disaster that is Muster Dogs. Prepare yourself for a scathing review, as I can't help but unleash my fury at this show's disgraceful inadequacies.

Let's start with the most glaring issue-its criminally short episodes. I was anticipating a riveting journey into the lives of these supposedly endearing canines, only to have my hopes crushed by the show's fleeting moments. It felt like a cruel joke, as if the creators were mocking their audience's desire for a substantial viewing experience. How could we possibly forge a connection with the characters when we're served bite-sized snippets that leave us unsatisfied and infuriated?

As if the abbreviated episodes weren't enough to provoke my ire, the incessant barking throughout the show made me want to tear my hair out. Dogs bark, we know that, but this production seemed to ignore the very essence of storytelling and character development. Instead of showcasing the dogs' personalities, their loyalty, or any semblance of depth, all we got was an auditory assault of incessant, mind-numbing barking. It was a tragic waste of potential and an insult to the art of dog-based entertainment.

And let's not forget the broken promises of peanut butter! From the show's inception, I was tantalized with the prospect of witnessing these canines revel in the glorious delight of peanut butter. Alas, it was nothing more than a fleeting mention, a mere crumb thrown to us viewers. How dare they raise our hopes, only to snatch away the joy of watching dogs happily savoring every lick? It was a deceitful move that left me feeling betrayed and utterly livid.

Muster Dogs had the chance to be a captivating celebration of our beloved four-legged friends. Instead, it presented itself as a contemptible travesty, failing miserably on all fronts. Its brevity robbed us of any meaningful connection, the incessant barking grated on our nerves, and the peanut butter betrayal was the final nail in the coffin of disappointment.

I implore you, dear reader, to steer clear of Muster Dogs. Spare yourself the agony and seek out shows that actually respect their audience and the subject matter they claim to embrace. There is no shortage of worthwhile canine-centered content out there, so do yourself a favor and avoid this woeful display of breach and barks. Muster Dogs, your lackluster execution has earned my everlasting disdain.

Lucifer

[susanwigdor · 10/10 · 24 September 2023]

The show was amazing, so captivating! Such wonderful and intelligent dogs!! Interesting to see how much natural instinct they have and how much training goes into the dogs. The reunion was wonderful to see all the dogs back together with their owners, and the original breeder and trainers.

I was really happy to see Frank take Lucifer. But the Only thing that bothered me was seeing Frank hit Lucifer with the leash as they were leaving the building. Literally a few minutes after he gets him. We never saw this as part of the dog training, and I certainly hope that's not how he treats & trains Lucifer. He doesn't deserve that.

Worth every minute!

[nerdygirl-91418 · 10/10 · 12 October 2023]

Heartwarming, educational, and influential. Be careful... because if you're so inclined, you just might look at dogs, community, hard work, and even yourself differently, and all for the better, stronger direction!!

So this app is requiring I write a longer review, so I will add that this show has made me more aware of my Bluetooth connection with my dog, Emilie. She's part Rhodesian Ridgeback. She would run from sheep and cattle, for sure, but would run towards me any second of any day!

Still too short...hmmm... another wonderful takeaway is if you have a respectful way to break your dog's focus when they are hyper focused, you and dog can do so much more!!! (Limit reached...bye!)

Hated those snappy pups so much couldn't finish watching!

[iloveautumn-61306 · 1/10 · 23 July 2023]

I have never seen puppies with such horrible temperaments in all my 72 years! All they wanted to do was try to bite any place they could get to on their owners- face,neck,chest,arms,and hands! I would not have kept one of these unsocialised monsters for five minutes!

Don't understand why their mother or siblings hadn't taught them to have soft mouths! Five out of five monsters-Kelpies must be the nastiest tempered breed there is! I couldn't take watching their owners constantly getting bitten and the pups squirming to get out of their arms when held,so I stopped watching.,when one owner called the breeder for advice,and what they got was useless!