It's a dog life for Snow Ellis and his best mate Zola

FAIRY Hills resident Snow Ellis’s interest in dog trials began when he watched Bonalbo’s first dog trial event.

ON SHOW: Snow Ellis and Zola compete in the open dog trials at the Alstonville Show. Picture: Cathy Adams

FAIRY Hills resident Snow Ellis's interest in dog trials began when he watched Bonalbo's first dog trial event.

"I liked it so I got a dog and had a go," Mr Ellis said.

That was 67 years ago.

Since then Mr Ellis has had so many dogs and has participated in so many working dog trials that he has lost count.

"What I like about it is people learning to handle cattle better in the yard, and learning to muster the cattle," Mr Ellis said.

Mr Ellis contested the open dog trials as part of the Alstonville Show at the weekend.

He and his dog Zola produced a solid performance to finish third in the novice section.

Purchased from breeder David Hutley, Zola has been in training for about two years.

"She's a really good dog," said Mr Ellis who adopts a quiet approach when working animals.

"You can't be yelling and carrying on," he said.

"It's pretty quiet."