MUSTER DOGS ANNIE AND LUCIFER PRIZED MEMBERS OF FRANK FINGER’S TEAM

It’s the question hundreds have been asking — what’s next for ABC TV’s Muster Dogs series champion pup Annie, brother Lucifer, and their humble handler Frank Finger?

For now, the 20-month-old kelpie siblings will continue to be prized members of the mustering team on Mr Finger’s central Queensland cattle property.

In the series finale, fellow participant and sheep grazier Rob Tuncks gave up his pup Lucifer, who had trouble working on sheep.

“Rob had done all he could with him in the time that he had. He was just that type of dog,” Mr Finger said.

Mr Finger said his focus has been on “steadying up” the keen pup to prevent him from putting too much pressure on the cattle and to reduce the chances of injury.

“I tend to work him on the dry cattle, on steers and heifers, more than cows and calves,” he said.

“But that all comes with age.”

Frank’s ‘biggest fear’

Since being crowned champion pup, Annie has progressed to working on mobs of up to 350 head.

“She was kind of fully trained then, it’s just the progression then onto larger mobs and cows and calves and things like that. She handles it all very well,” he said.

A recent frightening experience involving a family member and a snake has increased Mr Finger’s vigilance.

“My biggest fear is something happening to [Annie] because we’re such good friends. I worry,” he said.

The risk of a snake bite or the dogs eating a bait is very real.

“You’ve just got to be careful,” he said.

“We have to keep a close eye on our work dogs and she [Annie] just gets an extra close eye.”

Working dog schools

Since the program aired, Mr Finger has had requests for one-on-one sessions, but has found hosting working dog schools to be more effective.

“We set up a course that show you how you bring out the instinct in a pup, how you start and how you finish – so we cram that all into one day,” he said.

“You could call it ‘training like Annie’, I suppose is what we do.”

In addition to hosting well-known schools at his property, including Neil McDonald’s, Mr Finger has held three of his own training days since Muster Dogs wrapped up.

“We’ve averaged about 22 people at the three schools. We normally take 15, I’m just a bit kind hearted and I let a few extras in,” he saiud.

“The furthest was from the far west of South Australia, nearly on the Western Australian border with the Northern Territory. We’ve had people from Atherton, Stanthorpe; people have travelled a long way.

He has no plans to take the school away from his Clermont property.

“We’ll just do them here and leave that to the other professional that make a living out of it,” he says.

“It’s very fulfilling.”

Frank, Annie, and Lucifer on the road

Lucifer, Annie, and Mr Finger are Clermont celebrities, but fans in Far North Queensland can look forward to a special treat in June.

“Annie and Lucifer, we’re going to the Atherton show as guests. We’re not competing we’re just giving demos in centre ring,” he said.

“I don’t do trialling. I’ve never done trialling and I won’t be doing that because I’m not competitive.

As for more TV, Mr Finger has no plans.

“Oh, that would be up to the ABC and I wouldn’t expect it,” he said.

“I was privileged to get onto Muster Dogs.”