The Shetland Sheepdog National Show and Trials takes place every three years, and in 2015 is in Adelaide on June 3-4.

Mr Mitchell will be taking his ‘‘Shelties’’ Georgie, Marnie (a rescue from the RSCPA), Jamie and Xena to compete in the event. 

Georgie and Marnie are competing in the ‘obedience’ category, while all four will be in the ‘agility and jumping’ section.

‘‘Originally we did a bit of showing, but it just wasn’t our cup of tea,’’ Mr Mitchell said.

‘‘Georgie got first place in the ‘novice jumping’ in 2012 at the nationals, and she also got first place in the same event at the Sydney Royal.

‘‘She’s up in another level now; she may go alright, she’s pretty consistent.’’

The Mitchells regularly compete in this event, although some of his current dogs will likely soon retire from competition. 

‘‘Last time it was in Adelaide was in 2000... Heidi and my wife June won a big doormat as a prize, and we got a couple of other minor places with another dog I had.

‘‘We compete all over Australia.

‘‘We do it mainly for enjoyment; the dogs enjoy it, and it’s exercise as well, because you’ve got to run with your dogs.’’

Jamie and Xena are also therapy dogs, as part of the Delta Society Australia’s program whereby volunteers take the canines to provide animal companionship in places such as nursing homes, hospitals and community centres. 

‘‘I lost my other one a fortnight ago, my old girl Heidi, she was 17, and a therapy dog too,’’ he said. 

Their dogs make regular visits to spend time with patients and offer a chat, a floppy ear to listen and a paw to shake.

Mr Mitchell also plans to have Marnie accredited for as a therapy dog. 

‘‘She looks like Lassie,’’ he said.

‘‘All the people I deal with (as part of the Delta program) are older people, and they lived in the era where Lassie Come Home was a movie.

‘‘Lassie was a big thing in dog movies then, and they relate her to Lassie.

‘‘So that’s something that makes them happy.’’

Aside from being ‘‘good looking dogs’’, Mr Mitchell liked the breed’s size and temperament.

‘‘They’re a really good dog as far as temperament goes, and they love people,’’ he said.