Dogs and owners have a barking good time in Hunterville

A few showers did not deter crowds that turned out for the Huntaway Festival in Hunterville on Saturday.

Committee chairman Sam Horrocks estimated there were around 3000 people at the event.

"It's hard to tell because people are so spread out but it was a good turnout."

The annual event - now in its 21st year - is home to the Shepherd's Shemozzle which requires hardy shepherds and their huntaway dogs to navigate their way through an arduous obstacle course.

There is also a Children's Shemozzle for 9- to 13-year-olds and the Teen Shemozzle for 13- to 18-year-olds.

Photo Gallery

Image 1 of 32: Hunterville Huntaway Festival : Teens Shemozzle. Saturday, October 27, 2018 Whanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.

A new addition this year was the "Bark Up", which is an initiative linked to the Will to Live rural mental health campaign.

"Young men in rural areas make up a high proportion of suicide statistics in New Zealand," said Horrocks.

"The idea was to get 150 dogs all barking at once and it is symbolic of speaking up about depression and chasing the black dog away."

The campaign was initiated by 20-year-old Lincoln University student Elle Perriam, whose 21-year-old boyfriend Will committed suicide last year.

Horrocks said the dogs did well, as did the contestants, who were faced with challenges only the hardiest of rural folk could overcome - for example, contestants in the teen and shepherd shemozzles had to complete part of the course gripping a bull's testicle in their teeth.