A Ceredigion sheepdog has sold at auction for a world-record price.

The Talybont-reared sheepdog was one of two new world-record prices for working dogs set at Skipton Auction Mart – fetching a staggering £12,000 for a dog under one-year-old.

Tynygraig Jet, a fully home-bred black and white bitch just 10-months-old - so actually little more than a pup herself - reared by Talybont farmer, Dewi Jenkins and his partner Sara Lewis.

Mr Jenkins, who for the past several years has produced some of the country’s most sought-after and top-selling working sheep dogs, set the new world record price for a dog so young with his sole entry, who was reared by long-time partner Ms Lewis.

Tynygraig Jet is a daughter of Kemi Taff, sold by Mr Jenkins for top price of £7,980 at Bala last October, out of Fly, a full sister to his main stud dog Jock, who has been responsible for several other high price dogs, and with whom Mr Jenkins will be represented at next year’s rearranged World Sheep Dog Trials at Castle Howard Estate, near York. He is Welsh team captain.

Jet’s buyer was Philip Wood, who farms some 2,700 acres in partnership with his younger brother Michael and their respective families in the rolling Shropshire Hills at Kinnerton Hall Farm, bang on the Welsh borders south of Shrewsbury.

Jet was sold as part of Skipton’s first-ever virtual sale last week.

The high-flying Jet shattered the previous centre record price of £7,035 for a dog under 12 months.

Mr Wood’s new acquisition will be used solely as a work dog on a mixed flock of up to 4,000 breeding ewes, among them ever-popular North of England Mules, along with a commercial suckler herd comprising some 480 beef breeding cattle. In fact, Mr Wood and his wife, Sue, had made a pre-sale journey purposely to see Mr Jenkins putting Jet through her paces at home.

Mightily impressed, both said they were determined to have her – and were over the moon when that dream became reality.

“She’s a lovely bitch. In fact, we are convinced she found us because when we went to see her she actually jumped in our vehicle. Dewi said she had never done anything like that before!” said Mrs Wood.

Jet was bought as an eventual replacement for Mr Wood’s current 10-year-old work dog, Jeff. He also has an affinity with Skipton through another dog, Joe, bought there a dozen years ago, though now 14-years-old and relaxing at home in well-earned retirement.

“All our dogs are part of the family,” added Mr Wood.

Live working dog sales are still not able to be held under Covid-19 restrictions because of the large crowds they attract – hence the reason for online sales.