Each year, the couch is put in position high on a hill with expansive views over East Otago, for the Waihemo Collie Club's trials.
It provides comfort for Shag Valley Station farmer Johnny Bell, shearing instructor Ken Fergusson, from Dunback, and tractor driver and occasional rodeo clown Richard Robinson, from Waynestown. "It's like a suburb of Dunback, sort of like Maori Hill; it's upper echelon," Mr Robinson said yesterday.
Mr Bell and Mr Fergusson had been on the hill since 7am, liberating sheep, and will be back there today, for the championships which are being held in conjunction with the Waihemo club's trials.
Mr Bell said he never got a chance to sit on the couch - "I do all the work" - but Mr Robinson said it was a "good couch to relax on".
The couch originally graced Les Still's living room, and while its age was unknown, Mr Bell reckoned it was circa 1960s - Mr Robinson thought it was from the free-love era.
The trio admitted they had a lot of fun and enjoyed the camaraderie.
They could also see just about every other course at the trials, along with a sweeping view of the district.
"There's no better place to be on a morning or afternoon in early April ... looking out at the magnificent vista of East Otago with a slight hint of green after 5mm of rain," Mr Bell said.
In fact, he reckoned being at the dog trials was the highlight of his year - apart from his wedding anniversary.
His wife, Tanya, was busy in the cookshop.
Mr Bell ran a couple of dogs at the trials on Monday, while the other two were not involved with trialling.
Mr Bell has been liberating at the trials for 15 years and Mr Robinson said he had been lucky to be "understudy".
"When are you going to learn something and take over?" Mr Bell asked.
"I can't work a dog and I've still got all my hair so I can't take charge up here," Mr Robinson replied.
"I don't think he's ready.
"He's been my apprentice for 10 years but he's not ready," Mr Bell confided.
