Mr Stanger (36), who was elected president of the Oamaru Collie Dog Club in February, has only been involved in the sport for a short time.
While he had several attempts last year, he "didn't do any good", but he was hoping his new hobby would help improve his team of dogs.
He was busy yesterday at the club's 62nd annual trials at the McMillan family's property at Waianakarua. The trials continue today.
Mr Stanger, who is a farm worker on Doug and Jeannie Brown's Punchbowl property at Maheno, entered three dogs.
Huntaway Jack's chances were "fair to middling", as the dog was "a bit rough and a bit hard of hearing".
Heading dog Rock had potential, but there were probably "a few of the finer points" that needed some work.
Rounding off the trial team was another heading dog, Dick, who was "not really trial potential".
"He's got a few bad habits, cuts his own lunch, things like that. He's a bit exuberant, I suppose," he said.
Mr Stanger admitted training had been "a bit slack" recently and, if he could spend more time training his dogs, he might make some progress.
In the future, he would love to win an open event but, in the meantime, winning the local maiden would be an achievement.
He wanted to get more people involved with the club - particularly young people. A training day had already been held. There were plans to get some top triallists to share their knowledge.
It was getting harder to attract young enthusiasts, with the increase in dairy farms and the reduction in sheep numbers, he said.
Mr Stanger enjoyed working with dogs - "most of the time, when everything goes well" - and acknowledged that working sheep without them would be "unbearable".
