In fact, the heading dog's master, PL Anderson, reckoned he could hold the New Zealand record for going to the most trials in trying to qualify for the South Island and New Zealand sheep dog trial championships.
Chap went to 30 trials and had 60 runs, then went to three centre championships - Otago, North Otago and Southland, but still needed two points to qualify, which he got in his last run at Millers Flat.
Eight-year-old Chap was given to Mr Anderson (72) two years ago by the late Bob Elliot from Ranfurly.
Mr Anderson good-naturedly described the dog as unreliable, very fast "but he's got no idea where he's going and neither has his owner".
Born and bred at Tarras, and now living near Wanaka, Mr Anderson said it was special to qualify for this year's event, being held at Alpha Burn Station, as it was his home territory.
While it "wouldn't have been the end of the world" if Chap had not qualified, Mr Anderson was excited to be able to run a dog at the event.
As for his fortune? That was not quite so clear.
"It's a bit of a pig in a poke, with the dog I've got. I know he'll run but he might not run the right place," he said.
Mr Anderson was carrying his late father W. L. (Bill) Anderson's stick, which was the first stick made by Bill Anderson's great friend, Bill Gibson, from Malvern Downs, about 55 to 60 years ago.
Bill Anderson was a very keen dog triallist and passed on the interest to his son.
"That stick is supposed to bring me luck but it hasn't actually worked yet," Mr Anderson said.
He won his first open dog trial at Tarras when he was 16, with a huntaway called York.
The pair scored 98.75 and Mr Anderson joked that he "hadn't had any points like that since".
He enjoyed every trial he attended, particularly the comradeship, and now he was retired, he went to as many as he could.
He judged at the New Zealand championships in Kaikohe in 1987.
Mr Anderson has seven dogs - "far too many for an old retired gentleman" - including a Labrador.
"It's got to the stage that my mates have a look at my dogs going and feel sorry for me and give me dogs. Now my kennels are overflowing."
