Some of Australia's best dogs and handlers are strutting their stuff this week at Port Fairy's Gardens Oval during the Commonwealth Sheepdog Championships which have attracted 220 entries.

The annual Port Fairy event is an interstate showdown with seasoned veterans like 83-year-old Ross Dodge, of Beeac, pitting their canines against last year's champion Alistair Dickson, of Geelong, and former trans-Tasman trials representative Paul O'Kane, of Cobram.

Deniliquin dog breeder and trainer Brian Harrington brought his sideshow of ducks to add a bit of humour to what is usually an intensely serious competition, which has ramifications for the value of competition dogs' progeny. Mr Harrington's 12 ducks perform in various coloured outfits and are sorted and coaxed in various directions as the dog responds to the owner's instructions.

According to former champion and now event organiser, Bill Paton, of Toolong, the sheepdog competition draws spectators from far afield to Port Fairy.

Events are divided into novice, improver and open sections.

Dogs have 15 minutes to take three sheep through a gap in a fence, through a race, over a bridge and into a pen.

There will be more to enjoy in October when the Australian supreme championships are held in Port Fairy - the first time the national championships have been held in southern Victoria.

Mr Paton has been part of the competition scene in the district since championships were first held in Koroit 31 years ago.

"We've raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Koroit and Port Fairy nursing homes," he said.