North Yorkshire sheep dog supremo John Bell smashed the world record price paid at an official sale for a young dog under one-year-old at Skipton Auction Mart's summer sale of working sheepdogs (Friday, July 17).
John, of Parks Farm, Howden, near Selby, achieved the feat with Bob, an 11-month-old black and white dog, which made 4000gns.
Bob was bought by an undisclosed Scottish purchaser. Earlier, soon after the sale began, the same buyer just failed in his attempt to secure another John Bell entry as the under bidder on a 12-month-old black and white bitch "Gwen."
This dog achieved the second highest price of the day at 3000gns when snapped up by another Scottish dog handler, who also requested anonymity.
John Bell was topping the prices for the third seasonal Skipton working dogs sale in succession - and for a record-breaking 12th time in the past seven years.
Robin Booth, Feizor, sold his October, 2006, dog Spike for 2600gns to yet another buyer from north of the Border, Iain Wilson, of Knoydart in Invernesshire.
Wisp, a September, 2005-born dog from James Burrows, of Carnforth, made 2000gns when purchased by Lowther Park Farms, Penrith.
A total of 68 dogs were entered in the sale. Broken dogs sold to 4,000gns (av £1,618), part-broken dogs to 950gns (£555), pups to 140gns (£79).