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Australian Kelpies
(Click on the thumbnails to see large versions of the photos)
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| It wasn't me.... |
Dinnertime! |
Let me out! |
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| Find that itch! |
Serious face |
Ready for action! |
I saw my first kelpies in Queensland, Australia, where I was living. They were 'Show' Kelpies, but Working Kelpies were kept on a sheep
station a few miles away and when I saw those working, I just fell in love with them.
There is a big division and quite considerable opposition between 'Show' Kelpie people and 'Working Kelpie' people in Australia, and the
Working Kelpies have their own registration system which has been the governing body of the W.K. since the 1930's. The W.K. Council is dead
against showing, and won't entertain the idea of a reciprocal agreement with the Australian Kennel Club. They don't want to see W.Ks in the
show ring.
This means that A.W.Ks will never be recognised by the British Kennel Club. I personally don't mind either way, but I do believe that we in
Britain should continue to register kelpies with the W.K.C. from this country, keeping the traditional tattooing of puppies, until such time
as someone manages to achieve recognition.
I personally fought the battle of proving to the K.C. that the A.W.K. is a true breed, because they were only willing to register them as
crossbreeds on the obedience register.
Kelpies first came to this country in 1984, imported with a flock of Marino sheep by a lady called Kate Bottoms. They were
exhibited at the Royal Show. I first saw the original two at the International sheepdog trial and in 1991 obtained my first Kelpie, Tylwch
Rosie, a daughter of the imported Avenpart Peppin.
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| Rosie at 14 years old |
Cories Joe |
Cories Kookie |
Rosie became my best ever sheepdog, and worked without commands to keep the sheep together when I was teaching novice dogs and handlers. Rosie produced just one puppy, Cories Joe, the first kelpie seen in agility and the first to reach the 'Seniors' status. Joe was better known as CJ and was handled by his owner, Eileen Wischnia. Eileen now runs a delightful young bitch, Cories Kookie, who is fast making a name for herself.
Next came Owens Chance, a red and tan bitch by the imported Scoriochre Cracker. Chance has produced some wonderful puppies, who have gone to
a variety of working homes - some of them to ex-pat Australians! Her puppies were the first Kelpies in Ireland.
I also sent two Kelpie puppies to the Falklands and did a memorable follow-up 'homecheck' in 2000. The islands are well populated with Kelpies
now and suit the windy conditions and variable climate ideally.
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| Ann in the Falkland Islands |
Taboo, my next Kelpie, was rehomed to me. Called Woolstone Bondi Beach, he is English Bred.
Previously used as an agility dog he has adapted well to my lifestyle and to sheepwork. Together with Chance he has produced quite a few Kelpies to agility people, and that has been a real success story. Cories Ruby Tuesday, owned by Mark and Marie Douglas, is the first Kelpie to become an Agility Champion and in 2011 Achieved the title of World Agility Champion.
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Mark Douglas and
World Agility Champion
Cories Ruby Tuesday |
Milo, a Chance x Taboo son |
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| Chance and Taboo |
Zico & Cougar |
Taboo working the Hebridean flock |
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The Australian Connection |
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Our Australian imports, Cap, Coco and Hope are from Joe Spicer’s very successful Gogetta Stud near Melbourne. Joe’s Kelpies are seen working and competing all over Australia.
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| Gogetta Captain Midnight |
Cap backing |
Gogetta Coco |
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| Gogetta Hopefull (Hope) |
Welcome to Hope, who arrived on 7th July 2011 and who is in whelp to Australian Yard dog Champion Gogetta Agro.
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| Cories Roodi |
Cories Kafka winning Sky TV's Top Dog |
Britain's first Kelpie workshop |
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