Have you ever wondered how working kelpies learn to herd sheep? In this edition of Malcolm Asks, Farmers Answer, Malcolm visits a kelpie stud in New South Wales to meet Angela and her playful puppies. Along the way, he discovers how kelpies are trained, how every dog has unique strengths, and how these clever dogs help Australian farmers care for their livestock.
What is a Kelpie Stud?
The excited yips of puppies greeted Malcolm before he even reached the front door. On the porch, an older kelpie watched fluffy puppies tumble over one another in the grass. Angela welcomed Malcolm inside. His eyes were immediately drawn to the mantlepiece, where gleaming trophies and colorful sashes lined the shelf.
"Wow!" Malcolm exclaimed. "Who won all of these?"
"My husband did," Angela smiled. "He's worked with kelpies all his life. They are his passion."
Malcolm gazed at the trophies. There were so many that he lost count. Angela explained that her husband had won several state and national sheepdog trial championships.
Malcolm's eyes grew wide. "He must be one of the best!"
Angela beamed with pride.
How are Working Kelpies Trained?
Angela poured Malcolm a glass of juice to drink before heading back outside. Malcolm knelt beside the puppies. A brown one sniffed his green overalls while another chased a tan and black pup across the lawn. Their bright blue eyes followed him curiously. They seemed eager to say hello.
"They're so cute," Malcolm laughed. "Will they all grow up to be champions, too?"
"They could one day," Angela said, "but first they have to learn to work on a sheep farm. We look for a biddable dog; one that works with the farmer and listens to directions."
"My friend's dog only chases a ball if someone says, 'Fetch!'" Malcolm grinned.
Angela nodded. "It sounds like your friend's dog is a good listener. Listening to commands shows potential for becoming a yard dog."
"What's a yard dog?"
Angela described one of the many jobs a working dog can do. Malcolm learned that these clever dogs help farmers move sheep through the yards. They patiently hold sheep in the corner while farmers draft or drench. They block gateways so sheep don't rush past and help settle noisy mobs in confined areas. Experienced shed dogs can even read the sheep's movements before they happen, making busy jobs easier for the farmer.
What Jobs Do Working Kelpies Do on Australian Farms?
"Kelpies and farmers make a great team," Malcolm observed.
"They sure can," Angela smiled. "My favorite part is watching the puppies' personalities develop and seeing which part of the work they're good at."
Almost as if they knew they were being talked about, one adventurous puppy wandered off to investigate a wheelbarrow while another happily curled up beside Angela's boots.
"So you choose the job that suits each dog best?"
"That's right," Angela nodded. "Just like people, they all have their own cute personalities and quirks. Some may be better out in the bigger paddocks, and some may love running along the backs of sheep in the yards."
Just then, a curious red and tan puppy wandered over. She sniffed Malcolm's boot before giving his hand a friendly lick.
"When do puppies start learning to work with sheep?"
"We show the puppies sheep early, but in a very controlled way," Angela explained. "We don't want them getting hurt because that can turn them off for life. We only give them short opportunities with the sheep until we think they can handle working without losing confidence."
Do Working Kelpies Like to Play?
"It sounds like kelpies work really hard," Malcolm said. "Do they ever get time to play?"
"They certainly do," Angela replied. "We spend time running the dogs to give them a chance to play and have a break from working. Just like humans, they need time off from the pressures of work."
At that moment, Malcolm noticed one of the older kelpies quietly circling around the playful puppies. "What is he doing?"
"He's mustering," Angela smiled. "Even when dogs have a break so they can play, they still want to work. Kelpies love having a job to do."
Malcolm watched as the older dog calmly gathered the pups together. Even during playtime, the kelpie seemed happiest when everyone stayed together.
"Mustering," Malcolm repeated thoughtfully. "What other jobs do kelpies help with?"
"We've talked about mustering and drenching," Angela said. "There's also crutching and shearing.”
Malcolm had never heard those words before. As Angela described the different jobs, he learned that crutching is when the wool around a sheep's tail and back legs is removed. This helps keep the sheep clean and dry. Shearing is when the rest of the fleece is carefully removed to help sheep stay comfortable during the warmer months.
"Wow," Malcolm said. "Kelpies really do help farmers with lots of different jobs!"
What Happens to Kelpie Puppies When They Grow Up?
Malcolm looked around the property. There were puppies playing, older dogs resting in the shade and more kelpies keeping a watchful eye on the sheep.
"There are so many dogs," he said.
As they walked back inside, Malcolm noticed photographs covering the fridge door. Every picture showed a smiling family standing beside a kelpie.
Angela followed his gaze. "Those are our kelpies with their new owners. They love their dogs and often ring us with questions or send us videos showing us how they're doing in their new homes."
Malcolm smiled as he looked at the photos again. He realised the puppies he had met today wouldn't all stay at the stud. Many would grow up to become trusted working dogs on farms across Australia.
"That must make you happy."
"It really does," Angela said. "Kelpies are quirky, tireless, gutsy, gentle and hard workers."
Maggie the magpie hopped across the lawn just as one curious puppy decided to follow her. Every time it got close, Maggie simply hopped a little farther away, as if she were encouraging the game to continue.
Malcolm laughed. "Puppies are funny."
Angela laughed, too. "They sure are. It's not for nothing that we call a group of small kelpies trouble!"
Looking at the puppies bouncing around the yard, Malcolm thought "trouble" sounded like the perfect name for a whole group of them. As Malcolm waved goodbye, a chorus of happy barks followed him to the gate. He had learned that every kelpie has its own personality, every working kelpie has an important job, and even Australia's hardest-working dogs still need time to play.
When Angela is not training kelpies to become working dogs, she writes children's picture books! Her book Amelia Minnie and the Secret Fairies is a delightful children's story that follows Amelia Minnie on a magical adventure. One sunny morning, she discovers real fairies hiding in her garden and spends the day watching their playful antics. Joined by her friends and siblings, Amelia keeps the fairies' secret, promising to return the next day for more adventures.
Follow Angela on Instagram and look out for her next book set to be released 1st November!
What Malcolm Learned About Working Kelpies
- Every kelpie has its own personality.
- Working dogs learn gradually and build confidence over time.
- Kelpies help farmers with jobs like mustering, drenching, crutching and shearing.
- Even hardworking dogs need time to play and rest.