CAN KELPIES WORK CATTLE ?

We always get surprised when we get this question because we think that it is common knowledge that Kelpies are used on cattle properties. Not all Kelpies will work cattle, but then not all Kelpies can work Goats or Deer or do yard work. It really depends a lot on the strain of Kelpie (the bloodline) and also to some extent on the natural strength and confidence the particular Kelpie has. However, the Kelpies bred for strength or specially for cattlework can be some of the best cattle workers in the world.

Many of the properties in Australia run both sheep and cattle and the dog is expected to work both. Most Kelpies that will not bite sheep may do so on cattle. Some breeders are now breeding Kelpies with a lot of bite especially for cattle. In our past experience of contract mustering many groups of cattle including fairly wild cattle, we have not found this necessary. Maybe on some cattle it is necessary, or maybe some people just prefer their stock to be handled this way.

In 1985, we bought an established sire from Les Tarrant's famous Rockybar Stud in Queensland. He was a strong looking, medium sized masked black and tan Kelpie called Rockybar Smart. He had been trained by a cattle contractor for two years and he was already a fantastic cattle worker. We often had to move cattle out of steep hilly timbered country with just him and a stockhorse ( with good cattle sense) and it was always a pleasure to have the animals do all the hard work.

We sometimes teamed him up with another dog that did a lot of barking if the cattle lagged too much. If they turned around to fight, old Smart was there. He would duck to avoid being hurt but never backed off! A very, very strong Kelpie and we have yet to see his equal in cattle work or a Kelpie with his inner strength. Smart was also a very good worker on English and Merino sheep as well as Angora Goats.

Dick McNally has also bred and worked Kelpies for cattlework. Dick started breeding in 1931 when he was at Casino in northern NSW. He was greatly influenced by Ivan Sommerville when he was sold a Kelpie bred by Ivan Sommerville in 1917. In 1986 he talked to Garry Sommerville, a reporter for the Land rural newspaper about kelpies and cattle work. (Note Garry Sommerville is not related to Ivan Sommerville).

" It's out on the big open runs they want good dogs that will cast and go two kilometres to the lead, block and bring wild cattle back to you. This saves the handler running the guts out of his horse. A good dog should shepherd cattle like a good sheepdog sheperds sheep. This tends to quiet cattle down, which is good stock handling and does not knock cattle about. ... In the big open runs, a good herding Kelpie will turn in breakaways and when the herd settles down he will begin to drive again. Blue Heelers keep heeling a beast through the mob and out the other side again. This teaches cattle nothing." - Dick McNally

The late Mike Donelan of the well known Bullenbong Kelpie Stud often worked cattle with his Kelpies. He also wrote a number of training articles and a small book called 'The Australian Kelpie'. This is some of what he had to say about Kelpies and cattle.

"The main difference between sheep and cattle working with Kelpies is that there is less balancing of the wings of the mob with cattle. .. It takes a strong dog to handle cattle, they pick the weaker one very quickly but there is a difference between a strong dog, a forcer, a biter or a heeler and there are many who don't seem to understand this.

In my opinion the Kelpie that will work and if forced will 'nose' cattle will do as good as, and in many cases will do a better job than heelers, which are inclined to ring or bunch up too tight to let cattle feed well. A Kelpie must be strong enough to 'nose' under pressure, that is the place he has to go to stop them. He should naturally be a 'head dog' not a 'heel dog'. I have seen many cattle that heelers couldn't stop, in fact in scrub they make wild cattle worse." - Mike Donelan

The late Scott Lithgow was well known as a trainer of cattle working dogs and is the author of the book 'Training and working Dogs' as well as producing a video on dogs and cattlework. In his book he had this to say about the Kelpie.

" Certain strains of Kelpie have been selected and bred for working cattle and these dogs are usually fast and forceful when blocking running animals. They may bite an animal's nose or front foot and bark. They have good herding ability and tend to always be on the move. Some Kelpies make good lead dogs and will stay out in front to keep the cattle steadied down. A few are good heelers, but some Kelpie breeders do not favour strong heelers, as a fast moving dog that bites too often does not settle cattle down quietly, unless it also exhibits the exaggerated stalking action known as 'eye'. The Kelpie likes to work independently and this trait has potential for good but the dog may need special attention in training. - Scott Lithgow

He also wrote about the Australian Cattle Dog

" Australian blue and red speckled Cattle Dogs have been developed particularly for their ability to herd and heel reluctant cattle needing to be encouraged or forced to travel. These dogs are probably the best in the world for the work.

They tend to be steady dogs, and although they will fire to attack or force, they usually approach their job in a relaxed manner. They are noted for their faithfulness to one person and are also used as guard dogs. ..I believe some Australian Cattle Dogs which have been bred for low heeling and accepted by judges, are too short in the legs and do not have the speed or inclination to head off cattle quickly, particularly Bos Indicus type cattle. I do not recommend stumpy-legged dogs bred for Show or heel only. .." - Scott Lithgow

Scott also makes a very important point in his book which he highlights:

" No dog can effectively control cattle if he will not head"

Scott Lithgow's book is called 'Training and Working Dogs' . It is one of the best books written on working cattle with dogs and has been recommened even by sheepdog workers and dog people without stockdogs. The book is available through :

Dogpost (Dog book Mail Order) - www.ozemail.com.au/~dogpost

Here's part of a long letter that was written by Ivan Somerville, a well known and respected Australian stockman of the 1910's - 1950's. He makes a number of references to the Blue Heeler. This dog is now officially called the Australian Cattledog and also includes the Red Heeler. The exact date of this letter is unknown but he lived on the NSW north coast at Lismore at the time. Many seperate copies of this letter have been kindly sent in by a number of readers including Roger Smith, Erin Caterson, Mrs. Body, Tony Parsons and others. Our apologies if we have not credited your contribution.

"I stated 'the Kelpies' at their best are not only the greatest sheepdogs in Australia, they are also the greatest cattledogs in the world. All testable evidence proves this fact. .. As a cattleman, I have handled all such in most possible circumstances and as far back as 1920 gave the Blue Heelers away in preferance for the Kelpie. Our informant on the blue Heeler maintains they (Blue Heelers) can work wild cattle but experience proves to me that Heelers only make wild cattle - wilder. Any cattleman of experience and sense educates cattle not 'hool them'.

Most of my dogs were equally at home in the lead of a mob, at the side or back of cattle or sheep and would shepherd (fats) and weaners one day and be close and forceful when mustering mountain cattle the next day. Working as instinct directs him most of the time, the Blue Heeler lacks the necessary herding instinct, just as necessary for a top cattle dog as a top sheepdog. With repetition of work the Kelpies display great anticipation and sheer reasoning which shows their versatility. The Blue heeler, like the leopard, cannot change his spots but many Kelpies can adapt themselves in circumstances.

One can't be very well blamed for projecting the mythical legend of the Blue Heeler as Australia's foremost cattledog. But if all this does not convince one that the Kelpie has still not been done justice, reflect upon the following fact. As far as I can ascertain, not only has the Blue Heeler never won one of the numerous top cattle dog trials in Australia. One of which I was invited to judge last week, but no Blue Heeler has ever even been entered in one such trial.

A top cattledog must be a good 'noser' but not necessarily a heeler. For nosing blocks the 'breaker' and turns all heads inward, while the heeler chases the breakaway and tends to turn all heads outwards resulting in a general breakaway of the mob. I am not prejudiced against the Blue heeler. I own a female and offered $400 for another with a blend of collie.

How come you may ask, is it that the few 'johnnies' in our own small corner are in step, while the rest of the world are out of step, on the question of cattle dogs ? Well, some luck and some idealism and dersire for the best.  It was this way about 1914 a young drover from the outback bought a mob of sheep to the holding next to our home property at ...? NSW. Naturally the sheep venture failed. The drover stayed on and took to droving cattle in a big way. His Kelpies bred for working sheep took to working cattle like ducks to water. King & McLeod bred Kelpies, they were of superior type. Furthermore, Herb Dunn, the young drover was a dog lover and bred from them and another important strain 'Red Hope'.

We soon disgarded our Blue Heelers and got Kelpies from Herb Dunn. Later, about 1925, I ordered two pups from John Quinn of Cootamundra NSW. Price no object if bred to maternal strength. John Quinn was a great man, the one who did the most for the breed at that time.In twelve months of corresponding he told me all he thought would help me to breed great Kelpies....

The blue pup I got from John Quinn at 9 months old would work sheep but not cattle, he was afraid of them. John Quinn as I earlier mentioned was a great man, he offered to replace him but only on the condition that I kept him and bred from him, as he was, he claimed in breeding inferior to no dog in Australia. When blue found he could boss cattle he became a phenominal cattledog and as for Wright the well known tablelands drover observed, the best flock sheepdog he had ever seen"

Mary and Stephen Bilson Noonbarra Kelpie Stud