I started with using Kelpies’s for herding after I returned from my last Overseas Working stint in 2005. I was introduced to Kelpies by some old breeders of Kelpies in Australia, most notably Tony Parsons of the Karrawarra Kelpie Stud. Tony bred Kelpies for close to 70 years. My Kelpies have always had a strong infusion of the Karrawarra blood. The Karrawarra dogs have always been know for their shepherding abilities over vast property’s. They were nearly exclusively bred for Sheep. My dogs have been from sheep working lines up until a new young dog that I imported last fall from the US. He was from an AI breeding of whose Sire was a strong Cattle Dog going back to the 1980’s. Up until now I have only worked my Kelpies on Sheep.

Kelpies are similar to Border Collies in that there is are some lines bred for sheep and some bred more for Cattle with more bite. There is a Breeder/Trainer/Handler in the USA by the name of Kevin Lippe. He has done extremely well Cattle Trialling with his Kelpies’s. I have found my Kelpies to be very heat tolerant with a high level of endurance and very easy coats to keep. This is definitely a plus when compared to Border Collies. Conversely they struggle with the Cold Weather especially as they age. I am not going to get into the accomplishments of my Kelpies, other than to say they have help their own with the BC’s in Arena and Field over several years. I have both Kelpies and Border Collies now. They have many very similar traits as one would expect as their foundation blood lines are very similar. Kelpies are like Border Collies in that all individual dogs have their pros and cons. I have always said that there is “As much variation with in each breed, as there is between the breeds”. As BC’s some Kelpies’s work with eye and stop on their belly, others are more loose eyed and stay in their feet etc. etc. Temperament wise I find them very similar.

My name is Monty Phillips, I’ve been working with, training, and breeding Heelers since 2010. In my teenage years I wanted to become a professional Bullfighter and the best cowboy I could. I have always gone head first into scary or dangerous situations. So naturally I chose a cattle dog breed that would follow me into battle no matter what it was.

The Blue Heeler was my first cattle dog I had. I called him “Gus”, typical name for a cowboys heeler dog. However, he would grow into a very non typical heeler that would change the negative stigma Heelers have been carrying for decades. He became the foundation of my breeding lines. I called them “The Little Demon Heelers”. I bred these dogs to be taller than usual, wide headed, average sized snouts, black as possible in color, good bone but not too heavy, with the ability to handle lots of miles, and tough enough to bring a bushed up cow or bull back to the herd alone. Also, able come home after a full days work to play with the kids and standing open chested to strangers without attacking them unless provoked. They are commonly loyal to one person, as they are able to love many but only have one alpha.

The pros to these dogs are that they will give their lives to save you if another animal gets you down or any person that attacks you. They will work till you stop working even if they are 3 legged. They are powerful and love to learn new things constantly. The cons of this breed is that it is extremely difficult for a dog designed to bite and push, to accomplish a wide cast - they love the contact. “The heeler crawl” is the most annoying thing I find about them, they will lay down where you tell them, but they will belly crawl a mile never standing up and truly believe they have done nothing wrong. I will always be a Heeler man, but I have ventured into the herding dog world to further my knowledge and to change the heeler yet again into a more well rounded tool for the ranchers and cattleman who share my love for the Heeler breed.

Boyd Ranch Aussies - Aussies work well for us on our working cattle ranch.  We mainly use them to gather and drive cattle but they can also do pen work. They have a good sense of group and are a good dog for driving and bringing cattle out of the brush to the main drive. They are close upright workers and have enough push and bite for tough momma cows and bulls but will also slow down and work small calves. Aussies can go all day, are a loyal worker, and mine have never quit me. They are an easy breed to work with, listen well, and want to please you. They can easily go out with me to fix fence or check heifers and will stay with me and not try to work stock on their own.  Pros and cons - They won't work far from you which is a pro or con depending on what you want. I use them like someone else horseback and I like that about them but if you want to send them a mile away, they are most likely not going to do it. There are show dogs and working dogs within the breed. Make sure you get one from proven working lines or you may just have a pet.  

COMING SOON!

Why ACD? I have to admit that my first one was a total mistake. At this time I had no farm, no animals to herd. But this is what get me into herding and farm life. I got hooked.

As a working dog on a farm, what I like about ACDs, is that they have a good switch off if you teach them young. They won't be, as some border collies, so obsessed with the stock when not working. Also if you need the little more power to push stock in a trailer or in any tight space, they have what it needs. But even if sometimes they are pushy, I like that my dogs able to adapt to their stock. From ducklings to cattle. I have to say though that not all "heelers" are like that. What I want in a ACD is a very strong desire to control head, a dog that can bite both ends, and that has a very good group sense, and balance. Not what I see most of the time in ranch videos, where they got some frantic heelers that just go in bite and runaway.

I used both BC and Aussies. Started with Aussies because I like the breed characteristics. Dogs are no just a tool for me, they are a buddy too. I think I had a goat and rode horses when I got my first Aussie. I started working in a sale barn and used the Aussies I had. They did well there. Pushy little heelers. I use to hire out to gather cattle that were ready to go to sale. Used my Aussies there also, learned I needed a little more leg. When we got our lease, bigger acres, I added the BC for a natural wider outrun. I also wanted the natural eye that would cover the herd while the Aussie worked in closer to keep things moving or brushing out cattle. I think the size and terrain and how a person handles their cattle would be a determining factor as to which breed to use.