Karmala Merino and Working Kelpie Studs

The Karmala Working Kelpie Stud was relocated to Queensland from Western Victoria in 2001. It is now situated at Nobby, about 40 km south of Toowoomba.

Only a small nucleus of bitches is retained for breeding so that a high standard can be maintained. The foundation bitches have done a great job and in 2010 are making way for the ‘next gen’ girls who have been carefully selected from the many bitch pups born. Lily, Finesse and Peggysue will be bred for the first time and I am excited by the potential they represent. The plethora of cooking shows on TV make it very plain that even the finest ingredients can be reduced to a mess unless combined carefully, and the same applies to breeding animals. Each mating here is thought out very carefully with one aim in mind…to breed pups that have the potential to be better than their parents.

My aim is to breed sensible dogs who can work naturally and cause their owners as few headaches as possible. I have no time for very excitable, stock-crazy animals. They must value their relationship with their handler to a high degree and want to please in their work. Highly respected Kelpie breeder, John White, wrote recently in the WKC newsletter:
“I always select a dog that is friendly, wants to be with you, to work as a team with you. You can tell those characteristics at a fairly young age.” I couldn’t agree more.

I like dogs that can work with a little distance off their stock when young, and are happy to hold when they have them balanced. They should also be capable of firing up when required for yard work… I don’t guarantee that every pup will comply exactly with this description, but some do, judging by this email received recently entitled ‘Zen and the art of sheepdog handling’…..
“The experience of working her is exactly the opposite of any other I have had with kelpies. It is veritably tranquil; I can hear the wind blowing and the birds chirping instead of myself yelling and screaming obscenities…. it is akin to zen!”

I know just how he feels. It was many years before I owned a really good, well bred dog. Once your stock work becomes a pleasure and you start looking forward to taking your dogs out, you’ll never settle for second best again.

In the last few decades, with the increasing use of bikes for mustering, some old kelpie traits are starting to disappear. Many dogs are now used mainly for yard work, and backing, barking, full-on kelpies are in the majority. I prefer an all-round dog that retains its heading instinct, has some eye, and is capable of mustering difficult country. With this in mind, I have sought sires with bloodlines that have been proven in hard conditions where brains and stamina are essential.
With the decline of the Merino in Queensland I have found that most clients need a dog that can work cattle as well as sheep, and that is my aim.

I have accessed old Kelpie families through the Karrawarra and Riana studs and I am very grateful for the help I have received from these experienced stud masters. Tony Parsons (Karrawarra) was responsible for seeking out and preserving Kelpie bloodlines after the fiasco of two World Wars, during which many ‘studs’ disappeared. His books on the Working Kelpie are an invaluable record of these dogs and are collectively known as ‘The Kelpie Bible’. Tony has always selected dogs with eye, style and distance.

Arthur Hazlett (Riana) founded his stud on Karrawarra kelpies and is one of the few Kelpie breeders of recent years who finessed the fine art of line breeding. Outside dogs are rarely introduced, and as a result his dogs are defined in type and prepotent. The Riana dogs still retain that stock minding ability that was required by all drovers; they were bred for many years in very tough country and selected for their brains and ability. It is fitting that in 2011 Riana is again using Karrawarra blood; Riana sires used by Karrawarra/Paddy’s Kelpies over the years include Don, Ace and Driftwood Ace(XRiana Frank).

It is the relentless culling by these old studmasters, and their singleminded search for their perfect dog that has improved the breed over the years. No breeder of stock will achieve what these two have unless they have a very clear mental picture of exactly what they want to breed and pursue their ideal relentlessly.

Because I have little real work for my dogs these days, I try to ensure that any young dogs kept for breeding are tested in the real world. I have been most fortunate in finding some very kind, like minded stockmen to help me do this, and can’t thank them enough for their efforts. It surely proves their dedication to the Kelpie breed. With cooperation like this, and by working with a loose group of breeders who are looking for the same type of dog, I hope to preserve those Kelpie traits that originally made the breed such an invaluable asset. It’s sad that some fall by the wayside in the process; this year I have lost Karmala Swags, Karra. Quince and Karmala Pride. I have changed my mind a bit about ‘proven’ breeding dogs, and am now quite anxious to get a litter from a very promising young dog/bitch in case it doesn’t live very long.

Three brood bitches(left) Karrawarra Gift, Woorivale Spice and Riana Delta Dawn.

Autumn is here, my favourite time of the year. I am having trouble with dingo/dog attacks in the district and am yarding sheep at night; my dogs are the only ones pleased about that, at least they get a little work.

The three girls who whelped in early December produced 22 pups between them, all by Tracker Gibbs(Tracker the ChiefxKarrawarra Ruby Tuesday). Chief and Gibbs details under ‘sires’. At this stage Gibbs is more than living up to the wrap I gave him as the best young kelpie dog I’ve seen, marking his pups with the Gibbs ‘brand’….quality and calmness. I have retained six of these pups and am in the process of starting them on sheep; Karmala Dom and Karmala Pepe are for sale, they are working sheep with confidence and will be very handy dogs. These pups were going to Arthur Crumblin for training, but he’s unable to take them at present.

Three of Delta’s litter to Tracker Gibbs have been retained and Cadelle(Deli) and LockyerD (Dazza) have gone to work with Matt Bignell at Goondiwindi. Matt is especially keen on Deli, who absolutely adores him, even minding his fish for him!
(see pic) K. Stozer has had a couple of runs here and looks too good to be true…she will go to work this month. Dazza will be for sale shortly, he has started well. He’s a lovely looking dog with Delta’s interesting personality!

I am still of the opinion that I am usually better off sourcing sires that are working hard and showing their brains in the real world. It is pointless for me keeping a number of dogs here when they will only be used occasionally as sires, they are better off sold and going to work.

Karmala Cooper has been sold to Tim Burston, Stratford, Vic., the first of the dogs Matt has worked to be sold. I already have orders for more well started dogs and some pups from the present litters will be run on. Arthur Crumblin has two red/tan TrackerxLyddy pups for training at present, and a nice dog pup called Andy(AkubraxTilly) ; he is headed to Victoria when his work is satisfactory.
Matt has been working Karmala Speed(Meson Stig x K.Finesse) and loves his natural ability in handling large mobs. He is a lovely leggy, lightly built type with a short slick coat, ideal for Queensland. Speed has been sold to Thomas Ryan,
Rosedale Stn., Tilpa.

Karmala Switch is doing well in the Netherlands and apparently starring on Youtube which my computer is too old to handle. Erika Visser and Catrinus Homan who own Switch now have Karmala Abbey and Karmala Maverick as well. Catrinus recently remarked…“Great abs in two weeks!” Apparently she is handling things nicely, fitting in well. Maverick(now Mick) is taking longer to settle, but I think his work ethic will be strong enough to get him through what has been a difficult time for a pup, three owners in nine months, to say nothing of having to learn three different languages….! On a recent visit to my library I was pleased to see video of Mick working nicely, he seems very sensible for such a young dog.
The latest news: Abbey’s in pup to Mick!

Two pups from the M.MaverickXK.Lily litter are in Sweden, pics below. Both have started well and are pleasing their new owners. I do admire the confidence Asa Wallstrom had in buying pups at such an age that they were yet to start working, and I’m very pleased they have turned out so well. Birk’s owner kindly sent me a delightful short video of him working beautifully in the snow.

A dog pup from the GibbsxBrandy litter, K.Benedict, has joined his new owner in Canada, Emmanuel da Fonseco Neto. This is the first Kelpie Neto has owned and he is quite impressed; he trials Border Collies and thinks Ben is already better than them! I took that with a grain of salt, as Neto has had a lot of success trialing his two well bred Collies. Pics below. John Halsted’s pup from the same litter also looks very nice, and Kahlua their sister, mentioned below, is a natural.

The two criteria I use when selecting pups early on are temperament and breeding, I have confidence that they will work because only a couple of pups I’ve sold have failed to start well. In both cases it was because the pup had not received enough affection/praise/positive affirmation of its actions. These pups are quite sensitive and need that to build up confidence, some more than others of course. I find it better to sell pups at 8-10 weeks so they can grow up with their new boss and get to understand him/her. If they stay here with me for too long they can sometimes have trouble adjusting to a new male owner, particularly one who is always grumpy. The pup takes this as disapproval and simply stops trying, thinking it is doing the wrong thing.
Because I have just refunded a buyer and removed his pup for the above reasons, I’ll take a bit of time to try and help future buyers. Forgive me if you feel I’m trying to teach my grandma how to suck eggs!!

Pups should be handled well(used to being tipped upside down, etc. and toes cut, taught manners) from an early age and get used to a collar and being tied up. I never pat a pup unless it sits, even when very young. You will teach a pup to sit and come much faster if you use treats for starters, dried liver bits are great, but empty your pockets before your pants go into the washing! I have made a point of doing this consistently with my last litters and find the response is surprising, much quicker than any other way I’ve tried. After the pup catches on, the treats can be given randomly and ample vocal praise given as a reward.

If enough thought is put into a pup’s first introduction to sheep most problems can be avoided. It’s when you’re taking a mob past the pup yard and wonder if your pup’s working yet…and let it out…that things get out of hand and what seemed like a ‘good idea at the time’ turns into a screaming match. Never yell at pups.

A better idea is small paddock or big yard, a quiet old dog to keep a few sheep together, and a handy corner where the pup and dog can hold the sheep to you when you’re ready to stop( walk forward through the sheep and block the pup). Just keep the pup from crossing between you and the sheep and watch him ‘catch on’; there’s nothing better than seeing a pup working well first time on stock.

A bit of clarification on the WKC Appendix dogs for many of you who might not understand their system. If a dog is classified A2 or A3 it is in the Appendix to the main stud book and may not appear on WKC pedigree forms. This does not necessarily mean that the breeding of the dog is sketchy or unknown, simply that some of the dogs in its pedigree were bred by a breeder who was not a member of the WKC. Karrawarra dogs come into this area, also any dog that has not been tattooed…amongst others. In many cases these dogs have full pedigrees going back many generations, which could even be more complete than some others.

Tianne Hussey (Wooton EJ SamxKyahla Gemma) to Meson Stig, due early May.
Huss whelped on May 5 and there was a little surprise for me… I had expected an all red/tan litter by Stig and there is one black/tan pup!
Riana Finch hadn’t mated a bitch for a few years but his new all raw diet must have done the trick. With this ‘proof’ I have since mated him successfully to K.Lily and couldn’t be more pleased that the old fellow’s leaving some more pups.
A DNA test will be done on all the Huss pups just to be on the safe side.
Life’s full of surprises, this time a nice one!

Huss is a nice young bitch bred by Tallia Covers from a bitch with breeding that caught my eye. Gemma is by Tynndyl Lyn( x Karmala Gordy, one of the pups I brought up here when I first moved) from a Riana blood bitch. Her dam is a Karana DukexKarra. Mallee bitch. EJ Sam is a good dog on cattle, as was Boanong Skip, Gordy’s sire.
Huss has 8 pups, 4F, 4M and is doing a great job with them. She will return to Tallia after rearing the pups.

K.Peggysue to Karmala Akubra, due July
K.Lily to Riana Finch, due late July K.Brandy to Riana Glide, due July.

Hussey's litter looking very full and contented at 2 wks.

Karmala Stozer(Tracker GibbsxRiana Delta Dawn), 10mths. One of the best young bitches I've bred.

Karmala Benedict (Tracker GibbsxKarmala Brandy) working a week after arriving in Canada.

K.Benedict(GibbsxBrandy) working Neto's practice sheep; he must have decided they were a bit slow!

K.Bailey(Banner), litter brother to Ben and owned by John Halsted.

A white Christmas for Jen(Karmala Moolah).

Erika Visser on her new job of shepherding along the canal banks to graze the grass with her two Kelpies Enya and Switch. Note the bridge with the wobbly middle that can be raised! Dutch ingenuity.

Karmala Mulga(Birk) with his new owner in Sweden.

Karmala Mulga(Birk) is developing into a strong, obedient dog for Ewa Jacobsson in Sweden.

Karmala Kahlua(T.GibbsxK.Brandy) seems to be feeling very much at home with Jodi O'Connor! Love Jodi's photos....below.

Two doggy critics: Jodi O'Connor's Grace assesses Karmala Scout on video(left). Jodi also took this photo of Telford's Tally(xKarmala Shiner) taking her first look at The Kelpie. Karrawarra RooII lives with Kirsten Wosnitza in Germany who visited earlier in 2010.

These are big, productive sheep with quality wool, and can reduce the micron in stronger flocks without loss of cut… and increase production in finer flocks without increasing micron. This is stated with confidence based on the results in clients’ flocks over many years.

At Karmala micron, quality and production are the chief selection criteria. The infusion of genetics from Rockbank has given a finer ewe base and more elite-woolled young sheep. An AI programme using N.43 has provided a number of ewes which when mated to old NB produced some outstanding sheep. Another Nerstane ram has been used in 2011… N910 was Champion August Shorn Ram at the Royal Sydney Easter Show this year and went on to represent NSW in the National Ram Competition. He is a ram with excellent structure and has left some very exciting lambs, although some of the lambs by grandsons of N43 look just as promising. Liz (see below) has a set of twins, a ewe and a ram, by a son of Cindy.

The State Sheep Show at Goondiwindi, May, 2010, proved a bonanza for Karmala, Harry and Liz, the Queensland Pair from 2009 are now Queensland Ram and Ewe for 2010, and Harry was Grand Champion Ram! The second time for Liz, who has a big ram lamb as well…she’s certainly not just a pretty face… but it certainly did nothing to improve her underline, which cost her in the judging.
There was good competition from New England studs in the finer sections, and congrats to Shalimar Park who won Supreme; their young ewe beat Liz for Superfine ewe.
Harry went to Dubbo in August for the National Ram Comp. The sheep arrived soaking wet after travelling through heavy rain all the way south; they were not judged at all next day, so the wet trip could have been avoided. Very disappointing. It was impossible to dry the sheep out properly, Harry was unsuccessful, a big heavy ram from Weealla which he had previously defeated at Goondi was Australian State Champ. Liz was Res. G.C.Ewe.
Dubbo is changing to a short wool show with March shorn sheep totally dominant; this is understandable considering the cost involved in preparing a sheep for 12 months, but can give a very misleading picture of how a young ram will finish up.

Sale rams March 2012, aged 16 months.