Clan Kelpie stud has been registered with the Working Kelpie Council since about 1970. The interest in breeding and working Kelpies goes back to 1957 when Angus was jackerooing at Tambo. Working in the Queensland sheep industry , we put together a team of dogs eligible not on looks or lineage, but on working ability, temperament ( they have to be calm!), and hardiness.
 Beth McDowall's "Jock" about 1943 when Angus was about eight. Photo by Val McDowall. This dog enabled Beth to manage4000 sheep on 4000 hectares during the war, while her husband was in thearmy.
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Angus with his first dog, Reg, atLansdowne Tambo, about 1957.
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The aim is to breed that loyal, versatile working dog. For over fifty years we have selected dogs with strong instinct to cast and control the lead, and balance the mob, without further instruction.This was essential for retreiving flighty stock from scrubby paddocks.
These dogs are a blend of outstanding station bred Kelpies, proven workers in hard conditions, and breeders from the established studs King & Macleod, Karrawarra, Wyreema, Rockybar, Sherwood and Nacooma studs in South Australia.
Clan Kelpies search for improvement used progeny of good registered dogs on stations where the owners didn't register pups.
So in some cases Clan Kelpies may be the only source of registered progeny of dogs that their modest owners described as "half handy".
They include:
| Dogs | Worked By: |
|---|
Rockybar Rocket,2669
Rockybar Trudie,7192 | Ray Hite near Westmar. Q.Rocket decended from "Walkers Johnny", five times winner of the National Trial in Canberra for Athol Butler |
| Wyreema Needle,7859 | Ian McMaster near Warwick. Q. |
| Karrawarra Wallah,A3M-1236-68 | "Sandy" McDowall. near Cement Mills. Q. |
| Rockybar Spindle,18022 | Neil Cox of Tara. Q. |
| Wyreema Raymond,14515 | Ian McMaster &
Bill Collins near Warwick. Q. |
| Indie Lochie,32625 | Darcy Wilkinson near Moree NSW. |
Opportunities to introduce new outcross lines with appendix dogs from proven station-bred families, have often improved working instincts. This included Fahl's Penny, descended from some old strains of King & McLeod dogs worked by Roley Fahl near Meandarra.Q. and Innes Loo breed by Mrs Toni Hunt, Moree, NSW. Keston Clan (a.k.a. Harley) bred by Andrew Martin Toolmaree Tambo from a strain of red & tan Kelpies that Andrew & his father Bob Martin selected for generations has recently arrived.
Nacooma Tom II (left) and Clan Happy Gold (Right) holding Santa Weaners
Some of the outstanding dogs used:
Reg was the first sire, a lanky black paddock dog used at Tambo.
Karrawarra Wallah was crossed successfully with a bitch from the King & Macleod line - Clan Kao, daughter of Fahl's Penny.
Rockybar Rocket, a very dominant influence being line bred to Pat Walker's famous dog called Johnnie, five times winner of the
National dog trials in Canberra, brought great working strength and inititiave to the dogs. His litter brother Ripper is a base sire
with Kirkaldy Kelpie stud.
Duncan's Trumby was a brilliant mustering dog used in the traprock scrub. He crossed well with Rockets bitches, particularly Makeeba,
producing a line of sleek blacks, long to be remembered.
Innes' Loo was a strong, fast, station bred bitch. She nicked well with the more refined dogs of Wyreema (McMaster) and Rockybar(Tarrant) lines.
Clan Shaka II: A great colleague when mustering sheep or cattle out of a 2000acre scrub paddock. He was by Broadbent Hardy out of Hites Maggie (a Rockybar blood bitch by Rockybar Rocket #12669 from Rockybar Trudy #17192). Equally good at all round work in the yards. He was equal second in the maiden event of the 1995 national Kelpie
Council Field trial held in Toowoomba, of which 4 Clan Kelpie dogs where among the first seven places (the only time they have been entered!).
Clan Happy: Fortunate are those of us who have been owned by a truly remarkable dog. She was by Rockybar Spindle and out of Hites Tigger
(a sister of Shaka II). In appearance she resembled a son of Kings Kelpie called
Grand Flaneur photographed in the 1880's. She was capable of 12hr days behind the horse handling mobs of 1000 wethers in the open, and in the yards. A superbly balanced dog who could calm & control motherless frightened lambs or calves. She won field trials at Teelbah & Surat & came equal second with Shaka II in the Maiden event of the 1995 National Kelpie trial in Toowoomba. She is the mother of
Clan Goldie and
Clan Maffin who is excelling in"agility" trialing in Germany.
Sherwood Charleville: A versatile stylish dog who has bred consistantly with our Qld dogs.He has a big caste and works a mob or a few verycalmly. He will back and bark in the yard and works cattle. Charlie won the Bullenbong trophy at the National KelpieTrial 1995.
Wabba Kelp X Avenport Falda
Clan Jock
Clan Bickie