International Kelpie Clinic

The International Kelpie Clinic in the heart of the Sauerland, Germany was a full success. Amongst forested hills and lush green pastures, the clinic was held be Gordon McMaster and Rick Sims both experienced breeders and handlers of Working Kelpies in Australia. During two separate weekends they increased the knowledge and experience of about 40 participants and visitors from Germany, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Hungary, and Switzerland. With great enthusiasms Gordie (only his mom calls him Gordon) and Rick shared their knowledge on herding, training, and breeding Australian Working Kelpies. During and after long intense working days it was possible to socialize with the others during common lunches and dinners at the tent site next to the clinic site. This allowed for an incredible exchange of information, Kelpie stories, enhanced discussions amongst the participants as well as Rick and Gordie.

Rick and Gordie started everybody (no matter how old the dog or experienced the handler) on puppy level. The exercises were organized to lead the handler with their dogs from puppy sheepdog kindergarten via high school to university. Although some exercises seemed to not challenge experienced dogs and handlers enough, after a few minutes everybody understood, that it was a great way to teach either your next pup or, if problems occur with an older dog, to reinstate certain basics.


Pup Selection - like everybody else Gordie has a certain type of Kelpie he prefers to breed and work with. However, rule number one in puppy selection:

The temperament should be likeable and well balanced. Look at the pedigree as well as the build. There are some insider tips on the relationship between snout and head length, long tails, overall a balanced body composition. Gordie pointed out that short, stout dogs do usually better in the yard, whereas longer legged, taller dogs do better in the paddock due to their ability to run fast in sliding motions (there are of course like always exceptions to the rule).

Before starting the actual dog work:

The Herding Instinct - as also pointed out by Michael Johnston last year in Balloo, these dogs are born with a herding instinct. Excite them as young pups and dogs, bring it out of them.

Call to come - before anything goes havoc teach your dog to come at all times

Inside the Yard

Puppy kindergarden starts in a round, dog proof pen with a few sheep. Let the pup run around and use its natural instincts to bring the sheep to you, i.e. being balanced. To start working on directions use a rake to show the dog where to go but do not use commands. The rake is also a great tool to start practising stop (one of the most important commands).

A few month old Kelpie pup already shows the natural instinct of balance.

A 7 month old Border Collie pup works the sheep towards his owner.

Remember:

The rake is a tool (like the extension of your hand) to SHOW the pup the direction NOT to hit it.

Outside the Yard

It is important to teach your dog distance, to keep out, to have a wide cast, to use force (bark, eye, presence) if necessary, learn how to back (not absolutely necessary) and to bark on command.

Don't speak your commands high pitched and short; lower your voice and draw the word out.

Remember:

If something does not work, do not repeat the same methods. Try something new, find a way that works for you and your dog successfully!

The Backing Recipe


Make sure the sheep are packed in tightly and prevent them from moving (place a wooden board behind their legs). Place your puppy on the back of the sheep. Make sure the pup does not get into the danger zone of the sheep heads. Place it facing you, make sure its paw pads are touching the wool, and talk to it. Make it feel confortable. When ready use your 'get down' command and guide the puppy with the leash of the sheep. Repeat as often as necessary.

Thank you, Alfred and Antje, for this great experience! it was a wunderfull meeting of nice Kelpies and Kelpie-people, which I enjoyed very much. Rick Sims and Gordie McMaster were grand. The fact they came to Europe to share some of their experience and knowledge of the Kelpie with us, is really fantastic! I heard and learned a lot, and they gave me even more to think about. I'm seeing things in my dog now I never saw before. It was interesting to hear their views over Kelpie-breeding and genetics too. And their Aussie way of doing things, keeping it simple at all times, taking the lessons step by step, and their sense of humor, is all really exceptional. We'll never forget Gordies 'Bang ! ' in a shooting-kind reaction of a dog with his tail high-up in the air during work, or Rick's saying 'off like a herd of turtles' when the participants had to raise their behinds from their chairs to get to the next exercise! And lots of laughter we had at Gordies distaste of our hugging our Kelpies; he gave a new expression to stopping our pampering the working dogs too much : 'no lovey-dovey !' .
It was a very nice camping at the clinicsite, and the catering was perfect. Sunny weather and lovely sheep (who probably liked us leaving even better, after this intense weekend of working them) made it a total success. I'll look forward to our next international Kelpie-meeting!
Greetings from Holland,
Paula & Rusty

I hope, that you all may hear one more "thank you" to Antje and Alfred:

Because of you, I had the chance to train with Rick and Gordie both weekends and many hours between the two clinics.
I learned more than I am able to write (and in the moment to remember exactly, but Rick would say: in the moment you need, you will remember).
I wanted to write you so many things, but now, while I sit at the computer, my head seems to be empty.

But I hope, that you both know, how thankful I am (and I think my dog, too!)for these experience that was a mile stone in training dogs, watching and training handlers and for my future, in breeding, too.
I will enjoy training with you in the future!

Thank you for all!

Mareike and May

...and maybe we do it anyway !

Hi there,

The clinic was a once in a lifetime experience.We learned a lot but it will take some time to order all the information and to put it in the right perspective.It was a good fresh up of the mind since the last clinic in Balloo.Some methods where different but had the same goal as other 'Aussie'
handlers, to get a natural working sheepdog.Have to make up my mind to choose for the English or Australian style. May be we have to develop our "own' middle European way.Tomorrow I will mail more about the clinic but for now I would like to thank Antje, Alfred, Gisela and Ype to make this trip a memory which I will cherish for the rest of my life, you really made this trip very special for me.

Also I would like to thank Gordie and Rick the way they made me look at my little Pingo in a totally different way. I always thought he was a bit too soft for the job.They told me he was effective, muzzled and always could get the job done.Yesterday I used Pingo from 10.00 till 16.00 working the yard with 700 Merino sheep and their lambs.His first push up in the yard broke 3 iron fences like wood...The sheep wanted to escape but Pingo wouldn't let them so we could replace the fences and let the dog to the job with out commands.Thanks to the clinic I also rely on my little man and don't panic any more when Dipper is not around.They also made me aware how to climb the ladder with eventual breeding.We have to look for what we need on our stock/sheep in our working situation.My first step would be good communication with stockman who work or want to work a with a Kelpie.If you have 'to import to Iceland' I don't know....lol.If you breed you have to know for what you breed.

The clinic was entertaining and me think again and will be a good motivation to organise the 2005 Working Kelpie clinic!

Reinier


Sandra and Finch want to thank Antje and Alfred for two great weekends. They liked it a lot as they also learned a lot from Rick and Gordon. They really appreciated that Finch was not treated like a Border Collie but like a Sheepdog! Finch was very smitten with Gordon's remark that she actually is a Kelpie and only has the looks of a BC.

We would like to say " Thank you " to all the people who made it possible to have a very fantastic Kelpie clinic on our farm ! Thanks to all the international participants from the Netherlands , Switzerland , Great Britain Hungary ( including Finland and Israel ) and from Germany . It was a pleasure to have you here and we enjoyed the feeling to got a big " Kelpie family " together on one place. It will be a mile stone for the future ! Special thanks to Gisela, Susi , Mareike and Sandra for their help to prepare the meals and for the translation work ! Thanks to the one who was organising the sunshine and ask the rain to wait until the clinic was over ! Greetings Antje & Alfred and the Letnetti dogs P.S. Two very nice roses are new in my garden !!

Gordie and Rick think it is helpful to teach your dog a 'Standing Stop'. Sheep get less upset when the dog stops and then keeps walking without lying down and getting back up.

NO	YES