The Kelpie: The Definitive Guide To The Australian Working Dog

Description

Tony Parsons' The Kelpie is the culmination of sixty-five years of experience in breeding and training Kelpies, while also researching their origins and promoting the breed worldwide. This fully illustrated and authoritative work contains everything you might want to know about this renowned dog. Some of the many areas of Kelpie lore and practice covered include: the Kelpie's origins and evolution - theories and furphies; the role of genetics and selection in breeding stock; practical advice on loyalty, temperament, obedience, commands and developing control; preparing the Kelpie for trialling; the Karrawarra stud and the increasing popularity of the working Kelpie in the US; famous Kelpies of today and yesterday, as well as breeder profiles; asection on health and nutrition - from general care to emergency treatment; over 250 colour and black-and-white photographs, many of them rare and historic.

Author description

Tony Parsons, OAM, has worked as a professional sheep and wool classer, a journalist, news editor and rural commentator, a consultant to major agricultural companies, and an award-winning breeder of animals and show poultry. He owned his first kelpie dog in 1944, and in 1950 established 'Karrawarra', one of the top kelpie studs in Australia. In 1992 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to the propagation of the Australian kelpie. His novels, The Call of the High Country, Return to the High Country, Valley of the White Gold and Silver in the Sun, have all been bestsellers. He is also the author of Training the Working Kelpie, The Australian Kelpie and, in 2010, The Kelpie, now regarded as classic works on the breed. Tony lives with his wife, Gloria, near Toowoomba. He still maintains a keen interest in kelpie breeding.