Border collies and kelpies - which will make the better muster dogs

@JudyEv (346592)
Rockingham, Australia
February 16, 2025 11:21pm CST
Eva James (@wolfgirl569) has a border collie called Patch. She has lovely markings and I was reminded of the series we’re watching on TV called Muster Dogs. This is at least the second series and this time around six people have been given young puppies to train as dogs that muster livestock. Mostly it’s sheep and cattle that are used. In this series, three have been given kelpie pups and three border collies. The trios are from the same litter. There has been a lot of talk about how different the two breeds are. Kelpies are more inclined to do their own thing and prefer minimal direction while border collies are generally more ‘trainable’ and amenable. Both breeds produce incredibly intelligent and helpful working dogs that makes a stockman’s life much easier. So the series is looking at comparing the two breeds. It's interesting so far. The photo is of Russell, a kelpie that we looked after when we were house-sitting.
14 people like this
12 responses
@rakski (132922)
• Philippines
17 Feb
I haven't seen a kelpie yet or maybe not just aware about that kind
4 people like this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb
The kelpie is an Australian breed. I don't know if it's been exported much.
1 person likes this
@rakski (132922)
• Philippines
19 Feb
@JudyEv maybe not much.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (141878)
• Roseburg, Oregon
17 Feb
So both dogs were good in their own way. Are you going to do any more house sitting.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb
Probably each breed suits a certain human temperament. We have two periods of house-sitting coming up. Some in March/April then in May/June.
@sallypup (62883)
• Centralia, Washington
17 Feb
Wow Russell looks like my Rufus. Except for the tail.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb
A lot of the kelpies are a more tan colour. How is the tail different?
@nela13 (58807)
• Portugal
17 Feb
Both breeds are fantastic, just like all the other dogs.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb
It is interesting to see the handlers training the dogs to muster sheep and cattle.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (58807)
• Portugal
19 Feb
@JudyEv Those dogs do an amazing job with sheep.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb
@nela13 The handlers have 'trainer mobs' of just a few quiet sheep and they train the new dogs with these. The sheep crowd around the handler like pet lambs would.
@arunima25 (88984)
• Bangalore, India
17 Feb
They both seem to be good for help. But I would personally prefer someone who is trainable than one who does his own thing. I am not aware of either of them and not met one yet. Your house sitting gives you so much of varied experiences. Are you planning to do more house sitting in the future?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb
The handlers, like you, generally have a preference for one or the other. We have two bouts of house-sitting coming up. The second lot is for a niece but both will be easy sits. We'll see what happens after that. Mostly we don't look for house-sitting but the people seem to find us.
@lilacskies (4560)
• United States
17 Feb
I've never seen a kelpie until I saw the picture. The kelpie looks intimidating.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb
They're not really. Not intimidating at all. I find dobermanns and American bull terriers more scary.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Feb
@JudyEv I am really scared of dobermans and American bull terriers! They are merciless.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb
@lilacskies I'm not keen on dogs I don't know and when we house-sit I check out any dogs carefully before agreeing to go there. I wouldn't go where there are big dogs with suspect temperaments.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (162244)
• United States
18 Feb
I do not hear about kelpies here in the states. I wonder if they are just not "trendy"here. Somewhere along the line my mind said kelpies were like elves or fairies. It must be a different word in the back of my mind.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb
The Kelpies in Scotland were mythical water creatures. We visited Kelpie sculptures in Scotland which were just amazing. The dogs originated in Australia I think. Here is a photo of the Scottish Kelpies.
@kareng (68255)
• United States
17 Feb
Muster Dogs sounds like an interesting show!
1 person likes this
@kareng (68255)
• United States
19 Feb
@JudyEv Also, new, so very entertaining vs. the same old stuff on the tube!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb
We enjoyed the first series and I'm sure the second will be just as interesting.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (185401)
• United States
20 Feb
That sounds like it must be interesting to watch
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb
It's interesting to see the methods they use to train the dogs. Even as puppies, when they see a sheep they're on full alert.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (92068)
• United States
14h
I love these auld doggos.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
7h
Working dogs save their masters a huge amount of work.
@wolfgirl569 (111824)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Feb
Obviously I vote for the border collie
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (111824)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Feb
@JudyEv We don't hear of kelpies much here. So it would be the opposite.
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@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb
Of course. The six handlers all have their preference too but most seemed more familiar with kelpies.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (82565)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Feb
I love how beautiful Patch is when I see photos on here. i don't know much about dogs having been a cat person all my life.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (82565)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Feb
@JudyEv she sure is
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346592)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb
Patch is well-named too, isn't she?
1 person likes this