Whites Kelpie Stud Article and Photos Provided by Angie White
Whites Kelpie Stud was established by John and Joy White in the late 1950’s at Hermidale near Nyngan in Western NSW and is one of Australia’s oldest original Kelpie Studs. “In the early 1950’s I was working at “Canonbar Station” just outside of Nyngan. This was the property, together with “Wilga Downs”, on where the King & McLeod Kelpies originated”, said John. It was here in the midst of bustling Station life that he discovered the love of Working Dogs, most particularly the Kelpie. He admired the work ethic and natural ability the dog showed. John was fascinated by the Kelpie and began to breed his own from good Station dogs whose attributes he considered would produce a top dog that would make his stock work on the Station easier. With large mobs to move around a vast area and on horseback to boot, these selected dogs soon showed they were worth their weight in gold with their wiry, tough, hardworking unparalleled propensity for work.
“Nyngan was the last trial in an annual circuit of trials commencing annually at Canberra, followed by Molong, Wellington and then Nyngan”, according to John. “The circuit of trials attracted sheepdog enthusiasts all over Australia and New Zealand”. “I immediately became hooked on the sport and breeding of the kelpies”, he said. “At that time, most triallers were people who used dogs in their daily work. Many were retired or semiretired and competing on the circuit was their annual holiday”. “In those days the dogs were not as intensively trained as is the case now and had to have natural ability to be successful” said John. “It was interesting because triallers were very secretive of their training methods so you had to do the best you could and use the methods that worked for you”. “Of course, everyone sat around and talked about each other’s dogs and the traits they liked or disliked, which was interesting and could become heated at times, but very few older dogmen passed on training methods”.
Even though John also had Border Collies, Kelpies remained his firm favourite.
“This changed in the 80’s when some of the best dog trainers began conducting training schools”, he said. “This resulted in a much higher standard of work in all types of trials in both the dogs and the workers”.
“I had always had an interest in working dogs and in 1950 the Australian Championships Trials were first held in Nyngan, so it was not long before I became involved”, he said.
“I was fortunate to compete against many top handlers from all over Australia, but Greg Prince remains the best trainer and handler I have seen”.
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