Ballarook Working Kelpie Stud - NZ

27/12/2024

Sun, beers, kelpies… sounds like a holiday ☀️

21/11/2024

The boys learning the ropes for the afternoon.. let’s just say I don’t know how many runs Pop got to watch or even listen to after this with Nana being away in the judges box 😂🙈

Head of the Maitland SDTC social committee takes his responsibilities seriously adapting to child minding today.

20/11/2024

A great shot of Wayne Miller and Ballarook Steel at the Tux Yarding dog trial, hosted by Greenvale Dog Trial Club at Waikaka the past few days. Another great event for the community! ✨
- Photo by Maddy Collins Photography

08/11/2024

* UPDATED 12 NOVEMBER - more auction items added *

🔴🔴🔴 REMINDER 🔴🔴🔴
Dog training day with Lloyd Smith, 17th November.

To be auctioned at lunchtime on the day:
- Hunting trip for 2 nights at Glenaray Station for 4 people
- Tailing gang for a day next year (2025) for approximately 3,000 lambs
- 1 x 10 week old working kelpie pup (breeding in comments)
- 1 x 10 week old heading pup, by Lloyd Smith's 'Guide' (breeding in the comments below)
- 1 x 8 week old heading pup, ex. Kerry Chittock (breeding of sire and dam in comments below)
- 2 x 2 hour sessions "one on one" with Lloyd Smith
- various bags of dog biscuits etc

03/11/2024

✨ 8 weeks ✨ with the pups heading out the door at steady pace.. we have only had the chance to advertise now! We have 1 of each remaining, black and tan - the 3 in the picture to pick from. Message us with any queries and questions, this is one decision you won’t want to hesitate on.

27/10/2024

A wee tailing muster that looked abit different this morning, just a boy and his dog, who have it under control apparently… the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree 😂🥰

27/10/2024

A few choice words may have been said on this walk home.. Mouse proud as punch with her achievements 😂

25/10/2024

Who needs a scrim when you have the kelpies 😂

22/10/2024

Please take this into consideration if you are getting a pup from us, or any in general. Even if you think your pup is ready to come to work, keep this in mind. Leg injuries early in life will quite often cause lifelong problems that could’ve been prevented ☹️

When you get your 8 week old puppies, please keep these images in mind. Their bones do not even touch yet. They plod around so cutely with big floppy paws and wobbly movement because their joints are entirely made up of muscle, tendons, ligaments with skin covering. Nothing is fitting tightly together or has a true socket yet.

When you run them excessively or don't restrict their exercise to stop them from overdoing it during this period you don't give them a chance to grow properly. Every big jump or excited bouncing run causes impacts between the bones. In reasonable amounts this is not problematic and is the normal wear and tear that every animal will engage in.

When you're letting your puppy jump up and down off the lounge or bed, take them for long walks/hikes, you are damaging that forming joint. When you let the puppy scramble on tile with no traction you are damaging the joint.

You only get the chance to grow them once. A well built body is something that comes from excellent breeding and a great upbringing-BOTH, not just one.

Once grown you will have the rest of their life to spend playing and engaging in higher impact exercise. So keep it calm while they're still little baby puppies and give the gift that can only be given once.

By Patricia Crespo
Photos Veteriankey.com @62 days

*Many Bones are not fully fused until 13mo of age.

22/10/2024

Never a dull moment with this crew 😎

17/10/2024

Working smarter not harder.. Bee managed to absolutely bamboozle this lamb to a point where it decided it was probably a good idea to stay put lol made for a clean, easy catch 👌

15/10/2024

I could look at these faces all day… ✨

06/10/2024

This gorgeous boy is 8 weeks on Sunday… we all know what that means… send a message if you are interested or want to know anything 🥳

05/10/2024

One of Ethan’s Sunday jobs done ✔️ an awesome sign for the fence so you can’t miss us!

23/09/2024

We have hit 2 weeks old! Lizzys pups are growing nicely, lovely solid pups. Finally have some sun for all the wee tackers to enjoy.. I think it’s rained every day since they were born 🤦‍♀️😂

11/09/2024

The new kids on the block ⭐️ Lizzy welcomed 7 arrivals to the crew on Tuesday. Let the madness begin 🤩

04/09/2024

⭐️ Its weigh day! ⭐️ Can we all stop for a minute to appreciate the difference between Mr ‘who ate all the pies’ and his little sister… just 15 grams shy of being bang on twice her size. Usually we’ve only seen around 200g differences at the most from biggest to smallest, so this is definitely a first 😂 I’d like to also note that he is quite literally a normal size pup-possibly on the pudgy side though lol , we had the hopes that we could one day breed some flea kelpies… and I think we are heading the right way about it 🤩